I think Tom made the right choice Thursday in ending his presidential campaign and  endorsing Governor Mitt Romney. I’m glad that he recognizes the same virtues that I do in Governor Romney and has thrown his support behind him. Governor Romney can bring together the multiple facets of the Republican Party and win the Presidency and I’m pleased that Tom and I agree on that important issue.

As a Republican, I must confess that my overriding concern for the ’08 presidential election is that we do not end up having to teach our kids to once again say “President Clintonâ€?. In all due respect to the other Democrat candidates, it is that prospect that most motivates me to make sure we elect a Republican President in November.As one of the House managers in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, very few know the full extent of the Clinton machine like I do. All the talk of universal health care, pre-K for kids, tax cuts for working families, and strong foreign policy, is just that — talk. They know, as well as we do, that their particular brand of “progressivismâ€? is really code for government control — and that is exactly what they want: Control of our lives. To paraphrase the famous Socialist George Bernard Shaw, freedom incurs responsibility; that is why the Clinton philosophy eschews freedom. Read the rest of this entry »

In November, the Republic of Georgia experienced the most serious political crisis since the 2003 “Rose Revolution� that brought pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili to power.  A temporary state of emergency was imposed to quell the demonstrations, which ended in the call for early presidential elections to be held on January 5.  During the interim, Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze, a longtime member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, has assumed the role of acting President.

In the lead up to the elections, I have been appointed to head the election observation mission on behalf of the OSCE.  The observation mission will bring together parliamentarians from throughout the OSCE region and also accompanying me will be Congressman Lloyd Doggett, a former Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and a strong advocate of transparency.

I have had the opportunity in the past to lead election observation missions in Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Ukraine.  From my past experiences, I know the world will be watching Georgia and it is my sincere hope that these elections are conducted in the most free, fair, and transparent manner. A fundamental function of any democracy is ensuring that citizens are able to vote and know that their vote will be counted.  And while I deeply regret the violence that took place last month, I hope that well-conducted elections will allow the government and the people of Georgia to move forward.

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings represents Florida’s 23rd district and is Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission).

I am very pleased by the Senate’s passage of the rural health provisions contained in the “Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act,� S. 2499.

We successfully fought to include extensions of rural health provisions in the Medicare bill passed by the Senate. Without this extension, Wyoming doctors, nurses, and hospitals faced large payment cuts that would have made it hard for them to care for seniors.

Rural hospitals are more dependent on Medicare payments as part of their total revenue. In fact, Medicare accounts for approximately 70 percent of total revenue for small, rural hospitals.

Additionally, rural hospitals have lower patient volumes, but these hospitals must compete nationally to recruit doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and emergency medical technicians.

I am committed to working to strengthen Wyoming hospitals, rural health clinics and community health centers and will work to increase access to primary health care services.�

Most importantly, I commit to working to aid in the successful recruitment and retention of health care providers in rural America.

The bill also includes an 18 month extension of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

I’m pleased SCHIP will continue to provide health insurance for the more than 6,000 low-income children in our state.

2007 began with some Democrats demanding additional provisions in trade agreements before agreeing to implementation. The Administration agreed to a compromise that House Democratic leaders announced with fanfare on May 10.

The Administration then renegotiated our trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. Seven months later, this Congress has implemented only one of those agreements — with Peru.

The U.S.-Colombia trade agreement is next. Its economic benefits are clear. Bilateral exports and imports would increase. Colombia largely enjoys duty-free access to the United States under preference programs. This agreement would level the playing field.

There are also geopolitical considerations. President Chavez is seeking to expand his influence in South America wherever he can. Other governments are attempting to consolidate political power or are expropriating industries. They’re reaching out to countries hostile to the United States, such as Cuba and Iran.

Congress has to demonstrate that we stand by our allies. Remember, Colombia was a failed state. Its government is trying to reverse decades of violence and near-lawlessness. We cannot turn our back. We need to help to expand economic opportunities in Colombia.

I accepted the May 10 compromise on trade, labor, and the environment because, even with those changes, it remains in our national interest to implement our pending trade agreements. In 2008, the Democratic leadership in Congress needs to deliver on Colombia. A deal’s a deal.

Conservation groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal district court challenging a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce protected habitat for the California red-legged frog. The frog, made famous by Mark Twain’s story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” is a California native once abundant from the Central Coast to the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The suit is one of 13 being filed today challenging the Bush administration’s political interference in management of 55 endangered species and 8.7 million acres of public land. Suits over six other species were filed in November. Earthjustice filed the California red-legged frog suit on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity.

At issue is an April 13, 2006, Endangered Species Act rule, adopted by the service, that revised the “critical habitat” for the California red-legged frog by reducing it from 4.1 million acres to approximately 450,000 acres. The service agreed to revise the frog’s critical habitat rule as a result of a closed-door settlement between industry and the service that was approved over the objections of a coalition of conservation groups. Read the rest of this entry »

I have known Chris Dodd for 30-some years and share a special bond with him: we both served in the Peace Corps. For me, and I believe for Chris too, the Peace Corps was the most life-affirming experience we have ever had. It was there that we discovered how strong we could be as we faced daunting third-world environments. It was there that we learned how sensitive we are to the needs of people and how deep our desire to serve. It was there that we came to know that a life of service was our calling.

As I watch my friend Chris – now Senator Dodd – I realize that he has never wavered from that original Peace Corps mission. He is still dedicated to people and their basic needs. He wants to improve the condition of man. And he cares very, very deeply for preserving the face of America around the world as a beacon of democracy and justice.

Chris does this not for himself, but for the American people, the people he loves more dearly than himself. For Chris, it’s all about serving.

I can think of no one better suited to lead America. Chris Dodd is a man of principle, a man of the people, a man of the Peace Corps. That’s enough for me.

James Lewis of the Center for International & Strategic Studies says oversight by the FISA court and Congress’ Intelligence Committees will preserve liberty while allowing necessary, broad surveillance techniques by the National Security Administration (NSA).

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen is Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

For nearly 50 years the human rights of Cubans, including freedom of expression, due process of law, and freedom of assembly, have been systematically denied under Castro’s totalitarian regime. Democracy promotion programs and U.S. funded broadcasts are aimed at helping Cuba’s 11 million people to break free of the regime’s oppressive rule and lift the veil of censorship that the dictatorship imposes on the Cuban people.

Despite concerns about attempts to undermine our Cuba policy, the critics were thwarted in their efforts to weaken U.S. sanctions on this state-sponsor of terrorism just 90 miles from our shores. In the year ahead we will remain vigilant and resist those in Congress who are ready abandon the struggle for human rights and dignity and reward the dictatorship.

I’m confident that Iowa caucus-goers will support Senator Edwards for many of the same reasons I do, including his understanding of, and connection to, rural America. I was proud to endorse Senator Edwards earlier this year because of his detailed plan for reenergizing rural American economies. Whether it’s renewable energy, economic revitalization or rural health care, I know that as President, Senator Edwards will continue to prioritize the needs of families in rural areas across the country.