Farm Bill Update

Last week, both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed an extension of the Farm Bill to April 17. Just like the first extension we passed in December, this one does not include any commodity provisions for 2008 crops.  It simply extends authority for USDA to continue its other programs and activities. 

With wheat crops up across West Texas and many agriculture producers preparing to plant in the coming months, farmers are left with uncertainty with no federal policies in place.  I am concerned it is taking this long to resolve the differences between the House and Senate Farm Bills.  While committee staff have made some progress resolving less controversial areas of the bill, the House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen continue to negotiate on total spending and offsets, which have been difficult issues since we started the Farm Bill a year ago.

I continue to work with my colleagues on the House Ag Committee and will continue sending a strong message to USDA that we must get a Farm Bill done and signed into law.  It is my hope that this current stalemate will be broken and Congress will secure a sound Farm Bill that protects the interests of the agriculture producers of America and the 19th Congressional District.  However, if we do not see any substantial progress in moving a Farm Bill forward very soon, we may have to consider alternatives that will provide commodity producers with certainty for the 2008 crop.

Securing Our Borders

Protecting our sovereignty through securing our borders is of the utmost importance to America’s homeland security. Illegal immigration is a burden on the lawful taxpayers of America, and we must increase enforcement of our laws. Currently, there are an estimated 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants in this country.

Last year, I cosponsored H.R. 4088, the SAVE Act of 2007. This bill addresses illegal immigration by securing our borders through additional manpower and new technology, creating a mandatory worker verification program and increasing our interior enforcement presence. I am currently working with a number of my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to help bring this bill to a vote.
 
Bringing Your Values to Washington, DC

As your Representative, I have pledged to bring your conservative values of fiscal and social policy to Washington, DC. This is a pledge I take very seriously and one which I will not alter.

According to the 2007 Vote Ratings by the National Journal, a leading nonpartisan publisher of political, policy and government information, I was recognized as being the most conservative Texan in the House of Representatives. I tied with seven other members with a conservative score of 93.3% as the most conservative members of the House. The 2007 Vote Ratings are based on and divided into three categories: economic issues, social issues and foreign policy. These ratings rank lawmakers according to how they vote relative to each other on a conservative to liberal scale. To learn more, please visit www.nationaljournal.com.

I was sent to Washington to represent conservative values of the 19th District, both socially and fiscally. I have not wavered from that commitment and I am proud to uphold my pledge to my constituents.
 
Upcoming Events – Town Hall Meetings over Coffee and Economic Stimulus Update

While much of my time is spent in Washington voting on and debating various issues, I always take advantage of any opportunity to come home to the 19th District to report directly to you and answer any questions you may have. I firmly believe I have an obligation to inform you of how I am voting and make myself accessible as your representative.

I will be holding town hall meetings this week and next to discuss the critical issues in Washington and receive feedback directly from you over coffee at informal town hall meetings.  Because I have also heard from a number of constituents who have questions about the recently enacted Economic Stimulus Package and payments, I will also host an information session with the IRS next week.

• On Thursday, March 20th, I will be in Post from 9:00 to 10:00 at the Post Community Center at 129 West Main Street, one block from the Garza County Courthouse for a “Coffee with the Congressman” town hall meeting.  I will host a coffee in Slaton from 2:30 until 3:30 at the Citizens Bank Community Room, which is located at 103 Texas Avenue.

 

• On Tuesday, March 25, from 3:30 until 4:30, I will be hosting an Economic Stimulus Update with the IRS at the Workforce Solutions 4th Floor Board Room at 400 Oak Street in Abilene.

• On Wednesday, March 26, I will be in Ranger from 2:00 to 3:00 at the Community Clubhouse, located at 718 Pine Street for a “Coffee with the Congressman” town hall meeting.  Later in the day, I will be in Eastland at the Connellee Hotel at 209 W. Main Street from 4:30 until 5:30 pm for a coffee.

Your input in invaluable to me and this opportunity to have a dialogue helps me to better represent you and other residents of the 19th District. I hope you will be able attend the economic stimulus update and join me over a cup of coffee for some thoughtful discussion or.

As always, when events unfold in Washington, I will be sure to update you. In the meantime, do not hesitate to visit my website at www.randy.house.gov or call my office toll free district wide at (888) 763-1611 or my Washington, DC office at 202-225-4005.

--Randy