The Issues

Economy

I am a proud fiscal conservative committed to free market principles. My top priority is to promote proven pro-growth and low tax policies for the First Congressional District and our nation.

I know that low taxes, a renewed focus on revitalizing small business and the indefatigable spirit of American ingenuity promises to return our country to economic prosperity. That's why I signed Americans for Tax Reform's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" -- opposing any effort to raise taxes.

As a small businessman, I know firsthand the challenges of starting a business from scratch, meeting a payroll and the pride that comes with creating jobs. Today, hardworking Long Islanders feel the burdensome effect of a Democrat-controlled Congress, with no check and balance on their authority. Their big government model of massive spending and higher taxes has produced anemic growth and few jobs for our struggling economy.

We must stop the Washington politicians from spending trillions of dollars we don't have and strapping future generations with massive debt we can't afford. It's essential that we cut the corporate tax rate which serves as a strangledhold on the competitiveness of American companies abroad.

Government's proper role in the economy is to facilitate opportunity for individual initiative and entrepreneurship -- not to stifle its growth with ever-increasing financial and regulatory burdens.

I believe my experience building companies and creating jobs has prepared me to contribute to changing the culture in Washington from day one.

Homeland Security

The First Congressional District is home to thousands of heroic first responders who serve to protect us from those who seek to do us harm. Recent headlines about the potential bombing in Times Square and the susceptibility of the Long Island Rail Road confirm that New York remains one of the highest profile terrorist targets in the United States.

It is essential we pass legislation that protects our financial and transportation centers, energy production hubs and infrastructure.

At home inside the First Congressional District, I will work to ensure that we receive the Homeland Security funding needed for our police and fire departments and the Long Island Rail Road, as well as our ports and highways.

I will stand opposed to any effort made by the Obama Administration to transfer Khalid Sheik Mohammed and any other 9/11 terrorists from Guantanamo to New York City for trial in federal civilian court. I believe this to be an irresponsible decision which places the safety and well being of countless residents at risk. New York taxpayers should not foot the bill for a spectacle which desecrates the sanctity and memory of our friends, family members and neighbors.

Immigration

As the grandchild of immigrants, I strongly believe that generations of legal immigration has served as an unparalleled source of cultural enrichment and prosperity for America. However, it is essential that immigration to America must be done in accordance with the law. Illegal immigration has created a new set of national security and economic challenges for our nation, and has undermined American prosperity. Keeping in mind the threats our country faces from abroad, it's simply unacceptable that our borders remain porous. Border security is akin to Homeland Security.

We must expeditiously complete the construction of the southern border fence and enact strong reforms to stop illegal immigration. No one should be rewarded for coming here illegally. I will not support any legislation that contains amnesty for illegal aliens.

We must give our Customs and Border Patrol agents the training, tools and resources they need to adequately patrol our borders and employ effective strategies to secure our ports of entry.

We are facing a multitude of threats from terrorism, drug cartels and criminal gangs so we need to implement a best practices mix of current and new technologies and screening procedures that will secure our air travel.

Pro-Family Values

The single greatest influence on my outlook on life, and how I will represent the 1st Congressional District in Congress, stems from my marriage and the birth of my son, Noah. I am pro-family and pro-life.

Cheryl and I know that having a child and starting a family is a blessing from God, because conceiving children has not been easy for us.

The struggles we have bared and the gifts we have been blessed with have made me keenly aware of how precious and sacred life truly is. I feel it is the duty of any honest and decent representative of the people to stand on the side of life and support federal policy which sustains life.

I'm proud to be the one candidate in the Republican Primary who is a full-time resident of Suffolk County. I pay property taxes here, I'm raising a family here. I have a stake in our way of life and I'm dedicated to making it better and affirming a culture of life in our nation's capital.

National Defense

We must support our nation's military by providing the best training, technology and equipment available.

I am committed to ensuring that America stands ready to effectively confront the global security challenges of the 21st Century, such as terrorism and nuclear proliferation. We must ensure:

• That our military remains the world's strongest and most agile, able to handle traditional and evolving threats;

• That our intelligence community receives the full backing of the federal government -- in word and deed -- and becomes ever more proficient at anticipating impending danger; and

• That we continue to nurture the international alliances and relationships that promote peace and security.

Social Security and Medicare

I will fight to preserve, protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security now, and for future generations. We must put Social Security on a sound financial footing. We need to improve Medicaid and Medicare by rewarding quality care, promoting competition, eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, and giving doctors and patients control over treatment options.

I support efforts to repeal Obamacare and will fight to repeal the Medicare Advantage cuts supported by Nancy Pelosi and Tim Bishop.

Our Men and Women in Uniform and our Veterans

We must ensure that our veterans and military receive the benefits and services they have earned through service to our nation.

I will emphatically advocate for robust support from the federal government, especially in the areas of health care, education and employment assistance for our returning heroes and the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Education

I am passionate about improving the quality of education in our country. I know through personal experience that a good education can help anyone achieve the American dream. We need schools with high standards, accountability, outstanding teachers and effective administrators that prepare our children for an increasingly competitive global workplace, especially in science, technology, engineering and math. I will work to ensure that we are laying the foundation for a new generation of great American doctors, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and teachers.

Like you, I recognize that parents rightly want the best education for their children. Where public schools are inadequate, parents deserve additional, affordable choice. Therefore, I would support charter schools and tax credits for attending faith-based or other non-public schools and the option of home schooling.

Environment and Energy

As your Congressman, I will support common-sense environmental policies that will help reduce pollution and preserve our natural resources. I will work to defeat any cap-and-trade legislation that would result in a massive new energy tax passed on to Long Island consumers, businesses, farmers and families.

For decades, our dependence on foreign fossil energy sources has produced staggering fuel costs for families and small businesses. We must reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We need to strive toward energy independence, bring down the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel, create more jobs for American workers and strengthen our national security. We must embrace a comprehensive approach that relies on American-made energy sources and technologies.

I support an "all-of-the-above" package of steps to overhaul our energy policy: environmentally-responsible domestic oil drilling; greater use of safe nuclear power; investment in alternative energy sources, like solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower; the production of clean coal to power cars and planes; and the extraction of additional natural gas to cook our food and heat our homes.

Defend our Constitutional Rights and Freedoms

I will work tirelessly to preserve the rights of the individual and our state by upholding the constitutional limits and restraints placed on government by our nation's founders. I will fight to defend every law-abiding American's right to protect their family and property.