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This week while Congress is in recess, I had the opportunity to hit
the road and visit numerous towns and communities throughout Arkansas's
Fourth Congressional District.
As your voice in the United States Congress, I strongly believe it is
my job to promote the ideas and viewpoints of the majority of those I represent.
This is why I like to use Congress's recess breaks as "working periods,"
so I can listen to the ideas, questions, and concerns of my constituents.
And there is no better way to learn where my constituents stand on the
issues than to get out there and meet face-to-face with the working families
I so proudly represent.
I was glad to host a series of Town Hall meetings this week, primarily
focusing on the issue of Social Security. Whether I'm at church, the grocery
store, or the gas station, folks are constantly coming up to me, telling
me how nervous they are that their only guaranteed form of retirement may
become privatized. That's why I felt it was important for me to present
to my constituents an objective view of the Social Security debate that
is currently underway in Congress. While there is no question the issue
of Social Security needs to be addressed, the need to fix it is not a "crisis."
In fact, as long as workers are paying into the system, the system will
never go "broke." Our Social Security system has worked well for 70 years,
and it's not going to quit on us tomorrow. Time does exist to have an open
and honest debate on the right way to address this issue, and I was glad
to have the opportunity to present these facts in person to my constituents.
And perhaps the most gratifying event I participated in this week was
welcoming home our troops in my hometown of Prescott Wednesday, who have
been serving in Iraq under the Army's 39th Brigade. It was hard to hold
back the tears as I watched families reunite and embrace their loved ones.
I know I can speak on behalf of all those I represent in saying how proud
I am of our brave men and women in uniform, and in thanking them for making
the ultimate sacrifice to carry-out our mission in Iraq.
One of my most important responsibilities as your Member of Congress
is to be accessible and out there among my constituents, understanding
your values, your needs, and your priorities. It is truly an honor to serve
you and your family in the United States Congress. |
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