Albio Sires

Albio Sires, a Democrat, has represented the Thirteenth Congressional District of New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007.

Veteran Support
Representative Sires is “committed to providing veterans with the health care and benefits we promised them by allowing hospitals to hire more doctors and nurses to decrease wait times for appointments”. In 2007 he voted in support of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which, as the larges veterans health bill in history, allocated over $87 billion for veteran’s programs. Sires also approves of increased spending to aid “veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prosthetics research”. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America list Representative Sires as a strong supporter, and Representative Sires voted for H.R. 1538, the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which unanimously passed the House. Veterans’ affairs are largely a non-partisan issue, with both parties strongly in support of increased aid.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Energy
Representative Sires believes “in limited drilling where it is currently allowed”, but also that “we must invest in clean, renewable energy sources”, including wind power. Representative Sires has been a consistant supporter of alternative energy, voting YES to increase funding for homegrown biofuels, renewable energy, and energy production and conservation. He also voted for H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, because he believes “We must act now to establish reliable, affordable energy sources for the future” and he is ”excited about the role alternative, renewable energy will play.” . Representative Sires also voted to end oil and gas exploration subsidies and criminalize oil cartels (such as OPEC). Representative Sires's focus on alternative energy as opposed to increased drilling is largely a liberal position though it is quickly becoming bipartisan as environmental decay expands.

Education
Albio Sires has been a strong advocate of increased funding for education. He believes that “We must do more as a country to support education by strengthening our schools, fully funding special education, and modernizing our classrooms”. In 2007, Representative Sires voted to allocate another 10.2 billion dollars to federal education. Sires has supported the interests of the National Education Association consistently. Sires also supported H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act of 2007 and H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, stating that “we must work to…ensure every student can attend college”. representative Sires commitment to public education is a classically liberal perspective, and his goals to provide funding for students to achieve higher levels of education even more so.

Biography
Sires was born in Cuba in 1951. He went to St. Peter's College on a basketball scholarship then earned a master's degree at Middlebury College. He taught English and Spanish before becoming interested in politics while working on the campaign of a fellow teacher.

In 1987, Gov. Tom Kean appointed him to a position in the state Department of Community Affairs. Sires served as mayor of West New York from 1995 until he decided to run for U.S. Congress. From 2002-2006 he also served in the New Jersey state legislature, where he was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Serving in this position, he became acting governor on several occasions when the elected governor was out of the state. In this capacity, he signed several bills into law. Sires was the first Hispanic to hold either of these positions in New Jersey. 

2006 elections
Sires sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 13th District and for the special election to complete the final two months of Bob Menendez's term. Menendez moved up to the United States Senate to fill the seat vacated by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine.

In the June 6, 2006 primary, Sires beat [Perth Amboy, and fellow assemblyman, Joseph Vas, capturing almost 75% of the vote. In the special primary to fill the remaining two months, Sires won approximately 90% of the vote, defeating James Geron, almost assuring Sires of a Congressional seat as no Republican is seeking the term.

Sires faced Republican John Guarini ? a salesman and second cousin of former New Jersey Democratic Rep. Frank J. Guarini (1979-93) ? who was the GOP nominee. Sires defeated Guarini 78%-19%. 

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

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
 * Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere

External resources

 * Albio Sires for Congress, official campaign site.
 * Blue Jersey