Issues

SPENDING

Over the years Washington spent money it did not have and borrowed money it could not pay back and because of that our national debt currently stands at more than $15 trillion.  The current debt crisis our nation faces is a direct result of out-of-control spending. What's more, America currently borrows around 40 cents of every dollar it spends. This is unsustainable and unacceptable.
 
As a new Member of Congress I have been working to reduce funding and get spending under control. From small steps, like voluntarily returning $700 from my own pocket each month to go toward paying down the national debt, to large steps like joining my colleagues in passing a budget that cut $6.2 trillion in spending, I will continue the fight to end the runaway borrowing and spending of the past. 
 

 
JOBS

As I travel throughout the district, I hear from Ohioans who are struggling to find a job. Getting Americans back to work must be the number one priority and to do so we must get our companies and small businesses engaged in the fight to create jobs.
 
That means providing businesses more certainty on: taxes, regulation, health care costs and energy costs. It is also important to get people trained for the jobs of tomorrow by linking unemployment benefits to workforce development training today.
 
I will continue to stand up for our small businesses, work to put a stop to out-of-control spending, and help create incentives for investment and job creation here at home.
 

 
HEALTHCARE

The U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold "Obamacare" is extremely disappointing and unacceptable. This legislation needs to be fully repealed in order to make health care affordable for all Americans.

Without question, America has the best medical care in the world. In fact, some of the latest medical research and cutting edge procedures are being developed and performed right here in Ohio. Unfortunately, affordability is often an impediment to receiving high-quality care. I believe all Americans deserve access to quality health care at an affordable cost, but the bill passed last Congress was not a responsible plan. I voted to repeal "Obamacare" because it kills jobs and hurts businesses, further increases the out-of-control national debt and expands federal bureaucraces and programs.

Now more than ever, we need to focus on reforms that lower cost and increase accessibility to patient-centered health care and wellness. I am committed to eliminating portions of the bill that stifle job creation and hurt small businesses. The American people deserve better than the plan passed last year and I will continue to work to find solutions that fit the needs of those I represent - not bureaucrats in Washington.

 
NATIONAL DEFENSE

I support a strong national defense. My 26 years of experience in the Ohio Army National Guard, and deployment to the Middle East, give me a “boots on the ground” perspective of what is going on in the war. Moreover, I believe our men and women in uniform must have at their disposal the tools necessary to do their jobs when called to duty and they should have the resources available to support them when they return home.
 

 
ENERGY

To address increasing energy costs, the United States needs an all-of-the-above energy plan that includes everything from renewable energy to clean coal to expanding drilling here at home.  I am a cosponsor of multiple bills which help put an end to the Washington policies that are increasing gas prices. This legislation would expand American energy production to help lower costs and create jobs. 
 
A few years ago, a trip to the gas station could cost almost $4.00 a gallon, however we expanded off-shore drilling and prices went back down. If we do not continue to take action, it  is possible we will see gas prices skyrocket again in the future.  We need American energy to address the American energy crisis and stop relying on foreign nations for our energy supply.
 

MEDICARE

I am committed to standing up for our seniors and preserving Medicare in order to meet their needs. Promises made must be promises kept, therefore the plan I support does not change Medicare for anyone who is 55 years and older.

However, we need to act now to stop Medicare from going bankrupt in nine years.
The legislation I voted in favor of, preserves and protects Medicare with true choice and competition for future generations while also eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the system.  

PROTECTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT 

As a proud card-carrying member of the NRA, I am and will continue to be a strong defender of our Second Amendment rights afforded to us in the United States Constitution. While in the Ohio Senate, I cosponsored the Castle Doctrine, was a cosponsor of Ohio's concealed carry law and I supported educational programs about the use of firearms, marksmanship, and safety.  As a Member of Congress I have supported Second Amendment rights by:

• Voting for and cosponsoring legislation to allow for reciprocity across state lines for concealed carry,
• Voting for legislation to stop the National Institutes of Health from using taxpayer's money for studies designed to make legal gun ownership seem like a public health hazard or to promote gun control,
• Signing on as a cosponsor of legislation to prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers from banning firearms on water resources lands, and
• Signing on as a cosponsor of legislation to allow collectible firearms to be imported into the U.S. without the approval of the Department of State or the Department of Defense.   

I have an "A Rating" from the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America. Moving forward I will continue the fight to defend the Constitution and the right of people to keep and bear arms.