We begin this New Year with a new Congress and a new president, fresh off an election centered on change. There is no doubt that we are living in extraordinary times; our country is faced with daunting challenges that threaten the long-term economic health of our nation. Unemployment is steadily growing, businesses are failing, homeowners are increasingly facing home foreclosure, millions of Americans lack health-care coverage, exorbitant costs are pricing many students out of a quality higher education. And all of this is before I mention that our country is engulfed in international conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, operations that have cost our nation thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars.

Now is not the time for petty fights propelled by extreme ideologies. We need to come together as a Congress, and as a country, working with the new administration to put aside partisanship for the sake of our people. As a new member of Congress, I have found that I have been most successful when I reach across the aisle, working with Republicans and Democrats alike to get things done. For example, Republican Rep. Judy Biggert and I spearheaded the effort in the House to obtain science funding that would benefit Fermilab and Argonne here in Illinois. Our efforts were successful - Fermilab received funding that saved hundreds of jobs. In the new, 111th Congress, I plan to continue to work in a bipartisan way to make a positive difference in the lives of my constituents, bringing a thoughtful, reasoned approach to policy debates.

President Obama often speaks about changing politics, changing the tone of the debate and ushering in a new era of bipartisanship. I look forward to participating in this wave of change, and am committed to working on behalf of every member of the 14th District of Illinois to turn our country around.