Independent Expression Radio

In Congress, Kucinich's bipartisan work on a national scale has focused on several areas key to the needs of his congressional district, particularly in the areas of trade policy, environmental protection, and National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) funding. Kucinich helped form a coalition of Democrats and Republicans united in defeating the Clinton Administration's effort to pass "Fast Track"; he led the early effort to support the new clean air rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and, finally, he coordinated a bipartisan effort of 201 House members to object to a proposed $1 billion cut in NASA funding, an effort which actually resulted in a $100 million increase for the space agency.

For this work, Kucinich has been praised by a wide spectrum of colleagues, including Republicans Pat Buchanan ("Another Ohioan in the great tradition of Bill McKinley") and Government Reform Committee Chairman Dan Burton ("I wish he were a Republican"), and Democratic Congressmen Dave Bonior ("Dennis has shined as brightly as anyone in his class") and Henry Waxman ("Your final grade for managing your first bill is an A+"). Kucinich's bipartisan approach is reflected in his being asked to serve as the co-chair of the House Aviation and Space Caucus, aimed at promoting the interests of NASA and the aerospace industry, and as the co-chair of the Baltic Caucus, an informal bipartisan group of House members with backgrounds and interests in issues affecting Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.