NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN EHLERS  •Local leader honored with Congressional Medal of Merit  •Ehlers urges colleagues to boost funds for training math, science teachers  •Ehlers urges diligence for summer travelers THIS WEEK IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  •Monday, June 18, 2007  •Tuesday, June 19, 2007 and the balance of the week NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN EHLERS Local leader honored with Congressional Medal of Merit For her steadfast advocacy for older adults in the Third Congressional District, Louise Thomas has been honored with the Congressional Medal of Merit by Congressman Vernon Ehlers. Thomas has fought tirelessly for senior citizen rights. She has advocated for senior fitness and aging in place, while drawing attention to senior abuse. Thomas has also been a strong voice for senior citizens at the statehouse in her advocacy for legislation related to older adults. Louise Thomas was honored at Advocates for Senior Issues' monthly meeting at Frederik Meijer Gardens on Friday. She is an active member of that organization, as well as TRIAD, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan Advisory Council, Michigan State Advisory Council, and many other community organizations and boards.     TOP Ehlers urges colleagues to boost funds for training math, science teachers Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers sent a letter to his colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee last week urging them to increase the funding level for the Math and Science Partnerships program. The program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, is the only dedicated funding source for professional development for math and science teachers. “The flat-funding of the Math and Science Partnerships, an innovative, proven program designed to improve teacher content knowledge and teaching skills in math and science subjects, is very troubling considering the importance of these fields to U.S. global competitiveness and our national security,” Ehlers said in his letter to Committee Chairman Rep. David Obey and Ranking Republican Rep. James Walsh. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the measure in July, which provides $182 million dollars in funding for the Math and Science Partnerships program for fiscal year 2008; the same level of funding provided in fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2006. Congressman Ehlers is committed to working with his colleagues to boost the funding level in a fiscally responsible manner.   TOP Ehlers urges diligence for summer travelers Summer travel season is here, but a major backlog in processing time for passports is threatening vacation plans for some families. The U.S. Department of State has temporarily lifted a new mandate for American travelers to carry a passport when re-entering the United States via air from certain countries. A rule enacted by Congress in 2004, which took effect earlier this year, requires travelers to carry a valid passport when re-entering the U.S. via air from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The State Department eased passport requirements this month after a record-breaking number of passport requests caused a backlog in its ability to process passport applications. The Department of State’s temporary travel flexibility will allow people who have applied for a passport to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda with official proof of application for a passport and a government issued photo identification.  People who apply for a passport before September 30, 2007 will be eligible. It is imperative that all U.S. Citizens traveling internationally recognize that this temporary flexibility only applies to return travel from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Despite easing the passport requirement for Americans re-entering the United States, the temporary travel flexibility plan does not affect the entry requirements of some foreign governments in the Caribbean. Some Caribbean nations do require a passport to enter, and may not accept the documentation outlined in the travel flexibility plan. It is highly recommended that travelers inquire about passport requirements with the national embassy or consulate of the nation they plan on visiting if they have not yet received a passport. For a listing of foreign entry requirements and foreign embassy contact information, refer to the following State Department webpage:  http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html   Additional country specific information for Caribbean travel can be found in the following State Department publication:  Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regional/regional_1171.html. Congressman Ehlers urges anyone planning international air travel this year to apply for a passport immediately to avoid hardships. If you have international air travel plans in less than 10-12 weeks, you are urged to expedite your application and elect overnight delivery and return charges at the time of application.  If travel is planned in the next two weeks, applicants can check the status of passport applications by visiting http://travel.state.gov or by calling the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778.  Constituents are welcome to contact Congressman Ehlers' district office at 616-451-8383 if they are unsuccessful in obtaining passport status from those sources and are traveling in less than two weeks.   Congress mandated the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) in 2004, which took effect on January 23 of this year. The WHTI will extend to land and sea border crossings as soon as January of 2008 in some locations, which means Americans returning to the country will need a passport enter via land and sea border crossings. The requirements are meant to strengthen border security.   TOP           THIS WEEK IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, June 18, 2007 (Bills on suspension are generally considered non-controversial and have reduced debate time, but require a two-thirds majority vote to be passed.) Suspensions (20 bills): 1) H. Res. 154 - Recognizing Stax Records for enriching the Nation`s Cultural life with "50 years of soul" (Sponsored by Rep. Cohen / Education and Labor Committee) 2) H. Res. 475 - Congratulating the University of Arizona Wildcats for winning the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Softball Championship (Sponsored by Rep. Grijalva / Education and Labor Committee) 3) H. Res. 406 - Celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and girls (Sponsored by Rep. Matsui / Education and Labor Committee) 4) H. Res. 485 - Expressing appreciation for the profound public service and educational contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, fondly known as "Mr. Wizard" (Sponsored by Rep. Ehlers / Education and Labor Committee) 5) H.R. 2127 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 408 West 6th Street in Chelsea, Oklahoma, as the "Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Boren / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 6) S. 1352 - A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 127 East Locust Street in Fairbury, Illinois, as the "Dr. Francis Townsend Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Sen. Durbin / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 7) H. Con. Res. 155 - Recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense of Congress that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future (Sponsored by Rep. Davis (IL) / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 8) H. Con. Res. 148 - Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month (Sponsored by Rep. Lee / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 9) H.R. 2563 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 309 East Linn Street in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the "Major Scott Nisely Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Latham / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 10) H. Res. 257 - Supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (Sponsored by Rep. Platts / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 11) H.R. 885 - International Nuclear Fuel for Peace and Nonproliferation Act of 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Lantos / Foreign Affairs Committee) 12) H. Con. Res. 21 - Calling on the United Nations Security Council to charge Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the United Nations Charter because of his calls for the destruction of the State of Israel (Sponsored by Rep. Rothman / Foreign Affairs Committee) 13) H. Con. Res. 80 - Calling on the Government of Uganda and the Lord`s Resistance Army (LRA) to recommit to a political solution to the conflict in northern Uganda and to recommence vital peace talks, and urging immediate and substantial support for the ongoing peace process from the United States and the international community (Sponsored by Rep. Johnson (GA) / Foreign Affairs Committee) 14) H. Con. Res. 151 - Noting the disturbing pattern of killings of dozens of independent journalists in Russia over the last decade, and calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to authorize cooperation with outside investigators in solving these murders (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith / Foreign Affairs Committee) 15) H. Res. 137 - Honoring the life and six decades of public service of Jacob Birnbaum and especially his commitment freeing Soviet Jews from religious, cultural, and communal extinction (Sponsored by Rep. Nadler / Foreign Affairs Committee) 16) H. Res. 233 - Recognizing over 200 years of sovereignty of the Principality of Liechtenstein, and expressing support for efforts by the United States continue to strengthen its relationship with that country (Sponsored by Rep. Stearns / Foreign Affairs Committee) 17) H.R. 2359 - SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs Act of 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Sestak / Small Business Committee) 18) H.R. 2366 - SBA Veterans` Programs Act of 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Buchanan / Small Business Committee) 19) H.R. 2284 - To amend the Small Business Act to expand and improve the assistance provided by Small Business Development Centers to Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians (Sponsored by Rep. Udall (NM) / Small Business Committee) 20) H.R. 2397 - SBA Women`s Business Programs Act of 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Fallin / Small Business Committee) TOP Tuesday, June 19, 2007 and the balance of the week H.R. 2641 - 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Visclosky / Appropriations Committee) H.R. __ - 2008 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Lowey / Appropriations Committee) H.R. __ - 2008 Legislative Brach Appropriations (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Wasserman-Schultz / Appropriations Committee) TOP