Holding Government Accountable

Florida’s workers and families have suffered greatly in today’s economy. Unfortunately, Washington has done little to nothing to help us recover. The Democrat majority pushed through an $800 billion "stimulus" bill that has not created or saved the jobs it promised and only added to our national debt. This massive spending bill saddles our children and grandchildren with enormous debt that they will have to repay. It is clear; we cannot spend our way out of our current situation. Rooney opposed the Democrats’ "stimulus" bill and instead supported an alternative that would have spent half the money while creating twice as many jobs. It would reduce the tax burden on small businesses providing them the ability to hire more employees and get Americans back to work. Tom Rooney is fighting for Florida’s families and will continue to advocate for them and oppose plans which make it harder for our economy to recover.

Establishing our Energy Independence

Tom Rooney is a firm believer that we must establish our energy independence. This is not just for our national security, but also for our economic security. Every year we send hundreds of millions of dollars overseas to import oil from countries that are not our allies. With this in mind, Tom believes an "all of the above" approach is the only way to wean us off of foreign oil. There is not a single silver bullet solution to our energy problem; we must address it in a multi-pronged fashion. Rooney believes a national energy policy that increases our commitment to efficiency, conservation and the development of alternative fuels such as wind and solar must be combined with increased domestic production of traditional sources such as oil. Furthermore, Tom believes we must renew our commitment to clean safe nuclear power. Unfortunately, the Democrats’ "cap and trade" bill which many more appropriately called "cap and tax" does nothing to help us establish our energy independence. Instead it only promises to punish domestic production and manufacturing while increasing costs to American consumers. Rooney will not support such measures that punish the American people and companies placing us at a disadvantage on the world market. Rooney believes in the American spirit and that we can achieve our goals through incentives and partnership with the federal government instead of higher taxes.

Protecting Florida's Natural Resources

Growing up in South Florida, Tom grew to love the unique natural beauty of the area. Ecological treasures such as the Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River are unlike any other place on earth and should be protected and restored. Since coming to Washington, Rooney has been a leader in saving these natural treasures, fighting for the long awaited federal resources to begin construction of the Indian River Lagoon along with other vital Everglades restoration projects. As the father of three young sons, he wants to ensure his children can enjoy the same natural wonders he did as a child and he will continue to fight to save these national treasures.

Putting Patients First

Tom Rooney is an advocate for increasing access to affordable, high quality healthcare. He does not believe a government take over of our healthcare system is the answer to our nation’s health care woes and will continue to oppose such a plan. Additionally, he will fight against any plan that covers illegal immigrants or one that cuts Medicare. Rooney supports reducing regulations and the tax burden on small businesses, which would make it more affordable for employers to offer health insurance. Furthermore, Tom believes we must also address tort reform, which doctors and hospitals agree increases the cost of healthcare. Rooney will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to find real solutions that do not place an unfair burden on the American taxpayer or turn the doctor-patient relationship into a patient-government relationship..

Securing our Homeland

Tom Rooney believes the federal government’s top priority is to ensure our safety. With that philosophy he has been an active member of the House Armed Services Committee ensuring our troops are the most professional, well equipped and prepared military in the world. As a veteran, Congressman Rooney has a unique understanding of our Armed Services and enjoys a productive working relationship with the Generals on the Ground and in the Pentagon. He looks to them for candid reports of what their needs are and assessment of progress in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to his service on the Armed Services Committee, Rooney also sits on the prestigious House Judiciary Committee. In both of these committees the Congressman has taken an active roll in addressing the impending closing of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility and the need for a plan in determining what to do with the detainees currently held there. In response to President Obama’s hasty order to close the facility, Rooney introduced legislation to prohibit the transfer of detainees into the state of Florida. Rooney will continue to make our national safety his top priority and fight for it in Washington

Protecting our Seniors

Tom Rooney will never vote to raise the retirement age, privatize Social Security, or reduce Social Security benefits to retirees and near retirees. Rooney believes Social Security is a sacred contract between the federal government and the American workers that have paid into the system and now deserve the benefits.

Honoring our Nation’s Veterans

As a veteran himself, Rooney has pledged to protect veterans and work to ensure they receive the benefits and services they have earned and deserve. He has made constituent outreach to the district’s large veteran population a top priority.

President George Washington said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation". Rooney has taken the lead on Veteran’s health care. To that end, Rooney has introduces legislation that will ensure that troops returning from theater receive mental health screening and treatment to combat the tragic rate of suicides for returning warfighters. He has been a tireless advocate for family services not just for our current military personnel but our veterans as well. Rooney will continue to be a strong voice for veterans in Washington.

Bringing Back Fiscal Discipline

Traveling the 16th district Tom Rooney saw there was a common complaint about the government from people across the district -- the out of control spending in Washington must end. Rooney has taken this common sense message to Washington and is fighting to cut spending and addressing our growing national debt. As the father of three young sons, Tom is reminded daily of our obligation to leave our children a better country than we inherited, but the reckless spending threatens that very philosophy. Rooney voted against the $800 billion "stimulus" spending bill knowing we could do better and get our economy going without sending us deeper into debt. He has consistently voted against spending bills that unnecessarily expand the scope and size of the federal government.

Since coming to Washington, Rooney has shown real leadership in fighting for lower taxes and less spending. Now is the time for tough decisions. Florida families are having to find ways to trim the household budget while bureaucrats in Washington are not willing to do the same to the federal budget. Tom believes that the federal government must have that same kitchen table discussion American families are having now: Where can we cut excess spending? Rooney will continue to fight for less spending, lower taxes and more freedom.

Enforcing our Immigration Laws

Congressman Rooney wholeheartedly believes that our nation’s border security and national security are unquestionably linked and America’s survival is dependent on securing our border. In Congress, Rooney has been a vocal advocate for securing our porous borders and enforcing existing federal immigration laws.

Congressman Rooney opposes amnesty in any form for illegal aliens. We are nation of immigrants but we are also a nation of laws. Rooney will not support rewarding illegal behavior with amnesty when thousands of other immigrants are playing by the rules and going through the proper channels to become American citizens. Rooney also supports adding more border patrol agents and finishing the border fence along the southern border.

Protecting your 2nd Amendment Rights

As a former Constitutional Law Professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Congressman Rooney believes in the individual freedoms provided to citizens under the Constitution, including the right to bear arms. Rooney believes the 2nd Amendment is clear and that government should pass no law that restricts the right of any law-abiding citizen to purchase, own and legally use firearms.