Knowing that small businesses are the key to economic development and job growth Tsongas works in a variety of ways both at home and in Washington to support the many diverse small businesses located in the Fifth District. She has been the chief advocate for tax credits that encourage businesses to locate and expand their workforce in older industrialized cities. Niki has championed legislation that provides innovative businesses in Massachusetts with tools to hire more workers while increasing our global competitiveness. She has also introduced bipartisan legislation to provide immediate tax relief to small business owners who were forced to make withdrawals from their 401(k)s and IRAs to keep their businesses going during the small business credit crunch.

Because of her deep roots in the Fifth District and extensive experience in leading economic development and community revitalization projects, Tsongas has made the health of our cities a top priority. She works to engage the federal government as a catalyst for state and local, public and private, non-profit and for-profit initiatives and partnerships.

But Niki sees her most important duty as staying in close contact and remaining easily accessible to her constituents. Congresswoman Tsongas has three offices in Lowell, Lawrence and in Acton, as well as staff holding office hours in Haverhill to serve her constituents. She regularly holds Congress On Your Corner at supermarkets and other public venues across the 5th District to make it as easy as possible for residents to connect with her about any issue of concern to them or to get assistance with problems they may have when dealing with federal agencies.

Elected in a Special Election in 2007, Niki is first woman to serve in Congress from Massachusetts in 25 years. She holds the same seat that was held three decades earlier by her late husband, former Congressman, U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Paul Tsongas.