In a recent statement, President Bush continued his crusade to help advance budding democracies by noting he hoped the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would offer membership to Croatia, Macedonia and Albania by 2008.

The President went on to state that, “The United States believes in NATO membership for all of Europe’s democracies that seek it.”

A resolution expressing the further enlargement of NATO, by including the Republic of Croatia was unanimously agreed to last year, H. Res. 529, and a similar resolution was passed in the United State Senate.

As Co-Founder of the Congressional Croatian Caucus, I have worked with my colleagues to ensure Croatia’s membership into NATO has been one of the Caucus’s key issues. Croatia has been working tirelessly to demonstrate their willingness and desire to be included in NATO. During a time when the support of emerging democracies couldn’t be more important, Croatia’s admittance in to NATO, no later than 2008, along with Macedonia and Albania, would be a monumental exhibition of international support.

Allowing NATO membership to the developing democracies of Central Europe, particularly countries such as Croatia which have demonstrated support for peace, stability and democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, will help fortify the efforts against global terrorism.

I would like to commend President Bush for his statement and encourage those who are interested in the Congressional Croatian Caucus to visit the Caucus website.

Earlier this month, the Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Organized Crime and Intelligence Unit in Georgia arrested six illegal immigrants who were manufacturing fake identification cards.  These arrests underline the growing tie between illegal immigration and document forgery, a tie that is threatening the security of our nation.

Last August, I visited a Point of Entry facility in Nogales, Arizona where I examined hundreds of illegal documents seized from immigrants attempting to enter our country.  These fake IDs are part of an illegal underground culture, one that has brought Mexican gangs and organized crime to our community.

This is one of the numerous reasons border security is critical to the safety of our nation.  We can not allow dangerous criminals to operate inside our borders with greater ease simply because they can obtain false identification.  And I haven’t even touched on the other problems posed by fake IDs, such as allowing individuals to illegally apply for benefits and programs, taking away much-needed resources from law-abiding citizens.

If we fail to secure our homeland, I fear we will see the problems of gang violence, methamphetamine abuse, drug trafficking and crime continue to rise, risking the security of our families and communities.

As a Representative whose district is comprised of many producers of intellectual property, I am pleased that Russia has finally agreed to take action to protect copyrighted materials from being distributed illegally on the Internet and to shutdown one of the largest violators, Allofmp3.com. However, there is much more Russia will need to do to demonstrate its commitment to intellectual property protection.

Allofmp3.com was branded by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the world’s highest-volume online seller of pirated music, and it claims five million subscribers with a growth rate of 5,000 a day. Each day that the site continues to operate, countless thefts will be permitted to occur. Read the rest of this entry »

Today is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day and Rep. Boswell is a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine

Today, November 30 is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, I am committed to eliminating the manufacturing and use of methamphetamine across our nation. With over 140 members, the Caucus has continually worked to educate our colleagues and eradicate this epidemic that faces our country.

In 2004, 73,000 drug-related emergency room visits involved methamphetamine affecting not only adults but also children. Methamphetamine does not discriminate about your sex, race, religion, educational background, where you live, or your economic status. It has a devastating impact on families and communities—ruining countless lives. We must ensure that federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to effectively fight meth.

We have made progress in this fight. But more needs to be done. In the 110th Congress, I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to educate and find new ways to treat and prevent the use and manufacturing of methamphetamines.

Today is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day and Rep. Cannon is a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine

I’ve seen the destruction meth leaves in its wake.  It’s a problem that has reached every corner of our country.  As a nation, we need to be aware of just how dangerous this drug is and how to fight its spread.

The Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine has pledged to combat this epidemic across the United States, and that’s exactly what we are going to do.

Today is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day and Rep. Larsen is a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a highly dangerous drug that is wreaking havoc on families and communities across our country. The popularity of meth is spreading. While domestic production has decreased, two-thirds of our nation’s meth supply is coming from overseas.

This drug is more dangerous than any other drug on our streets today. It is a chemical cocktail that leaves behind a wake of destruction. It impacts every aspect of our communities - our neighborhoods, our businesses, the environment, and our children.

Without educating our kids and young adults about the dangers of meth use and adequately treating those who are addicted, we’ll never abolish meth from our communities. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been more than five years since the attacks of 9/11 and since many of those exposed to the toxic air around Ground Zero began to suffer, but the federal government still has yet to develop a plan to deal with the health crisis or to dedicate serious and steady funding for medical monitoring and treatment. The fifth anniversary has passed and the cameras are pointed elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean that the health effects are going away. Doctors have testified before us that this is not a problem that will only be around for a few years, it will be around for as much as a few decades, and the government needs to deal with it as such. Together with Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) and a bipartisan group of our colleagues, we have asked the president to include medical monitoring and treatment for the sick in his upcoming FY08 budget proposal. Our goal is to make sure that every one exposed to the toxins at Ground Zero is monitored and everyone who is sick is treated.

Like many an NFL wide receiver these days, the illegal alien advocacy lobby is planning its end zone celebration in anticipation that the new Congress will quickly enact a sweeping amnesty program for tens of millions of illegal aliens. Not so fast. The ball hasn’t been thrown, and so far the new Congress isn’t even looking in their direction.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform’s analysis of the 110th Congress’s freshman class finds that many of the new Democratic members campaigned on platforms that included tough border and workplace enforcement, and opposition to amnesty for illegal aliens (no matter what the party leadership wants to call it). Not many of the new members are anxious to chalk up an amnesty for 12 to 15 million lawbreakers as their first legislative achievement.

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), though personally committed to an amnesty program, has not included passage of an amnesty bill on her list of legislative priorities when the Democrats officially take power in January. The putative Speaker is a seasoned political pro who seems to understand that, for the swing voters who helped put the party over the top in 2006, an illegal alien amnesty program holds all the allure of signing Terrell Owens.

While naysayers have been predicting economic gloom and doom, the market has continued to forge ahead. Today’s news that the economy grew at a faster-than-expected rate in the third quarter proves the staying power of the economy’s health.

While Republicans have worked tirelessly to employ pro-growth initiatives, it remains to be seen how the economy will respond to Democratic measures. I urge Democrat leaders to continue responsible economic policies. Extend the tax cuts. Eliminate the death tax. I stand ready to work with you for the good of the American worker.

Montana is an outdoor state. We hunt. We fish. We take our kids hiking. And public lands provide a great place to enjoy our wonderful state, which is why I have continually fought to increase access to these beautiful places.

Currently, the Forest Service is working on a facility site master plan, which is a comprehensive look at our nation’s recreation facilities and campsites. Due to a tight budget, the Forest Service is considering closing certain campsites in order to save money. While I understand having budget constraints, closing access to public lands is something that we Montanans take very seriously, as it not only effects our outdoor recreation but also our economy.

That is why I am strongly urging the Forest Service to hold public meetings at each of Montana’s nine national forests so the local folks who use these sites have a say in how they are managed. By working together, we can come up with a common sense plan that ensures maximum access to well-maintained, affordable recreation sites.

As Montanans, our public lands are part of our outdoor heritage, and I will do everything in my power to make sure our outdoor heritage is protected. Over the years different proposals have cropped up that have threatened our public lands, and every time I have fought these heinous proposals tooth and nail. Whether it is selling off public lands to pay for other programs, or limiting access to current public lands, these proposals have always, and will always, find a steadfast opponent in me.