Chris Van Hollen: Representing community values

For over a decade, I have been honored to serve the residents of Maryland's Eighth Congressional District. Over the past two years, I have had the opportunity to meet people in new areas of the District, which now includes parts of Carroll County. While voters in each area have special concerns, I believe more unites these voters than divides them and I would be honored to continue to serve them in the United States House of Representatives.

I have done my best to represent the values and priorities of our community. My experience traveling across the District has given me a great appreciation for the diversity of our region, as well as underscoring the priorities the vast majority of Marylanders share: a thriving economy with good paying jobs and broadly shared prosperity, a world class education system, a healthy environment, 21st century infrastructure to meet our state's growing needs, critical investments in scientific and medical research, an efficient but reliable safety net, and a balanced and disciplined approach to debt and deficit reduction. Additionally, I have made the individual concerns of my constituents a priority. Every day, people need help getting their Social Security, Medicare, or Veterans benefits, along with countless other concerns. These issues may not be in the headlines, but they have a direct impact on people's lives.

I have visited small businesses in places like Westminster and Sykesville and heard about how owners have worked to remain afloat and create jobs as our economy continues to recover. Local officials have emphasized the need for federal investment in infrastructure that would put people back to work rebuilding schools and roads - that is something I will continue to fight for. For example, there is 12.8 percent unemployment in the construction industry at a time when many of our roads, bridges, and schools are in desperate need of repair and modernization. Making targeted investments in critical infrastructure is a win-win for Marylanders.

Carroll County is home to great schools, including Carroll County Community College and McDaniel College. I have listened to their students talk about their hopes for the future and the need to keep investing in education. There is no question we must do everything to provide the best education - not just to make sure our children and grandchildren can succeed, but to keep America a leader in the global economy. This issue has been a top priority during my two decades of public service, from fighting in the State House to create the Thornton Plan that began an unprecedented investment in schools across Maryland to working in Congress to prevent the interest rate on student loans from doubling and Pell Grants from being cut.

I have also worked effectively across party lines, participating in the successful negotiations on the recent bipartisan budget agreement, partnering with Representative Todd Platts (R-PA) on successful passage of federal whistleblower reforms, and teaming with Representative Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and Representative Mike McCaul (R-TX) to pass legislation to fight childhood cancer. And there is no higher priority than providing for the security of our country and the men and women who have put their lives on the line to defend it. I've worked my Democratic and Republican colleagues to fund the vital programs that protect our troops, our veterans, and our nation. I am proud of my record working in partnership with many in our community to advance these important goals in the United States Congress.

As our country continues to climb out of the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, we need leaders who are willing to work with people on both sides of the aisle to confront the most pressing issues on jobs and the economy. Compromise can be difficult, but we can't allow it to become dirty word. Many years ago I had the privilege of working with Senator Mac Mathias, a moderate Republican who represented our state. He understood the importance of making compromises to advance the public good. His example is one I work to follow as we tackle the challenges ahead and lead our community, state, and country into the future.