Congressman Charlie Rangel’s renewed calls for the reinstatement of the military draft, while they might be well intentioned, seem to be nothing more than misguided attempts at criticizing this Administration and its management of the current conflict in Iraq. Congressman Rangel has stated that his legislation is intended to serve as a deterrent to keep Congress and the Administration from entering into wars, and that he believes President Bush would not have invaded Iraq if we had a draft and “members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way.� The fact of the matter is that each and every sailor, soldier, airman and marine is deeply cherished and no one - not the President, Congress, or Charles Rangel himself - wants them to be put in harm’s way regardless of whether they volunteered or were drafted. These men and women ARE from our communities and I think it is fair to say that the lives of every American, to include Members of Congress, have been touched by someone that is serving or has served in the armed forces. All of our brave patriots that are fighting in Iraq are important and we want them all to come home as safely and quickly as possible. The premise that we would somehow feel differently about these troops simply because they were drafted rather than having volunteered is simply not true.

There is concern among some that our military needs more troops, and I believe it would serve us well to have an open and honest debate about the size of our nation’s armed forces. However, there are no indications that a draft is necessary or that winning the war on terror and ending the conflict in Iraq cannot be accomplished with an all-volunteer force. Pentagon officials, including outgoing Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld have repeatedly stated that the all-volunteer force is working well and that the reinstatement of the draft is not necessary. Recruitment and retention numbers are high and the United States all volunteer force is as strong and determined as it has ever been. Public polls show that about seven of ten Americans oppose the reinstatement of the draft, and in 2004 the House of Representatives overwhelmingly defeated Congressman Rangel’s draft legislation by a vote of 402-2.

The holiday season is officially upon us, and while this is a time of year when folks look forward to gathering with family and friends, it is a time when the increased number of travelers on the highways and interstates presents many opportunities for dangerous or fatal accidents.  Sadly, what is intended to be a joyous time of fellowship and blessings can turn tragic.

As a father and a grandfather, I share the concern families have when their loved ones are traveling on the road, and my heart goes out to any family who has suffered an untimely loss as a result of a traffic accident.

Statistics show that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest highway traffic day of the year, and as a way of raising awareness about driver safety, I introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate designating Sunday, November 26, 2006, as “Drive Safer Sunday.�  My colleague, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, is also a sponsor of the measure, which was approved by the U.S. Senate and encourages automobile drivers, truckers, passengers, and law enforcement agencies to work together to make the highways a safer place on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Our resolution was introduced in honor of 22-year-old Cullum Owings of Georgia, who died in an interstate traffic accident while traveling back to college the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2002.  Unfortunately, this accident could have been prevented if the other driver was paying closer attention.  Our resolution urges folks to slow down, wear their seatbelts, use signals, and be aware of all the other cars and trucks on the road.

Syria’s relentless campaign of intimidation and destabilization in Lebanon has taken the life of yet another prominent Lebanese democrat. The best answer to this tragedy is for the international community to intensify its commitment to a full and uncompromising investigation of the Hariri assassination and all subsequent political murders in Lebanon, an investigation that Damascus is transparently and ruthlessly trying to prevent.  The UN Security Council should immediately approve a fully empowered international tribunal to investigate these crimes. My colleagues in the U.S. Congress and I firmly support the democratically-elected Lebanese government and all democratic Lebanese.

I am dismayed and distraught over the news of the brutal assassination of Pierre Gemayel. I strongly condemn this brutal act and call for a full and thorough investigation of the matter.

Mr. Gemayel was a leading voice against the Syrian regime’s influence in Lebanon. As such, he was a natural target of the Syrian regime and his murder fits this rogue nation’s pattern of assassination of Lebanese dissidents and political figures, who seek full Lebanese sovereignty and independence from nefarious outside forces as Syria and Iran.

Mr. Gemayel’s murder must serve as a catalyst for the United States to pursue further punitive action against Syria, as called for by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. Moreover, this dastardly act should move the UN to once and for all hold Syria accountable for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, for other such acts of violence, and for terrorist attacks committed by Hezbollah, with Syrian and Iranian assistance.

It is my hope that the international community does not fall prey to Syria’s manipulation and accordingly, that they wake up to the reality that Syria and Iran are wolves in sheeps’ clothing. They kill, attack, destroy, and sow discord in Lebanon, Iraq, and elsewhere, only to then offer themselves as the solution, so that they may gain yet more power and influence in the region.

This must not be allowed to continue.

It is critical that the 109th Congress stop imminent cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors and hospitals before we adjourn in December.  When the Medicare Modernization Act was signed into law it included provisions to reclassify certain hospitals to higher and fairer reimbursement rate status.  These provisions are set to expire at the end of this calendar year.  For many hospitals, not extending these provisions will put them at a competitive disadvantage and jeopardize their very ability to stay in business.  Similarly, failure to extend other provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act could mean a cut in provider reimbursements by as much as 5 percent.

I have been working hard with my colleagues for several months to ensure that extension of these provisions is passed through Congress before the end of the year.  In fact, I recently authored a letter, also signed by over half of the New Jersey Congressional delegation, to House leadership to urge the addition of the extension of these provisions to our agenda before Congress adjourns next month.  The response has been encouraging, but I will not rest easy until the extensions are in signed into law.  This could be a real crisis for our nation’s healthcare system and it must be averted before the adjournment of the 109th Congress.

The American people need to fasten their seat belts because Democrats are taking us back to the Sixties. On cue, the Democratic leadership is once again abandoning the mainstream and lurching to the left.

For months, they ran a campaign trying to convince voters they would govern from the middle. Yet, here we are, two months before Democrats officially regain the majority in the 110th Congress, and already incoming Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charley Rangel wants to pander to the liberal base of the Democratic Party and reinstitute the military draft.

Why should anybody take Mr. Rangel’s draft talk seriously? His lack of sincerity was exposed in 2004 when even he didn’t vote for the bill he authored which would have reinstituted the military draft.  In fact, his military draft proposal was defeated 402-2 in the House of Representatives. Want further evidence Democrats are abandoning their campaign promises of moderation and instead returning to their liberal roots? Jack Murtha, Nancy Pelosi’s pick for majority leader, was one of the two who voted for the draft in 2004.

Mr. Rangel’s ridiculous rumblings have nothing to do with legitimate policy and everything to do with partisan politics motivated by the wacky wing of his ultraliberal party.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a 25-year career Marine whose son just returned from Iraq after flying Blackhawk helicopters for the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, I categorically reject Mr. Rangel’s proposal on its merits and accept it as nothing more than a headline-grabbing ploy long on rhetoric and short on substance. It is a silly diversion designed to pacify the pacifists who dominate the tattered fringe of the loony left.

Today, I joined with my fellow Utahn, Congressman Rob Bishop, to issue a statement regarding the hostile takeover bid of Delta Airlines.  The complete statement follows:

“We cannot understate our support for Delta Air Lines’ efforts to restructure and emerge from bankruptcy next year as a stand-alone company. The unsolicited bid from US Airways to merge with Delta causes us great concern, considering the excellent progress Delta has made in its corporate transformation, its importance to the State of Utah in terms of jobs and overall benefit to the economy, and the potential economic harm a takeover attempt might bring to Utah’s citizens, Deltas employees, and Delta passengers.  As representatives in the US Congress of the citizens of Utah, we remain committed to ensuring that Delta exits from bankruptcy next year as a profitable competitor with its major Western US hub in Salt Lake City.”

When Congress returns to Washington following an election, there is much skepticism as to what will be accomplished. In this so-called “lame duck session,� only the most important pieces of legislation have traction. For these reasons, I am particularly pleased the Senate last week overwhelmingly approved the US-India nuclear agreement.

As a friend of the Indian community and past Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, this legislation is very near to my heart.

Forging a civil nuclear agreement with India is imperative to maintaining a strong partnership between our countries. I am hopeful the House and Senate will soon reconcile our differences and send this bill to President Bush.

I’ve worked with Congressman Hoyer for 14 years.  His election as the Majority Leader is wonderful news for the country, the Congress and for Maryland because he is a proven leader - a great team leader and a great team player.  As the Dean of the Maryland House delegation, he and Senator Paul Sarbanes set the tone for all of us to leave our partisanship at the door and work together for what’s best for the state.   Maryland is a small state, but we’re the envy of the other 49 states with the election of Steny Hoyer as House Majority Leader and with Speaker-elect Pelosi’s Baltimore roots.

Reports that the Civil Rights Division is being politicized by the Administration — by downgrading or ignoring recommendations of the professional staff, and through hiring decisions and in other ways — are deeply troubling. Unfortunately, the straight answers to these questions that the public and the Senate deserve were largely absent from the testimony by the Administration’s witness at last week’s hearing.

When the President signed the Voting Rights Act just a few months ago, he pledged that his Administration would enforce the law with vigor. Oversight by Congress will be important to help ensure that.