[caption id="attachment_195967" align="alignleft" width="220"] Tawana Cadien[/caption]

Tawana Cadien (Democrat)

Hometown: Beaumont, Texas 409-553-9381 www.tawanacadienforcongress.com

What are your top two legislative priorities?

I will take the lead in advocating for a comprehensive policy on [genetically modified organisms] in foods. Americans deserve to know and understand what is in the foods they consume daily. Adults and children alike are battling allergies, diseases and sickness like never before. The American woman needs women in Congress to represent them. Our current representative voted against equal pay for equal work. Today, 80 percent of women over 65 are considered to be in poverty. Why? Because they have not been paid fairly; they were unable to save at the same rate of men for retirement.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing your district?

Throughout the 10th Congressional District, there are overwhelming concerns from parents as it relates to their children. Whether it is safety [in] schools, the community or protections for their disabled children, safety is a great concern. Also, security for seniors is a major concern.

If elected, how do you plan to address these issues?

I will champion and support bills that implement additional protections for children within the school system, including—but not limited to—enhanced safeguards within every school in the country and a revamping of policies designed to protect disabled children. Our children are exposed to much more than we were at their age. Their level of concern often mirrors those of adults. This is quite disturbing to know that children are now bearing the same emotional burdens as adults. I encourage every adult with a child in [his or her] life to stop and ask them to write down the answer to one simple question: What is your biggest fear? As a mother of two daughters, and [as] your congressional representative, I will advocate and fight for protections for all children. 

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[caption id="attachment_195976" align="alignleft" width="220"] Michael McCaul[/caption]

Michael McCaul (Republican, incumbent)

Hometown: Dallas 202-225-2401 www.mccaul.house.gov

What are your top two legislative priorities?

I believe there is no bigger priority for a member of Congress than to continue to reflect the will of their constituency. My constituents want to be safe, they want to have the laws of the land enforced, and they want the government out of the way. I will continue to press for policy that achieves this and continue to represent the views of my district.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing your district?

The main issue of concern to the people I represent is border security and immigration as well as the economy. We have to do a much better job of knowing who is coming into our country both illegally through our Southern border and through the refugee program from terrorist hotspots. This can only be done through increased operational control as well as effective screening procedures. On the economy, Congress must do more to promote small-business growth and fight back against excessive spending and overregulation.

If elected, how do you plan to address these issues?

As chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, I have the responsibility of ensuring our nation’s borders are secure and Americans everywhere are safe from the threat of Islamic extremism. I have introduced legislation aimed at accomplishing both of these things and recently released a comprehensive strategy to defeat and destroy ISIS and following groups. I believe we must provide the men and women working hard to secure our border with the necessary resources they need to get the job done. I have introduced legislation to provide regulatory relief to small-business owners spending money, time and energy complying with paperwork rather than figuring out how to grow their business.