As a third-generation Mainer, I understand the values and traditions of Maine.

I’m proud to have helped thousands of workers enjoy a more secure retirement, including employees at Bath Iron Works. Our firm managed part of those pension savings for Bath Iron Works (BIW) and other workers.

Two recent newspaper columns incorrectly stated that my company set the specific pension benefits received by the employees. That’s not true. The benefits were, and are, determined by the union and BIW – not my pension management firm hired to invest the retirement savings.

In Congress, I am working to help protect Medicare and Social Security, reduce our national deficit, ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve, and protect our freedoms.

My parents are 88 and 86 years old. They rely on Medicare and Social Security, just like many Maine seniors. I would never vote to harm these vital programs, despite what the out-of-state false attack ads claim.

In reality, I have worked to strengthen and preserve Medicare and Social Security for our Maine seniors and generations to come.

Currently, I am working to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Maine is home to thousands of teachers, police officers, firefighters and government employees; they should get the benefits they have worked hard for and earned.

But that is not all that I am working on in Congress.

I am working, across the aisle, to help protect and create more good-paying jobs in Maine. For instance, I worked with a Democratic colleague from Massachusetts to force the Department of Defense to follow the law in requiring recruits to wear made-in-America footwear, like those at New Balance. This accomplishment helped protect roughly 900 good-paying jobs at New Balance.

I also have been working with our entire congressional delegation to battle against the European Union’s proposal to ban live lobsters. I am proud to announce that we have defeated this proposal — helping protect 10,000 Maine jobs.

More recently, I took on Wall Street and special interests to stop the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from implementing a harmful provision that would have harmed our seniors and killed 600 Maine paper-making jobs.

We have had many great accomplishments in central, northern, western and downeast Maine. As a job creator, with 35 years of experience, I will continue to help protect and create more good-paying jobs for Mainers.

Another way to help our Maine businesses grow and create jobs is get Washington’s spending under control.

That’s why, one of the first things I did in Congress, was co-sponsor a bill to create a balanced budget constitutional amendment. This important legislation will not only help lower our interest rates and taxes, but it will also give our job creators the confidence they need to create and expand businesses and create more good-paying jobs. Our national debt is a concern, and we need to address this issue.

I also voted against Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), twice, and oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Unfair trade deals are bad for Maine and bad for our country.

In addition to these issues, I have been working to ensure our veterans receive the health care and benefits they deserve.

Despite what you hear on TV from special interest groups, I have always voted to fund our Department of Veterans Affairs. In fact, I voted to increase funding for the VA by $4.6 billion — a 5.6 percent increase from previous years.

I have also introduced legislation along with Sen. Susan Collins, who has endorsed my re-election, to extend the ARCH program for five years. It would ensure our veterans in rural areas receive the health care they deserve in a timelier manner.

Our veterans risked their lives for our freedoms, now I will do all I can to help them.

It has been an honor to serve you in Congress. I am humbly asking for your support this Nov. 8 so we can continue to protect Medicare and Social Security, reduce our national debt, help our veterans and protect our freedoms.

Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, is running for re-election in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.