Mark Critz

On Afghanistan, we need to do what it takes to prevent the return of Al Qaeda to a sanctuary in that country.

Economic renewal must be the agenda of the next Congress and the next presidential term, be it under Governor Romney or President Obama.

I think it is incumbent on us not to reduce and shortchange the ANSF, which could have calamitous consequences for Afghanistan's security.

This is perhaps the most calamitous step we could possibly take to destabilize the situation in Afghanistan.

It is far from clear where these 120,000 could possibly find gainful and legal employment in Afghanistan's economy.

To ensure that progress continues on all of these fronts, we have to make certain that policies are in place to support small firms and their research.

Not only does this reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but it also supports nearly 40,000 jobs.

With a gallon of gas near $4, alternative energy sources have again become critical.

I urge continued efforts to reduce barriers to markets in Asia and Latin America, in particular Brazil.

Please understand that many of us in industry regard China as an important trading partner with great potential as an export customer, but we just don't understand why there is such a great reluctance to hold them accountable for their…

While we do right by protecting our workers and safeguarding the environment, there is a real expense to doing so.

We cannot allow this to become a race to the bottom, and allow these lower standards to dictate U.S. policy.

Manufacturing is a key to our economic recovery, and we must take steps to build on its successes.

Job creation is absolutely essential to move Western Pennsylvania's economy forward.

In preparing for the fiscal year 2013 budget, I urge you to put politics aside and protect our promise to seniors, veterans and working families.

To cut off the lifelines our government has put in place to support them is to display callousness, not courage.

To play politics with the wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us, the results will be disastrous for everyone.

Solving our budgetary challenges in a way that stimulates job creation and economic growth should be our number one priority.

Let us work together to get our fiscal house in order in a responsible way that puts our economy back on the path to prosperity.

We cannot follow a budget formula that leaves seniors and veterans to fend for themselves.

If we are going to ask everyday hard-working Americans to sacrifice, then we must also ask millionaires and billionaires to sacrifice as well.

If enacted the rule would equate agricultural labor with non-agricultural labor, something that makes no sense to anyone that has ever stepped foot in a rural community.

Across America, farming is not just a source of food but a way of life.

Does it make sense to change the regulations for an entire industry because of one incident, or is it smarter to make the enforcement and the penalty for not following the current regulations make more sense?