Vern Buchanan, United States Congressman

The economy is the most important challenge facing us today. Unemployment is up and record numbers of working families are losing their homes. In addition, millions of Americans have lost much of their life savings. Retirement accounts that Americans count on to retire when they are ready have been dramatically affected by the downward spiral of the economy. People are hurting. This is no time for partisanship.  Read more....

Health insurance can be out of reach to families who struggle to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. We need health care reform so that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care.  Read more.

I want to protect America by securing our borders and cracking down on illegal immigration. The American people welcome legal immigrants from every country in the world. We must find a way to deal with those who do not respect our laws enough to follow them.  Read more.

National security and the safety of the American people is the most important function of the federal government. I support policies that will help ensure we continue to have the most capable, best-trained, and best-equipped military in the world. We also need to protect civil liberties while providing military and law enforcement with the tools and resources they need to meet the security challenges of the 21st Century. Read more.

Washington is broken. We need to change the way Congress does business. Since entering Congress, I have worked to end the partisanship that prevents us from addressing issues of national importance such as energy independence, securing our border and eliminating wasteful spending. Too often members of Congress put scoring political points ahead of doing what is right for the American people.  Read more.

The last thing we need in a slow economy is an out-of-touch Congress that taxes and spends your hard-earned dollars in a reckless manner. But that is exactly what has happened. Since the beginning of 2010, Congress has passed and the President has signed three spending bills that I opposed: a trillion dollar stimulus package, an $800 billion omnibus appropriations bill and a $3.5 trillion budget. Read more.

I am honored to represent nearly 97,000 veterans who have sacrificed on our behalf. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am working to ensure they get the health care and benefits they have earned. I was honored to be awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars' (VFW) legislative achievement award. This award, by the Florida VFW, was given for my service to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families. Read more.

Small businesses are vital to our economy. They account for seven out of every 10 new jobs.

Right now, most small business owners are struggling to guide their business through these tough times. A recent survey said that 48 percent of small businesses have instituted hiring freezes and 30 percent of the nation's small business owners are no longer taking a salary.  Read more.