Congressman Christopher Shays' E-Newsletter
February 2007

Dear Friend,

In this newsletter, we share information about:

• debate in the House of Representatives on the resolution expressing disapproval of additional troops in Iraq;
• efforts to modernize the Presidential Public Financing system;
• limiting the Department of Defense policy of extending soldiers' activation in Iraq and Afghanistan;
• legislation to improve the safety of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant;
• advocating Fairfield County's needs regarding air traffic;
• my visit with Westport Brownie and Juniors troops at Save the Children in support of its program to raise awareness of newborn health; and
• free tax assistance for low- and moderate-income residents of the Fourth District.

I hope you find this information useful and that you will not hesitate to contact our office if there is anything we can do to be helpful to you and your neighbors.

Sincerely,

Christopher Shays
Member of Congress

Debate in the House of Representatives on the Resolution Expressing Disapproval of Additional Troops in Iraq

The House of Representatives held a three day debate on a resolution expressing disapproval of adding 21,000 troops to help the Department of Defense initiative to regain control of Baghdad. I spoke on the House floor twice in opposition to the resolution, which I believe is a "stay-the-course" resolution that offers no alternative to stabilize Iraq and bring our troops home.

The following was the first of two speeches I made on the House floor about the Iraq resolution:

New Team and a New Plan

Madam Speaker, it is good we are having this debate. As a 20-year veteran of this place, I am, frankly, impressed with the heartfelt and articulate statements from both sides of the aisle. On matters of war and peace, it is imperative we do what is right for our country, as we see it, and then live personally with the consequences.

Critics of the war in Iraq wanted new leadership at the Department of Defense, new military leadership on the ground, and a new plan to stabilize Iraq and bring our troops home.

We have a new Defense Secretary, Robert Gates; new Commanding General of Multinational Forces, David Petraeus, who everyone acknowledged is as perfect a person for this job as we could find; and a new strategy to clean up, hold and rebuild the neighborhoods with a short-term buildup of our forces.

Stay the Course Resolution

The Democratic majority in the House has introduced a resolution condemning this strategy, expressing disapproval, without offering any alternatives. Ironically, they offer a stay the course resolution.

The majority is clear on what it is against, but does not say what it is for, leaving us with what exists right now, the status quo.

The resolution sends the wrong message to the President, to our troops, and to our enemies. It will not get my vote.

We need a resolution to help resolve this conflict, not a symbolic resolution that gives no guidance on how we can help stabilize Iraq and bring our troops home.

Iraq Study Group

Working with Congressman Frank Wolf and others, we helped create the Iraq Study Group, bipartisan experts led by Jim Baker and Lee Hamilton who offered fresh eyes on Iraq and offered specific recommendations.

The Iraq Study Group made three recommendations: transfer responsibility for police patrolling the streets from American troops to Iraqi security forces; two, encourage Sunnis and Shiites to resolve their differences or face the consequences -- American troops leaving; and, three, conduct a robust diplomatic effort with all of Iraq's neighbors to engage them in the country's future.

The White House has implemented the first and second of those recommendations but, regretfully, not the third.

The Study Group provided a road map resoundingly endorsed by members from both political parties. It is a missed opportunity that the resolution we are debating this week does not incorporate these three recommendations.

Regaining Control of Baghdad

I know there are many Americans who are concerned about a short-term increase in troops to secure and regain control of Baghdad. I understand their concern. Two years ago I believed this strategy had a better than even chance to work. Today it is less likely to succeed, but it is still the best opportunity we have.

But this strategy will only work if Iraqi troops do their part; Sunni and Shia politicians resolve their differences, meeting benchmarks against firm timelines like they did in 2005; and the U.S. and Iraq engage in a diplomatic surge with all of Iraq's neighbors, including Syria and Iran.

A Plan to Win or A Plan to Leave

We also need to be prepared with plan B if this plan fails. It seems to me plan B involves taking our troops out of harm's way, removing them from the urban areas, and placing them along the borders so Iraq's neighbors, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Turkey, are not tempted to enter Iraq.

And if plan B fails, we will have no choice but to leave, having been defeated, having lost to the Islamist terrorists who have made it very clear this is just the beginning.

In essence, our troops deserve to know we have a plan to win. If we do not have a plan to win, we need a plan to leave. The resolution before the House neither helps us succeed nor gives us guidance on when and how to leave. It is counterproductive.

Congressional Oversight

It is so counterproductive, for 535 Members of the House of Representatives and Senate to micromanage the war. It is the responsibility of the Administration to conduct the war effort. It is Congress's responsibility to conduct tough oversight, hold the Administration accountable for the implementation of the war.

Having chaired 14 hearings on the operations in Iraq and been to Iraq 15 times to conduct on-the-ground oversight, I will continue to ask the Administration the tough questions and to provide, to the best of my ability, my observations and recommendations.

Regretfully, too few Members of Congress have fully considered the consequence of leaving Iraq prematurely. The Iraq Study Group warned, ``If the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate, the consequence could be severe for Iraq, the United States, the region, and the world.'' This is what members of the Iraq Study Group said on a bipartisan basis, Republicans and Democrats united.

Ultimate Goal in Iraq

The ultimate goal for me is to bring our troops home without leaving Iraq in chaos. This is still achievable if Republicans and Democrats, the White House and Congress, agree on a bipartisan solution and then carry it out with steely resolve.

Officially endorsing the recommendations of that Iraq Study Group and acting on them is the best way to make this happen.

The only way we should leave Iraq is the same way we went in: together.

I thought the debate was constructive and understand the temptation for some to support the resolution to express our strong dissatisfaction with how the Administration has conducted the war and to separate ourselves from an unpopular President. Is it the American way to attack another country, disassemble its entire security forces - military, border patrol and police - and then leave before this broken country is capable of rebuilding its forces and standing on its own? The shame of the possibility haunts me.

I want to emphasize again, our troops deserve to know we have a plan to win. If we do not have a plan to win, we need a plan to leave.

Click here if you want to see my speech on the resolution.

Efforts to Modernize the Presidential Public Financing System

I joined with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Representatives Marty Meehan (D-MA) and David Price (D-NC) to introduce the Presidential Funding Act, which strengthens the presidential public financing system so it reflects the current reality of running for the Presidency. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) is the first 2008 Presidential candidate who has cosponsored the bill.

Contrary to past elections, candidates for the Presidency who opt in to the system today are simply not as competitive as those who opt out. We want to reform the system so the funding provided is an amount that is realistic, in a timeframe appropriate for today's campaigns and discourages reliance on influence-peddlers who collect large sums of money. Our bill:

• increases the amount of matching funds for the presidential primaries from a 1:1 match for up to $250 of an individual's aggregate contributions, to a 4:1 match for up to $200 of an individual's contribution. In other words, the fund will contribute $4 for every $1 raised, up to $200;
• increases the spending limit for candidates who choose to participate in the presidential primary public financing system from its current level of approximately $45 million, to $150 million, with a sub-limit of no more than $100 million to be spent by April 1;
  increases the spending limit for participating general election candidates from its current level of $75 million, to $100 million;
• indexes dollar amounts to inflation; and
• moves the starting date for the payment of matching funds to primary candidates from January 1 of the election year to six months before the first primary or caucus is held by a party to select its presidential nominee.
  

Limiting the Department of Defense Policy of Extending Soldiers' Activation in Iraq and Afghanistan

Last month, I shared with you a letter we wrote to Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ask him to address the policy of "stop-loss," or forced extension of a soldier's activation.

Gates asked the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military leaders to minimize the use of the stop-loss policy for active duty and reserve components. This is good news.

Extending the deployment of a soldier in combat is a serious issue, especially in a voluntary military such as ours. I support the military in its decisions to maintain the troop strength necessary to accomplish its mission, but I am concerned the Department of Defense has not been frank with soldiers and their families about the length of deployment.

Legislation to Improve the Safety of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant

I joined New York Democratic Representatives John Hall, Nita Lowey, Eliot Engel and Maurice Hinchey to introduce legislation that will require an Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) of the Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) within six months. The bill goes beyond previous legislation by requiring the plant to comply with the ISA recommendations or be denied a license extension in 2013.

Indian Point's location near highly populated areas means we have to go the extra mile to ensure it is safe. This legislation will ensure that if Indian Point continues to run, it meets strict safety standards and is continually monitored. The bill:

• requires the completion of an Independent Safety Assessment at IPEC within 6 months of passage;
• requires the ISA to be completed and any recommended repairs or actions to be fully implemented prior to NRC renewal of IPEC's license;
• requires the NRC and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to complete a detailed evaluation of the radiological emergency plan for Indian Point;
• specifies that the ISA will be conducted by a 25-member team composed of 16 NRC officials not from NRC Region 1, six independent contractors, and three NYS appointees;
• specifies that the ISA will be monitored by a four member ISA Observation Group appointed by NY State, as well as a Citizens' Review Team composed of five individuals appointed by NY, with one resident from each Emergency Planning Zone county; and
• authorizes $10 million to carry out the ISA.
  

Advocating Fairfield County's Needs Regarding Air Traffic

Efforts to Make Westchester Airport's Curfew Mandatory
Residents of lower Fairfield County have expressed serious concern about air traffic from Westchester Airport during curfew hours. The current curfew is voluntary and runs from midnight to 6 a.m.

I am drafting legislation with New York representatives which will make the curfew mandatory. While I know this will be a tough legislative fight since I only know of one airport in the country has a mandatory curfew, it is important to have the debate about the need to protect local communities as air traffic increases.

Opposing Efforts to Route More Air Traffic Over Connecticut
Because of the high volume of air traffic in our region, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is redesigning the airspace over Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. One of its proposals would dramatically increase air traffic over Fairfield County. I oppose this proposal and have been shared my deep concerns, and the concerns of area residents, with the FAA.

The FAA originally scheduled a public meeting on the proposal on April 11 in Danbury. I wrote and also spoke directly with FAA officials to make sure they hold this meeting in the greater Stamford area, whose residents are effected the most. The FAA rescheduled the meeting for April 24 in Stamford at the Stamford Holiday Inn.

It is essential for the FAA to hold the meeting in the most impacted area.

Visit with Westport Brownie and Juniors Troops at Save the Children in Support of Its Newborn Health Awareness Program

I joined Westport Brownie Troop 552 and Junior Troop 1007 at Save the Children in Westport to support its program to raise awareness of newborn health.

Congressman Shays meets with Westport Brownie Troop 552 and Junior Troop 1007 at Save the Children in Westport to support their program to raise awareness of newborn health.

The girls helped by knitting, crocheting and collecting caps for infants, which will be sent to developing countries. According to Save the Children's 2006 State of the World's Mothers Report, many of the 2 million babies who die each year in the first 24 hours of life in developing countries could be saved by simple, cost-effective measures, like placing a knit or crocheted cap on a baby's head for warmth.

Nationwide, 260,000 caps were collected. In Connecticut, 15,188 caps were knitted, and the exact same number of letters were sent to the President the Newborn Health and Survival Act.

Free Tax Assistance for Low- and Moderate-Income Residents of the Fourth District

I encourage low- and moderate-income ($39,000 or less annually) individuals of Southwest Connecticut to take advantage of free tax assistance available in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford.

Volunteers will be available through April 15 to provide tax return preparation assistance, including special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly.

For more information on the VITA program, please visit the IRS website, call 1-800-829-1040 or visite 211 Infoline.