Nicola Tsongas

Niki Tsongas has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 5th District of Massachusetts, since 2007. She won the Democratic nomination to fill the seat left vacant by Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) in July 2007.

Iraq war
Tsongas supports a fixed timeline for the withdrawal of American troops. On her official House Web site, Tsongas writes, "I believe the best and most responsible way to bring about this change is to set a timetable that requires the Iraqi government to step up to the plate and that fully engages with our concerted effort, the international community to bring about a political solution."

Health care
Tsongas supports expanding access to health care to all Americans. To achieve this, she supports a national plan based on the Massachusetts Health Care "Connector" Plan. On her official House Web site, she writes that she would support "the most immediate hope for providing health care to all Americans that can be passed and implemented quickly, equitably, and cost effectively."

Energy and environment
Tsongas supports a cap on total emissions, fines for greenhouse gas emitters, additional funding for alternative energy sources and increased conservation efforts.

Homeland security
Tsongas supports increased funding for community policing efforts and for firefighters and the restoration of the assault weapons ban. "Homeland Security," Official Tsongas House Web site.

Education
Tsongas supports early education programs such as Head Start, and she wants to ensure full federal funding for No Child Left Behind. She also supports measures to keep the cost of college down, such as the expansion of the Pell Grant and Stafford Loan programs.

2007 elections
Tsongas sought to replace Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) who retired on July 1, 2007 to become Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She ran against Jim Ogonowski, who won the Republican nomination.

On September 4, 2007, Tsongas won the special Democratic primary for the seat, defeating Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue 36-32, with other candidates, James Eldridge, Barry Finegold and James Miceli, all State Reps, getting 14, 13 and 6 percent of the vote, respectively.

Won special elections
With a 51-46 lead over Republican Jim Ogonowski, on October 16, 2007, Tsongas won the Massachusetts special election replacing Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.). Tsongas, the widow of former Sen. Paul Tsongas (D-Mass.), was sworn into her husband's former seat. “Niki will be a tremendous asset to the Democratic caucus. Massachusetts voters sent a clear message: They support candidates who fight for their values to provide children’s health care and work to end the war in Iraq,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

2008 election
Tsongas was uncontested in the November general election.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * House Committee on Budget

External resources

 * "Niki Tsongas, Democrat for Congress in Massachusetts," ''Official Niki Tsongas for Congress webiste.

External articles

 * Aaron Blake. "Tsongas and Ogonowski win in Mass. special primary," The Hill, September 5, 2007.