Peter Roskam: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: WheatonWebsite: www.roskamforcongress.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 6th Congressional District Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How will you work to make Congress more productive and effective? What actions are needed to produce a healthy federal budget? Specifically, what changes do you advocate regarding how revenue is produced or what our spending priorities are? In particular, what effect does current policy have on your district and what changes, if any, are needed?Congress needs to tackle entitlement reform and stop kicking the can down the road for the next generation to fix. We need to grow our economy to expand the tax base, not raise rates on families and businesses who already turn over too much of their hard-earned money to Uncle Sam. When people make more money, they pay more in taxes. When government stifles the private sector, we end up with less revenue overall. As it stands, the lack of fiscal discipline on the part of many in Washington limits our ability to fund important projects in our district.As we work towards a healthy federal budget, one great place to start is Medicare fraud 창#8364;#8220; it costs hard-working taxpayers more than a billion dollars every week. That's why I authored the PRIME Act earlier this year, to tackle this issue head on. It was signed into law in April and was a critical first step, though there's still more work to be done on this important issue.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? How will these policies have an impact in your district?First and foremost, we need to get serious about securing our borders. Any immigration reform we want to discuss is largely irrelevant if we are unable to control who enters and exits our country. This isn't just an economic and social issue 창#8364;#8220; it's also a matter of national security. In the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, we need to take a long, hard look at our immigration policies and close loopholes that can be exploited by those who mean to do us harm. That's why I voted to pause President Obama's Syrian refugee resettlement program until we can verify who exactly is entering our country and what their intentions are. I also voted last week to tighten up the visa waiver program, exempting people who have traveled to Syria, Iraq, and other countries of concern from visa-free travel to the United States. Protecting our homeland and keeping the 6th district safe is the first and foremost Constitutional duty of the federal government. It's a responsibility I take very seriously.What should be the top priorities in Congress related to the Affordable Care Act? If you want changes, what specifically do you recommend? If you want the act entirely eliminated, please address these questions: Is that politically feasible? If it proves infeasible, where do you see the potential for compromise? If it is eliminated, what would you replace it with, if anything?By almost every conceivable metric, the Affordable Care Act has been a failure. Americans have seen their healthcare plans cancelled and their options limited. We pay more for less, and that's just what we've seen so far. Like many, I believe we must repeal and replace this misguided and harmful law. However, repealing the law is unlikely in divided government, and in the meantime we must do all that we can to ensure taxpayer dollars are not squandered. That is why I have introduced legislation to create a Special Inspector General 창#8364;#8220; a single, high-level office with the ability to look beyond just one department or agency, and release the facts, the data, and the decision-making that's behind Obamacare's implementation in a way that no oversight official currently can.The American people deserve a full and fair accounting of the new healthcare law, and the Special Inspector General to Monitor the Affordable Care Act (SIGMA) will serve as an independent, nonpartisan advocate for the public, looking out for our interests and shining a light on the federal government's actions so we can make informed decisions, hold the Administration accountable, and protect individuals from more harmful effects.However, simply repealing Obamacare without a viable alternative is not an option. As a member of the Health Subcommittee for Ways Means, I am a proud supporter of Republican alternatives that are patient-centered and designed to increase access to affordable, portable health insurance and spurs competition among providers to further lower costs.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances, should we have military forces actively operating?The United States has historically played an important role in promoting peace, stability, and freedom around the world. Over the past few years, we've seen what happens when our country refuses to provide that global leadership 창#8364;#8220; we end up with a world that is less peaceful, less stable, and less free. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and face to face with our adversaries.Sadly, President Obama has abandoned our friends like Israel, Poland, and Ukraine, in order to appease adversarial regimes like Iran, Russia, and Cuba. I've introduced and passed legislation to fight efforts to delegitimize Israel and stood up to my own party's leadership to make it more difficult for the administration to eliminate sanctions against Iran. Just recently I introduced a bill to sanction Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for their support of terrorism around the globe.I serve on the Select Committee investigating the terrorist attack at our Consulate in Benghazi and am determined to learn the truth about that tragic event. I'm also proud to chair the GOP Pro-Israel Caucus as well as the House Democracy Partnership.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?I was first elected to Congress in 2006. Prior to that, I also served in the Illinois Senate and Illinois House of Representatives.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The federal government has no greater responsibility than protecting the homeland. Despite President Obama's assurances, Al Qaeda is not "on the run" and ISIS is not a "JV team." These are radical Islamic terrorists who seek the destruction of our way of life. We must fight and destroy the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and eliminate their ability to operate around the world.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My friend Congressman Sam Johnson has had an incredible journey, and he inspires me with his tireless work on behalf of the American people.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Always listen before you speak.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?We learn as much from our failures as from our successes, so I try to focus on learning from the past, not dwelling on it.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?In Glen Ellyn, my fourth grade teacher inspired me to pursue public service when we learned about the three branches of the federal government.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?My dad always told me, "Life is choices. Make good choices." I like to remind my four kids of those wise words as well.