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The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan is a confusing program, and seniors shouldn’t have to pay a penalty if they choose the wrong plan or delay enrollment. They deserve enough time to research plans, ask for help and make an informed decision.
Like many others, I’ve heard first hand from my constituents about the pain high gas prices are causing. This package (the proposal for gas relief unveiled yesterday by Senate Republicans) would provide some relief. I am particularly pleased that we are easing the burden on American families by providing them with a $100 rebate to help offset high prices. I hope this tax rebate will make a difference for hard-working American families.
Yesterday, I cast an unapologetic vote against H.R. 5020, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. I hate to oppose an authorization bill coming out of the Intelligence Committee because I serve on it and dedicate a great deal of my time and energy to intelligence issues. However, the refusal of the Republican Leadership in the House to adequately address the issue of Iranian intelligence and the Republicans’ abdication of Congress’ oversight responsibility over the intelligence community left me no choice. H.R. 5020 authorized the largest intelligence budget in history. It’s the only bill Congress will pass this year that can provide the instruments our intelligence agencies use to keep our country safe. And yesterday, at a time of escalating global threats and with America’s security on the line, House Republicans brought legislation to the floor that reeks of politics and compromises the safety of Americans.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) discussed the War in Iraq as well as potential wars with the Middle East during a Senate filibuster to force a vote on an amendment that would end royalty relief for oil companies.
I think (royalty relief for oil companies) does a disservice to the taxpayers of this country and I want to mention what it means in terms of (the) globe. I, like all Senators, see that men and women–see the men and women who honor us every single day by wearing the uniform for our country. They put themselves in harm’s way. They risk their physical health, their mental health, their well being and put their families at risk because they honor us every day by wearing the uniform of the United States. It seems to me that the people who wear that uniform and are fighting today on our behalf in Iraq, they deserve an energy policy that is going to make it less likely that their kids and their grandkids are going to be off in the Middle East another time in the next few years with a war with implications for oil.
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) discussed the need to reform laws relating to foreign investment after the failed deal between the federal government and Dubai Ports World.
The Dubai Ports World deal exposed serious flaws with how sensitive foreign investments in our economy are negotiated and approved…Whenever a foreign investment affects homeland security, it deserves greater scrutiny. We must strike the right balance between strengthening our economy and protecting the American people
He also added:
Our nation’s security is above partisanship, and I intend to work across the aisle to formulate real solutions to the specific security problems highlighted by the Dubai Ports World situation. At the same time, job creators should rest assured that upcoming legislation will not hinder their ability to grow the American economy.
On January 31st, at the State of the Union, (The President) said we were addicted to oil and he called for more aggressive research into biofuels. Yet the very next day, the very next day, after the State of the Union, the Department of Energy announced it was slashing 28 million dollars from bio-fuels and laid off researchers.
Well, here we go again. On Tuesday, as I said, the President touted ethanol, then he turned right around and said ethanol is in some part to blame for the run-up in gas prices.
Obviously someone gave him misinformaton because he obviously doesn’t understand the situation. The truth is ethanol is adding to our supply to help alleviate shortages.
Again, the President says we’re addicted to oil. He says ethanol and bio-fuels could be the cure for that addiction. But where’s the follow-through, where’s the boldness, where’s the vision, where’s the money?
House Majority Leader John Boehner discussed a multi-step plan introduced by Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and GOP Policy Chairman Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), while blaming Democrats for the recent surge in gas prices.
But many Americans are struggling with energy costs that have spiked after years of Democrat negligence. Republicans are looking at every available option for keeping the Bush Economic Boom going by protecting consumers and addressing America’s energy needs. At a press conference yesterday, Republican leaders – led by Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and GOP Policy Committee Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL) – announced a number of steps in the short-term the House can take to address high energy prices, including:
Open up ANWR to allow American ingenuity and American technology to produce energy safely, protect the environment, and strengthen our national security.
Crack down on price gouging in gasoline and diesel fuel sales, similar to measures passed last year as part of the Gasoline for America’s Security Act (H.R. 3893).
Streamline boutique fuels list to alleviate shortages and increase American energy supply, similar to measures passed last year as part of the Gasoline for America’s Security Act.
Support Administration efforts to temporarily suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve-Oil to ensure all available supplies of oil is made available on the markets.
Encourage innovation for advancements in hydrogen technology to help secure America’s energy future.
It may not have been the party of the century, but Fox News Sunday’s celebration of its tenth anniversary on Wednesday was certainly the party of the year for Washington’s political junkies and social climbers.
Where else could you rub shoulders, clink wine glasses and trade political gossip with Vice President Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and Fox cohorts Roger Ailes and Brit Hume, House Speaker Dennny Hastert and his predecessor Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers, HUD Secretary Alfonso Jackson, as well as freshly-minted White House press secretary Tony Snow and freshly-deposed House Majority Leader Tom DeLay?
Last week, I finished the April recess with a three day tour of farms throughout my district. Local farmers and agriculture producers came to talk to me about the 2002 Farm Bill, which is set to expire in 2007. I was joined for part of the tour by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and we discussed what worked with the Farm Bill and what needed to be changed.
First, let me take the opportunity to thank The Hill for providing this forum for my colleagues and I to help keep the public up to speed on what is going on Capitol Hill. Much of what we do up here flies under the radar, so I would like to take a moment to highlight one such event that perhaps should have garnered more interest than it did. Yesterday, the House International Relations Africa and Global Human Rights Subcommittee held a hearing on the tragedy in Northern Uganda. This is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and has been for some time, yet few people know what is quietly going on in east Africa nation of Uganda.
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