Congressman Bob Filner's
Congressional Update

August 2005

In this Issue:

• Leading the Charge to Protect Veterans
• Protecting Our Community from Bad Trade Deals
• Keeping IRS Centers Open
• Ending Mexico's Ban on American Wheat
• Citizens of the Month
• Crime Fighter of the Month
• Constituent Mail Bag
• Cool Web Site: Stopping Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing, and E-mail

Protecting Our Community from Bad Trade Deals
The Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA, is a bad deal both for Americans and for the people of Central America. This agreement will hurt labor, weaken environmental standards, and increase the inequity at home and throughout Central America.

The number of people who will benefit from CAFTA is dwarfed by the masses that will be unfairly punished simply for their government�s ill-fated policy. The Bush administration, in its development of CAFTA, has shown an utter contempt for the working men and women of our continent.

Across Central America, labor laws are often insufficient to protect workers and the environment, and those that exist are rarely enforced. CAFTA does nothing to promote the enforcement of labor standards, something that should be a moral imperative for any trade agreement.

Rather than focus on policies that will facilitate economic and social development throughout Latin America, this administration ignores the poor and the working class with narrow policies that only benefit the wealthiest.
What we need are Fair Trade Agreements that promote  development of Latin America�s economies as well as our own labor markets.
 

Keeping IRS Centers Open
Across the country, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) have provided tax-related help to 7.7 million people, including those for whom the face-to-face assistance is particularly important.

IRS representatives in these offices can help with inquiries or adjustments to tax accounts, payment plans for those who owe money and cannot pay the full amount, questions about IRS letters and notices, and levies on wages or bank accounts. For most people, the local TAC is the face of the IRS.

Despite continued success, the IRS proposed closing 68 TAC�s nationwide including the El Centro location.

Fortunately, by working with a coalition of House colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, I was able to get over 30 Members of Congress to join me and protest the TAC closures.

I am pleased to report that the IRS has come out recently and stated that they no longer plan to close the TACs. However, if we want to ensure the future viability of the TACs, we have to keep up the fight and let those in Washington know how important and indispensable TACs are to our community.
 

Ending Mexico's Ban on American Wheat
In July, I joined representatives from the Imperial County Farm Bureau, the California Wheat Commission, and the Imperial County Agriculture Commission to announce Mexico�s removal of a nine-year ban on California�s wheat.
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Mexican Department of Agriculture have signed an agreement to lift this  ban on the imports of wheat from California, Arizona and New Mexico. Along with members of the California Congressional Delegation and stakeholders of the U.S. wheat industry, I have been working to resolve this issue ever since the restriction was put in place in 1996.

The ban on wheat exports began after Karnal bunt fungus was found in limited areas across the desert and the Southwest. Karnal bunt is a fungal disease that infects common wheat and spreads through contaminated seeds. Since the discovery of Karnal bunt, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have worked to eradicate the disease.

Mexico is considered the second largest market for U.S. wheat exports. The announcement is good news for wheat growers in the Imperial Valley who can now harvest high-quality wheat for a larger consumer population.

Crime Fighter of the Month
In July, I chose to honor John Kirk as the  �Crimefighter of the Month� for his outstanding community service efforts in National City.

In 1994, John Kirk joined the National City Lions Club where he has served as the club�s President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. His work has been instrumental in starting programs aimed at helping youth. John was elected as the Chairman of the Bayside Neighborhood Council and is on the Executive Board of the first annual National City International Parade and Fair.

In addition, John is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the Fleet Reserve Association. He is also active in the Christmas in July and Spirit of the Holiday programs which help low income families in National City. He also has organized the annual National City Fourth of July celebration. John�s spirit of goodwill has helped many. John is truly great role model for our community�and I am proud to give him this award.
 

Constituent Mail Bag

From Chula Vista:
I urge you to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA is another flawed trade deal that will sell out America's jobs--and it will do nothing to lift Central American and Dominican workers out of poverty.

CAFTA is just like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)--which has brought devastating results to our community. NAFTA has cost the United States close to 1 million real and potential jobs and has not reduced poverty or inequality in Mexico.

You have the opportunity to take a stand in our state and community by opposing CAFTA. I am counting on you!

Congressman Filner replies:
Thank you for contacting me about the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

I wholeheartedly agree! I believe in protecting American jobs, human rights around the world, our fragile world environment, and food safety standards. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that environmental, civil, and labor rights are protected! I am one Congressman you can count on to fight against unfair or unsafe provisions in future, and current, trade agreements.

I appreciate your advocacy on this important issue.

Contact My Office

COOL WEB SITE: Stopping Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing, and E-mail

Annoyed by having your mailbox filled with unsolicited mail and credit card offers? Had it with dinnertime telemarketing calls? Tired of having what seems like hundreds of junk messages in your inbox every time you check your e-mail? Unfortunately, there's no sure-fire way to totally eliminate the unsolicited mailings, calls, and e-mails you receive, but the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has assembled some tips that can help you cut down on the junk.