Congressman Christopher Shays' E-Newsletter
January 2006

Dear Friend,

In this newsletter, we share information about:

• A schedule of upcoming Community Meetings;
  
• Legislation Senator McCain and I introduced to improve transparency on Capitol Hill by increasing disclosure of lobbying activities;
  
• Some recent federal funding highlights;
  
• My work with Senator McCain and others for humane treatment of detainees;
  
• Our proposal to reduce dependence on foreign oil and preserve the Arctic Refuge;
  
• Our efforts to strengthen the Civil Liberties Board;
  
• The recent hearing on cruise ship safety;
  
• Constituent Tip: Checking your free credit report; and
  
• A schedule of my staff’s upcoming Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit briefings.

I hope you find this information helpful and look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,

Christopher Shays

Member of Congress

Community Meetings

In January, I will hold 20 Community Meetings in the 17 towns of the Fourth Congressional District. I encourage you to attend, so we can talk about issues of concern to you, our region, and our country.

Improving Transparency on Capitol Hill with Lobby Disclosure Legislation

Recently, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and I introduced legislation to increase the disclosure requirements of lobbying activities on Capitol Hill.

Given Americans’ growing concern about Congressional ethics, the time is right for action to regain the public’s trust of what goes on in Washington.

The bill requires more frequent, more public and more accurate disclosures of lobbying activities. It also seeks to slow the revolving door between Capitol Hill and lobbying firms and requires Members of Congress to provide detailed itineraries of their official travel.

Click here to learn more about our efforts to improve the transparency of the legislative process

Recent Federal Funding Highlights for the Fourth Congressional District

We’ve received some great federal support for the Fourth Congressional District in recent months, including:

One Coast, One Future – Additional $500,000

We have received nearly $1 million in two separate earmarks for the One Coast, One Future initiative, a program designed to enhance regional economic integration amongst our urban centers of Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford. Administered by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Business Council of Fairfield County, One Coast, One Future is designed to encourage job, housing and development opportunities throughout the region.

Click here to learn more about One Coast, One Future

Bridgeport’s Combined Dispatch and Emergency Operations Center - $6 million

Bridgeport won an important $6 million grant from the Department of Justice to support a Combined Dispatch and Emergency Operations Center, which will service the entire region.

Click here for more information about the new Emergency Operations Center

Encouraging the Humane Treatment of Detainees

This Fall, Congress debated the use of torture during interrogation of detainees. I advocated that no individual in U.S. custody, regardless of nationality or physical location, be subject to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, and offered legislation to codify this into law. Our bill, which I introduced with Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA), mirrored the amendment John McCain (R-AZ) offered in the Senate. Our language, as well as protections for U.S. soldiers, was passed into law.

The use of torture during interrogation is not only a gross deviation from what is right, but is also an ineffective method of extracting intelligence. Under torture, prisoners may tell their interrogators what they want to hear, even if it is not true. And ill treatment of prisoners in our custody endangers the safety of any U.S. citizen or soldier who might be captured by a foreign enemy now or in a future conflict.

Click here to read a letter I wrote advocating for our legislation

Reducing Dependence on Foreign Oil and Preserving ANWR

I believe we are long overdue for a responsible national energy policy to help us save oil, reduce dependence on foreign oil and promote innovative sources of renewable energy.

For this reason, I introduced the Energy for Our Future Act with Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), which seeks to increase the fuel economy standards of cars and light trucks, encourage the manufacturing and purchase of hybrid cars, and increase tax incentives for energy efficiency.

To learn more about our bill, which was endorsed by the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists and U.S. PIRG, click here.

I have actively opposed legislation to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). If mini-vans, SUVs and trucks got the same gas mileage as cars, we would save in just three years all that we would consume from ANWR in its lifetime. We can’t afford to be so wasteful of our energy resources.

Investigating Cruise Ship Safety

Last July, a Greenwich resident, George Smith, disappeared from a cruise ship during his honeymoon. It appears there was foul play involved and George’s disappearance was not an isolated event.

As a result, I chaired a hearing on cruise ship safety in the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, where we heard from many witnesses, including the cruise lines. We are committed to continuing the investigation into cruise ship safety to understand the extent of criminal activity that takes place on these “floating cities” and what needs to be done to make them safer for cruise passengers.

Click here to learn more about this hearing

Strengthening the Civil Liberties Board

Recent public revelations of the National Security Agency conducting surveillance on international communications originating in the United States have sparked a heated debate on a President’s war time powers. We need to have this debate.

One outcome of that debate needs to be strengthening the Civil Liberties Board. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and I offered legislation last March to increase the power and independence of the Civil Liberties Board – a key 9/11 Commission recommendation. I firmly believe that with more executive power must come more legislative oversight.

Click here to learn more about our proposal

Constituent Tip: Check Your Free Credit Report

In the information age, identity theft is a major risk for consumers. That is one reason I supported the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act). This legislation allows every American to access their credit report for free on an annual basis to ensure it is correct and has not been distorted by identity theft. Visit http://www.annualcreditreport.com to request your free credit report.

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Briefings

After holding 30 briefings on the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit last year, my staff will continue to hold information sessions on this benefit. I encourage anyone who may be interested in taking advantage of this program, or who is the caretaker of someone who may benefit, to attend these informative briefings. The Medicare Prescription Drug benefit will help many on Medicare save money on their medications and provide a safety net for unexpected drug expenses.

Upcoming Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Briefings by my staff include:

If you would like a representative of my office to brief your organization about the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit, please feel free to contact Tom McCabe at 203/579-5870.