Congressman Major Owens/Job Seekers
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Priorities and Positions

Congressman Owens has many priorities and positions that are vital to the constituents of his district, the State of New York, and the United States. Below are several of them.

African Foreign Policy

There are many issues in African foreign policy of concern to me such as cancellation of debt owed by impoverished countries; prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases such as Malaria; AGOA, African Growth and Opportunity Act; the genocide in Darfur and the prevention of inhumane practices such as female genital mutilation.  Currently one of the most pressing and far-reaching issues on the continent of Africa is addressing HIV/AIDS.  A piece of current HIV/AIDS legislation I sponsored is H.R. 768 (Rep. Lee). This Act provides for the reduction of adolescent pregnancy, HIV rates, and other sexually transmitted diseases, and for other purposes. I have also signed onto numerous letters calling for an increase in funding for HIV/AIDS.  In addition I have cosponsored H.R. 1130 (Rep. Waters), a bill to provide for the cancellation of debts owed to international financial institutions by poor countries, and for other purposes.

CAFTA

Despite the painful repercussions of NAFTA for working men and women throughout North America, last year the U.S. Congress enacted the Dominican Republic – Central American – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).  Modeled after NAFTA, CAFTA undermines workers’ rights dramatically in the Dominican Republic, five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), and the United States.  CAFTA lacks any enforcement of core labor standards and no sanctions are attached to any violation of any labor provisions.  I joined the AFL-CIO and my other brothers and sisters in the labor movement as well as numerous faith-based organizations in strongly opposing CAFTA.  In the U.S. House of Representatives, on July 28, 2005, I voted against CAFTA – HR 3045 –.  Despite strong opposition to HR 3045 by House Democrats as a voting block, the bill passed the House by 2 votes.  As a result, we can expect a further increase in the outsourcing of jobs from the U.S. as well as a faster “race to the bottom” in U.S. wages and living standard declines for hard working families.  The high likelihood of such terrible outcomes in the U.S. is also most certain to be accompanied by exacerbated inequality in Central American countries.  The divide between rich and poor in all these countries will continue to widen.  For working women and men and their families, CAFTA thus signifies a giant step backward.    

Caribbean Foreign Policy

The U.S. interests in the Caribbean are diverse, and include economic, political, and security concerns.  Extensive economic linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a sizeable U.S. foreign assistance program should characterize the relationship between U.S. and the Caribbean.  The U.S. aid helps to support many programs that strengthen democracy, promote economic growth and development, and alleviate poverty.  In the aftermath of several devastating storms in 2004, I voted for $100 million in emergency supplemental funding to support humanitarian efforts and reconstruction in Haiti, Grenada, and Jamaica.  I introduced H.R. 342, which provides for adjustment of immigration status for certain aliens granted temporary protected status in the United States because of conditions in Montserrat.  I am a cosponsor of H.R. 945-New Partnership for Haiti Act of 2005 that directs the President to work with the Government of Haiti and international organizations to establish a comprehensive and integrated strategy to combat infectious diseases in Haiti, including HIV/AIDS, and to establish a comprehensive health infrastructure in Haiti.  In addition I cosponsored H.R. 1737-HRIFA Improvement Act of 2005 and H.R. 2592-Haiti Compassion Act.

Child Care and Development Block Grant

Several federal programs support childcare for low-income families, the principal being a federal block grant program: The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).  The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 amended and reauthorized the CCDBG through FY2002, and repealed the legislative authority for previous childcare programs for low-income working and welfare families under the program formerly known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). The CCDBG provides funding for childcare services for low income families, as well as for activities intended to improve the overall quality and supply of childcare for families in general.  Federal funding levels for childcare assistance continue to be a source of debate, in the context of increased work requirements for single welfare mothers, those leaving welfare for work, and low-income working families in general.  The President's budget for FY2007 proposes the discretionary CDBG funding of $2.975 billion.

Civil Unions and Same Sex Marriage

I wholeheartedly support civil unions as a way to fulfill America's promise of equality. I strongly believe that gays and lesbians should not be treated as second-class citizens in a way that we would never dream of treating African-Americans or other minorities. Ensuring equal protection and benefits for gay and lesbian couples fulfills the American Constitution's promise of tolerance, respect and equality. I am a proud cosponsor of the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act. The bill argues that the federal government is America's largest employer so it should grant equal benefits to its gay, lesbian and unmarried workers, comparable to the private sector.  In addition I wholeheartedly oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Amending the U.S. Constitution to exclude a segment of the American community is the worst form of discrimination.  Our constitutional tradition has been one of inclusion, not exclusion. In the past, we have amended the Constitution to protect the rights of African Americans, women and other disenfranchised groups.  Never before have we altered the Constitution to endorse and legally mandate discrimination against a particular segment of our citizenry.  An amendment to the Constitution prohibiting gay marriage would violate this noble constitutional tradition.  Also, such an amendment would undermine our core American values of tolerance, respect and equality.

Cuba, Relations with

I believe it is important to end the embargo on Cuba and establish normal relations.  This will result in less hostility and bring peace and a better atmosphere around the world.  For over forty years, our government has placed sanctions on Cuba and for all of those years they haven't worked.  An end to the travel ban would transmit American ideas and values.  Strong links between our societies will encourage free-market development, help individuals and their communities, and build links to the next generation of Cubans.  All of this would serve our national interest by promoting an American public policy based on individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peaceful international relations.

Death Penalty

I am against government sanctioning the taking of human life.  I am also strongly against the death penalty because it is inherently unfair. For example, it has been shown that blacks in Philadelphia are 4 times as likely to be on death row than whites. The death penalty is plagued with persistent racial discrimination and is a cost-inefficient crime deterrent that simply does not work. I will whole-heartedly support any measure that halts this atrocity.

Department of Peace

In 2003, my colleague Congressman Kucinich of Ohio introduced a bill for the establishment of a cabinet level Department of Peace in the Executive Branch of the government.  I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation as the Department, headed by a Secretary of Peace nominated by the President and approved by the Senate, would be responsible for promoting peaceful resolution to and the prevention of international armed and unarmed conflicts and human rights violations.  The Secretary of Peace will advise the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State regarding these issues as applicable.

Education Technology

Today's children are growing up in a period of unprecedented and accelerating technological change. The skills and aptitudes necessary to function in such an environment are fundamentally different from those that our current educational system was designed to teach. While change is necessary across the nation, this fact is most painfully felt in our historically underserved minority and inner city schools. While the Military budget soars unfettered, with full Republican support for research, development, and modernization, education technology is a mere side-note to this administration's agenda. Quality education is a civil right. But by failing to sufficiently address or promote the potential of modern technology as a remedy to our current educational woes, President Bush is in effect Leaving Every Child Behind. That is why I have dedicated a large portion of my time in congress to eliminating the "Digital Divide" that exists in our society. I believe that partnerships between the worlds of education and business, with government as the facilitator and catalyst, present the best strategy to achieve this transformation.

Since 1997, as Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust I have organized annual two-day symposia during the CBC Legislative Conference where leaders from public schools, higher education, government, communities and the private sector exchange ideas and incubate these partnerships. One such partnership that I consider a crowning achievement of my career is the E-Rate, established as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The E-Rate provides telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections at discounts ranging from 20% to 90 % to all schools and libraries. In the 109th Congress, I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 1742, America's Better Classroom Act of 2005 - which amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for investment in qualified public school modernization bonds. Over the past ten years I have also sponsored the following school construction and modernization initiatives:

H.R.3896, The Information Technology Partnerships Act

H.R.3008, The Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Resources, Training, and - Advanced Technology Assistance Act

H.R.1570, Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Act of 2001

H.R.599, To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to improve the infrastructure of elementary and secondary schools.

H.R.2335, The Emergency Targeted Revenue Sharing Act of 2003

Environment

I am a cosponsor of The Climate Stewardship Act of 2005 (S. 342, S. 1151, and H.R. 759), which would reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases from anticipated levels beginning in 2010. This Act also provides for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradable allowances that will limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances, and for other purposes.  I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 1356-Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2005 and H.R. 2391-Safe Communities and Safe Schools Mercury Reduction Act of 2005.

Faith-Based Initiatives

The Faith-Based and Community Initiative was designed to "enlist, equip, empower, and expand the heroic works of faith-based and community groups across America."  It includes increased tax incentives for charitable giving, an extension of Charitable Choice Rules to most federally funded social service programs, and the Compassion Capital Fund, an HHS program.  The White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives gives organizations the fullest opportunity permitted by law to compete for federal finding.  However, existing evidence shows that only partisan favored groups have received priority to date.  Poor communities throughout the nation, for the last thirty years, have seen Federal funds drained from their grassroots organization.  Funding which places resources in the hands of front-line efforts is desperately needed.  All public decision-makers should support fair competition for community-based grants.  The standards and procedures for the unbiased, transparent, objective notification, processing, review and evaluation of community-based programs have been well established by the Economic Opportunity Act and its successor, the Community Services Block Grant.

Gays in the Military

I support the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prohibits any homosexual or bisexual from disclosing his or her sexual orientation, or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, while serving in the United States armed forces.  Drafted by Colin Powell, this policy has been maintained through the Clinton and Bush administrations.  I support the policy that as long as gay or bisexual men and women in the military conceal anything that could reveal sexual orientation, their commanders will not try to find out their sexuality.

Health Care

I believe the federal government should take steps to create a world-class universal health care system that is not “expensive or restrictive.”  Many other developed countries have publicly funded health systems that provide coverage to the great majority of the population.  In addition to providing coverage for all, universal health care would:

·         Reduce administrative spending

·         Provide more effective health care planning

·         Increase emphasis on preventative and primary health care

·         Produce uniform standards of care

The Democratic Party proposed legislation that would expand health care for the elderly and create a system that would penalize overzealous health care insurers.  The Republicans in Congress refuse to address the issue of 45 million uninsured Americans, as this proposal never came to the house floor.  I will continue to work towards legislation that lowers insurance costs, protects consumers and expands health care for all.

Higher Education

The United States spends a far smaller percentage of its national budget on education than other developed--and developing--nations. Not only do we lack the skilled workforce we need; we are accumulating masses of dysfunctional citizens who imperil our society.  The only solution is to aggressively place education at the top of our federal budget priorities, where military spending now sits. We must increase the federal government's share of public education financing from 8 to 25 percent.  We have recognized that the mass-production of science and engineering graduates in China and India is challenging America's commercial competitiveness. But we're ignoring equally threatening shortages and systemic scarcity above and beyond those super high-tech occupational categories.  Establishing and maintaining a first-rate education system will allow the nation to draw on its greatest supply of untapped human resources: the children of our inner cities.

Homeland Security

A large U.S. military budget will not make our nation safer unless our country learns from the lessons of Hurricane Katrina.  It is imperative that we focus on developing first responder systems in our local communities.  The Federal Government should give grants to agencies to employ local residents and train them in first response training and disaster relief skills.  We have a critical need for translators of Arabic, Urdu, Pashto and Chinese. There are only seventy Arab studies departments in our 4,000 colleges and universities, and just sixty-seven Chinese studies departments. The gap between the need for linguistic and cultural training and the available resources is vast indeed.

Historically Black Colleges

In 1986 I sponsored Title III part B of the HEA, which provides five-year grants to eligible Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).  In 2004 97 such institutions received $227 million in appropriations.  In 2005 the appropriation is $238.5 million.  I have introduced H.R. 2931 - HBCU Expansion Act of 2005, which Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) as eligible under title III part B provisions for strengthening HBCU's.  We are expecting action on this amendment this year.

Immigration

On February 10, 2005, Congress passed The Real ID Act.  I voted against this measure because of concerns regarding the issue of civil liberties, privacy and the government acting as Big Brother.  The Senate Judiciary Committee, which was introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch, sent the DREAM Act to the Senate floor.  It addresses the situation faced by young people who were brought to the U.S years ago as undocumented immigrant children and have since grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of the trouble. Under the Dream Act of 2003, most students of good moral character who came to the U.S. before they were sixteen years old and at least five years before the date of the bill's enactment would qualify for conditional permanent resident status upon acceptance to college, graduation from high school, or being awarded a general equivalency diploma (GED).  When this Act passes both Houses of Congress, it will greatly benefit the numerous students who reside in the 11th District from Caribbean and Eastern European countries.

Medicaid Funding

As you know Medicaid provides primary, acute and long-term care to people who are poor and uninsured, which covers 50 million Americans.  Also, it assists people with disabilities making Medicaid the second-largest federal social expenditure, next to Social Security, costing approximately $322 billion with the federal government paying $182 billion.  In May 2005, the House approved a $14 billion Medicaid cut for FY2006-2010. I was strongly opposed to these cuts while Republicans were the main proponents.  Under Republican leadership, the FY2006 budget reconciliation bills passed by the House (H.R. 4241) and Senate (S. 1932), as well as the conference report on S. 1932, include provisions that greatly cuts Medicaid.  Of the $28 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years, about 75 percent - nearly $22 billion - is due to provisions that will increase the number of uninsured and underinsured by raising co-payments and premiums, cutting benefits, and tightening access to long-term care.  Unfortunately as a result of Republican leadership in Congress, our seniors, working families, their children, and people with disabilities will be forced to choose between putting food on the table and buying prescription drugs.

Medicare Funding

Last November, I joined my Democratic colleagues to strongly oppose H.R. 1, the Republican "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003." It establishes a new optional Medicare prescription drug benefit program augmenting with a permanent voluntary prescription drug benefit program the limited coverage of certain outpatient prescription drugs and vaccines currently covered under the Medicare program.  The bill is a multi-billion dollar swindle that promises to provide comprehensive health care but seeks to privatize Medicare. The "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003" is a dangerous illusion which undermines the Medicare system while rewarding large pharmaceutical companies by contributing to the rising cost of prescription drugs.

Military Budget

World military spending in 2003 increased by about 11 per cent in real terms. This is a remarkable rate of increase, even more so given that it was preceded by an increase of 6.5 per cent in 2002.  The main reason for the increase in world military spending is the massive increase in the United States, which accounts for almost half of the world total.  The U.S. military budget request for Fiscal Year 2006 is $441.6 billion.  Although spending is still geared towards Cold War-type scenarios and other such conventional confrontations, the most likely forms of threat to the United States would be through terrorist actions, rather than conventional warfare.  I believe that the the U.S. Government should increase foreign aid and increase funding for the Institute of Peace, while reducing the military budget.

Minimum Wage

The last time the U.S. Congress increased the federal minimum wage, currently set at $5.15 an hour, was in 1997.  Close to eight million American workers and their families would benefit from an increase in this wage floor.  By failing to give these hard-working Americans a much needed pay raise, the Congressional Republican leadership is extending the shameful practice of full-time, year-round work for poverty wages.  Close to 75 percent of minimum wage workers are adults – many with children – and at least half work full-time.  As the Senior Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I am a joint sponsor of HR 2429, the Fair Minimum Wage Act.  This bill would increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in two easy stages.  I will continue to press the Republicans for a Committee hearing and House floor vote on the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

NAFTA

In the early 1990’s, supporters of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States, Mexico and Canada, heralded it as a pivotal means of increasing jobs, wages and living standards for U.S. workers, as well as U.S. exports.  Recognizing justifiable skepticism about the possible erosion of workers’ rights and environmental standards under NAFTA, then President Clinton negotiated side agreements on labor and environmental protections.  However, I joined the AFL-CIO in strongly opposing enactment of NAFTA and cast my vote against this omnibus trade agreement, HR 3450, on November 17, 1993 in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Now, more than eleven years after NAFTA was first implemented, it is obvious that the AFL-CIO and I were correct in predicting a loss of jobs and the undermining of labor protections as a result of NAFTA.  Since 1994, U.S. workers have lost over 1 million jobs due to our growing trade deficits with Canada and Mexico.  Imports from Mexico and Canada have outpaced U.S. exports to them by over $100 billion dollars.  This has resulted in displacement of U.S. workers from jobs in aircraft, apparel, automobiles, and consumer electronics industries, among others.  Also, real wages have fallen and poverty has increased in the U.S. since 2001.  In short, NAFTA has greatly widened the gap between the “haves” (corporate executives and investors) and the “have-nots” (working men and women) in the U.S.  At the same time, NAFTA has resulted in the displacement of millions of small farmers, reduced wages for factory workers and soaring poverty in Mexico.  The only winners under NAFTA are members of the global investor class in all three nations.      

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

It is now well known that the United States spends a far smaller percentage of its national budget on education than other developed or developing nations.  The escalation of the mega-production of science and engineering graduates in India and China offers the obvious challenges to American commercial competitiveness.  I voted for and supported the "No Child Left Behind Act" because President Bush promised a bi-partisan, bi-cameral coalition of members that he would dramatically increase funding for elementary and secondary education.  This promise proved to be a ploy by the Bush Administration.  While the Democratic Party supported a $5 billion increase President Bush resisted any attempt to provide the money to meet the mandates set in NCLB.  The Democratic proposal would have enabled Title I schools to hire an additional 6,600 teachers.  In addition, I also supported an increase of more than $1 billion for after school programs.  The additional funding would provide learning opportunities for more than 130,000 at risk children.  I will not support any amendment that undermines education funding.  It is my position that the Federal share of education funding should be increased from the currently eight percent to twenty-five percent.

Nurses, Mandatory Overtime for

As a result of an alarming nursing shortage in this country, hospital administrators and others are resorting to mandatory overtime to put a band-aid on their chronic staffing problems.  Even when nurses are paid for overtime work, when it becomes habitual and a mandated condition of employment it jeopardizes their ability to provide quality care for patients.  Since the 1970’s, researchers have been documenting the critical role that fatigue plays in contributing to health care errors as well as injury and illness among medical staff.  I join the members of the American Nurses Association (ANA) in strongly opposing mandatory overtime for nurses.

OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The House of Representatives passed 4 Republican bills on July 12, 2006, designed to erode dramatically – and in some cases halt – enforcement of U.S. safety laws by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Masquerading as bills offered to assist small businesses, HR 739, HR 740, HR 741 and HR 742 undermine the very purpose of the OSH Act, which is to assure every workingman and woman in America a safety and healthful workplace.  As Democratic manager for the House floor debate on these OSHA bills, I was joined by my colleagues in offering strenuous opposition to all four.  Rather than weaken OSHA, we must take immediate steps to strengthen it, which is the intent of my bill, “Protecting America’s Workers Act,” or HR 2004.  This bill would make it a felony when employers – through gross negligence or willful safety violations – cause worker deaths.  HR 2004 would also require employers to pay for personal protective equipment (PPE) for every worker, stiffen OSHA enforcement measures, improve whistleblower protections, and increase worker rights.  Whereas the 4 Republican bills would further excuse corporate manslaughter, HR 2004 would ensure deterrence through criminal prosecutions and penalties.  With their very lives and health at stake, America’s workers deserve nothing less than a strong, effective OSHA.

Overtime Pay

On August 23, 2005, a Bush Administration regulation took effect that gutted existing rules assuring American workers overtime pay for overtime work.  This action by the Department of Labor (DOL) reversed a labor standard that had been a hallmark of American fairness since enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938.  Done at the behest of special corporate interests who remain large contributors to President Bush and Congressional Republican leaders, this action takes away overtime pay from millions of American workers, including pre-school teachers, chefs, computer programmers, route drivers, assistant retail managers, financial services workers, some registered nurses, team leaders, and others.  Despite a successful House floor vote on September 9, 2004 on an amendment – of which I was a joint sponsor – to rescind this Bush policy, Republican leaders stripped it from the final appropriations bill. 

Pornography

The 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is the best-known provision of the bill of rights. It provides that "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...'' There are two exceptions that apply to this regarding pornography and indecency which are illegal.  Preventing children from encountering pornography as they use the Internet has always been a concern of mine.  Several laws that address pornography have been passed all of which I voted for, including the 1996 Communications Decency Act (CDA), the 1998 Child Online Protection Act (COPA), and the 2000 Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).  The 108th Congress passed the PROTECT (Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today) Act, also called the AMBER Alert Act.

School Construction

Recent global economic and political developments have made it necessary for the Federal government to assume a pivotal role in the improvement of the overall national education effort.  School construction and modernization is the component, which could most swiftly, effectively, and efficiently support education with a minimum amount of interference with local decision making.  It is also clear that the states and local governments where the densest populations are located no longer have the capacity to finance adequate school facilities.  Congress must appropriate whatever sums are necessary to build and modernize schools. To keep pace with new highly competitive economies every individual must be developed as an important national resource.  Adequate school facilitates capable of exciting the imagination of all youth must be assigned a high national budget priority.  According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the unmet need for school construction and renovation is estimated to be $127 billion, a higher amount than the Government Accountability Office's previous estimate of $112 billion using a similar methodology.  NCES indicates that three-quarters of the nation's schools report needing funds to bring their buildings into a "good overall condition."  The Department of Education has documented that the average age of a public school building is estimated at 42 years, an age when schools tend to deteriorate.  I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1742-America's Better Classroom Act of 2005 and H.R. 390- Government Reservation Accelerated Development for Education Act, H.R.

Trade with China

As a Ranking Member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee I am against free trade with China until wages and environmental conditions improve for workers.  Trade imbalance posed by cheap Chinese imports, and concerns that U.S manufacturing jobs are being lost due to unfair Chinese trade practices are issues of great concern to me.  The growth and size of the U.S. trade deficit with China is a clear indicator that the relationship is unfair.  China’s currency is significantly undervalued making Chinese exports to the United States cheaper, and U.S. exports to China more expensive.  This unfair practice is to blame for the loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States.  I am also against the importation of goods made with child or prison labor.  In addition, China fails to provide adequate protection of U.S. intellectual property rights (IPR).

War in Iraq

After the events of September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration was determined in its quest to invade Iraq.  I voted against this reckless, unprovoked war and I am a cosponsor of Rep. Murtha's Iraq Resolution (H.J.Res. 73) which states that the armed forces currently in Iraq should be redeployed, while the pursuit of peace, security, and stability should be accomplished through diplomacy.  It is now clear that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction nor did it have connections to Al-Qaeda.  And now this Administration plagued by lies and deceits wants the American people to believe that we have set Iraq on the road to freedom and democracy.  How else would the President try to justify over 2,000 American casualties?  Most of these American deaths took place since President Bush's announcement of "Mission Accomplished."  In addition the estimates for the number of wounded range from 17,000 to over 30,000.  The Bush White House disregarded the advice and opinions of the United Nations and the international community, not to mention some people in its own Administration to wage a war against a country that never attacked us.  This clear violation of international law has created a mass insurgency that is taking American lives every day and a civil war that is dividing the Iraqi people.  With lawmakers and the public showing greater frustration, the President continues to preach his rhetoric of "staying the course."  "Staying the course" neither will make the people of the United States safer nor bring stability to Iraq and the Middle East; though it is guaranteed to take away more American lives, while leaving our communities behind at home.

War on Drugs

The War on Drugs involves a complex set of issues, e.g., civil rights, criminal issues, effectiveness of prohibition, funding for treatment, education, law enforcement, taxes and spending.  The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) should intensify efforts on big time drug smugglers and distributors.  Intensifying efforts to stop dealers means improving efforts to educate users in order to gain their confidence.  I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2565, which extends the Office of National Drug Control Policy by repealing the sunset provision of the agency's 1998 reauthorization act and authorizes appropriations through 2010.  In addition this bill includes the Clean Sports Act of 2005, which imposes drug-testing regulations on professional sports leagues.

World Foreign Policy

A successful world foreign policy is designed to help protect a country's national interests, national security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity while ensuring peace and stability.  The main reason for the increase in world military spending is the massive increase in the United States, which accounts for almost half of the world total.  I believe that the U.S. Government should increase foreign aid and increase funding for the Institute of Peace, while reducing the military budget.  In addition the United Nations should be taken more seriously and take a greater role in peace building and conflict resolution.  I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1130-JUBILEE Act of 2005, which requires the Treasury Secretary to make efforts, within the Paris Club, the IMF, and other appropriate institutions, to ensure that the provision of debt cancellation to countries is not conditioned on any agreement by such a country to implement or comply with specified policies that deepen poverty or degrade the environment.

World Trade Organization

The goal of the WTO is to promote free trade, but achieving that through partial and unfair bias toward multinational corporations and wealthy nations only allows the rich to become richer through the loss of the general population.  The World Trade Organization is simply a tool used by powerful corporations in order to advance their agendas.  In the midst of this, the needs of developing nations are often not met.  The interests of the wealthiest nations are placed above the issues of workforce safety, health, and environment.  I believe that allowing for a body governing international trade unfairly disadvantages developing countries that cannot subsidize farmers and take advantage of a flood of cheap goods.