WickedLocal Bedford: Congressman Seth Moulton Hears from Billerica Residents

Democratic U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton shared his priorities for the 6th Congressional District as he traveled to Billerica April 7 and meet with 30 residents from Billerica, Bedford and Burlington in the most recent session of Congress on Your Corner.

“Economic development is my No. 1 priority in the district," Moulton told the audience at Billerica Town Hall.

The first-term representative said that, in an unusual move for a congressional office, he has hired Jason Denoncourt, formerly of The Gutierrez Company, as economic development director. Denoncourt was recently in Billerica to work with Community Development Director Rob Anderson.

On a national level, veterans are Moulton’s top priority.

“Veterans deserve the best health care,” Moulton said.

Moulton, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War, has chosen not to take advantage of the health care offered to congressmen, but to get his own health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Recently, a number of representatives from across the country signed onto a bill I’m sponsoring, HR4352, after watching a video of Dennis, a vet who works in my office, trying to schedule a medical appointment with the VA,” Moulton said. “I represent all in the district. I’m proud that so much legislation I have proposed has bipartisan support.”

Moulton’s priority on the international front is combating ISIS.

“I just got back from a trip to the Middle East, including Israel and Bahrain, where I was proud to visit the troops, proud of the work they’re doing. As an Iraq vet, though, it’s very disappointing that we are still sending troops back to Iraq,” he said.

Moulton is working his way through the 39 communities in his district, sharing his priorities and listening to what his constituents have to say. He is in his first term in Congress, having defeated nine-term U.S. Rep. John Tierney in the 2014 Democratic primary and then besting Republican Richard Tisei in the November 2014 general election. Moulton took office in January 2015.

Susan Wilson of Billerica asked Moulton if he would use his vote as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention to support Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Moulton’s district in the Massachusetts primary.

“That’s one of the responsibilities of being a representative,” Moulton said. “I’m committed to Hillary. She has the most experience of anyone, but Sanders has brought up issues that have spurred debate.”

Billerica resident and father of two recent college graduates Jim St. Cyr suggested that the government tie interest rates for the federal loan program for college students to a college’s success rates for graduates.

“It’s a great deal for colleges,” Moulton said. “They get all the money upfront and then students, including me, have to pay loans back over decades.”

Larry Cohen of Burlington asked Moulton, who serves on the House Budget Committee, “Do you anticipate any changes to Obamacare?”\

Moulton replied, “I don’t think the Affordable Care Act is good enough as it is, especially to do with medical device costs.”

Cohen suggested reorganizing health care nonprofits, and taking some of the profits out, to which Moulton answered, “We have these middlemen who are the insurance companies.”

Pat and Dick Sawyer of Billerica sat in the front row, and Pat asked Moulton about the home health care her husband needs for which he is not eligible because when he was in the service, the country was between wars.

“He’s a vet,” she said. “Why can’t he get care?”\

Moulton promised that his office would look into it and “do what we can.”

A group of women from Bedford pressed Moulton to oppose the Kinder Morgan pipeline, which the company claims will improve existing gas and power generation in the Northeast, including New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

“I am a 37-year-old young man and I consider myself an environmentalist,” Moulton replied. “I’m one of few members of Congress with a degree in science (physics from Harvard) and I’m going to listen to the facts on each side. I’m not going to give into NIMBY (not in my backyard), not going to take a blanket approach to this. I or reps from my office have been attending the meetings.”

Selectman Chairman Andrew Deslaurier told Moulton, “Billerica is a manufacturing town, from cancer drugs to armored personnel carriers. How do we continue the support at the top while bringing up the other folks, small businesses like machine shops?”\

Moulton agreed, and voiced his support for vocational education and small business.

“How many times have we heard politicians say, 'I support big business?' We always support small business but the tax code is not written that way. We need comprehensive tax reform. There are people working on it," he said.

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