Congressman Todd Platts Unveils His Monthly E-Newsletter
Welcome to the first edition of Congressman Platts’ E-Newsletter. This newsletter will provide monthly updates on recent congressional action, committee activities, the latest press releases from Congressman Platts, and upcoming events in the 19th Congressional District.
More than 5,000 constituents subscribed to this newsletter as part of Congressman Platts’ recent constituent survey. Please send this newsletter to your friends and family and encourage them to sign up for a subscription at www.house.gov/platts. When joining, their name and email address will be added to the list. This information will only be used for Congressman Platts’ newsletter and will not be disseminated in any way. Thank you for your active participation in the democratic process.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Lawmakers Urge Funding for Law Enforcement Assistance
Representative Todd Platts joined a group of bipartisan colleagues, including Representatives Ric Keller and Anthony Weiner, in sending a letter to Chairman Frank Wolf of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State. The letter urges continued funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.
“Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge has consistently said that homeland security starts in our hometowns, and no federal program has done more to make our hometowns safer than COPS,” the letter states. “The program has helped local communities across the nation hire more than 117,000 additional police officers and acquire the equipment and technology they need to keep our streets safe. In addition, a study by the University of Nebraska found that COPS is directly linked to the drop in crime since 1995, preventing tens of thousands of violent crimes and hundreds of thousands of property crimes. COPS enjoys the support of all the nation’s major law enforcement organizations, and Attorney General John Ashcroft has described COPS as a ‘miraculous sort of success’.”
The Month in Review
The following is a list of key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of March 2004:
Counter-Terrorist and Narco-Terrorist Rewards Program Act (H.R. 3782)
The House voted 414-0 to pass legislation which would increase the reward for information leading to the capture of Osama Bin Laden to $50 million and other terrorists and narcoterrorists to $25 million. Representative Platts voted in favor of this resolution.
One-Year Anniversary of the Iraq War (H.Res. 557)
The House adopted a resolution by a vote of 327-93 commending U.S. troops and coalition partners for their service in Iraq over the past year as well as those Iraqi citizens working to create a free Iraq. Representative Platts voted in favor of this resolution.
Organ Donation (H.R. 3926)
The House voted 414-2 to pass legislation which would create a program at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reimburse living organ donors for travel and other expenses related to their organ donation. Representative Platts voted in favor of this legislation.
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997)
The House voted 254-63 to pass legislation which would recognize unborn children as victims distinct from the mother when they are killed or injured during the commission of a violent federal crime. Representative Platts voted in favor of this legislation.
The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act (H.R. 3717)
The House voted 391-22 to pass legislation which would increase to $500,000 the maximum fine that may be imposed on broadcasters who violate existing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations on airing indecent or obscene material during the 6 am to 10 pm time period. Representative Platts voted in favor of this legislation.
The Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act (H.R. 339)
The House voted 276-139 to ban most “obesity” lawsuits against restaurants and food manufacturers that are based on the claim that the restaurant or food manufacturer is at fault for an individual’s obesity or weight gain. Representative Platts voted in favor of this legislation.
Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2005 (H. Con. Res. 393)
The House adopted by a vote of 215-212 a budget resolution which would freeze overall non-defense, non-homeland security domestic discretionary spending in fiscal year 2005. However, priority areas would receive increases, including a 3% increase in education funding and a 6% increase in veterans programs. Representative Platts voted in favor of this resolution.
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