Protecting our Agricultural Interests
Tom supports open and expanding markets for the family farmer and believes the government must not be an obstacle to those who provide America's bread basket.
Stimulating the Economy -- Creating Jobs
To keep the American economy the strongest in the world we we must continue to cut taxes, balance our budget and take other important steps to encourage investment and the creation of jobs. Tom worked with President Bush to eliminate the marriage penalty tax, increase the per child tax credit, and lower tax rates for every American. In addition, they provided incentives for small businesses to hire more employees and offer health care coverage. Now Tom will work to make these tax cuts permanent so every taxpayer will keep more of what they earn and business will create more good-paying jobs.
Providing the Best Educational Opportunities
As a former educator, Tom understands the importance of giving children the best opportunities to allow them to succeed. From his seat on the Education and Workforce Committee, Tom has supported efforts to fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act, which provides greater flexibility, accountability and resources to meet the needs of our schools. Tom also believes that giving our children an opportunity to attend college is vital. Tom has worked for funding to provide the tools to first time college students to be successful, increased Pell Grants funding and make higher education more affordable. Tom has helped lead the fight to increase funding for Impact Aid and for disabled children. Tom has received the "Champion of TRIO" award in Oklahoma, defending, against his own party leadership vital Higher Education programs that assist disadvantaged and first generation college students.
Reducing Our Dependence on Foreign Oil
Tom is working to enact a comprehensive national energy plan, which will allow for additional domestic oil production, up-grades of our outdated power-grids and help institute new and emerging technologies. When enacted, these policies will help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil and stabilize energy prices, which is important for expanding our economy.
Working to Protect Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base
Tom's father was a master sergeant in the Air Force and later worked as a civilian at Tinker Air Force Base. From a young age Tom came to understand the importance of supporting the U.S. military and the critical mission that Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base play in Oklahoma and in the defense of our nation. In Congress, Tom has secured well over $100 million for these military bases and will continue to work to protect and strengthen these bases to keep them open and operational.
Most recently, Congressman Cole played a major role in securing the future of Oklahoma's military installations in the latest BRAC round.
Strengthening Our Military -- Honoring Our Veterans
As a proud member of the House Armed Service Committee, Tom has traveled to visit with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and has worked to provide our military with the resources to continue to be the best-trained and best-equipped fighting force on Earth. Tom believes it is important that we continue to show our gratitude to the men and women in uniform by providing them with needed payraises, better housing facilities and much deserved service bonuses. Our country made a promise to our veterans—a promise Tom intends to keep. Tom has worked to provide our nation’s veterans with the all the benefits they have earned from concurrent receipt to providing necessary healthcare to increasing support for disabled veterans, surviving spouses and children.
Providing Prescription Medicines and Protecting Social Security
Tom knows that expensive prescription medicines are vital for seniors health. That is why Tom supported the AARP endorsed the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act which provides a voluntary prescription drug benefit for older Americans. In addition, Tom is dedicated to making sure seniors continue to receive the social security benefits they have been promised. Seniors have enough to worry about without being concerned with changes to their retirement system.
Protecting our Values
Tom strongly supports the right to life, traditional marriage, strong family values. Tom voted to end partial birth abortion, he is a cosponsor of the Constitutional amendment to protect marriage. Tom also voted to pass a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the desecration of the U.S. Flag.
Eliminating Wasteful Spending
Tom believes that if families have to live within a budget, Congress should too. Spending in Washington is currently out of control—that is why Tom is fighting to root out wasteful, duplicative, and unnecessary spending and return us to balanced budgets.