During a campaign stop at the Ames Public Library, U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, said the nation’s security and future is at stake in the November election.

The five-term incumbent representative from the 4th Congressional District said one way to secure the future is to increase efforts to promote homeland security, which has been a priority for him.

“We’ve got to remain strong, so we can win this war on terror and to make sure we’re more successful,” Latham said. “This election is about our children, and in my case, grandchildren, and to make sure they are secure, because there is no freedom without security.”

He said past attacks like those in Belsan, Russia, where more than 300 hostages were killed by alleged Chechen separatists, show what can happen when someone “takes their eye” off the war on terror.

Another key, Latham said, is providing a future for children through educational opportunities.

Since signed into law, Latham said he has been a strong supporter of the No Child Left Behind act.

The act, he said, has made it possible for people to have a national debate about the condition of the schools.

Critics of No Child Left Behind have said it forces teachers to prepare children for standardized tests and not for future educational experiences.

“All we’re asking is to show some improvement through the system,” he said.

“That has always been a priority.”

Latham said many people have had a hard time with the act because Iowa has had rather high standards for education. In other places, like Washington, he said, the schools were crumbling and children were lacking important funding because lawmakers didn’t expect much to come out of those school districts.

Latham said the new act has created new expectations and provided hope for children.

Wanda Gardner, a spokeswoman for Democratic challenger Paul Johnson, said the act is detrimental to schools because it limits what teachers can put in their curriculum.

“What No Child Left Behind does is it forces teachers to teach so the results turn out well, and not necessarily the education of their pupils,” Gardner said.

Gardner said Latham’s support was another sign that the lawmaker was toeing the party line on important issues.

According to Project Vote Smart, Latham has sided with the GOP more than 90 percent of the time.

During a radio interview with KHBT in Humboldt, Latham said many of his core values, including religion, family and country, are also the core values of the Republican Party.

Gardner said she thought it was preposterous that a party could represent the conscience of the nation.