Niki Conforti: 2022 candidate for U.S. House 6th District

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: U.S. House 6th District

City: Glen Ellyn

Age: 59

Occupation: Energy Consultant

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

What needs to be done to get Congress to work constructively, whether that be senators and representatives of both parties working with each other or Congress itself working with the president?

Congress has gotten out-of-touch with the American people. We need to get back to basics. That means attending voting sessions in person, following the rules Congress has set for itself, and limiting the number of pages in new legislations submitted. Once reasonableness is re-instated, we will need to open dialogue between the two parties to work together on issues that are facing this country.

What is your position on changing voter access?

All American citizens have the right to vote, and every legal vote should be counted. I support requiring photo ID to vote and 3 pieces of identification to register.

Do you recognize that the election of Joe Biden as president in 2020 was legitimate and fair? If not, why?

Continuing to rehash the past succeeds at nothing more than further dividing the country. We need to look forward and ensure voter integrity - for both sides, in all future elections.

To ensure integrity, we need to clean the voter rolls and require photo IDs. I have seen data and talked to people first-hand that support the argument that improprieties occurred in the past. Audits are currently taking place in various states, and I support those audits.

What, if anything, should Congress do to prevent another violent attack such as the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol?

People have the right to gather in peaceful protest. The word 'peaceful' is the key here. No one has the right to destroy property or harm others. When future protests occur, access to the Capitol and other governmental buildings should be denied.

What do you consider America's role in world affairs? In particular, what should our role be regarding current points of tension involving Russia/Ukraine, the future of Taiwan or other threats of Chinese expansionism and the Middle East?

As the leader of the free world, America should be at the table in discussions of world affairs. We should protect like-minded countries and preserve democracy. This does not mean that we need to be involved in every conflict, nor should we take action that would spawn a larger war or WWIII. We can offer aid, and should offer aid, but not necessarily send our troops to engage in battle. Each situation is different with different implications. America's actions should be well-thought out, not reactionary, and made in the best interests of the American people.

Do you acknowledge humans' role in causing climate change? What steps should government be taking to address the issue?

As an energy consultant, I know the importance of becoming more energy efficient and expanding renewables. My position is that we need a multi-pronged approach to satisfying our energy needs. Going 100% renewable is not feasible and will only succeed in making us more dependent on foreign nations. The government should support all forms of clean energy, not just wind and solar. Further innovation should be encouraged to battle climate change.

Please define your position on health care reform, especially as it relates to the Affordable Care Act.

At its inception the ACA was applauded. But most insurance carriers left the program within the first year because of its failed structure. As a result, the program has evolved into a limited platform.

The ACA is not affordable for the average American and the access to quality care is poor. Many counties across the state offer limited choices. While I oppose universal healthcare, we do need to address the issues of affordability and access.

What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? Does the government have any responsibility toward Dreamers who were brought to the United States illegally as children and are now adults? How will these policies affect your district?

I am the daughter of an immigrant, so I fully support immigration. Legal Immigration. There is a system in place that allows those that want to come to this country to apply and qualify. What is happening on the southern border today is unacceptable. It needs to end. Those coming to the border need to be processed with background checks and health screenings. Once citizenship is attained, they will have the same access to governmental support as other citizens - not before.