Neil Abercrombie

Party: Democratic

Age: 71

Job: U.S. Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives

Born in Buffalo, New York. In Hawaii since 1959, arrived from New York

Lives: Manoa

Contact: 808-589-1439, NeilCampaign@gmail.com

Web site: www.neilabercrombie.com

Job history past 10 years:
U.S. Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-present.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
Elected to State House, 1974-1978; State Senate, 1978-1986; Honolulu City Council, 1988-1990; U.S. House, Hawaii First Congressional District, 1986 for three months after special election. Re-elected to House, 1991-present.

Other civic experience or community service:
Boards of Nuuanu YMCA, Hawaii Special Olympics, Epilepsy Foundation of America, Friends of Father Damien, Variety Club (Tent 50), Life Foundation/AIDS Foundation of Hawaii and Amnesty International.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
Chairman, Armed Services Subcommittee on Air & Land Forces, overseeing Army, Air Force. Member, Armed Services Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, overseeing Navy, Marine Corps. Member, Natural Resources Committee.

1) Why are you running for office?
To provide experienced leadership for Hawaii that works to improve the quality of life for all our people. In Congress, I've worked to produce bipartisan legislation to address the energy crisis and to redeploy our troops from Iraq. Another example is a bipartisan bill I authored to build, renovate and maintain thousands of Hawaii military housing units that will infuse more than $25 billion into Hawaii's economy over a 50-year period.

2) Should the U.S. set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq? Explain.
As Chairman of the House Armed Services Air/Land Subcommittee, I'm fully aware that U.S. military readiness is in a crisis and must be restored and reset, as a result of the war in Iraq. Our military has accomplished all it can. There is no military solution in Iraq; a political solution is needed. We must support our troops by setting firm deadlines for their redeployment from Iraq.

3) Should the federal government impose stricter fuel- and energy-efficiency standards on cars, appliances, etc.?
I voted to approve the Energy Independence and Security Act, legislation aimed at making cars and trucks, home appliances, houses, businesses, and the federal, state and local governments more energy efficient. This bill raises vehicle fuel efficiency standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, an increase of 40 percent which is the first hike in congressionally-mandated mileage standards in 32 years. This legislation reduces emissions that cause global warming.

4) How would you get affordable health care to more Americans?
I support a single-payer model that would provide an improved Medicare for all, and have cosponsored various bills to this effect. Getting universal coverage would allow for more cost effective preventative care instead of emergency care.

5) Do you support the restriction that only U.S.-flagged cargo and passenger ships may serve Hawai'i? Why?
Our maritime links to the Mainland would vanish without this restriction. U.S. carriers couldn't compete with low-wage, government-subsidized foreign competition. Jones Act shippers and ship builders generate $272 million in state taxes annually. The Act is the sole guarantee of the continued existence of an American Merchant Marine and shipbuilding industry. Furthermore, a study found shipping accounts for only a small portion of the cost of goods in Hawaii.

6) Do you support a Native Hawaiian recognition bill?
Yes. I introduced the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007, the House companion bill to Senator Daniel Akaka's in the Senate. The legislation would recognize Native Hawaiians as indigenous people, similar to American Indians and Alaska Natives. It gives the Native Hawaiian community the tools to guide its own destiny and manage the lands and assets set aside for it by law. This is critical to their well being and cultural identity.

7) What changes, if any, would you make to the No Child Left Behind education law?
This law, in its current form, is utterly flawed and under-funded. I would like to see major modifications, if not a repeal of the program. Punishing schools that are struggling—sometimes because of a small minority of students—is counterproductive. There must be more flexibility in the measurements of student achievement besides standardized testing. We must focus on a well-rounded education to ensure the success of our keiki.

8) What's the No. 1 piece of legislation you'd work to pass in 2009?
Energy independence is a cross-cutting issue, impacting our economy, national security, health, and global environment. We must rethink where we get our energy and how we use it. I'm sponsoring bipartisan legislation that provides a comprehensive approach that creates and expands a sustainable energy supply at home. This will stop the outflow of wealth from our borders and create jobs and business opportunities in the United States.