Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers issued the following statement Dec. 27 regarding the death of former President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States: “It is with great sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of President Gerald R. Ford. Our nation mourns a good man who did not shrink from his duty when greatness was thrust upon him.”

Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers will continue to lead Republicans on the Committee on House Administration in the 110th Congress after being elected as the committee’s Ranking Republican Member Dec. 7 by the House Republican Conference.

Seeking to improve our nation’s economic competitiveness and national security, Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers Thursday introduced a package of four bills aimed at improving our nation’s math and science education at the pre-school through university levels.

Officials for the U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday that they would suspend efforts to establish 34 so-called “safety zones” to be used for training Coast Guard personnel to use live-ammunition weapons on the Great Lakes, a decision that greatly pleased Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids.

Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers Friday reintroduced a bill that would establish in law the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the first time in the agency’s 37-year history. The legislation would, for the first time clarify and codify, the functions and responsibilities of NOAA, which was established in 1970 by an executive order issued by President Richard Nixon, but was never officially codified by Congress.

On Monday, the House is not in session.

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour and 12 noon for legislative business. There will be no votes earlier than 3 p.m.

Suspensions (1 bill):

(Bills on suspension are generally considered non-controversial and have reduced debate time, but require a two-thirds majority vote to be passed.)

1. H.Res. 15 - Mourning the passing of President Gerald Rudolph Ford and celebrating his leadership and service to the people of the U.S. (Sponsored by Congressman Ehlers)

H.Res. 35 - Select Intelligence Oversight Panel: To create a 13-member House panel that shall review and study on a continuing basis budget requests for and execution of intelligence activities; make recommendations to relevant subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations; and, on an annual basis, prepare a report to the Defense Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations containing budgetary and oversight observations and recommendations for use by such subcommittee in preparation of the classified annex to the bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense.

H.R. 1 - Providing for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States: A summary of this legislation was not available at time of publication.

On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 2 - To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage: This legislation would increase the current federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour within 60 days of enactment, to $6.55 per hour 12 months later and finally to $7.25 per hour another year later.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 3 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research: A summary of this legislation was not available at time of publication.

On Friday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 4 - To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries: A summary of this legislation was not available at time of publication.