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Niki Tsongas was the wife of the late Senator Paul Tsongas. Inspired by their life together, Niki has continued her dedication to public service, building on what she and Paul had accomplished. As a committed community leader in Lowell, actively serving on the Lowell Civic Stadium and Arena Commission which oversees the Tsongas Arena and the LaLacheur Ballpark, the Lowell Plan and the Merrimack Repertory Theater, Niki continues to work for the revitalization of the city she has called home for 35 years. Niki has a law degree from Boston University and started Lowell's first all-female law practice. She is currently the Dean of External Affairs at Middlesex Community College—the largest community college in the Commonwealth. In 2001, Niki was appointed by Congressman Marty Meehan to head up a foundation to provide educational funding for the children of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. And she's been the member of numerous corporate and non-profit boards because of her strong belief that business must be constructively engaged in the fight for social and environmental justice. On The issues. Below are Niki Tsongas own words on some of the key issues facing our Country: Iraq: I favor setting a date for withdrawal of our troops and seeking a political solution to stabilize Iraq and the region. Additionally, caring for our returning veterans is an absolute obligation. These principles lie at the core of my beliefs on Iraq. We must do better than the failed policies that got us into this war. It is time for this Administration to acknowledge that our troops have been placed in the middle a civil war without a coherent exit strategy. Health Care: Health care is a national crisis. It's also a deeply personal issue for me. That's why as a member of Congress I'll focus on making quality, affordable health care available for all Americans. Global Warming: This is no longer just a political issue; this is a critical generational responsibility. After years of inaction by the Bush administration, it's up to Congress to provide leadership. As a member of Congress, I'll work to set limits on greenhouse gas emitters, make polluters pay, and work to make our district a leader in the development of alternative technologies to help end our costly addiction to foreign oil. Education: I am passionate about education. It is the best way to make a long-term difference in an individual's quality of life. That's why I've spent the last decade working as a director and dean at Middlesex Community College. As a member of Congress, I'll work to strengthen our schools—supporting legislation to reduce class size, improve teacher training, fully fund special education, modernize classrooms and make college affordable for all Americans. Homeland Security: Four years after 9/11, Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast and it became painfully clear how vulnerable we still were to a catastrophe within our own borders. We can and must do better. In Congress, I will work to ensure that our law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and emergency response teams—our first line of defense—have the resources, training and equipment they need. And I will support legislation to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission to improve our port and border security, better protect critical infrastructure and transportation systems, and ensure we are sharing intelligence and information between federal authorities and state and local law enforcement officials. |
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