When Congressman Chris Gibson was still just a candidate for Congress, he said if elected he would approach his work in the nation’s Capitol based around three guiding principles: growing the economy to create jobs, restoring fiscal responsibility and moving toward a balanced budget and protecting freedoms.
After six months on the job, Gibson released a report of what he’s accomplishedor had a hand in accomplishingso far. In an interview with The Spotlight, Gibson said working across party lines has been an integral part of progress.
`I’ve tried to establish a strong working relationship with all my neighbors, regardless of party,` said Gibson.
Lumped under the creating jobs umbrella, Gibson said he voted to eliminate the `onerous` 1099 reporting requirement in last year’s highly contentious health care law because it would `hurt small businesses and family farmers.`
He also voted for five bills to increase domestic energy production, worked to `defund or delay` regulatory `burdens` that were `costly, unnecessary and redundant.`
One of his most significant accomplishments was authoring an amendment adopted by the House National Defense Authorization Bill to increase funding for nanotechnology research and explore the possibility of establishing a federally funded research center that could potentially be located in the Capital Region.
`I’m working with Sen. Gillibrand on this and if we can get this into law, a recommendation that the Department of Defense looked into was whether or not to establish a federally funded research development center for nanotechnology,` said Gibson. `Our area will be highly competitive for that [research development center] … and will be very positive development for our area.`
With GlobalFoundries nearing completion on the semiconductor manufacturing chip fab in Malta, Gibson said the connectivity to the nanotechnology research is clear cut.
`What we’re working on is expanding that [renewable energy research] to defense applications as well,` said Gibson. `The prospects for that are very encouraging. This would help have lighter gear, more durable and more effective which means they’re safer, more effective and for less money.`
Another thing Gibson said he’s particularly proud of is restoring funding for rural broadband, something he said his own party leaders would not support him on.
`This is a very challenging situation for us because my own party was zeroing out the money for rural broadband and I led the effort to restore funding,` said Gibson. `Our effort was challenging because my party leadership opposed this but I teamed up with republicans and democrats to get that passed.`
Gibson said he’s `enthusiastic` about this program because it encourages job growth in the 20th District.
`[It] helps expand high speed broadband to rural areas, which helps create jobs; and this is a loan program so in the end, you’ll see more broadband jobs and you will see this money paid back with interest,` said Gibson. `This is a win-win-win.`
As far as working toward restoring fiscal responsibility, Gibson said he’s done that by voting `no` on a bill to increase the debt limit because it didn’t have provisions to help get the nation closer to a balanced budget. He also voted for a 2012 budget that would reduce spending by more than $6 trillion during the next 10 years.
The last pillar of Gibson’s approach was to protect freedoms, something he said he’s done voting to prohibit funding for Libya operations that are not in our `vital national security interests` and traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit troop sand receive military updates. Gibson also voted `no` on the Patriot Act extension` due to `unconstitutional provisions infringing on Fourth Amendment rights` and co-sponsored the `Right to Carry` act to protect gun owners’ rights across state lines.
Perhaps the most significant move to protect freedoms, Gibson said, was his `War Powers Reform Act,` which he testified about before the Foreign Affairs Committee and is still working on.
`It’s vitally important we bring the voice of the American people back in the decision of whether or not we’ll send troops into harms way,` said Gibson. `I’m proud of this effort because it’s very important we restore balance between the legislative and executive branches.`
Of all his experiences thus far as a freshman member of Congress, Gibson said one of his favorites was spending a day on a dairy farm in Columbia County.
`I have been learning and working hard to understand agricultural issues,` said Gibson, who has an Agricultural Advisory panel comprised of 20th District farmers. `It’s vitally important to understand our agricultural issues but I thought I needed firsthand experience from the vantage point of a farm hand.`
Gibson said he’s also made an effort to return to the 20th District frequently.
`It’s just really important to stay in touch and hear firsthand from our constituents so I can better represent them here,` said Gibson.
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