Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.)

As chair of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific in the 112th Congress, Manzullo will focus on increasing export opportunities for American business owners while pressuring China and other Asian nations to play by what he calls the rules of fair trade.

Manzullo has also rallied for policies that would prevent currency manipulation, which he charges China often uses to undercut American manufacturing. He believes U.S. businesses should have reciprocal access to foreign markets.

A supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Manzullo has advocated for trade reform. He believes free, fair and expanded trade will bolster the economy and create jobs. He supports lower tariffs, modernized export control laws and the production of more American goods.

Taxes and the Economy

Manzullo supported President George W. Bush's tax cuts and wants to make them permanent. He believes if Americans keep larger portions of their income, it will stimulate the economy. He also favors eliminating the estate tax, which he charges discourages savings and investments, reduces wages and dissolves family-run businesses.

He voted against the 2009 stimulus package.

Healthcare

Manzullo opposed President Obama's 2010 health-care overhaul legislation, calling it a "job-killing disaster that will slap Americans with massive tax increases."He voted against the initial legislation and supports its repeal. Manzullo also voted against the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

In place of Obama's health-care reform, Manzullo would like to see medical liability reform. He believes malpractice and liability costs are causing doctors to leave the health profession. He also supports the creation of national association health plans, which would allow small businesses to band together and buy health insurance at group rates.

Manzullo also supports Medicare reform. He argues that under Medicare's current reimbursement formula, physicians who choose to treat Medicare patients lose money. He wants to change the formula, but has not specified how.

Energy and the Environment

Manzullo believes America should develop a multitiered energy plan that frees the country from reliance on foreign oil. He supports offshore oil drilling in the U.S. and voted against whistleblower protection for offshore oil workers.

He says he supports the development of alternative forms of energy, but his voting record on the topic varies.

Manzullo voted for the Cash for Clunkers program, but against June 2009 cap-and-trade legislation. He also voted against tax incentives for renewable energy and against the 2007 Energy Act, which increased auto fuel economy and require additional renewable fuel production. Manzullo did vote, however, for the 2005 Energy Act, which invested billions in green technology implementation and research.

Immigration

An opponent of illegal immigration, Manzullo believes securing the U.S.-Mexico border is a matter of national security. He credits touring the border with his beliefs and supports building a border fence. Manzullo is against paths to citizenship for illegal immigrants and voted against the 2010 DREAM Act.

"Amnesty rewards those who broke our laws, thereby encouraging others to do the same," he said.

Social Issues

Manzullo is anti-abortion rights; he has voted consistently to ban both late-term abortions and federal abortion spending. He and his wife co-founded the Northern Illinois Crisis Prevention Center, which provides medical care and clothing to needy pregnant women.

"I am pro-life," Manzullo says, "but I also believe that in taking such a position one needs to be prepared to get involved and help share the responsibility of crisis pregnancies."

Manzullo is opposed to LGBT rights. He voted against the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Sexual Orientation Employment Nondiscrimination Act.

"War on Terror"

Manzullo believes America need to actively wage a "war on terror," and he supports American military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He voted to authorize military force in Iraq and has voted consistently for funding for each engagement since.

He made a splash in 2009 with comments about Islamic extremists. In an interview regarding the potential move of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Illinois, Manzullo said: "These are really, really mean people whose job it is to kill people, driven by some savage religion."

Some charged his comments were insulting to Islam, but Manzullo says he was referring only to the extremists, not to the religion as a whole.

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