Congressman Mike Ferguson

Congressman Mike Ferguson was born and raised in New Jersey. When he was a boy, his family lived in Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County, and he attended Valley View Elementary School and the Woodglen School.

Congressman Ferguson is a strong, independent voice for us. He works hard every day solving problems, delivering for our local communities and making a difference. From delivering homeland security funding for first responders and tax relief for families to securing funding for important flood control initiatives and strengthening education, Congressman Ferguson has a solid record of accomplishment.

Congressman Ferguson is a leading voice and advocate for health care reform and expanding access to health care services. The House and Senate approved Congressman Ferguson's legislation, the "Lifespan Respite Care Act," which provides $289 million during five years for states to train volunteers and provide other services to an estimated 50 million primary family caregivers - including nearly 900,000 in New Jersey - who provide in-home care for adults with chronic conditions and children with special needs. President Bush signed Congressman Ferguson's bill into law in December 2006.

Spotlighting Congressman Ferguson's support for health care policies that help patients maintain independence in their homes, the Visiting Nurse Associations of America presented Congressman Ferguson with its "Legislator of the Year" award in 2006. The New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2005 selected Congressman Ferguson for its "Outstanding Legislator of the Year" award because of his support for veterans and his efforts to strengthen veterans' health care.

Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congressman Ferguson has been fighting to ensure local police, firefighters and emergency response officials have the resources they need not only to protect our communities but also to meet their new homeland security responsibilities.

Nearly $5.5 million in homeland security funding has been targeted to communities and first responders throughout the 7th District. Congressman Ferguson has voted to ensure New Jersey receives a greater share of federal security dollars and that those funds are directed to protect the state's critical infrastructure, including our major transportation arteries, ports, and chemical and nuclear plants.

Because of Congressman Ferguson's strong support for law enforcement and other first responders, the New Jersey State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Congressman Ferguson's re-election to the House in 2006. The Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC also endorsed Congressman Ferguson's re-election in 2004 and 2006.

A former high school teacher in the Bronx and an instructor at a college in New Jersey, Congressman Ferguson has a passion for education. The first bill he introduced in Congress focused on strengthening education, and he has long been a leading advocate for increasing federal funding for special education to ensure the most vulnerable students receive the educational opportunities they deserve.

Because of his commitment to strengthen education for every child, the National Education Association awarded Congressman Ferguson an "A" on its Congressional Report Card.

Families in the 7th District enjoy one of the highest median household incomes in the nation. But that also means we pay more in taxes. Combining federal taxes with New Jersey's state income and sky-high property taxes - which are the highest in the nation -means many families face a significant and escalating tax burden.

That's why Congressman is a champion of lowering taxes for every New Jersey taxpayer.

He's voted to double the child tax credit to $1,000, ease the marriage penalty, make college expenses tax deductible, lower taxes for dividends and capital gains, eliminate the death tax and reduce the tax burden for every worker by reducing each income tax rate. He also is supporting legislation to repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax, which particularly strikes families in the 7th District.

Because New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, we know firsthand the importance of protecting the environment and natural habitats, and preserving our open space. Congressman Ferguson is a strong champion of protecting and strengthening the environment. He's voted to protect drinking water standards and the Endangered Species Act, urged tougher air pollution regulations for carbon dioxide emissions, and voted to prohibit road construction in national parks and logging in national forests.

He's voted to prohibit oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, off the coast of California, off the coast of Florida, on national monuments, and in the Great Lakes, and he supports legislation banning drilling off the New Jersey coast.

Demonstrating his strong commitment to expanding alternative and renewable energy, Congressman Ferguson introduced legislation to extend federal tax credits for homeowners and businesses that install solar panels, which produce clean, emissions-free electricity.

Congressman Ferguson was first elected in 2000 to represent the 7th District, which includes portions of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. He won re-election in 2002, 2004 and 2006, and currently is serving in his fourth term.

A graduate of Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, Congressman Ferguson received a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Notre Dame and a master's of public policy degree with a specialization in education policy from Georgetown University.

Congressman Ferguson taught history and coached basketball at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, New York, and served as an adjunct instructor of political science at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey.

In the House, Congressman Ferguson serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Health; Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet; and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Congressman Ferguson and his wife, Maureen, have four young children, and their home is in New Providence in Union County. When Congress is in session, the Ferguson family lives in Bethesda, Maryland.