Kathy Dahlkemper

Kathy Dahlkemper was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 3rd district of the State of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2011.

Iraq
Dahlkemper has indicated opposition to the war in Iraq, citing poor justification for military conflict prior to hostilities and bad management since it began. She has also expressed support for more diplomatic engagement within the country and the region, coupled with a "systematic withdrawal" of American troops within one year: "'This disengagement does not mean abandonment. Iraq is also experiencing what many have for some time labeled a civil war. We need to fulfill our obligations to restore civil society in that nation and work toward broader multilateral relations in the region.'"

Healthcare
Dahlkemper believes that American healthcare is in crisis both in terms of access and in cost. She suggests a two-fold approach: First an intensive look at the system itself focusing on cost structures and the relationship between expenditures on healthcare and patient success. Second a focus on the maintenance of good health and preventative medicine. "' . . .far too many Americans suffering from lack of access to adequate care, increasingly the cost of healthcare is placing nearly intolerable financial burdens on Americans. Ironically, we spend an extraordinary amount now as a nation. '""" Dahlkemper introduced the Young Adult Healthcare Coverage Act, which "would extend the dependent health insurance coverage option for individuals, ages 19-29, as part of their parents’ policy. It also allows young adults to get back on a policy as a dependent after they have been separated." Source: "Young Adult Healthcare Coverage Act". http://www.dahlkemper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=106&amp;Itemid=44. August 19, 2009.

Environment
Dahlkemper supports alternative energy sources, and submitted a bill recently that "would extend production and investment tax credits for offshore wind energy until 2020"

Source: "Erie's Dahlkemper introduces bill to extend tax credits for wind energy". kathydahlkemperforcongress.com/news/eries-dahlkemper-introduces-bill-extend-tax-credits-wind-energy. June 16, 2010.

Dahlkemper believes we have ignored the realities of the negative human impact on our environment and world. "'I believe that living a 'green' life can co-exist with business, and in fact, is a real opportunity for technological advances and, in turn, job creation.'"

Education
No Child Left Behind is very likely the largest ill-funded federal mandate in our nation's modern history, according to Dahlkemper. She feels that we need to increase our investment in both primary and higher education. "'This program has proven that it is one thing to talk about a program but certainly another to support it. The federal government spends only 2.4%* of the entire budget on education.'" (*Source U.S. Department of Education website available at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html, last viewed November 21, 2007)

Dahlkemper is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1144: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act. The act requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to mitigate the gender bias existing in science- and technology-based federal agencies through workshops, training, and other methods. "Bill Summary and Status: H.R. 1144." http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1144:. Feb. 24, 2009.

Dahlkemper voted in favor of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. The act “will make strategic investments to strengthen U.S. scientific and economic leadership, support manufacturing, and create jobs by funding science, innovation, and education. "America COMPETES Act Invests in Manufacturing, New Technology and Job Creation: Dalhkemper Ammendment Supports Advanced Manufacturing Training." http://dahlkemper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=262&amp;Itemid=9. May 28, 2010.

Climate
Dahlkemper voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 - the "Climate Change Bill" - which ultimately passed the House of Representatives. She is quoted as saying "While it is critical that our nation transition away from fossil fuels, I could not support a bill that places a disproportionate burden on Northwestern Pennsylvanians as we move toward that goal.”

Source: "Rep. Dahlkemper: Climate Change Bill Places Disproportionate Burden on Northwestern PA." http://dahlkemper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=54:rep-dahlkemper-climate-change-bill-places-disproportionate-burden-on-northwestern-pa&amp;catid=9:press-releases&amp;Itemid=9. June 25, 2009.

Debt
Dahlkemper feels there is a need to rethink how we allocate our resources. According to Dahlkemper, government waste has to be addressed and government spending needs more transparency. "'It's time we rethink our nation's priorities and shift some of our resources away from massive military spending to our urgent domestic needs.'"

Energy
Dahlkemper is a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology.

As a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology, Dahlkemper grilled a panel including representatives from NOAA, the EPA, and the former MMS about the technology being used to clean up the oil spill. She also questioned how the upcoming hurricane season would affect the cleanup efforts currently underway in the gulf. Dahlkemper then questioned authorities about what technology the US should invest in to prevent another oil spill.

Source: "Dahlkemper Asks Tough Questions about BP Oil Spill." http://dahlkemper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=265&amp;catid=9&amp;Itemid=9. June 9, 2010.

Dahlkemper feels we are too dependent upon foreign oil. She thinks that this dependence has not only affected our foreign policy but has also affected our developement of new technologies. "'We will always need energy - and lots of it -- and we need to act now to develop technologies to insure domestic sources of ample, affordable, and clean energy.'" Update, May 6, 2010: Dahlkemper votes for the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, a bill that, if passed, will award rebates to Americans who are reducing the energy used in their homes and it will provide jobs for Americans since "more than 90 percent of the materials and products used in eligible measures are made in the United States", not to mention US construction and installation companies will experience increased demand for services.

When asked about the bill, Dahlkemper said "the United States has been at the forefront of every major technological advancement over the last century; I believe in our ability to become a global leader in the new energy industry, as well.”

Source: "Dahlkemper Votes to Create Local Jobs, Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil." http://dahlkemper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=255:dahlkemper-votes-to-create-local-jobs-reduce-dependence-on-foreign-oil&amp;catid=9:press-releases&amp;Itemid=9. May 6, 2010.

Jobs
Dahlkemper believes in the opportunity to work and earn a living. She feels that people who have worked in the manufacturing industries that have helped make Northwestern Pennsylvania and this country strong. She believes that the region must aggressively take part in the energy revolution and ensure that our workforce is trained for the challenging work of the future. "'We must look to the new economy for our growth and stability.'"

Trade
Dahlkemper is concerned with the lack of controls in the area of free trade; controls in the form of product safety standards, proper protection of patented technologies, fair labor practices, etc. She sees as a pressing problem the movement by many of our businesses of all or a part of their manufacturing operations overseas to take advantage of cheap labor and other costs, and in return more and more dangerous products coming into this nation, putting our people, including our children, at risk. She feels to be a part of the global economy, there is a need for a collaborative approach to address these issues among our government, our corporations and their foreign host countries. "'We must be sure that while we take advantage of the many opportunities this new age offers, we are doing what is in the long-term best interests of our workers, citizens and country.'""""""" Science policy tracking by Molly Patterson, SEA Deepwater Horizon Intern

Bio
According to her campaign website, "Kathy Dahlkemper is not a career politician. She is a concerned citizen." Dahlkemper is a civic leader, successful small businesswoman, wife and mother of five. By bringing people together in public/private partnerships, Dahlkemper succeeded in helping to create the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park in Erie, Pa. Dahlkemper has served as the Director of LEAF for the past ten years. She was successful in obtaining $2 million in funding for the arboretum.

2008 elections
Dahlkemper won the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) in the 2008 congressional elections. She went on to defeat English in the November 2008 general election.

Money in politics
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Affiliations
Kathy Dahlkemper works with the Girl Scouts of America. Through the Nonprofit Partnership, she helped non-profit organizations assist individuals through challenging times. Dahlkemper has also worked with families by her association with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District
 * Official Dahlkemper for Congress website