I want to take a moment to thank the more than 8 thousand constituents who joined me for my first telephone town hall this week. I really enjoyed being able to hear from so many constituents on a variety of issues from gas prices to immigration and Iraq. 

Since it was my first phone town hall, there were some technical glitches, which seemed to go unnoticed by those on the line, thankfully! At some point early on, my computer screen went blank and my immediate fear was that we had lost everybody on the call. Luckily, the problem was resolved and I was able to answer questions from nearly 30 additional constituents. 

I have heard from a number of you since the town hall, and thank you for the positive feedback. I am going to try to do more of these, as it gives you the opportunity to personally connect with me from the comfort and convenience of your own home. I hope to hear from even more of you the next time around! 

Border security and immigration issues have dominated debate in Washington, D.C. and the country alike. This is one of the most important issues facing our country right now, and I have been a strong advocate for an “enforcement first” approach.
Members in the House, understanding the urgency of this issue, took swift action on border security last year. In December, we passed comprehensive legislation that takes important steps to prevent illegal immigration, hold lawbreakers accountable, and protect American citizens. Currently, the Senate is debating the issue of border security and immigration in hopes of passing legislation in the next several weeks. I have serious concerns about the Senate’s proposal, and believe that it sends the wrong message to our citizens. Once the Senate passes an immigration bill, a panel of House and Senate negotiators will work together on a compromise border security bill.