ELISE STEFANIK

I support religious liberty, but I also think it is very important as a Republican Party that we bring a compassionate tone when talking about women's health care issues, when we talk about pro-life and pro-choice.

One of my key issues is economic empowerment.

You have to embrace your authenticity and your unique perspective as a woman.

I think being a young woman is a strength.

As the proud home of Fort Drum and the Navy Nuclear Site at Kesselring, our district is home to countless military spouses who make enormous sacrifices on behalf of our nation.

The challenges military families face from frequent relocations and deployments are themselves patches of service, and that's why supporting our military families is one of my top priorities in Congress.

When our natural habitats become overrun by species that are not native to these areas, they can damage the environment, pose health risks, and even hurt our local economy.

Serving our district and military families is a tremendous honor, and as our work continues in Congress, I will continue fighting for a strong national defense.

There is still much work to be done to help our students secure good-paying jobs and achieve their ultimate goals, and in Congress, I'll continue to support Career and Technical Education programs.

In a 21st-century economy, it is critical that we equip our nation's children with the tools they need to compete in a global marketplace.

Members of Congress who want to get things done, they need partners who want to move the ball forward on big issues like fundamental tax reform, on regulatory reform, on putting together a replacement package for Obamacare.

I understand firsthand that Washington is broken.

When you get out of Washington, you realize how much of a Beltway bubble exists.

One of the first bills I introduced in Congress was the Be Open Act, legislation to help ease an unnecessary, duplicative and punitive burden placed on employees and employers under the Affordable Care Act.

The H-2A guest visa program has been prone to excessive delays and is too rigid to fit the changing needs of farmers and their employees.

I was singled out by other girls for participating in classroom discussions and physically bullied.

Our most important job in Congress is to provide for our national defense, and therefore, every year, Congress allocates funds and determines defense priorities in a bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

In Congress, I've advocated for an all-of-the-above energy policy that identifies and promotes alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and hydropower.

A traditional college education works for many students, but for others, this path isn't the best choice.

I was in the same class as Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard. So we really experienced Facebook in a unique way. It launched our sophomore year, and we were also the first class where it became a recruiting tool.

Zebra mussels like to hitch a ride on boats when they're transferred from one body of water to another. It's important to make sure to thoroughly clean your boat each time it leaves the water to ensure these invasive mussels are removed and that you are not spreading them to your next location.

Military spouses serve, too, and it's critical we work together to ensure our country's military spouses have the jobs they need and deserve.

Things won't change unless we have new types of candidates.

I was rowing the boat alone against a tide, running against an incumbent in 2013.

As a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, I'm committed to finding consensus on legislation to address our environmental and energy challenges.