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From left - Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, President of Danville Community College and an Alton native; William Fitzgerald, Chairman, Halifax County Board of Supervisors; Congressman Virgil Goode; Robert Smith, President & CEO of Grand Springs

September 23, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grand Springs Natural Spring Water of Alton, Virginia has been selected as the sole provider of bottled water for the House of Representatives Food Services in Washington, D. C. The bottled water supplied to the House is contained in compostable bottles made of corn and replaces water that was in petroleum-based bottles.

Announcement of Grand Springs’ selection by House Food Services was made this morning by Dan Beard, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House. Beard said that the switch to Grand Springs and compostable bottles is part of the on-going effort to make as much of the House Food Services operations as green as possible. Beard noted that food service items, such as utensils, plates and sandwich containers are fully compostable and are sent to a commercial compost facility. Food waste from House Food Services is also composted. Beard said that Green Springs was chosen because of its proximity to Washington, D. C., which cuts down on the cost of shipping the water to the nation’s Capitol. He said that the House sells about 100,000 bottles of water each year.

Attending today’s announcement of Grand Springs’ selection were Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode; William Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors; and Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, President of Danville Community College and an Alton native.

“Grand Springs bottles quality water, which has an excellent taste,” said Goode, adding, that “Grand Springs is important to the economy of Halifax County, and I hope that the sale of its water by the House will help others to discover the good quality of life that we enjoy in Southside Virginia.”

Fitzgerald commented, “This is an exciting time for Halifax County and one of its private entrepreneurs who is able to expand his business to service the House of Representatives. It’s a privilege to attend the announcement of an expansion of an existing local business. It will continue to enhance the economic development in our county, and I want to thank Congressman Goode for his continuing support for Halifax County.”

Immigration and Guest Worker Proposals

President Bush announced his proposal for "Fair and Secure Immigration Reform." I am very much opposed to the proposal of President Bush and other proposals, such as those of Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA), Senator Ted Kennedy(D-MA), and others that provide a glide path to legalization and Green Cards for those illegally in the country. The message that I have been hearing from constituents and citizens around the Fifth District is overwhelmingly in opposition to the President's proposed plans and these other plans that grant amnesty in some form. I am absolutely opposed to amnesty in any form for illegal aliens. These plans will actually undermine and destroy Guest Worker Programs over time. I do believe that the pay levels in the H-2A Guest Worker Program need to be changed. The amnesty contained in these proposals only encourage more illegal entry in to our country. We need a strong position in opposition to any amnesty and any glide path to legalization for those illegally in the country.

I will not be voting for the Bush plan, the Kennedy plan or any others that provide legalization for those illegally in the country. We should not encourage law breaking. I encourage you to visit the Immigration Reform Caucus' website to see what I and other Members of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus are doing about immigration policies. I am a cosponsor and supporter of Congressman Tancredo's Mass Immigration Reduction Act. This measure, "Provides that during a specified immigration moratorium period: (1) employment-based immigrant visas shall be reduced, and family-sponsored and diversity immigrant visas shall be eliminated; (2) immigrant status shall be granted only to children and spouses of U.S. citizens or priority workers; (3) refugee admissions and asylee adjustments shall be limited to 25,000 per year; and (4) an alien shall be required to renounce citizenship or nationality of any other country in order to be naturalized as a U.S. citizen."

We need comprehensive immigration reform now. Our policies are far too lax and our borders far too porous. I am the sponsor of a bill to allow military troops on our borders to keep out illegal aliens, drugs and terrorists that threaten the safety and security of the United States.

Virgil Goode Gets Caught...Reading

Buckingham County, Virginia. Today, like everyday, Congressman Virgil Goode read something just for fun. But today, he was caught on camera! Congressman Goode participated in this campaign designed to encourage and put the fun back in reading. Congressman Goode stated, “Without reading skills, the chances of success in the complex society of today are almost nil.” He stresses the importance of encouraging the values of reading to our children and community.

Congressman Goode is shown reading to youngsters at the Central Virginia Community Health Center, which is located on Route 15 in Buckingham County, Virginia.

Charlottesville, which is located in the northern part of the Fifth District, is home to the Virginia Festival of the Book, which is a world-recognized event with leading national and international authors and numerous educational activities for persons of all ages. The Virginia Festival of the Book encourages reading and brings many persons to the Charlottesville area in the spring of each year. The 2008 Virginia Festival of the Book is set for March 26-30, 2008. More information can be found by visiting their website at www.vabook.org