Sacramento-area Rep. Dan Lungren told a room full of Carmichael Kiwanis Club members that although the war in Iraq is controversial, he supports the fighting.

"I would rather fight terrorists there than closer to home," Lungren, R-Gold River, said at the June 1 gathering.

Lungren added that the country needs to improve its homeland security. A system has existed, he said, where federal money for first-responding agencies, such as police and fire departments, is parceled out "willy-nilly."

"If we are worried about homeland security, we have to know our vulnerability," he said.

New federal legislation will change the mechanism for homeland security grants, Lungren said.

"Under the old system, Wyoming got 10 times the amount per capita of first-responder money for homeland security concerns than New York City," he said. "Now, I love Wyoming, but I doubt al-Qaida is focused on blowing up one of the ski slopes in Jackson."

Lungren has been holding town hall-style meetings, speaking to residents the past few months in Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, San Andreas, Folsom, Jackson and Citrus Heights.

Lungren said the gatherings have been averaging about 100 citizens. When he has time, Lungren also speaks to organizations such as the Kiwanis group.

"It gives me a chance to talk and listen to what folks have to say in the district," he told the Kiwanis club members.

During his talk, he touched on a variety of subjects:

* The federal budget: "We are beginning to come to grips with it."

* Illegal immigration: "It is not under control."

* Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge of Alaska: "I'm one who believes we need to explore and drill in ANWR."

* Social Security reform: "I give the president credit because six months after he started this debate, the American people have a consensus we have a problem."

Lungren represents California's sprawling 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Sacramento and Solano counties and all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties.

Lungren was involved in politics early on, including serving as the California chairman of "Youth for Nixon," after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1968.

A lawyer, he won a congressional seat in 1978, serving for 10 years as the representative for the Long Beach area. He later served as California's attorney general from 1991-99.

Lungren was drawn back into public service by the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was elected last November to the seat vacated by retired Rep. Doug Ose, R-Sacramento.

He told Kiwanis members that some people ask him what the difference is between his time in the House of Representatives 16 years ago and today.

"There have been changes, there are cell phones now and personal computers," he said.

The advancement of technology was apparent to Lungren not long ago when he went to China on his first congressional trip since taking office in January.

He was there to observe how that country trains young people in math and science, to look into the question of religious freedom and to find out more about the flow of counterfeit products from China.

On a side trip to one of China's great sights, he discovered that his hand-held BlackBerry computer worked just fine. BlackBerry functions include e-mail, calendar and phone.

"There, on the Great Wall, I found out that my BlackBerry works," he said. "There are places in the halls of Congress my BlackBerry doesn't work."

On another recent trip, he was one of 21 members of Congress at the installation Mass of Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

"It's my privilege and pleasure to represent you in Washington, D.C.," he said. "You have some good men and women back there working very hard. But none are working as hard as the men and women in uniform."

About the writer:
The Bee's Bill Lindelof can be reached at (916) 321-1079 or blindelof@sacbee.com.

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