RSC Member Activity

2004

Following are RSC member driven initiatives, press releases, articles, and other conservative activity on issues of the day.

Dear Colleague: (12/27/04) Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) is asking for original co-sponsors on the Tax Reform Action Commission (TRAC) Act, a bill first introduced by former Rep. (now Senator-Elect) Jim DeMint (R-SC) that would create a bipartisan commission to examine the problems of the current federal tax system, build a consensus around a nonpartisan reform plan, and ensure timely consideration on tax reform legislation. (word doc)

The RSC was featured in two recent USA Today articles about the role of conservatives in the next Congress:

• http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-12-19-conservatives-bush_x.htm
• http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-12-19-conservatives-new-day_x.htm

Op-ed:  (12/14/04) Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) wrote an op-ed about his Operation Holiday Greeting as part of his official trip to Afghanistan last week: (word doc)

Press Release:  (12/15/04) Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) announced that several health care experts, gathered at the White House last week, endorsed his Health Care Choice Act (H.R. 4662), which would create a nationwide market for health insurance competition. (word doc)

Press Release:  (12/15/04) Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) spotlighted the "egregious earmark of the week" that was contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-447).  (word doc)

Article on RSC Proposed Rules:  (12/8/04) United Press International ran an article about the RSC's proposed changes to House rules, which are aimed at controlling spending and otherwise restoring some "good government" measures: (pdf)

Press Release:  (12/7/04) Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) praised Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson for verifying the safety of as many as four million doses of flu vaccine from plants in Canada and Germany. The action will allow the U.S. government to purchase and import the vaccine, which will alleviate the U.S. shortage:  (word doc)

Press Release:  (12/2/04) Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) released a statement in support of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) insistence that any intelligence reform bill include border protection provisions:  (pdf)

Press Release:  (11/3/04) Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, asking him to restrict media coverage of military men and women engaged in direct combat:  (pdf)

Press Release:  (11/23/04) Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) touted her victory in restoring flexible education funding for local educators.  (word doc)

• Letter on flexible education funding to Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ralph Regula, signed by Rep. Musgrave and 26 other House Republicans

Dear Colleague:  (12/3/04) Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) this week will introduce the Safe and Effective Drug Act, which would direct the National Institutes of Health to examine the available scientific data regarding the safety and effectiveness of smoking marijuana and require the FDA to publicly post this information and specifically distribute it to those public health entities that recommend that patients smoke marijuana.  (word doc)

Letter to Secretary Powell:  (11/17/04) Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) and 21 other Republican House members sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, asking the Administration to stop illegal immigrant amnesty negotiations with Mexico. (pdf)

Op-ed:  (12/3/04) Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) wrote an op-ed on the importance of broadcast decency laws: (pdf)

Rep. Pitts also expressed concerns in a Human Events article about Congress' funding of a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Center in San Diego: (pdf)

Letter to the President of Sri Lanka:  (11/19/04) Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) and 30 other Members of the House and Senate sent a letter to the President of Sri Lanka, expressing concerns over proposed legislation in Sri Lanka that would restrict religious freedoms there:  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  (12/6/04) Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS) today will introduce a resolution calling for the resignation of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.  (word doc)
Letter to President Bush:  (12/3/04) Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) was the lead co-signer on a letter to President Bush, expressing opposition to the President's decision to send American tax dollars directly to the Palestinian Authority.  (word doc)

Press Release:  (11/20/04) Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) released a statement in reaction to the House's decision not to bring to the House floor the Conference Report for S. 2845 (the 9-11 Commission Act) in its current form:  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) also released a statement in reaction to the House's decision not to bring to the House floor the Conference Report for S. 2845 (the 9-11 Commission Act) in its current form.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) continued his effort to pass legislation (H.R. 4284) that would condition a portion of U.S. funding for the United Nations on UN cooperation in a complete and thorough investigation of the abuses in the Oil-for-Food program. (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) petitioned the Department of Defense on what she called a "shortsighted' decision to discontinue supporting the Boy Scouts of America.  (word doc)

Letter to Secretary Powell:  Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) and 21 other Republican House members sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, asking the Administration to stop illegal immigrant amnesty negotiations with Mexico. (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) issued a statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration's announcement that it would require the makers of mifepristone (commonly known as "RU-486") to clearly state the dangers of the drug on the label. (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) introduced the Permanent Sales Tax Deduction Act (H.R. 5384) to make permanent the two-year sales tax deduction recently signed into law as part of the "FSC-ETI" bill.  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), RSC Chairman-Elect for the 109th Congress, wrote an op-ed about the conservative agenda in the upcoming Congress.  (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) wrote an op-ed about the legislative opportunities in the 109th Congress.  (pdf)

• Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), click here.
• Rep. Steve King (R-IA), click here.
• Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), click here.

Press Release:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), RSC Chairman-Elect for the 109th Congress, expressed optimism about the prospects for conservative progress in the upcoming Congress. To read more, click here.
Press Release:  Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) condemned the Internal Revenue Service for warning houses of worship that they risk their tax-exempt status if they pray for the election of candidates.  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter about the threat to the United States from an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack: (pdf)
Op-ed:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) wrote an op-ed about same-sex marriage: (word doc)

Hurricane Offset Amendment:  On behalf of the RSC, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) offered an amendment to H.R. 5212 ("Making Further Supplemental FY2005 Appropriations for Disaster Relief") that would have offset the entire cost of the additional hurricane emergency spending with an across-the-board reduction in non-defense, non-homeland-security, non-veterans spending in fiscal year 2005.

• RSC brief about the proposed offset amendment, which failed 89-321
• Roll-call vote for the Hensarling offset amendment (H.Amdt. 784)

Press Release:  Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) was joined by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) and ministers from Clergy United in calling for the passage of the Houses of Worship Freedom of Speech Restoration Act (H.R. 235).  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) touted the passage of his amendment to the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act (H.R. 10), which would initiate a study of how a system similar to the AMBER Alert System could be transformed into an emergency warning system for natural disasters and terrorist attacks. (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) introduced the Shadow Wolves Border Defense Act (H.R. 5346), which would transfer the Shadow Wolves, an all-American-Indian border security unit, from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Rep. Souder reports that this transfer would allow the Shadow Wolves to continue to use their proven counter-narcotics techniques to stem the flow of illicit drugs across America's southern border.   (word doc)

Letter to Speaker Hastert:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and 16 other conservatives sent a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), urging him to exclude drought relief funding from the Homeland Security Appropriations bill.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI) introduced legislation (H.R. 5195) to permanently extend Chapter 12 bankruptcy provisions for family farmers.  (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) wrote an op-ed about the balance of power and the power of the people in the American political system:  (pdf)

Letter to Chairman Thomas:  RSC Chairman Sue Myrick (R-NC) and 24 other House Republicans sent a letter to Ways & Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, urging him to continue his work against the inclusion of retroactive tax increases in the conference report for the American Jobs Creation Act (H.R. 4520--also known as "FSC-ETI"):  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (H.R. 5068), which would, among other things, create an Assistant Secretary of Cybersecurity in the Department of Homeland Security and otherwise expand the Department's cybersecurity capabilities. (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  (9/20/04) Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter to point out that broadcasting a statement such as "Urge Rep. Bartlett to vote yes" could be a federal crime: (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) wrote an op-ed about the importance of marriage.  (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mike Burgess (R-TX) circulated a Washington Post article about fundamental tax reform and promoted his Freedom Flat Tax Act (H.R. 1783):  (word doc)
Press Release: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) claimed a partial victory as Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson released statistics illustrating the increasing effectiveness of aerial technology in enhancing border security.   (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) praised a report from the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Education finding that actions by a UNC professor constituted a civil rights violation. The professor sent a mass e-mail to students enrolled in her English class, charging that one of her students was a "white, heterosexist, Christian male" who felt "entitled to make violent, heterosexist comments."  (pdf)

• To read a Washington Times article about this situation, click here:

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) was joined by Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) in announcing that they have gathered more co-sponsors on their Social Security reform bill (H.R. 4895) than have ever been on any Social Security reform bill before.  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) also promoted his Social Security reform bill (H.R. 4851), which was introduced in the Senate by Senator John Sununu (R-NH), by circulating an op-ed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in strong support of the bill.

• Dear Colleague
• Op-ed by Newt Gingrich

Press Release:  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) condemned trial lawyers last week for lobbying to block passage of his bill, H.R. 3369, the Nonprofit Athletic Organization Protection Act, which would have helped protect non-profit, amateur athletic associations from frivolous lawsuits. The bill failed 217-176 (a two-thirds vote was required for passage).  (word doc)

Letter to Chairman Ney:  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) was joined by 11 Republican House Members on a letter to House Administration Committee Chairman Bob Ney (R-OH), requesting that the Chairman's upcoming hearings on so-called "527" political organizations (such as the Swift Boat Veterans) include consideration of how the new campaign finance "reform" law has stifled free political speech.  (word doc)

Washington Times Article:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) circulated a Washington Times article about his successful amendment to the FY2005 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act (H.R. 5006) to prevent more than 50 federal employees (funded by H.R. 5006) from being sent to any single international conference.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act (H.R. 5061), which would 1) provide assistance for combating the government-sanctioned genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and 2) facilitate country-wide peace.   (word doc)

Fact Sheet:  Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced the Natural Gas Production Act (H.R. 5090), which would extend the Section 29 tax credit for producing fuel from non-conventional sources to gas produced onshore from a formation of more than 15,000 feet. (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) introduced legislation (H.R. 5063) to update the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to cover medical care provided to injured federal workers by physician assistants and nurse practitioners.  (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Enhancement Act (H.R. 5069), which would, among other things, establish a technology transfer program to forward promising technologies to federal, state, and local governments, emergency responders, and the private sector.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) offered a successful amendment to the FY2005 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act (H.R. 5006) to prevent the funding of federal grants to study dorm room wall decorations and "what makes a meaningful day." For more details, click on these two links:

• Press Release
• RSC Backgrounder on NIMH Funding

To read a National Review story on Rep. Neugebauer's efforts, click here.
Press Release:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) also offered a successful amendment to the FY2005 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act (H.R. 5006) to prevent more than 50 federal employees (funded by H.R. 5006) from being sent to international conferences.   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) held a press conference to mark the start of the 60-day political speech restriction period created by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (commonly known as "McCain-Feingold"). For additional information, including details on how mentioning a Member of Congress on TV can be a federal crime, click on these two links:

• Press Release
• Dear Colleague

Press Release:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) offered a successful amendment to the FY2005 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act (H.R. 5006) that will preserve the popular Education Block Grant Program, which provides $20 million in flexible grants to school districts across the country. (word doc)

Editorial:  Rep. Shadegg also touted an editorial in The Arizona Republic praising his Health Care Choice Act (which would allow consumers to buy health insurance across state lines): (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) announced that he is introducing legislation to implement all 41 recommendations of the 9-11 Commission.   (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) criticized a federal judge's ruling that the Partial Birth Abortion Act of 2003 is unconstitutional. (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) spearheaded a bi-partisan rally on Capitol Hill to insist that meaningful sales tax deductibility remain in the American Jobs Creation Act conference report (commonly known as "FSC-ETI").  (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) wrote an op-ed about the "ten-year deception" of the "Clinton gun ban": (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) wrote an op-ed about the ongoing threats of terrorism:  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) praised President Bush for touting two Shadegg proposals: 1) allowing consumers to shop across state lines for health insurance, and 2) expanding Association Health Plans. (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) was named by Newsweek magazine as one of seven Republican "stars."  (pdf)

Intelligence Chairman:  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) was named by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) to be the new Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. To read Rep. Hoekstra's statement, click here: (word doc)

First Amendment Restoration Act:  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) announced the introduction of a companion bill in the Senate to his First Amendment Restoration Act (H.R. 3801/ S. 2702), which would repeal the political speech restrictions in the new campaign finance reform law (Public Law 107-155).  (word doc)

Rep. Bartlett also circulated supporting editorials. To read the piece by:

• George Will, click here.
• Paul Weyrich, click here.

Press Release:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said that he intends to push for bringing activist judges before Congress to explain the constitutional basis for their rulings when such rulings overturn the will of Congress and the American people. Read Rep. King's complete statement here: (word doc)

Stem Cells:  Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) has placed on his website a variety of resources about stem cells and whether they can cure diseases:  (link)

Press Release:  Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) called for a new airline passenger screening process to be implemented in 60-90 days. Read Rep. Bachus' complete statement here:  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) issued a statement in support of the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government set standards for state-issued driver's licenses and refrain from establishing a national ID card: (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) wrote an op-ed in support of House Speaker Dennis Hastert's (R-IL) call to fundamentally overhaul the entire tax code and the Internal Revenue Service during the next session of Congress: (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) wrote an op-ed calling for reform of the Endangered Species Act, which, since its inception in the early 1970s, has only successfully saved seven species out of nearly 1,300 that have been listed as "endangered": (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) wrote an op-ed highlighting how easy it is to obtain false documents (like driver's licenses) from government agencies and how terrorists take advantage of these weaknesses:  (link)

Letter to Secretary Powell:  Rep. David Vitter (R-LA) sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, expressing strong opposition to the Secretary's invitation of international election monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for the upcoming U.S. election. 

• Statement  (pdf)
• Letter to Secretary Powell (pdf)

Press Release:  Various RSC members issued statements in support of President Bush's appointment of outgoing Rep. Porter Goss (R-FL) to be the Director of Central Intelligence. To read the statement from:

• Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN)
• Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
• Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
• Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
• Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) circulated a column in The Washington Post that points out the misconceptions Democrats are spreading about embryonic stem cell research.   (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) questioned the State Department's reported decision to grant U.S. citizenship to 100 Ahiska Muslims from Russia who have no formal identification.   (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. David Vitter (R-LA) applauded the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' order allowing the Baton Rouge area to refrain from adhering to the Environmental Protection Agency's new reformulated gasoline requirements for the area.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) praised House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) for planning to make fundamental tax reform a top priority in the next Congress.   (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) promoted his legislation (H.R. 4748) to expand the child care tax credit, end the discrimination against larger families in such tax credit, and index the credit for inflation.   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) applauded the addition of the Dominican Republic to the Central America Free Trade Agreement (now known as DR-CAFTA).  (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed about combating gang violence at the national level:  (word doc)

Chart:  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) released a chart comparing the statements "then and now" of various Democrat leaders:  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) criticized the "poor security along America's borders" that allowed Al Qaeda operative, Farida Goolam Mohamed Ahmed, to illegally and repeatedly enter the United States from Mexico.  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) wrote an op-ed about the "untold" news from Iraq regarding democratic developments and vast social improvements. (word doc)
Press Release:  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced the Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act (H.R. 4851), which would give workers the freedom to choose a large personal account option for Social Security, with no benefit cuts or tax increases.  (pdf)

• Backgrounder on H.R. 4851

9-11 Commission Report:  Various RSC Members responded to the release of the 9-11 Commission Report last week. To read a Member's statement, click on his name:

• Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)
• Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
• Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)

Press Release:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA), in light of last week's passage of the Marriage Protection Act (H.R. 3313), gave a speech on the House floor, where he decried that "marriage is not a civil right": (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) wrote an op-ed about the Republican record of cutting taxes over the last several years.  (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter about the personhood of the unborn child:  (pdf)

Letter to the National Park Service: Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) and 26 other Members of Congress sent a letter to the National Park Service in support of locating the Victims of Communism Memorial at Maryland and Constitution Avenues, Northeast, in Washington, DC:   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced the Compassionate Assistance for Parents with Children with Special Needs Act (H.R. 4653), which would make the medical expenses of a child with special needs tax deductible.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) sharply criticized a recent meeting between House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi, other House Democrats, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a "radical anti-Israel group" that has accused President Bush of "defend[ing] Israel's neo-Apartheid policies." (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) this week will introduce a bill giving statutory protection to marriage as the union of a man and a woman and giving original jurisdiction to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear any claim arising under this law. (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) called the Senate's failure to proceed on the Federal Marriage Amendment (S.J.Res. 40) "a gag order on the American people." (pdf)

• To view the Senate roll-call vote on invoking cloture on (i.e. proceeding to the consideration of) the Federal Marriage Amendment, click here.

Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed on redefining marriage.  (word doc)

WSJ Letter-to-the-Editor:  Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) circulated a letter-to-the-editor from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-FL), in which Chairman Young refers to conservative efforts at budget process reform as "stale" and "not a serious attempt at reform":  (pdf)

• Click here to read the Wall Street Journal's editorial response to the letter by Chairman Young, who the Journal claims is "in spending denial": (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) introduced, and the House overwhelmingly passed, a resolution (H.Res. 713) that condemns the action by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its opinion on the legality of Israel's security fence and for its 14-1 decision that the fence must be dismantled because of its violation of international law.  (word doc)

• To read the ICJ's non-binding ruling, click here:

Press Release:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) succeeded in attaching an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (H.R. 4818) limiting to 50 the number of federal employees (funded by this Act) that could be sent to any single conference outside the United States.  (pdf)

Annual Report on the Federal Government:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) released his annual report on the federal government, including easy-to-read summaries of federal revenues, federal spending, and macroeconomic indicators:  (pdf)

Letter on DC School Choice:  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and 35 other Republicans sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-FL) and DC Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), encouraging their continued support of the DC school choice program:  (pdf)

Letter to SEC Chairman:  Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and 11 other RSC members sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman William H. Donaldson, urging him to ease the regulatory restrictions that currently curtail an individual's ability to control how his purchase or sale is handled on the national financial markets: (word doc)

Conservative Check Card:  Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) was joined by RSC Chairman Sue Myrick (R-NC) and other leading conservatives to introduce the "Conservative Check Card," a wallet-size card, given to all RSC members and other interested parties, that features a list of six core conservative principles. Card-holders can use the Card to check whether legislative proposals adhere to the six principles and then act accordingly.

• Photo from the press conference debuting the Conservative Check Card

Press Release: Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) condemned the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling against Israel's security fence. (word doc)

• Full text of the ICJ ruling

Cost of Government Day: Several RSC Members issued statements in reaction to Americans for Tax Reform's (ATR) announcement of "Cost of Government Day." According to ATR's report, Americans must work from January 1st to July 7th before earning enough to pay their local, state, and federal taxes for the year. To read the statement from:

• Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), click here (pdf).
• Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), click here (word doc).

Dear Colleague: Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter touting the "promising, ethical" treatments for Parkinson's Disease using adult stem cells (word doc).
Child Online Protection Act Ruling:  Several RSC Members responded to the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that the Child Online Protection Act (Public Law 105-277) goes too far in restricting free speech.  Click on the Member's name to read his or her statement.

• Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA)
• Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)

The Life Letter:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) released "The Life Letter" to give an update on pro-life issues in Congress and across America.  (pdf)

Letter to Justice Stephen Breyer:  Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) and 15 other Republican House Members sent a letter to Justice Stephen Breyer (chairman of the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act Study Committee), urging an investigation into Second Circuit Appeals Judge Guido Calabresi's recent comments about the U.S. Supreme Court's "illegitimate acts" in the Bush v. Gore case.  (pdf)

Health Care Choice Act:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) introduced the Health Care Choice Act (H.R. 4662), which is aimed at bringing down the cost of health insurance by letting people compare insurance plans across the country and pick the one that is right for them (regardless of residency).  (word doc)

• Bill Text of Health Care Choice Act  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduced legislation (H.R. 4714) to simplify retirement planning options by streamlining IRA accounts into one Retirement Savings Account--open to anyone of any age and any income level.  (word doc)

Letter to Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter:  Rep. Johnson also sent a letter to House Armed Services Chairman, Duncan Hunter (R-CA), asking him to seek the removal of a provision aimed at jeopardizing Rush Limbaugh's presence on Armed Forces Radio, as included in the Senate-passed 2005 Defense Authorization Bill.  (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter about how adult stem cell research is "ethically sound and more effective" than embryonic stem cell research:  (pdf).
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Akin also circulated a Wall Street Journal op-ed about a federal judge who has given the impression that the Code of Conduct for United States Judges does not apply to him.  (pdf).
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) introduced the Cool and Efficient Buildings Act (H.R. 3953), which would reduce the depreciation period for investments into heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, from 39 years to 15 years, to encourage new investment in environmentally friendly systems and spur job creation.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) introduced the OSHA and Employer Cooperation Act (H.R. 4712), which would decrease from six months to thirty days the time for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue citations for workplace violations against businesses and increase from fifteen days to thirty days the time for cited businesses to contest the OSHA charges.   (pdf).
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) is seeking support for building the Victims of Communism Memorial at Maryland and Constitution Avenues, N.E., in Washington, DC, as suggested by the National Park Service.  (word doc).
Freedom in Hong Kong:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) introduced a resolution (H.Res. 667) expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong:  (pdf).
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mark Green (R-WI) announced the creation of the Community Solutions and Initiatives Coalition, which is a bipartisan group of congressmen "dedicated to raising awareness and expanding the vital work of faith-based and community groups across America." (word doc).
WSJ Op-ed:  Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN) circulated a Wall Street Journal article about conservative efforts to reform the federal budget process: (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) announced that he and eight other RSC Members were tied for first place in The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste's 2003 ratings of which Congressmen best protect taxpayer dollars and vote against wasteful spending.   (word doc)

Dear Colleague: Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) introduced legislation (H.R. 4528) that would put President Reagan's likeness on the $10 bill.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Gasoline Price Reduction and Refinery Tax Fairness Act (H.R. 4611), which would make oil refineries eligible to depreciate equipment over five years instead of the current ten, expedite permitting for new or expanding refinery operations, and provide for more efficient permitting for domestic oil drilling.   (pdf).
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) will soon introduce the AMT Middle Class Fairness Act, which would index the parameters of the AMT for inflation and allow those who would still be subject to the AMT to be able to deduct their state and local taxes from the AMT.  (word doc).
Letter to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson:  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson, expressing concerns at HHS' failure to respond to written requests from Congress:  (word doc).
Ronald Wilson Reagan Half Dollar Act:  Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) introduced legislation (H.R. 4525) that would require the Secretary of the Treasury to redesign the half-dollar coin to commemorate President Reagan.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), the sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Dime Act (H.R. 3633), issued a statement about proceeding with various efforts to commemorate President Reagan on U.S. currency.  (word doc)

Several RSC Members wrote op-eds about President Reagan. To read the op-ed by a particular member, click the link following his or her name:

• RSC Chairman Sue Myrick (R-NC) - (word doc)
• Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) - (word doc)
• Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) - (word doc)
• Rep. John Carter (R-TX) - (word doc)
• Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) - (pdf)
• Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) - (word doc)
• Rep. John Kline (R-MN) - (word doc)
• Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) - (word doc)
• Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) - (pdf)
• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) - (word doc)
• Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) - (word doc)
• Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) - (word doc)
• Rep. Ed Schrock (R-VA) - (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) is seeking co-sponsors for his bill (H.R. 2895) to extend for two years the 50% bonus depreciation, which will expire at the end of 2004 without congressional action.  (word doc).

• Letter from Americans for Tax Reform in support of Rep. Wilson's Bonus Depreciation Extension Act  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res. 440) expressing a sense of Congress that the U.S. should resume official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduced the Working Families Access to Justice Act (H.R. 4499), which would award attorney's fees and administrative costs to small business owners who prevail in frivolous lawsuits brought by the National Labor Relations Board.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), the House author of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (Public Law 108-105), was one of many leading conservatives who issued statements criticizing a San Francisco judge's decision to block implementation of the partial-birth abortion ban.  (word doc)

Letter to President Bush:  Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) led a bipartisan effort in sending a letter to President Bush, calling for him to push for the adoption of a common strategy at tomorrow's G-8 Summit to confront the threat of Iran's nuclear weapons programs. 209 House Members signed the letter, which can be read here:  (pdf)

• Rep. Marsha Blackburn
• Rep. Ed Schrock

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) announced that he will soon introduce the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, which would allow individuals to withdraw funds from their Individual Retirement Accounts to purchase qualified long-term care insurance pre-tax and without a penalty.    (word doc)

Letter to USAID Administrator:  Several conservative Members sent a letter to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew Natsios, requesting information on USAID's involvement with the 2004 International HIV/AIDS Conference in Bangkok, in light of questionable federal expenditures at previous international HIV/AIDS conferences: (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) introduced the Promoting Community Investment Act (H.R. 3952), which would allow federally insured banks with less than $1 billion in assets to be examined as small banks by the federal banking regulators and thus reduce regulations and compliance costs for these community banks. Click on these two links for additional information, including a state-by-state breakdown of how many banks this legislation would affect:

• Dear Colleague with State-by-State Breakdown
• Backgrounder

Talking Points:  Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) has introduced a package of bills (H.R. 2728, H.R. 2729, H.R. 2730, H.R. 2731) that would reform the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and reduce frivolous litigation regarding OSHA regulations.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) reported that a federal government credit card was used to pay for food, entertainment, and alcohol in Las Vegas. Click here to learn the details:  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  RSC Chairman Sue Myrick (R-NC) joined Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) in urging co-sponsorship of the Government Accountability and Streamlining Act (H.R. 2743), which would require any legislation reported by a congressional committee to be reviewed by the General Accounting Office (GAO) to determine whether the legislation would create new government programs, whether such new programs would overlap with existing programs, and whether the programs could be performed more efficiently by an agency other than that assigned in the legislation.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), in light of the House's passage of a bill (H.R. 4181) permanently extending marriage penalty relief in the federal tax code, released a Tax Foundation table showing the average tax increases that would automatically occur next year if this legislation is not signed into law.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) announced that he will soon introduce legislation that conditions U.S. funding for the United Nations on a thorough investigation of the Oil-for-Food program.   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) backed President Bush's policy of not using federal tax dollars to cause the death of human embryos for their stem cells and denounced efforts by those who wish to repeal the policy.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) and Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) asked the House Budget Committee to increase funding for veterans benefits and services by $1 billion, and asked that this funding be offset by a $1 billion decrease in proposed foreign aid spending.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) and Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) introduced the Ninth Circuit Judgeship and Reorganization Act (H.R. 4247), which would transform the current Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the largest in the country, into three smaller circuits.  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN) will soon introduce the Small Business Job Creation Act, which would provide for a non-refundable tax credit for small businesses that create jobs.   (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) is calling for co-sponsors on his State Defense Force Improvement Act (H.R. 2797), which would recognize state defense forces and allow certain coordination between such state forces and the U.S. Department of Defense.  (word doc)

Letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) and 64 House colleagues sent a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao expressing "serious concern" over the continued imprisonment and inhumane treatment of Yang Jianli, a democracy and human rights activist and U.S. permanent resident.  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter pointing out the disconnect between much of the national media and American opinion on abortion. For example, Rep. Akin highlights a recent finding in a Zogby poll that 60% of 18-29 year olds believe abortion should never be legal or should only be legal in certain rare instances.   (word doc)

"Case for Life" Speech:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) delivered his fourth "Case for Life" speech on the House floor. Click here to read the speech (which addresses fetal pain) in its entirety:  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) and Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) announced the creation of the 38-member Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, dedicated to the right of lawful individuals to own firearms as granted in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) called for a White House investigation into public statements by high-ranking federal Homeland Security authorities who publicly reassured illegal aliens that they have no plans to enforce federal immigration laws anytime soon.   (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) called upon Congress to hold North Korea accountable for its human rights violations, nuclear weapons program, and relationships with terrorist organizations.  (pdf)

Dear Colleagues:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), in light of the pro-abortion rally in Washington, DC yesterday, circulated two "Dear Colleague" letters exemplifying the physical risks abortion can have on women and discussing what a woman's "right to choose" really is:

• A Woman's Right To Choose?
• Safe, Legal Abortion?

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) will soon introduce the Inspector General Online Reporting Act, which would require that federal Inspectors General publish all semi-annual reports and audits on-line.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) called on Senator John Kerry to apologize to veterans for "one of the worst public slanders ever against the valor and character of the American military."  (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) is urging his colleagues to co-sponsor a resolution (H.Res. 598) honoring the teachers, administrators, and staff of military-impacted schools:  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Rep. John Linder (R-GA), and Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) joined House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in calling for a complete replacement of the federal tax code.  (pdf)

Letter to EPA:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive the "unnecessary and wasteful" federal oxygenated fuels mandate as soon as possible to help bring gas prices down.  (word doc)

Letter to President Bush:  Rep. Shadegg also joined the call to send more troops to Iraq.   (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO) wrote an op-ed about how Democrats are "outsourcing" our energy needs.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) expressed concern over the FDA's potential compromise with Barr Laboratories on the over-the-counter availability of the contraceptive "Plan B."   (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter about the link between abortion and breast cancer and the flaws with a recent study discounting such a link.   (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO) wrote an op-ed about how Democrats are "outsourcing" our energy needs.  (pdf)

• Spending Op-ed
• Transportation Op-ed

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) urged his colleagues to "trim their appetites for pork" in spending bills.   (pdf)

Letter to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson:  30 conservative Members sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson, thanking him for "working to scale back the largess of the federal involvement" at international conferences. HHS, at Secretary Thompson's insistence, will limit attendance at July's XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, to 50 federal employees (not including those already stationed in Southeast Asia) at a cost of $500,000, down from the $3.6 million spent to send 236 people to the 2002 conference in Barcelona, Spain.  (pdf)

• Article about how some federal employees are "outraged" by this decision to limit federal attendance at the AIDS Conference (link)

Press Release:  Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), House Armed Services Committee Chairman, released a statement saying, "It would be a mistake to postpone the transfer of power to an Iraqi government."   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) heralded the signing into law of her Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997).   (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) led an effort against a resolution (H.Res. 581) that calls on federal civilian employees to receive the same larger-than-inflation pay increase that military servicemembers will receive this year.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced the Cockpit Security Technical Corrections and Improvements Act (H.R. 4126) to expedite and improve the existing Federal Flight Deck Officers Program administered by the Transportation Security Administration.   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Federal Contractors Security Act (H.R. 4064), which would require federal contractors to use the Basic Worker Verification Program to authenticate the Social Security numbers presented by new employees.   (pdf)

SCHIP Reform:  Rep. Mike Burgess (R-TX) will soon introduce legislation to prohibit the coverage of nonpregnant, childless adults under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) spoke out against the proposed Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rule requiring businesses to expense stock options.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) condemned ethnic violence in Kosovo.  (pdf)

Fact Sheet:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), in light of his efforts to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment (H.J.Res. 56), released a fact sheet providing background to the history of passing constitutional amendments.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. John Carter (R-TX) wrote an op-ed about how tax cuts and job growth go hand-in-hand.  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a Wall Street Journal op-ed by former Secretary of State George P. Shultz on the reasons for the war in Iraq.  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed about holding the line on federal spending.  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) wrote an op-ed about abstinence education.    (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) released a statement in strong support of Israel's killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, founder of the militant terrorist organization Hamas. Attached to the statement is a detailed list of the 425 terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas since September 2000, resulting in the death of 377 people and the wounding of 2,076 people.   (word doc)

Constitution Restoration Act:  Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) introduced the Constitution Restoration Act (H.R. 3799), which would prohibit federal courts from hearing cases brought against a federal, state, or local government (or any employee thereof) because of an acknowledgement of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government. This legislation would also restrict federal courts from recognizing the laws of foreign jurisdictions and international law as the supreme law of our land.

• FAQ (word doc)
• Text of Bill (pdf)

Letter to President Bush:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and 52 other House Members sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to suspend oil shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and allow more oil to remain on the market and available to consumers while supplies are tight and prices high.  (pdf)

Floor Statement:  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) spoke on the House floor against efforts to raise the federal gas tax while gas prices are so high.  (word doc)

Taking Out the Trash:  Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), lead sponsor of the RSC Budget Alternative, released a "Washington Waste Watchers" report highlighting that more than 80,000 tax returns were filed in 2001 seeking tax credits totaling $2.7 billion for slave reparations.  (pdf)

Letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell:  Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, arguing that the Law of the Sea Treaty seems to "run contrary to both our national and wartime interests" and seeking clarification on the Administration's support of the Treaty. (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) released a statement emphasizing the importance of discretionary spending caps and the reinstating of pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) requirements for federal spending.  (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) wrote an op-ed about the unfairness of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and called for limits on damages awarded in lawsuits arising out of EMTALA-mandated care, as well as for refundable tax credits to encourage the uninsured to buy their own health insurance.  (pdf)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI) will soon introduce legislation that increase the allowable tax deduction for capital losses from $3,000 to $9,000 (which would then be indexed to inflation).  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) wrote an op-ed on whether terrorists succeeded in changing the course of democracy in Spain.  (pdf)

The Daily Waste:  Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) announced the discovery that federal workers have used their taxpayer-funded purchase cards to buy aquariums, billiard tables, and pornographic movies.  (http://www.house.gov/mariodiaz-balart/watchers/examples/dailywaste/WasteoftheDay03-12-04.pdf)
Press Release:  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a statement about American resolve in Iraq.  (pdf)

Letter to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and 12 other Republicans sent a letter to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, asking her to recuse herself from cases involving abortion because of her affiliation with the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund (which regularly submits briefs to the Court on abortion and other cases).   (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) touted the benefits of pancreatic islet cell transplantation as a substitute for human embryo stem cell research.   (word doc)

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) circulated a letter touting the successes that many states have had with across-the-board spending cuts and urging their colleagues to co-sponsor any or all of their three proposed bills implementing across-the-board spending cuts at rates of one percent, two percent or five percent on non-defense, non-homeland security discretionary expenditures. (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) expressed disappointment at news that a proposed moratorium on earmarks would not be included in the House's Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution.  (pdf)

• Dear Colleague
• Text of Proposed Legislation 

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) circulated "Iraq's Legacy of Terror: Mass Graves," a report by the U.S. Agency for International Development, highlighting some of the worst human rights atrocities of the Saddam Hussein regime.  (pdf)

The Daily Waste:  Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released information on public housing drug elimination grant funds that were being used to buy a wood chipper, artwork, and Harlem Globetrotters tickets.   (pdf)

Firearm Commerce Modernization Act:  Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) will soon introduce the Firearm Commerce Modernization Act, which would remove certain federal restrictions on interstate firearms transactions. To learn more, click on these two links:

• Background
• Text of Bill

Press Release:  Rep. David Vitter (R-LA) introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res. 382) that would reaffirm that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System.   (pdf)

Letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell:  Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, expressing concerns over recent developments in Russia's democratic direction and progress.   (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) argued that keeping Social Security and Medicare solvent could be accomplished by abolishing all federal income and payroll taxes, and replacing them with the FairTax (H.R. 25), a federal retail sales tax on all new goods and services purchased for personal consumption.  (word doc)

Travel Journal:  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) released his detailed journal about his recent trip to Libya and other Middle Eastern countries. Read the journal at the following web address: http://www.house.gov/hoekstra/030904.html.
Private Bonds for Modern Roads Act of 2004:  Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduced legislation (H.R. 3857) that would allow states to issue tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds as the initial source of capital for public/private partnerships in highway construction. 

• Background Information
• Map of states with laws enabling private financing of highways

Debt Reduction and Fiscal Responsibility Restoration Act:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced a bill (H.R. 3302) to create a debt reduction account in the U.S. Treasury to which funds saved by amendments to appropriations bills could be deposited to reduce the national debt.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT), chairman of the Western Caucus, expressed outrage at a report released last week by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General, showing that an advocacy group illegally received millions of taxpayer dollars and may have violated the Lobbying Disclosure Act by accepting grants from the EPA.  (pdf)

Social Security Alternative Voluntary Expenditure (SAVE) Act:  Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) introduced the Social Security Alternative Voluntary Expenditure (SAVE) Act (H.R. 3877), which would give individuals the option of receiving their earned Social Security benefit in the form of a tax deduction pro-rated over five years.  (pdf) 
Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) commended House Budget Committee Chairman, Jim Nussle (R-IA), for his commitment to include in the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution a one-year moratorium on new earmarks.  (pdf)

Press Release:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) applauded President Bush's call for renewing the expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56).  (pdf)

Department of State Review Act:  Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced legislation (H.R. 3515) to create a non-partisan, independent review panel for studying and developing a plan of action for the mission structure of the U.S. Department of State. (word doc)

Reversing Supreme Court Decisions:  Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY) will soon introduce legislation that would allow Congress to reverse Supreme Court decisions.  (pdf)

Support for Israel's Security Fence:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), along with 70 original co-sponsors, introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res. 371) supporting Israel's security fence and condemning the ICJ hearings.  (word doc)

• Text of Rep. Souder's Speech
• Text of Rep. Garrett's Speech

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Enhancement Act:  Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) introduced the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Enhancement Act (H.R. 3814), which would provide concrete, positive incentives for the Palestinians to achieve the reforms called for by President Bush and a negotiated peace with Israel.  (pdf) 
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter in response to Rep. Chris Shays' (R-CT) and Rep. Marty Meehan's (D-MA) recent assertion that the new campaign finance law (Public Law 107-155) does not regulate issue discussion by the public.   (word doc)

"Taking Out the Trash":  Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) released the latest edition of "Taking Out the Trash," the periodic report of the Washington Waste Watchers about wasteful federal spending. Click on the following link to read more about taxpayer-funded limousines for a J-Lo concert, Harlem Globetrotters tickets, and Social Security numbers handed out to foreigners.  (pdf)

Amendment:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) added an amendment to the Securities Fraud Deterrence Act (H.R. 2179) that would allow consumers to investigate securities firms and brokers online.   (pdf)

Op-ed:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA), as part of an effort to get more co-sponsors for his Health Care Freedom of Choice Act (H.R. 1117), wrote an op-ed, published in The Hill newspaper, about the need to make every individual's health expenses 100% tax deductible.  (pdf)

Common Sense Spending Act:  Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) introduced the Common Sense Spending Act (H.R. 3853), which would, among other things, freeze non-defense and non-homeland security discretionary spending for one year at the FY04 level, limit the growth in all discretionary funding for FY06 through FY09 to no more than the rate of inflation, and cut by 1% in FY05 the growth in mandatory spending (excluding Social Security).    (word doc)

Support for Israel's Security Fence:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) this week will introduce a resolution: 1) expressing congressional support for Israel to construct a security fence in order to reduce terrorist attacks; and 2) condemning the United Nations General Assembly for requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an opinion on the legal consequences of the fence. The ICJ commences hearings February 23rd on the legality of Israel's security fence and is expected to release a decision by late March.

• Dear Colleague
• Proposed Text of Resolution

Taxpayer Rebate and Responsibility Act:  Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) introduced the Taxpayer Rebate And Responsibility Act (H.R. 3784), which would direct the Treasury Secretary, when the federal government enjoys a budget surplus, to send a minimum of 50%, and up to 100%, of such surplus back to the taxpayer in the form of checks.

• Dear Colleague
• Information Packet

Iran's Anti-Democracy Efforts:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced a resolution (H.Res. 501) condemning the Government of Iran's recent anti-democracy efforts and calling on Iran to hold open and fair elections. Iran's parliamentary elections are this week.

• Dear Colleague
• Text of Resolution

"Taking Out the Trash":  Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) released the latest edition of "Taking Out the Trash," the periodic report of the Washington Waste Watchers about wasteful federal spending. Click here to read more about health care for the dead, computers sitting in boxes, and corrupt federal auditors:  (pdf) 
R.O.T.C. and Military Recruiter Equal Access to Campus Act:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) announced his intention to introduce the R.O.T.C. and Military Recruiter Equal Access to Campus Act, which would update and strengthen the law disqualifying schools that don't allow R.O.T.C. or military recruiting on campus from receiving any funds from the Departments of Defense, Health & Human Services, Education, and Labor.   (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) wrote an op-ed on how the Super Bowl halftime show was merely one symptom of a larger societal problem.  (word doc)
 
Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed about the "deeply disturbing trend in American jurisprudence" of the U.S. Supreme Court's increasing reliance on international law instead of the U.S. Constitution as the basis for its decisions.         (word doc)

Western Civilization in the Classroom:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will soon introduce a resolution: 1) recognizing the importance of teaching young Americans about Western civilization; and 2) encouraging local school boards and state departments of education to ensure that the concepts and ideals embodied by Western civilization are effectively taught in public schools.

• Dear Colleague
• Text of Resolution

Op-ed:  Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) wrote an op-ed about the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997), which would provide that an individual who injures or kills an unborn child during the commission of one of sixty specified federal crimes against the mother would be guilty of a separate offense against the unborn child. The bill is scheduled to be considered on the House floor this Thursday.  (word doc)

Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) heralded an announcement last week of President Bush's intention to sign and enter into the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), a free trade agreement recently completed between the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.  (pdf)

Family Budget Protection Act:  Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN), and Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) introduced the Family Budget Protection Act (H.R. 3800), which would implement an array of budget process reforms.   (pdf)      Introduced by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Rep. Paul Ryan, Rep. Chris Chocola, and Rep. Chris Cox
Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) announced his intention to offer legislation capping the cost of the newly enacted Medicare prescription drug benefit.    (pdf)     Released by Rep. Jeff Flake
Audio Message:  RSC Chairman Sue Myrick (R-NC) released an audio message about controlling federal spending this year:  (wav)   Released by Rep. Sue Myrick
Deficit Accountability Act:  Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) will soon introduce the Deficit Accountability Act, which would provide that no automatic pay adjustments be made for Members of Congress in the year following a fiscal year in which there is a federal budget deficit.   (word doc)   Released by Rep. Cliff Stearns
The Tax Cuts Are Working:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) circulated a sheet, "The Tax Cuts Are Working," showing how recent pro-growth tax cuts have increased federal revenues.  (word doc)     Released by Rep. Chris Cox
Tax Reform Action Commission Act:  Rep. Jim DeMint (R-SC) stepped up his efforts on the Tax Reform Action Commission Act (H.R. 3215), which would set up a commission to research, propose, and bring tax-code-replacement legislation to the House floor.    (word doc)   For further information on the TRAC Act, click here.
Released by Rep. Jim DeMint
Press Release:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), Chairman of the Values Action Team, reacted sharply to the successful cloning of mature human embryos in South Korea and called on the Senate to take up the House-passed Human Cloning Prohibition Act (H.R. 534).   (pdf)     Released by Rep. Joe Pitts
Israel's Security Fence:  Various RSC Members made statements in support of Israel's security fence and against the International Court of Justice's decision to hold hearings next week on the legality of the fence.  Click a Member's name to read his/her statement.

• Rep. Todd Akin
• Rep. Jo Ann Davis
• Rep. Tom Feeney (speech)
• Rep. Tom Feeney (op-ed)

Op-ed:  Rep. John Carter (R-TX) wrote an op-ed about the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.   (pdf)  Released by Rep. John Carter
Letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) and five other lawmakers wrote Attorney General John Ashcroft asking how tax preparers, and even the IRS, can provide tax assistance to people in the country illegally.   (word doc)  Sent by Rep. Tom Tancredo and five other lawmakers

Dear Colleague:  Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) is promoting his bill, The Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (H.R. 1818), which would allow for the favorable tax treatment of health club memberships as an employee benefit.  (word doc)  Released by Rep. Pat Toomey
Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed praising the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (S. 1920), which was recently re-passed by the House.   (word doc)  Released by Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), will soon introduce a resolution to honor the life and courage of Commander Lloyd "Pete" Bucher, who endured North Korean torture after North Korean torpedo boats attacked his ship in international waters in 1968.  (word doc)  Released by Rep. Todd Akin
Letter to CBS President:  Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) and 49 other House Republicans sent a letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves to express "serious outrage" over the Janet Jackson/ Justin Timberlake halftime finale during the Super Bowl:         (pdf)      Released by Rep. Randy Forbes and 49 other House Republicans
Citizen-Letter-Writing Campaign:  Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) kicked off a citizen-letter-writing campaign to CBS and Viacom to protest the Janet Jackson/ Justin Timberlake Super Bowl incident.    (pdf)      Released by Rep. Mike Rogers
Press Release:  Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued a response to the Administrations's budget proposal for fiscal year 2005, saying that "federal spending is out of control":  (pdf)   Released by Rep. Jeb Hensarling
Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) also issued a response to the Administration's budget proposal, saying that Congress must "balance the budget much sooner by immediately freezing spending not essential to national security":  (pdf)   Released by Rep. Kevin Brady
Spending Control Amendment: Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) will soon introduce the Spending Control Amendment to the Constitution, which would limit federal spending increases to the prior year's level plus inflation and population growth.  (word doc)

Op-ed:  Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) wrote an op-ed about controlling federal spending and highlighted a suite of bills that conservatives should support to enforce fiscal restraint: (word doc)  Released by Rep. Tom Cole
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) circulated a letter promoting the Government Accountability and Streamlining Act (H.R. 2743), which would require that any legislation passed by a subcommittee or full committee would have to be subject to a General Accounting Office evaluation of whether the legislation creates any new duplicative programs:  (word doc)                     Sent by Rep. Jo Ann Davis and Rep. Marsha Blackburn
Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) called for a moratorium on earmarks in appropriations bills:  (pdf)  Released by Rep. Jeff Flake
Tax Relief Guarantee Act:  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) joined Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) in introducing the Tax Relief Guarantee Act (H.R. 3773), which would make the provisions of the 2001 tax relief measure and the 2003 economic growth package permanent and ensure that taxpayers do not face tax increases in 2005. (word doc)          To be introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan and Rep. Kenny Hulsof
Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) also issued a response to the Administration's budget proposal, saying that Congress must "balance the budget much sooner by immediately freezing spending not essential to national security":  (pdf)   Released by Rep. Kevin Brady
Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act:  Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) introduced the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act (H.R. 3213), which would establish a commission to provide Congress with recommendations for the elimination of unnecessary programs and agencies and the realignment of redundant programs and agencies. These recommendations (in the form of proposed legislation) would then be subject to an up-or-down vote by Congress, and changes or amendments to the recommendations would be prohibited.   (word doc)        To be introduced by Rep. Todd Tiahrt
Jumbo COLA:  Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) prepared a document showing Congress has spent billions of dollars to give federal civilian workers "cost-of-living" raises far exceeding the actual cost-of-living:  (word doc)  Released by Rep. Ernest Istook
First Amendment Restoration Act:  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) will soon introduce the First Amendment Restoration Act (FARA), which would repeal the 30-60-day ban on certain issue advocacy contained in the new campaign finance law.  

• Dear Colleague (word doc)
• Text of FARA (pdf)

Floor Statement:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) spoke on the House floor against the International Court of Justice's decision to hold a hearing later this month on the legality of Israel's security fence:  (pdf)  Released by Rep. Steve King
Press Release:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) called for strong action by the Federal Communications Commission in light of the Janet Jackson/ Justin Timberlake stunt during the Super Bowl halftime show:  (pdf)   Released by Rep. John Shadegg
September 11th Commission Extension:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will soon introduce legislation to extend the existence of the commission investigating the September 11th terrorist attacks.   (word doc)   Released by Rep. Tom Tancredo
Press Release:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) continues to highlight the inefficiencies in our nation's immigration system. Here is an actual U.S. nonimmigrant visa application that asks applicants to honestly answer whether they are entering the United States "to engage in...terrorist activities" and whether they've "participated in genocide":   (pdf)  Released by Rep. Tom Tancredo
Op-ed:  Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) wrote an op-ed about the ongoing threat of forest fires:  (word doc)  
Op-ed:  Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) wrote an op-ed about finding common-sense solutions to environmental problems:  (pdf)  
Know Your Vote Counts Act:  Rep. Steve King (R-IA) will soon introduce the Know Your Vote Counts Act, which would require a voter-verified paper audit record for each ballot cast on an electronic voting machine. Click on these two links for more information:

• Dear Colleague (word doc)
• Informational Sheet (word doc)

HSA Tax Deductions:  Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL), Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) will soon introduce legislation to allow individuals who have catastrophic health care coverage with a health savings account (HSA) to deduct 100% of the premiums from their federal taxes.  (word doc)   To be introduced by Rep. Phil Crane, Rep. Sam Johnson, and Rep. Eric Cantor
Tax Simplification:  Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) has put forth a proposal for increasing the number of taxpayers eligible to file the 1040-EZ form:   (word doc)                        Released by Rep. Chris Cox
Press Release:  Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) issued a statement about reducing federal spending.  (pdf)   Released by Rep. Pat Toomey
Op-ed: Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed, "Hold the Line on Spending."  (word doc)   Released by Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Transportation Empowerment Act (H.R. 3113):  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced the Transportation Empowerment Act (H.R. 3113), which would give most taxing and spending authority for highway and mass transit programs to the States.  For background information on this bill, click on the links below.

• One-pager:  (word doc)
• Talking points:  (word doc)

Letter to Speaker Hastert:  Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) and 22 other Republicans sent a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) to express concerns about President Bush's immigration proposal.   (word doc)   Sent by Rep. Tom Tancredo and 22 other Republicans
Op-ed:  Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) wrote an op-ed about the Supreme Court's ruling on McConnell v. FEC, the recent campaign finance regulation case.  (word doc)  Released by Rep. John Doolittle
Top Ten Tax Changes for 2004:  Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID), along with several other House Republicans, each issued a statement about Top Ten Tax Changes for 2004 of which families and individuals could take advantage.   (pdf)   Released by Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter
Press Release:  Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) continues to promote his Sales Tax Equity Act (H.R. 720), which would allow taxpayers to deduct from their federal income tax either state sales taxes or state income taxes.   (word doc)   Released by Rep. Kevin Brady
Dear Colleague:  Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) is urging his colleagues to oppose huge transfers of pension-plan risk to American taxpayers and to support a "clean" pension bill.  (pdf)   Sent by Rep. Sam Johnson
Press Release:  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) is touting recent advances in reforming Federal Prison Industries (FPI) and bringing more capitalist competition to federal procurement.   (pdf)   Released by Rep. Pete Hoekstra
Press Release:  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) reported on his recent trip to Iraq.        (word doc)      Released by Rep. Mark Souder
Keynote Address:  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) delivered the keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last week, focusing on the state of the Conservative Movement.  Click here to read the entire speech.                                          Released by Rep. Mike Pence
Values Action Team (VAT) Annual Report:  Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) released the annual report of the Values Action Team.  Click here to access the full report.       Released by Rep. Joe Pitts
Press Release:  Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) touted President Bush's support in the State of the Union Address of health insurance tax credits, a proposal Rep. Shadegg has championed since 1998.  Click here to learn more.  Released by Rep. John Shadegg
Press Release:  Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) described former Vice President Al Gore's speech last week on global warming as "a bitter, political rant from a liberal politician who continues to use junk science to attack the Bush Administration." Read Rep. Doolittle's full statement here:  Released by Rep. John Doolittle
Press Release:  Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) also defended the Bush Administration against Mr. Gore's attacks last week.                                                     Released by Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter
Op-ed:  Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) wrote an op-ed calling for an end to matricula consular cards as identification.   Released by Rep. Scott Garrett
Op-ed:  Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) wrote an op-ed about the Federal Communications Commission's ruling to allow certain profanity during primetime network television.   Released by Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) continues to highlight "egregious earmarks" in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (H.R. 2673), which has not yet passed the Senate. This week's featured earmark is $372,000 for the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore.  Click here to read Rep. Flake's statement:
Released by Rep. Jeff Flake
Press Release: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) praised President Bush's vision for the long term mission of America's space program.  Click here to read Rep. Bartlett's complete statement.   Released by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett
RSC Members' Reactions:  to President Bush's new immigration (temporary worker) proposal.

Statements opposing the proposal:
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), click here.

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK), click here.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), click here.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA), click here.

Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), click here.

Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK), click here.

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO, Immigration Reform Caucus Chairman), click here.

Statements supporting the proposal:
Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT), click here.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), click here.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), click here.

Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), click here.
To read a fact sheet from The White House on the President's immigration proposal, click here:
Student Aid Streamlined Disclosure Act of 2003 (H.R. 3613):  allowing the IRS to disclose certain tax return information to the U.S. Department of Education for Pell grant applicants, in order to prevent grant overpayments and fraud.   Click here for the full text of the bill.  Released by Rep. Sam Johnson
Press Release:  Rep. Jeff Flake continues to highlight "egregious earmarks" in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (H.R. 2673). This week's featured earmark is $225,000 for the National Wild Turkey Federation.   Released by Rep. Jeff Flake
Press Release:  calling on the Administration to re-propose tax-free savings accounts in the upcoming fiscal year 2005 budget..   Released by Rep. Sam Johnson
Letter to President Bush:  urging him to "protect the heath and lives of American adolescents" by rejecting the petition to make the morning-after pill available over-the-counter. The letter highlights the unknown and untested effects that a wider availability of the morning-after pill would have on adolescent health, including rates of sexual activity and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases--issues that were not addressed in a recent FDA hearing.   Sent by Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) and 48 other House conservatives
New York Times Article:  RSC Chairman, Sue Myrick (R-NC) and Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) were featured in a New York Times article about conservative discontent with the Bush Administration's ongoing efforts to increase federal spending.
God In Washington, DC:  The American Enterprise magazine recently published a one-page photo layout showing examples of religious imagery in federal buildings in Washington, DC.