by Carol Shea-Porter

Concord Monitor (Nov.1, 2008)

I have been honored to serve New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, and I have never forgotten that public office is a public trust. I have focused on the need to protect and improve the lives of the other 99 percent of us - those who did not prosper during the Bush administration.

My colleagues know me for what I do. While I support the war in Afghanistan, I refused to give the Bush administration a blank check for the Iraq war. They also know I push hard against special interests in Washington, and I fight for the rest of us.

New Hampshire's people know who I am - their advocate in Washington who understands their issues and works to solve their problems.

Sometimes, protecting New Hampshire residents is easy. Enacting the 9/11 Commission recommendations, increasing the minimum wage, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, cutting student loan rates, increasing fuel economy standards, and improving benefits for soldiers and veterans was easy.

Sometimes, standing up for the rest of us is more difficult. The first vote against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout was tough, but the second vote was even tougher. Pushing the administration and congressional leadership to double funding for low-income heating assistance was difficult. It was also hard to secure $30 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard facilities, but this money gives the shipyard a bright future.

I am proud of my work as a member of the Armed Services Committee. We provided body armor and armored vehicles, passed the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, and a new GI Bill of Rights. We also passed the largest increase ever to help veterans. I have legislation to give New Hampshire veterans the full-service medical care they deserve. My bill to stop the government from collecting certain debts from families of dead soldiers is now law.

On the Education and Labor Committee, I cosponsored the bill to cut student interest rates. I was a conferee for Head Start and my amendment to increase Pell Grant funding was passed. I've blocked No Child Left Behind reauthorization. I have also fought for workers' rights and safety.

I'm honored to receive the endorsement of so many different groups. Most major newspapers, firefighters, teachers, the VFW-PAC, the Sierra Club, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers, and others have endorsed me because they know we cannot go backwards this election.

I ask for your support on Tuesday. Thank you.