A word from Congressman Zach Wamp...

December 27, 2007 – Moving Forward
It is a privilege to work on many issues as your representative that effect the quality of life and economic opportunities in Tennessee and those that have a national impact. There are two major milestones – one at home and one in Washington – to report on as we close out the year and move forward.

December 21, 2007 – Wrapping up the Year
The new Democrat leadership in Congress failed to build a consensus to bring several critical bills to the floor for a vote in a timely manner this year. Instead of working all throughout the year in a bipartisan manner, the Democrat leadership waited until the last minute to compromise on bills that fund the federal government and our troops, and address how to proceed on critical issues like the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Medicare physician reimbursement, an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch and an energy bill.

December 12, 2007 – Beyond Iraq
I urge my party and our nation to begin thinking and planning beyond Iraq and, in fact, beyond the next election. Clearly, our success in Iraq is critical and we must maintain 100 percent commitment to our troops and their mission. And the “mission” is still not “accomplished.” However, the so-called “surge” is clearly demonstrating results and we now hope to begin serious redeployments that may lead to a reduced combat force on the ground of 60 percent of the current level by this time next year.

October 25, 2007 – Free Trade with Free People
For almost five years, I have quietly and respectfully witnessed Phil Bredesen’s service as Tennessee’s governor, during which he has skillfully maneuvered the rocky waters of mandatory health care, workers’ compensation, higher education reform and the like. As I have read his “dispatches from China” while he leads a “historic 78 Member Trade Mission” on behalf of our state, I wonder if maybe Governors should receive national security briefings before traveling to places like China.

October 22, 2007 – America Must Act Now
Nearly a month after testifying before Congress on the progress of our security strategy in Iraq, our commander on the ground, Army Gen. David Petraeus, said that al Qaeda remains "the wolf closest to the sled" and "the enemy bent on causing the most sectarian violence" in the country. It is essential that we not lose sight of the big picture.

September 26, 2007 – Supporting SCHIP Extension, Not Expansion
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program was originally adopted in 1997 under Republican leadership to bring health care benefits to children of the working poor. We worked in a bipartisan way to gain support for the program and to ensure it would have stable funding for the 10 years of its authorization. I supported SCHIP then and I support renewing SCHIP now.

September 12, 2007 – Healthy minds need healthy bodies
It was Thomas Jefferson who said, “A child who is not physically well cannot learn.” His words could not be more true today, as childhood obesity in the United States reaches epidemic proportions, jeopardizing not only the health of our kids, but also their academic development. We simply cannot afford the economic and societal costs of childhood obesity, and strengthening physical education in schools could be a big step in reversing the trend lines, and saving lives.

July 31, 2007 -- Closing the Intelligence Loophole
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act currently requires the intelligence community and the Department of Justice to provide privacy protections to suspects overseas and obtain warrants to collect foreign intelligence on those in other countries. Instead of protecting terrorists, our top priority should be doing everything possible to protect Americans from future attacks. We can improve intelligence collection by updating FISA and closing the gaps created by evolving technology.

July 3, 2007 -- Celebrating Liberty
This year as we celebrate the birth of our nation we should salute the people who have come here from every corner of the world to assimilate and claim the heritage and responsibility of our free society. We are a nation of legal immigration and people who dared to risk all they had, even their very lives, for the things we hold so dear, the best of which are liberty and freedom.

June 12, 2007 -- Tennessee Valley Corridor Leading the Way to Energy Security
One of the most important challenges facing our nation is clearly ending America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy. Nothing is more important to our future energy security, economic security or national security than solving this critical challenge. And the Tennessee Valley Corridor, as one of the premier science and technology “hot spots” in our nation, is leading the way.

May 25, 2007 -- Memorial Day tribute to Tennessee soldiers
This is a Memorial Day where every single American needs to pause, remember and appreciate the sacrifices of these brave American heroes who are willing to put their life on the line and these extraordinary souls who physically did not come back alive but whose commitment to our country is everlasting. We pay tribute to their sacrifice, their courage and their heroism. And we console their families, as we commit to never forget their sacrifice on our behalf.

May 14, 2007 -- Democrats’ Budget Bad for America
Despite being at war and following the effects of September 11, our economic policies are working. Republican pro-growth tax policies have boosted the American economy and helped American families since they were passed in 2001 and 2003. Some of these policies include cutting taxes on capital gains and dividends, phasing out the death tax and eliminating the marriage penalty.

April 24, 2007 -- A More Dangerous World
When former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson met with dozens of Republicans from the U.S. House of Representatives last week, he shared some thoughts about Iraq. He said that down the road, we’ll be able to put Iraq in our rearview mirror. When we do, we’ll either be looking at a dangerous world or a more dangerous world. The tough choices we make today will determine just how dangerous the world will be.

April 11, 2007 -- Leading the Way to Energy Independence
As our country continues to consume large amounts of energy, it is more important than ever that we rapidly move towards energy independence. Our region is helping lead the way by making important developments in energy independence in two areas that make up our largest areas of consumption: transportation and the electricity power sector.

February 23, 2007 -- Reforming immigration
Immigration is going to be one of the most important issues and contentious debates of the 110th Congress. There is concern among House Republicans that this will be a case where the Democrats will propose legislation that the President will sign, which will include a path to citizenship or amnesty for the 12-14 million illegal immigrants who are already here. We do not need the Democrats’ idea of a “comprehensive” immigration solution. We need responsible immigration reform that makes national security and the rule of law into priorities.

February 21, 2007 -- Failure is not an option in Iraq
The “War on Terror” is the worst-named war in the history of our country. We need clarity as to who we are fighting. We are at war with Islamic jihadists whose goal is to expand the caliphate from Indonesia to Morocco. They believe they can then extend to Europe and all the way to the former Soviet Union. This is the Muslim Fundamentalist agenda. It is a religious conflict, which did not start, and will not end with Iraq.

February 5, 2007 -- Advancing renewable energy
The nexus between national security, energy independence and our natural environment is the most important policy issue we face as a nation as we look ahead to the next generation. There is an imminent challenge and opportunity to forge ahead in a truly bipartisan way to keep America on the cutting edge. Time is running out and we must have a serious, honest discussion as a nation.

January 10, 2007 -- A Way Forward in Iraq
For years I have been saying, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” At this critical moment in our struggle against the terrorists who seek to destroy us, we cannot grow weary, but rather, must find the resolve to make sound decisions for the future of our country and for our allies around the world.