I am pleased to report that Congress officially wrapped up its business for the First Session of the 110th Congress. Several key pieces of legislation were passed and have been, or are expected to soon be, signed into law by President Bush. The House of Representatives will officially begin the Second Session of the 110th Congress on January 15, 2008.

Last week the Senate passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill. I am pleased to report this to you, as it is good news for the farmers and ranchers of the 19th District as well as producers across the nation. With the 2002 Farm Bill expired and no programs in place as farmers plan for next year's crops, getting a bill through the Senate was essential. Additionally, I was delighted to see the

I am pleased to announce that the Air Force Chief of Staff, General T. Michael Moseley, will be traveling to Abilene, Texas to visit Dyess Air Force Base (AFB). General Moseley, a graduate of Texas A&M;, is the Air Force's 18th Chief of Staff, an accomplished fighter pilot who began flying at the age of 14, and has strong family roots in Texas.

This past week, I had the opportunity to travel to Brazil with nine of my Congressional colleagues to learn about and discuss issues very important to our national security, as well as the interests of agriculture in the 19th District. I traveled on a Congressional Delegation that was led by Democratic Representative Eliot Engel, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

As Congress moves toward wrapping up legislation for the year, one area I believe we need to continue to work on is securing our nation's borders. I have not and will not support any program that rewards those who have violated our laws with amnesty

I am concerned that we are nearing the end of 2007 and the Senate has not completed its work on the Farm Bill. While there is still the possibility the Senate will return after the district work period and take up debate on this important legislation, I am concerned it will not be soon enough for our farmers.

This past week, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, my colleagues and I voted for the annual Department of Defense (DOD) funding bill. This was critical legislation to pass, as it ensures that our military continues to be the best equipped and strongest in the world.

Every year, we take a day and reflect on the heroism of our veterans and thank them for the tremendous sacrifices they have made. We would not be "The land of the free and home of the brave" without our veterans who so aptly served when our nation called them. They are the guardians of our Constitution, the protectors of our Homeland and the heroes that liberate strangers to ensure that liberty, justice and freedom can prosper for all.

I am pleased to report that as of today, the Senate began debate on their version of the Farm Bill. It is expected to last possibly into next week, but it's difficult to predict the day it will be voted on or the outcome of their work.

I am pleased to report that the Senate Agriculture Committee finally reported a Farm Bill out of committee last week. Currently their version of the Farm Bill is likely to be debated by the full Senate the week of November 5.

Last week, I sat down with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab to discuss agriculture trade, including recent issues and concerns regarding cotton. It was very important for me to visit personally with Ambassador Schwab, as it is vital that these cotton issues are resolved in a manner that does not harm our farmers.

Last week, I joined a number of my colleagues in supporting the Taxpayer Choice Act, a comprehensive individual income tax reform that has two goals. First, it would eliminate a massive tax increase that will occur with the growing reach of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). This $841 billion tax is affecting more and more middle-income taxpayers and must be ended. Second, it would provide taxpayers an alternative tax system that is fair, simple and efficient. Our current tax system is broken, and it chooses winners and losers. This bill creates a fair and simple system for the taxpayer.

While there are no current bills expected to be voted on regarding immigration reform, it does not mean it is an issue that should be ignored. This is a pressing issue that deals with national security, as well as the allocation of the taxpayers' hard earned dollars going to those who have violated our law by coming here illegally.

I was shocked to hear that vandals had defaced the Vietnam Veterans' War Memorial last month. The servicemen and women whose names are on that memorial gave the ultimate sacrifice for this nation; they defended liberty, justice and democracy. Those heroes put their lives on the line to defend strangers and ensure the freedoms we enjoy in America would continue to be protected. To violate a memorial in their honor is simply despicable.

Last week, I offered an amendment to the 2007 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill to in an effort to set a more transparent and efficient interagency policy on wind energy that will benefit landowners, industry and the aviation sector.

This past week, President Bush addressed the nation regarding the war in Iraq and his plan moving forward. The President was very candid in his assessment, and I appreciate the honesty and acknowledgement of past mistakes. He also made it very clear that this is a "formidable" challenge and one that will extend beyond his presidency.

Today, I heard directly from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker on the military's progress in Iraq. As I have noted before, many positive comments have been coming back from the front lines. Some Members of Congress who voted against the initial war resolution have changed their minds and are taking an objective, nonpartisan assessment of the situation. They are saying that progress is being made, and while major changes will not happen overnight, these positive steps forward show that America is winning this war.

I am pleased to announce that after working with Eastland County Judge Rex Fields, Don Wilson, the Eastland City manager as well as FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration there is good news for the residents of Eastland County effected by flooding.

As Hurricane Dean makes its way across the Gulf of Mexico, it is possible that Texas could be impacted by this storm. It is important that you and your family have an emergency plan in place. Be sure to have fresh batteries, a radio, flashlights and plenty of water in addition to non-perishable food. Also, make sure that your family has a system in place to contact each other and set arrangements such as picking children up from school, tending to other relatives that may need assistance, as well as your pets.

Earlier this month, Congress took an important step to help prevent future terrorist attacks. We closed a loophole - although it is only a temporary fix - that had hurt our ability to track foreign terrorists. As a result of outdated laws from the 1970s, our intelligence community had to fight through red tape in order to intercept electronic communications among foreign suspects who are outside the United States. For example, if a terrorist in Pakistan was calling a suspect in Afghanistan, but the communications went through U.S. networks, then our intelligence officials had to get a warrant to listen to that conversation. Such delays are unacceptable and dangerous when trying to prevent terrorist attacks.

As I mentioned last week, the House has been focusing on children's health care recently. On August 1, the House considered two versions of a bill to provide health care coverage to uninsured children from low-income families. The first version of the bill would have extended the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and approved additional funding so that states can continue to provide health care for children. I voted for this version, but unfortunately it failed.

Last week, I was looking forward to voting for the 2007 Farm Bill that is important to Texas farmers, ranchers and all consumers. While I voted in favor a bill similar to the one we passed out of the House Agriculture Committee, I could not support the final version that included tax increases to pay for significant new spending.

The House Agriculture Committee wrapped up its work on the 2007 Farm Bill last week, and the legislation produced by the Committee looks very similar to the current Farm Bill. Direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, and the marketing loan program – all of which have been successful policies in recent years – were continued by the Committee. Keeping these key programs in place was a top priority for me during the negotiations. They combine to form a strong safety net for agriculture producers and enable them to compete in the global marketplace.

More than a dozen Texas counties that were impacted by the recent flooding have been declared disasters by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Residents of these counties are now eligible to apply for aid through the Individual Assistance program. This comes as good news to thousands of Texans who lost homes and personal property because of flood damage. In addition, two 19th District counties – Eastland and Archer – have been declared eligible for assistance programs that will allow those counties to use federal money to repair roads and other critical infrastructure.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson released his draft of the 2007 Farm Bill late last week. His draft incorporates the work done by each of the Subcommittees, although with some changes. Proposals from the Subcommittees that increase Farm Bill spending have been put in a separate bill that will only be considered if offsets are found. The full committee will meet July 17 to begin the next step in the legislative process. Here a few of the key points of the bill we will debate:

Heavy rains have led to devastating flooding in eastern portions of the 19th District during the past week. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to visit the affected areas. During my visit, I took aerial and ground tours of Eastland and Stephens counties so that I could get a close look at the damage caused by the flooding. From the air, I was able to get an overview of the entire situation and see homes that are under water and not accessible from the ground. During the ground tour, I got a look at the damage to the roads, homes, and businesses as well as see the condition of important facilities such as the water sewage plant.

The fate of the flawed and misguided Senate immigration bill could be determined this week. The Senate will likely vote this Tuesday on whether or not to end debate, which would pave the way for the vote on the bill itself. Sixty votes are needed to end debate, and at this moment it is uncertain whether that threshold will be met. If that sixty vote threshold is met, a vote on the immigration bill will likely occur late this week.

Last week, the Washington-based Environmental Working Group released a study that revealed how much individuals receive in the form of agriculture commodity payments, and which congressional districts receive the most payments. The study states that the 19th District of Texas ranks fourth (out of 435) in total agriculture payments. This is really not news to those who live in West Texas. The 19th District includes the largest cotton producing region in the world. In fact, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures, the three congressional districts that encompass the South Plains, the Panhandle, and the Big Country are the top three cotton producing districts in the United States. The region is also home to many cattle ranches and producers of peanut, wheat, and a wide variety of other agricultural commodities. So it makes sense that a district that is a world leader in production agriculture, would also have a large number of farmers and ranchers that participate in USDA commodity and conservation programs.

Three weeks ago, I discussed my opposition to the Senate bill that would grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. And the more I learn about the proposal, the more I believe it is a bad policy. Not only does it let those who have broken our immigration laws stay in the country, there is also no guarantee that the borders will be any more secure or that we will have any better grasp of who is coming into the United States if this bill becomes law. Through phone calls, letters, emails, and face-to-face meetings, I have heard the views that many 19th District constituents have regarding the bill. From the feedback I have received, the concerns I have with the proposal are shared by a vast majority of constituents.

This week the House once again will consider the question of whether to use taxpayer dollars to fund stem cell research that results in the destruction of human embryos. We will be debating the Senate's version of this legislation. Because provisions of this bill raise serious ethical questions, I will continue to oppose this legislation.

On this Memorial Day, we should all pause to honor the brave sacrifices made by America's fallen heroes and our veterans. The freedoms we cherish today are a result of the courageous acts of countless Americans who answered their nation's call to serve the cause of liberty.

Immigration was a hotly debated topic throughout much of 2006 but has received less attention so far this year. That all changed late last week when news broke that a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators had reached a deal on a draft immigration proposal. As of yet, no votes have been held in either the House or the Senate, but the debate has already moved back to its familiar perch on the front burner. The proposal is several hundred pages long and will likely be subject to many amendments during the Senate debate. However, from what I have seen of the details so far, I cannot and will not support it should it come to a vote in the House in its current form.

The big item from last week was the passage of legislation to aid our farmers and ranchers who suffered from severe drought in 2005 and 2006. This was the second attempt at passing drought relief this year. I voted for this particular bill, and it passed overwhelmingly in the House. Unfortunately, its fate is uncertain at this point. While we considered this bill separately from an Iraq bill, the House leadership combined the two before sending the legislation to the Senate. Since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has voiced opposition to this approach, it is unclear if the drought relief will be approved in the Senate. I will continue to provide updates on this important issue as it makes its way through the legislative process.

Over the past several weeks, the House Agriculture Committee and its six subcommittees have held a large number of hearings regarding the 2007 Farm Bill. The committee has heard testimony on crop insurance and commodity programs, and subcommittee hearings are scheduled this week on the topics of agricultural research and USDA trade and food aid programs. The Senate is making good progress with its hearings as well. With these hearings nearly completed, our work on the committee will now move onto the "writing" phase of the Farm Bill process.

As was expected, both houses of Congress have passed the flawed war-funding bill. This legislation is a poor attempt to micromanage the War on Terror from Capitol Hill by setting an arbitrary timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. It is unwise to have 535 politicians in Washington, D.C. attempt to make strategic decisions about the conduct of the war. That work should be left to the commanders on the field of battle. That is why I have consistently voted against this policy, and it is why the President will veto this bill this week.

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled last week that a ban on partial birth abortion is constitutional. This ruling is a victory for the sanctity of human life. Congress was right to ban this horrific procedure that ends the life of an innocent and defenseless person. This procedure has no place in a civilized society, and the Supreme Court was right to uphold that ban.

Tax day is here again. As you reflect on your 2006 tax bill, realize that there are many in Congress who believe what you paid is not enough. Despite a record level of tax revenue taken in by the federal government last year, the House recently approved a budget blueprint that paves the way for a $393 billion tax hike. I voted against this blueprint because I believe American workers and businesses are taxed enough. Instead of raising taxes, the federal government should focus more of its attention on using the tax dollars it does collect in a wiser, more efficient manner.

The first of this week's Farm Bill Forums was held in Plainview today. Approximately 75 people attended, and we covered a number of issues ranging from payment limitations to storage fees. This was a successful event, and I look forward to the two remaining forums later this week. The next forum will be held Tuesday, April 10, in Seminole at 10:00 a.m. at the Old City Hall. The third and final forum for this week will be in Abilene Wednesday, April 11 at the Texas Cooperative Extension Office from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. I will provide a full recap of these forums in next week's edition of the Roundup. If you are unable to attend one of the forums, but still want to let me know your ideas, please email me at randy@mail.house.gov or call my office toll free at 1-888-763-7611.

In order to get input from West Texas agriculture producers, I will be hosting a series of Farm Bill Forums next week across the 19th District. The first forum will take place on Monday, April 9 at the Ollie Liner Center in Plainview from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. A second forum will be held next Tuesday, April 10, in Seminole at 10:00 a.m. at the Old City Hall. I will then travel to Abilene Wednesday, April 11 where I will host the final forum at the Texas Cooperative Extension Office from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. If you are unable to attend one of the forums, but still want to let me know your ideas, please email me at randy@mail.house.gov or call my office toll free at 1-888-763-7611.

When it comes to my job requirements, there are none that I take more seriously than my constitutional responsibility to keep America safe. I don't want our country to become a place where families worry about bombs going off in shopping malls or football stadiums. These scenarios may seem far-fetched today. But six years ago, most Americans would have thought that the idea of hijackers flying commercial jets into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon was far-fetched. Yet, the events of September 11, 2001 were all too real, and ever since the United States has been actively engaged in fighting back against terrorist threats and taking other steps to enhance national security.

Last week the House Appropriations Committee approved supplemental funding legislation for the War on Terror that also included an agriculture drought relief package. Under this legislation, producers would be able to choose to be compensated from either the 2005 or 2006 crop year (but not both) as long as they purchased crop insurance for that year. Eligible farmers must have suffered a 35 percent loss to apply for assistance, and the payment would be 50 percent of the price. Finally, the combination of income from crop receipts, crop insurance, and disaster assistance could not exceed 95 percent of what the value of the crop would have been without a loss.

I have just returned from my most recent trip to Iraq where I made stops in Baghdad, Fallujah, and Ramadi. During my trip, my goal was to determine if the new strategy – the Baghdad Security Plan – is working. As I have done in the past, I will post my "Iraq Journal" on my website where constituents can read about who I met with and what I saw on my trip.

Since last summer, I have been part of a bipartisan coalition of representatives that has called for Congress to pass drought relief legislation. The one-two punch of increased energy prices and drought hit the 19th District particularly hard, and relief is sorely needed to help farmers make ends meet. Fortunately, the prospects for a drought relief package are getting brighter

I have just returned from my second trip to the Gulf Coast since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the region eighteen months ago. During my first trip, which took place soon after the storms hit, I realized that this area was facing a long road to recovery. Unfortunately, the effort in New Orleans has not made much progress since my last visit. City block after city block looks today as it did the day after the storm. Homes that are now unlivable sit vacant and abandoned. It remains to be seen how soon former residents will return to New Orleans. City leaders remain optimistic, but in some areas there are vacant apartments that are ready, but have not been rented.

The big item on the House agenda last week was a non-binding resolution concerning President Bush's new Iraq strategy. This resolution does not have any legal effect, but it does undermine the war effort by criticizing the mission of our troops currently on the ground in Iraq. The House debated this resolution over the course of several days. My prepared remarks can be read on my website, www.randy.house.gov. I would also recommend that everyone read the moving speech by fellow Texan and true American hero, Rep. Sam Johnson. Rep. Johnson fought in the Vietnam War, was taken captive by the North Vietnamese, and held as a P.O.W. for nearly seven years. Click on the following link to read his entire speech: Rep. Johnson's Remarks.

President Bush's new strategy for attaining victory in Iraq takes center stage this week in the House as we will devote three days to debating this important issue. At the end of the debate, the members of the House will vote on a non-binding resolution which states that "Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush…to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq." Unfortunately, this hollow resolution does not match the seriousness of the issue we are debating. But it does send a demoralizing message to our troops.

USDA released its proposals for the 2007 Farm Bill last week. It is important to remember that these proposals are just that, proposals. While Congress will look at recommendations from a wide range of outside sources, the Farm Bill will be written by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.

President Bush delivered his latest State of the Union Address last Tuesday, and the theme of the speech was expanding hope and opportunity for all Americans. In fact, he mentioned the phrase "hope and opportunity" six times throughout the speech. The president believes that spreading these two lofty ideals depends on security. I agree with him on this front. While it is vital for our country to achieve success in the War on Terror, security does not just apply to military affairs.

President Bush will deliver his seventh State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 23. I encourage everyone to tune in and listen carefully to his speech, which will air live on most news stations at approximately 8:00 p.m. Texas time. Regardless of one's thoughts on the issues, the State of the Union is an important part of the democratic process and helps shape what will be some of the major topics of debate for the coming year. This year's speech should be especially interesting considering the transition occurring in Iraq and the new leadership dynamic in Congress.

The 110th Congress officially began last week when all 435 members of the House of Representatives took the oath of office. The legislative calendar is already quickly filling up as several important bills supported by the new House leadership have bypassed the committee process and are already scheduled for a vote.