We must have equal opportunity for all. The New Orleans disaster removed the veil on poverty in America. California also has its hidden poverty and social and economic inequities. We cannot guarantee that everyone will be rich, but we should strive to provide everyone with the opportunity to achieve success. The elimination of racial and economic barriers must be our goal.

Women

The first bill I voted for as a member of congress was to honor female veterans and military personnel. For 30 years I have fought for and support the rights of women. I am a strong pro-choice feminist and a proud father of 5 daughters and 3 granddaughters. My daughters and wife are my closest advisors and confidants and all of my decisions are heavily weighed by their influence. I work to ensure that women will have equal opportunities in my office and that I am a strong, leading voice for the rights of women everywhere.

As California's former Insurance Commissioner for eight years, I was proud to support the Patient's Bill of Rights and Affordable Care Act to help advance women's health. Our old broken health care laws allowed insurance companies to deny coverage to women for the pre-existing condition of being a woman. These absurd discriminatory laws will be completely eliminated in a few short years, but millions of women already have access to more affordable health coverage because of health care reform.

The LGBT Community

Throughout our country's proud history, every generation has faced a national debate on civil rights issues. While these struggles have often been slow and arduous, as we have witnessed for more than two centuries, the trajectory of our society is toward more equality under the law. I fully support eliminating barriers to equality for all Americans, including the LGBT community.

Marriage Equality for All: I support marriage equality for all Californians. We all deserve the freedom to marry.

Eliminating Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT): I was proud to fight for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell in Congress, and we became a more just society when we finally passed legislation to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell that President Obama signed into law. Gay and lesbian men and women have fought and died defending our freedoms. They deserve the ability to serve openly and without fear of reprisal, and as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am closely monitoring the military's plan to implement the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): Californians are blessed to live in a state that bars discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity. I support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, because I believe all Americans deserve the ability to work without fear of discriminatory termination.

Ending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): Marriage equality now exists in six states, and domestic partnership and civil union arrangements exist in other states, including California. These couples deserve access to the rights and responsibilities associated with marriage on the federal level, including the ability to file joint tax returns and to collect spousal Social Security survivors insurance.

International Welfare

Having served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Ethiopia, my wife Patti and I were distraught when war broke out between Ethiopia and its former province, Eritrea. In 1998, I organized a team of five returned volunteers and undertook a two-year mission to assist in securing peace. The team traveled to both countries to meet with the Ambassadors, Foreign Ministers and other local leaders. In the fall of 2001 they met with expatriates from both countries now living in the United States, helping them to reconcile their differences and urging them to send the message of peace to their homeland. The team was invited to the Peace Signing Ceremony in Algiers where both leaders praised the team for its pivotal role in the peace process.

Building on that success, I have formed a new team that is actively engaged in negotiating a peace settlement in the Congo. The team is bringing people together around an emphasis on environmental protection and the preservation of the nation’s five national parks with their incomparable flora and fauna. Continuing their lifetime humanitarian work, in December 2007 Patti and John traveled to Honduras to commemorate the opening of a community hospital that will serve tens of thousands of people in this mostly impoverished Latin American Country.