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It was truly an exciting freshman year in the House of Representatives. The 108th Congress has been non-stop and action-packed. This year yielded historic breakthroughs in important pieces of legislation. First and foremost on the list of accomplishments is a voluntary prescription medicine plan for our seniors This will increase access to doctors, hospitals and crucial treatment options for Oklahomans. The House passed a comprehensive energy bill that will decrease our dependence on unstable foreign imports. We have also helped our veterans by improving their health care and fixing the concurrent receipt problem to enable most disabled veterans to keep the pensions they have earned and their disability pay. I am proud to have voted for the Jobs and Growth package that reduces the tax obligation of every Oklahoman and has already helped to create jobs and turn the economy around.
Our accomplishments on the domestic front are numerous, but I believe one of our most important accomplishments this year was supporting our troops in the liberation of Iraq from the rule of Saddam. After a trip to Iraq, I believe even more that we are doing the right thing and I will continue supporting our troops in their mission. I know that this process will be difficult, but it is important that we accomplish our goals in Iraq. In order to establish a new, free Iraq and ensure a more stable Middle East, I introduced a piece of legislation that urges France, Germany and Russia to forgive the debts of the regime of Saddam Hussein to their respective countries. This legislation, that passed the House 391-31, will help Iraq in it's rebuilding process so that our soldiers might come home sooner.
One difficulty this year has been to balance the need for higher military spending, taking care of Oklahoma's Fourth Congressional District's legitimate interests and trying to reign in runaway federal spending. While funding our domestic priorities and our priorities overseas, the 108th Congress has also been concentrating on holding government spending. Because identifying examples of waste, fraud and abuse is the first step in controlling government spending and paying down our deficit, I have been working with other freshman members in a task-force group to identify wasteful spending. Currently, our national debt is almost $6.6 trillion. This enormous sum is simply staggering. That is why I originally voted for an alternative budget proposal that would have balanced the budget in four years. When this failed, I voted for the FY04 budget resolution recently adopted by Congress earlier this year. It holds the line on excessive discretionary spending while ensuring that our armed forces have all the resources they need to prosecute the war on terrorism.
I am honored to serve as Representative from Oklahoma's Fourth Congressional District. I will continue working with Oklahomans to support and grow our great state by securing grants, addressing individual casework and representing Oklahoma's needs in Washington. Over the past year we have accomplished much for Oklahoma. After the tornado in May tore through Cleveland and Oklahoma Counties, barely missing my home in Moore, I was able to help secure funds from The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid the State of Oklahoma in removal of debris from public property, public streets and right-of-ways. Additionally we were able to secure funds to help increase research and technology to ensure public safety especially concerning earlier tornado warnings.
There is still so much work to be done. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the years to come to insure a quality education for our children and a job for every person who wants one. It is a privilege to serve the Fourth District. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to hearing from you and carrying your concerns to Washington.
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