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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;"><strong>Dear Friend,</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;"><img style="margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 2px outset #6699ff; float: left;" alt="honda_headshot_small" src="images/stories/honda_headshot_small.jpg" height="374" width="249" />Welcome to my campaign website!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">America stands at a defining moment – in our local communities, in California, and all across our great nation. Unemployment, underemployment, foreclosures, stagnated wages, and skyrocketing health care costs are decimating our nation’s great majority and stifling business growth and innovation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">We must be bold and groundbreaking in forging solutions to the economic challenges facing America. Inspired by the imagination and industry of Silicon Valley, I rise to the challenge of this defining moment in our history. <b>That is why I want to continue representing in Congress the hardworking and diverse constituency of California’s 17th District</b>,<b> </b>encompassing communities in Alameda and Santa Clara counties.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Since I was first elected to Congress in 2000, I’ve been honored to represent an increasingly diverse, engaged and innovative constituency throughout Silicon Valley.&nbsp; However, I have also seen America become increasingly polarized and divided, hampering our collective ability to solve our nation’s toughest challenges:&nbsp; ensuring economic recovery, meeting each child’s educational needs, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring access to healthcare.&nbsp; I have and will continue to bring not only a deep knowledge of and commitment to my district, but also an ability to bridge the divide for solutions to what seems politically unsolvable. These qualities are important to the task of rebuilding this country and confidence in Washington.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;"><img alt="honda_podium" src="images/stories/honda_podium.jpg" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 2px inset #6699ff; float: right;" height="414" width="246" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Right now, there’s an unemployed line worker in Newark striving to get back to work. His skill and energy are the keys to putting America back on top. I’m running for Congress to fight for him – to continue my fight for legislation that rebuilds and expands American manufacturing to restore the American Dream for the middle class.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Right now, there’s a freshman at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale whose imagination is fueled by a love for math and science. She dreams of being the next Sally Ride or Steve Jobs. I’m running for Congress to ensure she has the chance to turn that dream into reality – to ensure our schools are the finest in the world and each student in America is equipped and empowered to succeed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Years ago, as a teacher and principal, before the start of every school year, I tried to meet with every parent of every child in my care. My career as an educator was guided by the needs of each child.  Over the past decade in Congress, I have been guided by the needs of each constituent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">As a<b> senior Representative on the House Budget and Appropriations Committees</b>, it has been my duty and honor to reinvest hundreds of millions of our own hard-earned taxpayer dollars back into our neighborhoods, bringing home our fair share of federal funds.&nbsp;I’ve been proud to fight for the resources needed to tackle our region's needs, like BART and other transportation priorities, healthcare, high-tech research and innovation, the environment and education.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;"><img style="margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 2px inset #6699ff; float: left;" alt="honda_talk_small" src="images/stories/food/honda_talk_small.jpg" height="192" width="289" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">As <b>Budget Task Force Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus</b>, I have fought and will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility, including a fairer tax code that favors working middle-class families.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">As <b>Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus</b>, I have fought and will continue to fight for the civil rights of all and for reform of a dysfunctional immigration system.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">As <b>Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equity Caucus</b>, I have fought and will continue to fight for employment non-discrimination and marriage equality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">With my lifetime of service to Silicon Valley and to our county as a guide, I am humbled and ready to continue <b>bringing real life to Congress</b> by continuing to serve the people of California’s 17th District. As an educator of 30 years; a parent and grandparent; a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador; a local, state and federal legislator; and an internee during World War II, I know that while government can make mistakes, it can also work to ensure access to the American promise for all. I pledge to continue representing local families by working everyday to reinvigorate our economy nationally as well as locally, so that we can all reach and expand the American Dream.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Please follow my campaign via my Facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mikehonda"><b>facebook.com/mikehonda</b></a>, via Twitter at <strong><a href="http://www.twitter.com/mikehonda17">@mikehonda17</a></strong> and at various events throughout Alameda and Santa Clara counties. I would be honored to earn your support in 2014 and beyond – thank you!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><em><span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">~Mike</span></em></span></p>