-- Randy’s Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

January 18, 2010

Service is the Right Way to Honor Dr. King

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most urgent and persistent question is: what are you doing for others?” Today, people across the 19th Congressional District joined hundreds of thousands of Americans to serve their communities on the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, making the holiday a day ON, not a day OFF by serving in honor of the slain civil rights leader’s legacy. 

As I attend events in Lubbock and Abilene during this holiday, I reflect on Dr. King’s commitment to making our nation better. Dr. King exemplified civil rights, civic responsibility, and the importance of uniting people of all backgrounds to act on community concerns. There is no better or more meaningful way to honor his legacy than by serving others.

Prayers for Haiti

Last week, tragedy struck impoverished nation of Haiti. In the days following the magnitude-7.0 earthquake, we have seen a great outpouring of support for the people of Haiti. And, as always during tragic times, 19th Congressional District individuals, families and groups have stepped up to help. Families, businesses, churches and college campuses across the area have rushed to pledge valuable resources to the recovery efforts. As this recovery continues, the next step will be to prevent the spread of disease and safely rebuild Port-au-Prince.  

Several constituents have contacted my office asking how they can help. There are many organizations collecting donations and goods to be sent to Haiti. However, the most important thing to consider when donating is to make sure that the organization is legitimate. Nationally, the American Red Cross is collecting monetary donations. If you wish to contribute, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). In addition, the Salvation Army is always a trusted resource for charitable giving, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).

If you are trying to obtain information about a loved one in Haiti, call the Haiti Earthquake Task Force at 1-888-407-4747.  If you are in contact with any Americans in Haiti, they may call the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322 or 509-2229-8672.  Americans are urged to contact the Embassy via email at ACSPaP@state.gov to request assistance. To learn about the United States government's coordinated efforts to assist the people of Haiti, please visit www.usaid.gov.  As always, my office and staff are also available to assist whenever needed. You can call my office toll free at 1-888-763-1611.

The Health Care Fight Isn’t Over

Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat Congressional Leadership have once again retreated behind closed doors to make more secret deals and finalize a single version of their government takeover of health care. Major issues still facing the Democrats include: taxes, abortion, immigration, the inclusion of a government-run plan, and cuts to Medicare. Perhaps, they should step out from behind those closed doors and listen to their constituents, because sweetheart deals and political kickbacks are not what the American people want.

I want to assure the people of West Texas and the Big Country that I am on the side of the American people and fighting on their behalf here in Washington.  The fight isn’t over. In the coming days, I plan on doing whatever I can to oppose this health care bill.   Just last week, I had the opportunity to host a Special Order on the House floor about health care and jobs. A special order speech often occurs at the end of a day’s legislative work and allows Members of the House of Representatives to speak on any topic they wish, for up to one hour.

As many of you are aware, C-SPAN has requested that their cameras be allowed to cover these critical negotiations, unfortunately the only word they've heard was: NO. In my opening remarks, I made references to three specific days. These dates are significant because they are historical references to when Congress last made major changes to health care policy and when members of both sides of the aisle, from both the House and Senate sat down to iron out differences in the bills passed by each body. Fortunately for transparency and democracy, C-SPAN's cameras were there.  If you are interested in viewing these videos and learning what occurs in a House-Senate Conference Committee, I urge you to click here, here or here.

If you were unable to watch the Special Order live, visit my YouTube page to view a recording of my remarks on the House floor.

I have one message for the people of the 19th Congressional District: Don’t lose hope. The fight isn’t over. Every American deserves a seat at the table, and I am determined to fight for your right to see what deals are being cut behind closed doors by House and Senate leaders.

Survey Results

Last week’s survey results overwhelmingly showed that your number one concern at this time is federal spending. I agree. Spending in Washington is out of control. With the start of a new year and a new session of Congress, I will continue to challenge Congress to practice the fiscal responsibility necessary to get our country back on track. Here are the results to the survey:

Question: Please select one issue from the list below that you believe is the most pressing legislative issue for this year.

Controlling federal spending  49.09%

Health care reform  12.73%

Immigration/border security  12.73%

National security  10.91%

Financial market reform  7.27%

Job creation  3.64%

Other  3.64%

Climate change  0%.

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