In an effort to further reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create a more environmentally-friendly fuel, Sen. Thune (R-S.D.) and I last week introduced legislation that encourages farmers to grow energy crops to make cellulosic ethanol. Like my initiative to promote the development of bio-gas, this legislation diversifies the sources our country can use for energy, which helps stabilize our expanding biofuels industry.

Cellulosic ethanol has always faced a chicken-or-the-egg problem: it’s difficult to start commercial production without a guaranteed supply of biomass, but it’s hard to encourage farmers to grow the biomass unless they know they’ll have a market. This legislation will help resolve that problem by encouraging the construction of biofuel facilities while simultaneously pushing the production of biomass.

The legislation, the Biofuels Innovation Program Act of 2007 provides business planning and assistance matching grants of up to $30,000 for entities and communities interested in developing a project area for producers to begin producing dedicated energy and biomass crops, as well as for attracting or creating a cellulosic biofuels facility. Read the rest of this entry »

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named Rep. John ‘Jack’ Murtha (D-Pa.) May Porker of the Month for abusing his position as chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Committee and directing pork to his district.

It all began when Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) challenged a $23 million earmark for the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), which CAGW has recommended be eliminated, in Murtha’s district.  Rep. Murtha became enraged and confronted Rep. Rogers on the House floor.

“That’s the way I do it,â€? said the Pennsylvania porker after threatening to remove all of Rep. Rogers’ earmarks “now and forever.â€?  Rep. Murtha also threatened Rep. Todd Tiahrt’s (R-Kan.) earmarks because he voted with Rep. Rogers. Read the rest of this entry »

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) responded to criticism Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) aimed at him for voting against the Iraq Supplemental funding bill in this speech at the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Convention in Chicago, Ill this weekend.

“Let me tell you something,” the presidential hopeful said, “When I talk to mothers who are grieving for their lost children or I visit Walter Reed and see 18 and 19 and 20 year-olds who lost an arm or a leg I know the toll of this war. And what I know is that what our troops deserve is not just rhetoric; they deserve a new plan.

“Gov. Romney and Sen. McCain clearly believe the course that we’re on in Iraq is working,” Obama added, “I do not.”

I strongly believe that home-grown fuels, such as biodiesel, can move the United States towards greater energy independence and simultaneous clean our air.

Despite the benefits, biodiesel-capable cars and trucks have been slow to hit the market. I’ve introduced legislation that would give B20 (a biodiesel/gasoline blend which is 20% biodiesel by volume) vehicles the same additional CAFE credit as ethanol flex-fueled cars. Alternative fuels receive an additional CAFE credit because they help to reduce the use of petroleum fuels or provide a clean air benefit - biodiesel does both.

The EPA has shown that for every unit of diesel fuel replaced by B20, lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 13%. When you consider that diesel engines are, on average, approximately 30% more efficient than gasoline engines, biodiesel is almost as green as Kermit.

Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) and I recently called on the USDA to reform their labeling standards to protect poultry consumers.  The Center For Science in the Public Interest has joined us in urging the USDA to make these changes.

Currently, USDA standards permit fresh chicken to be sold as “all naturalâ€? even when the meat has been “pumped up” through injection or vacuum tumbling with 15% water, sodium, binding agents like carrageenan (seaweed extract), and other additives.

This procedure cheats consumers at their wallets and their diets.  When you purchase chicken by weight at the grocery store, and it has been injected with 15% sodium solution, then you’re buying salt water at chicken prices. Read the rest of this entry »

In this semi-serious campaign video, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) shares suggestions she’s received from users helping her pick an official song for her presidential campaign.

In this presidential campaign video, former N.Y. mayor Rudy Giuliani told his audience not to underestimate the Republican party in 2008.

“We better reflect what the American people want,” Giuliani said comparing the Republican party to the Democrats.

Rarely does a day go by in the Congress where the term “Rule of Law” isn’t bandied about on the floor.  While its overuse has made the term almost cliché, the Rule of Law effectively shields us from arbitrary governance and establishes civil order.  It is the glue that keeps our social and political order intact because of its permanence and predictability.  But under the Senate immigration package unveiled last week, the Rule of Law — as it applies to our nation’s sovereignty — would be significantly undermined.
Two critical components measuring the sovereignty of a nation are the integrity of its borders and the supremacy of its governing laws.  The Senate immigration plan strikes at both of these principles.  It amounts to a form of legal relativism — if enforcement of the law becomes problematic, then ignore it.  Millions of Americans use illicit drugs each year, and drug enforcement costs run into the billions — yet we do not legalize them to spare us the troubles.

Nations have borders for a reason.  As compassionate as our nation is and Lady Liberty notwithstanding, from both an economic and security standpoint, we cannot possibly absorb all of Earth’s inhabitants who wish to come here.  For two centuries, America’s immigration policy has centered upon our nation’s needs and its ability and willingness to absorb additional new Americans.  Today, we have reached a level of saturation.  Illegal immigration places untenable and impossibly concentrated burdens on every facet of society — education, law enforcement, employment, housing, health care and welfare.  Read the rest of this entry »

Producers in my district, in Nebraska, and in the rest of the country need to receive these disaster funds as soon as possible.  This emergency funding has been a long time coming.  Since I first came to Congress, this aid package has been a priority.  It was unfortunate this much-needed agriculture disaster aid was used as a political bargaining chip.  This bill provides our troops and our agriculture producers the funds they need and have long been promised.