LETTER TO PRESIDENT OUTLINES NEBRASKA PRIORITIES

Senator Nelson: I am hopeful he will include these issues in State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three issues of importance to Nebraskans are the focus of a letter sent by Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson to President Bush Tuesday in advance of the President’s State of the Union Address next week.

“As the President prepares to outline his priorities in his State of the Union Address, I wanted to share with him three issues the people of Nebraska have told me they consider to be of primary importance to them in hopes he will include these items in his remarks,” said Nelson.

The three priorities highlighted in Nelson’s letter are: Taking care of our National Guard; Expanding access to health insurance; Strengthening our border security.

The letter asks the President to consult with Congress before making any of the rumored changes that might reduce troop levels within the National Guard. It also asks the President to address the need to replenish shortages of National Guard equipment. Nearly $35 million of National Guard equipment needs to be replaced in Nebraska alone.

“The Guard plays a critical role in defending our nation in war and at home during natural disasters or other emergencies,” said Nelson. “And they deserve to be as prepared and protected as possible.”

The letter also requests that the President outline a plan for making health care more affordable and more accessible. More than 40 million Americans live without health care coverage and Nelson believes those who want health care should have access to it.

Nelson joined with Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) to offer a plan that will give small businesses more options and more economic leverage to offer health insurance to their employees. “It’s unacceptable that of the 30,000 small businesses in Nebraska, 20,000 are still unable to keep up with runaway costs of health insurance and offer their employees health benefits,” said Nelson.

The final priority in Nelson’s letter asks the President to address the problem of illegal immigration in his speech. “The problem of illegal immigration is only worsening with each day that passes and our borders are not secured,” said Nelson.

Nelson has offered bipartisan legislation that solves one challenge at a time and begins where the challenge begins—at the border. “Until we stop the flood of illegal immigration across our borders, it will be increasingly difficult to address other issues associated with illegal immigration, including amnesty programs,” said Nelson.

President Bush’s State of the Union Address is scheduled for January 31, 2006. The text of Senator Nelson’s letter to the president is attached.

January 23, 2006

The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write in advance of your State of the Union address to encourage you to address several key issues which are legislative priorities for me this year and are critical to the continued success, security, and economic growth of our country.

First, I am very concerned about proposed cuts to National Guard troop levels and the ongoing problem of equipment shortages for our current Guard members here and those serving in Iraq. The National Guard’s duty is to protect our citizens at home and our interests abroad, and it is critical for the Guard to have the requisite personnel and equipment to meet its operational needs. I urge you and the U.S. Department of Defense to engage in full consultation with Congress and our nation’s governors to ensure we are meeting our commitment to the National Guard.

Second, it is critical that we take immediate action to make health care more affordable for small businesses and their employees. Health insurance premiums for small businesses are rising at double-digit rates of inflation, and small businesses and working families cannot keep up with the runaway costs. I have introduced bipartisan legislation to address this crisis by allowing America’s small businesses to band together to offer group health insurance to reduce costs. It is essential that we act on implementing solutions to the problem of skyrocketing health insurance costs.

Finally, I hope you will address immigration reform. I have introduced legislation, also bipartisan, to rigorously strengthen our border security to stop the flood of illegal immigration across our borders. By focusing on border security first, and doing so in a way which will significantly bolster our ability to stop illegal immigration, we can then move toward addressing comprehensive immigration reform and promoting legal immigration.

Mr. President, I look forward to listening to your State of the Union address; and I do hope to hear that you plan to focus on these and other areas vital to the future of the United States of America.

Sincerely,

E. Benjamin Nelson United States Senator EBN:act

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	Press Release	January 25, 2006
LETTER TO PRESIDENT OUTLINES NEBRASKA PRIORITIES Senator Nelson: I am hopeful he will include these issues in State of the Union Address WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three issues of importance to Nebraskans are the focus of a letter sent by Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson to President Bush Tuesday in advance of the President’s State of the Union Address next week. “As the President prepares to outline his priorities in his State of the Union Address, I wanted to share with him three issues the people of Nebraska have told me they consider to be of primary importance to them in hopes he will include these items in his remarks,” said Nelson. The three priorities highlighted in Nelson’s letter are: Taking care of our National Guard; Expanding access to health insurance; Strengthening our border security. The letter asks the President to consult with Congress before making any of the rumored changes that might reduce troop levels within the National Guard. It also asks the President to address the need to replenish shortages of National Guard equipment. Nearly $35 million of National Guard equipment needs to be replaced in Nebraska alone. “The Guard plays a critical role in defending our nation in war and at home during natural disasters or other emergencies,” said Nelson. “And they deserve to be as prepared and protected as possible.” The letter also requests that the President outline a plan for making health care more affordable and more accessible. More than 40 million Americans live without health care coverage and Nelson believes those who want health care should have access to it. Nelson joined with Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) to offer a plan that will give small businesses more options and more economic leverage to offer health insurance to their employees. “It’s unacceptable that of the 30,000 small businesses in Nebraska, 20,000 are still unable to keep up with runaway costs of health insurance and offer their employees health benefits,” said Nelson. The final priority in Nelson’s letter asks the President to address the problem of illegal immigration in his speech. “The problem of illegal immigration is only worsening with each day that passes and our borders are not secured,” said Nelson. Nelson has offered bipartisan legislation that solves one challenge at a time and begins where the challenge begins—at the border. “Until we stop the flood of illegal immigration across our borders, it will be increasingly difficult to address other issues associated with illegal immigration, including amnesty programs,” said Nelson. President Bush’s State of the Union Address is scheduled for January 31, 2006. The text of Senator Nelson’s letter to the president is attached. January 23, 2006 The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: I write in advance of your State of the Union address to encourage you to address several key issues which are legislative priorities for me this year and are critical to the continued success, security, and economic growth of our country. First, I am very concerned about proposed cuts to National Guard troop levels and the ongoing problem of equipment shortages for our current Guard members here and those serving in Iraq. The National Guard’s duty is to protect our citizens at home and our interests abroad, and it is critical for the Guard to have the requisite personnel and equipment to meet its operational needs. I urge you and the U.S. Department of Defense to engage in full consultation with Congress and our nation’s governors to ensure we are meeting our commitment to the National Guard. Second, it is critical that we take immediate action to make health care more affordable for small businesses and their employees. Health insurance premiums for small businesses are rising at double-digit rates of inflation, and small businesses and working families cannot keep up with the runaway costs. I have introduced bipartisan legislation to address this crisis by allowing America’s small businesses to band together to offer group health insurance to reduce costs. It is essential that we act on implementing solutions to the problem of skyrocketing health insurance costs. Finally, I hope you will address immigration reform. I have introduced legislation, also bipartisan, to rigorously strengthen our border security to stop the flood of illegal immigration across our borders. By focusing on border security first, and doing so in a way which will significantly bolster our ability to stop illegal immigration, we can then move toward addressing comprehensive immigration reform and promoting legal immigration. Mr. President, I look forward to listening to your State of the Union address; and I do hope to hear that you plan to focus on these and other areas vital to the future of the United States of America. Sincerely, E. Benjamin Nelson United States Senator EBN:act ###