Legislative Update

Transparency in Federal Spending
Many Americans have been outraged in recent years by the abuse of the "earmarking" process, in which Congress directs taxpayer money to specific projects.  While Congress has the power of the purse and should be able to ensure that the budget reflects appropriate federal priorities, such as for public health and safety projects like levees and roads or national security, there is no justification for wasteful earmarks such as the "Bridge to Nowhere."  And in some cases they have been tied to corruption and bribery.  I strongly believe the earmarking process must be transparent, in order to prevent abuses and wasteful spending, and to ensure that Congress is being fiscally responsible.  Members of Congress should be held accountable by their fellow lawmakers and by the public for their funding requests.

Combating Drugs on Federal Lands
Drug trafficking and production in our national forests and parks is a major problem in Northern California's federal lands.  In fact, three of our nation's eight worst national forests in terms of marijuana production are the Shasta-Trinity, the Klamath, and the Mendocino National Forests, which are in our district.   There is also a very serious problem at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area where illegal marijuana grows have been discovered within a few hundred yards of popular boating and fishing areas. Further, some people have been shot at while visiting these areas.

This situation is simply outrageous.  Northern Californians who work in the national forest or national parks, or those who visit our public lands to hunt, fish, hike, and camp, must be protected from this menace.  Federal, state, and local law enforcement have made some progress in combating the problem, but more needs to be done.  To that point, the House recently passed the annual Interior Appropriations bill--which provides funding to the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other federal agencies and programs--that would bolster law enforcement's efforts to rout out foreign drug trafficking organizations that currently have a safe haven in federal lands.  I led an effort on the House floor to bring greater attention to this problem in Congress and to help ensure that law enforcement resources go to where the problem is most prevalent, such as Northern California.  Learn more about my efforts

Redding Veterans Home Update
Northern Californian veterans very much need and deserve a new veterans home.  That is why I'm pleased the House recently passed legislation that includes $165 million in funding for a federal-state partnership program that is critical to ensuring the Redding Veterans Home moves forward on schedule.  I will work to make sure this funding level remains throughout the rest of the legislative process. Read more

Border Fence Mandate Gutted
This month the House passed a homeland security spending bill that fails to fully fund border security and that places unreasonable restrictions on funding for the border fence.  The bill's requirement that the Department of Homeland Security must "make every effort" to minimize the fence's impact on wildlife is an invitation to a never-ending stream of lawsuits by radical environmental groups.  The American people have made it clear that they want Congress to get serious about border security. Read more

3 Percent Withholding Repeal Legislation
In 2006, members of the U.S. Senate, over the objections of House negotiators, included a little noticed provision in a larger tax bill that, if not repealed, will cause great harm to small businesses and local governments.  The good news is that the House succeeded in delaying its implementation until 2011.  I am working in a bipartisan manner to repeal it altogether.

Under the Senate-sponsored provision, in 2011 governments at the local, state and federal level will be required to withhold three-percent on payments for goods and services. Whether you're a contractor hired to construct a new school building, a painter painting city hall, the owner of a waste removal company, a farmer receiving a commodity payment or a for-profit hospital receiving reimbursement from Medicare for health services, 3% withholding will affect the way you're paid.  This unwise provision will increase the already high burden of paying taxes for everyone who does business with a government, and will impose a sweeping and unfunded mandate on local and state governments.  Withholding 3 percent of gross payments could strip cash flows needed for daily business operations, forcing companies to alter business models and pricing when dealing with government customers.  Governments would need to retool accounts payable systems to implement the new law, adding administrative costs that are ultimately paid by taxpayers.

For this reason I have joined with Rep. Kendrick Meek of Florida to introduce legislation to repeal the three-percent withholding burden before it takes effect.  Our legislation has been gaining steam in Congress and already has over 170 cosponsors.  We recently held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol with grassroots leaders to rally support for our legislation, and to thank supporters in the House and Senate.  Working together I am hopeful we will be able to fix this law before it begins to affect governments and businesses in 2011. Read more

"Fairness Doctrine" Undermines Free Speech
In recent weeks, several members of Congress have proposed reinstating the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" for broadcast radio and television.  The Fairness Doctrine, which was abolished by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1985, required broadcasters to give "equal time" to opposing views in political discourse.  Of course, bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., would be in charge of deciding what constitutes "equal time" and "fairness."  Supporters of the Fairness Doctrine have openly acknowledged that their aim is to muzzle the voices of their political opponents on AM radio programs.

Today, we live in a world with an astonishing diversity of news sources, especially with the emergence of blogs and other Internet media.  There is simply no reason for the federal government to regulate free speech in the interest of arbitrary standards of fairness.  On June 28, I and 308 other members of the House of Representatives voted to prohibit the FCC from reviving the Fairness Doctrine. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House has expressed commitment to preserving Americans' fundamental right to freedom of speech. Share your thoughts

Pending Legislation and Issues Important to Northern CA

Senate Immigration Bill Update
The Senate has voted to effectively kill the deeply flawed immigration measure they have been considering over the past few months.  Only 46 senators voted to proceed with consideration of the legislation.  It's clear that senators listened to the American people, who voiced their strong concern that the Senate bill would not secure our borders or stop future illegal immigration.  I believe we need to enforce our current immigration laws and construct the border fence that Congress mandated last year.  I will also continue to support an effective temporary legal worker program, along the lines of the Bracero program in the 1950s, whereby farmers can obtain workers who would come into our country legally to work and then return to their homeland.  Americans deserve a government that is responsive to their concerns about the state of emergency on our nation's borders. Share your thoughts

Lake Tahoe Fire Serves As Reminder
South Lake Tahoe's "Angora Fire" serves as a grim reminder of the need to actively manage our national forests to protect communities and forests from the devastating effects of catastrophic wildfire.  Thankfully, no lives were lost, but upwards of 250 South Lake Tahoe residences were destroyed.  Considering the unnaturally dense conditions of nearby forests and steep mountain landscape, the damage could have been much worse.  Well-timed calm weather and quick action by brave firefighters helped contain the Angora Fire before it grew completely out of control.

Many residents throughout Northern California are understandably concerned that their community could soon fall victim to the next "Angora Fire."  Forest stands located in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges are as much as ten times denser than they were historically.  Such unnaturally heavy fuel loads have primed this area for large and destructive wildfires.  Forest conditions are so bad that the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors recently called for "immediate and accelerated efforts" to thin out unhealthy forest stands in order to protect at risk communities and watersheds within their jurisdiction. Trinity County has taken a similar action.

When catastrophic fires burn everyone loses.  Entire communities can be destroyed, forested streams and landscape altered forever, and recreation opportunities can be lost.  I've long believed that we need to allow forest professionals to strategically thin unhealthy stands in order to reduce the modern wildfire threat and thereby protect people and forest resources.  The Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act of 1998 is one example of locally-led cooperative action to protect people and restore forests to a more natural and healthy condition through targeted thinning.  If similar action is not taken elsewhere throughout our state, I'm afraid we will continue to see more "Angora Fires."  Share your thoughts

Hamas Takes Over Gaza Strip
In mid June, the terrorist group Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, which was previously controlled by moderate Palestinians.  This development was a major setback in the Middle East Peace Process.  Hamas believes Israel should not exist and has unleashed violence against Israelis repeatedly over the past several years.  Following the take over, the moderate Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, created a new Palestinian government and is working to preserve his authority in the West Bank.  The international community must stand firm and isolate Hamas so long as it commits terrorist acts and threatens our allies in the region. Share your thoughts

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Trade Promotion Authority Expires
As the ranking member of the Trade Subcommittee, I am able to have more of a leadership role on an issue that is critically important to our Northern California economy. In our agriculture-rich area, we depend on exports to reach the 95 percent of consumers living outside the U.S. We need to bring down foreign trade barriers so that more of our products can enter international markets. Free trade agreements (FTAs) with other nations improve our access to new markets. In fact, although the countries with which we currently have FTAs make up only 7.3 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product, our exports to these countries comprise more than 42 percent of total U.S. exports.

Many Americans don't recognize the benefits of free trade, but they experience them every day.  Free trade lowers prices for consumers and opens new markets for farmers and businesses in Northern California and across our nation.  It also helps spur economic growth and job creation, and has helped push our national unemployment rate to a very low 4.5 percent.  One-in-ten jobs in America is dependent on trade, and these jobs pay on average 13 to 18 percent more than average wages.

Unfortunately, on June 30 Congress allowed the President's Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to expire.  Congress approved this authority in 2002 to enable the president to negotiate free trade agreements that Congress would then approve or disapprove on an up-or-down vote basis.   Without TPA, countries will be reluctant to come to the negotiating table, and we will have difficulty entering and approving new FTAs.  That means we're forgoing much needed market access in these countries and the opportunity to break down unfair barriers to our farm products overseas.  Meanwhile, others in the world (like China and the E.U.) are busy working on agreements with each other that lock out American goods and services, weakening our competitiveness.  I recently joined others in a press conference (pictured) to urge the prompt renewal of TPA.  America should not stand still as other countries experience the widespread benefits of trade. Read more

District News

Service Academies Appointments
I am pleased to announce that three students from the 2nd Congressional District have accepted appointments to the United States Service Academies.  They are:

Zach M. Taylor of Colusa - U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Kristen Michelle Ellison of Yreka - U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs
John McArthur of McArthur - U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis

I congratulate these outstanding young Americans on their appointments to our nation's service academies.  They have stood out as strong performers in the classroom and as faithful Americans who are committed to serving their country in uniform.  They are all promising  Americans and I am confident they will all make their families and friends proud.  I have no doubt that their service in our armed forces will resemble those before them who have kept America free and secure.

Every year it is my distinct honor to nominate young men and women to the United States Service Academies.  I am currently accepting applications for the class of 2012.  Individuals residing in the 2nd Congressional District, who are between the age of 17 and 22, are encouraged to apply.  All applications must be completed by October 31, 2007.  View additional information

Tomorrow's Leaders
Earlier this month I was able to visit Achieve Charter School in Paradise.  One of the most enjoyable things I get to do is speak with youth throughout our Northern California Congressional District and answer questions they may have about our government.  After getting a brief tour of the campus I was able to meet with two groups of students, kindergarten through second grade, and third through fifth grades.  I also presented the school with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol.

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Upcoming "Scam Seminars-Don't Be a Victim"
Last year, Sutter County law enforcement teams searched the Feather River for a 75-year-old Yuba City woman named Norma Anderson.  Her husband, Jim, believes his wife took her own life after being defrauded of over $500,000 through international lottery scams.  To date, Norma is still missing.  After talking with Jim, I joined others in Northern California in taking a proactive step to help prevent this from happening to others.

Last August I hosted my first annual "Scam Seminars: Don't Be a Victim" throughout the 2nd Congressional District.  These town hall style meetings provided law enforcement and fraud experts the opportunity to outline steps individuals may take to help protect themselves from this type of fraud.  I am happy to say the events were a great success and I am pleased to be hosting them once again.  Below are dates and locations for the 2007 seminars: