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This week the House will convene to begin the second session of the 109th Congress. A lot was accomplished last year during the first session of the 109th Congress, and we hope to have an even more successful second half. As the new legislative year begins, I would like to recap some important victories from last year and let you know of some areas we will be working on during the last half of this session of Congress.
I believe one of the most important items the House and Senate worked on this year was the Deficit Reduction Act. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 includes savings recommendations from eight authorizing committees to achieve a net savings of about $50 billion in mandatory spending programs. These recommendations also make a real effort to reform entitlement spending, which is currently growing at almost six percent a year. If the same spending continues, mandatory spending will consume 62 percent of our total budget in just a decade. The conference report for this legislation is expected to pass in the House soon. We will continue to work on controlling spending and lowering the Federal Deficit this year.
Another piece of legislation that the House passed last year is the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437). This bill enhances our security along our borders through enhanced Border Patrol operations, physical barriers and state-of-the-art technology. This legislation makes a good first step in securing our borders, but it is important to note that it is just that--a first step. This bill now awaits action in the Senate. Congress will continue its work next year to enact a strict, legal and enforced immigration policy
During the first session, the following pieces of legislation were passed by Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States. I believe these pieces of legislation will help make our economy even stronger, protect our borders and create a safer nation.
H.R. 3, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The Highway bill passed last July will create millions of new jobs and addresses the ever-growing challenges of congestion and safety, while continuing to improve freight mobility and public transportation. This legislation, which provided millions of dollars to improve Oklahoma roads, also increased the amount of aid states receive from the federal Highway Trust fund. Oklahoma currently receives 90.5 cents back for every dollar the state pays in gasoline tax. This legislation will increase that amount to 92 cents for every dollar by FY2008.
H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005. Ensures jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy by encouraging more domestic production of oil and through conservation and better environmental options, helping bring America’s energy system into the 21st Century.
S.5, Class Action Fairness Act of 2005. Reforms current law related to class action lawsuits, allowing such suits to be removed to federal courts, and reducing the potential for abuse of settlement awards by attorneys.
S. 397, Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Provides protections for those in the firearms industry from lawsuits arising out of the criminal or unlawful acts of people who criminally or unlawfully misuse their products.
H.R. 418, REAL ID Act of 2005. Implements regulations for State driver's license and identification document security standards, to prevent terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States, to unify terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal, and to ensure expeditious construction of the San Diego border fence.
In addition to these bills, the House and Senate also worked to provide funding for our troops, Hurricane Katrina relief and funding for other national priorities. This year we will focus on securing our nations borders, health care, higher ed reform, tort reform and lowering the federal deficit and curbing runaway spending. Please let me know if you have any questions on legislation that has already passed or bills the House will be considering this year. I value your input, please email me at http://www.house.gov/cole or call my office in Washington, 202-225-6165.
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