Schwartz Profile in CQ Politics in America

Congressional Quarterly will be releasing the new CQ Politics in America later this month. The new guys's profiles are online but returning congressional representatives' profiles are only available through a subscription service or the print (it is a standard library resource). I did get a sneak preview of Allyson Schwartz's profile. Here are some highlights:

Schwartz is on her way up in the House, and fast. In her second term, she won a coveted seat on the Ways and Means Committee, the only sophomore to secure such a plum assignment. A formidable fundraiser, she also was chosen to help Democrats develop more donors among women across the country. And she is mentioned as a potential future Senate contender.

Even as a freshman, Schwartz got a taste of the tax, Social Security and Medicare issues she will now address on Ways and Means. She was given a seat on the Budget Committee, the only Democratic newcomer assigned to the panel in the 109th Congress (2005-06).

In 2006, Schwartz repeatedly spoke out for improved homeland security policies and the more effective use of federal funds for U.S. security. The suburban Philadelphia lawmaker criticized government spending being redirected from cities to small communities. "Homeland security funding should be based on risk not politics," she said. Schwartz also pushed for the screening of all cargo coming into the country by ship or airplane.

Health care is her specialty. A Pennsylvania state senator for 14 years before her election to Congress, she calls her state's Children's Health Insurance Program "one of my proudest accomplishments," and wants to expand the joint federal-state version to cover most American children who do not have health care coverage. She also wants to tackle broader problems of health care coverage and affordability, but says "the health care agenda is something that I hope to get done in my next term and in future terms. It's not all going to happen in one fell swoop."