A Full Plate For 2006

A Full Plate For 2006

Rep. Boozman's Column For the Week of January 23, 2005

Washington, Jan 23 -

Recently, I used this space to reflect on Congress's success stories in 2005. Now, I would like to turn the spotlight on the unresolved issues that make-up our agenda for 2006. Not surprisingly, many of these issues are the very same ones that are on the top of my constituents' lists.

One of the most pressing issues before us is border security. At a time when our nation continues to live under the threat of terrorist attacks, it is of the utmost importance that we tighten security at our porous borders. Without border security, our country is left vulnerable to attacks by foreign terrorists who cross our borders undetected. For this reason, the House of Representatives passed, and I supported, a bill that would establish much needed border security along the U.S.-Mexico border; create an employee verification system; and provide local law enforcement the ability to detain illegal immigrants and enforce our immigration laws at a local level. Unfortunately this bill never passed the Senate last year as much of the debate on this issue got bogged down by amnesty proposals. Like the majority of the people of the Third District, I do not support amnesty. I feel that it rewards inappropriate behavior and only causes the problem to get worse. The bill we passed does not contain amnesty provisions but does address our border security needs, so I will be working with my colleagues to pressure the Senate to take up this important measure.

Another outstanding issue that we need to move quickly on is the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. Again, this is a measure that passed the House, but was bogged not the Senate. This is unfortunate because the version that passed the House also contained some important provisions to help states combat the scourge of methamphetamine in their communities. Even without those provisions, the Patriot Act must be reauthorized. We are a nation at war, one different from any other war in our country's history, and we need to make sure we have all the tools necessary to win this war. The Patriot Act gives the law enforcement community the ability to catch the enemy here at home before they can strike us again on our own soil. It was only reauthorized for five weeks before we adjourned for the holidays. We need to extend it for a longer period before it expires, so this will be one of the first issues awaiting us when we return to Washington.

The methamphetamine provisions in the Patriot Act Reauthorization were part of a House measure that provided a multifaceted approach to the problem that included new restrictions on the sale and shipment of cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine and ephedrine which are used to make meth; an increase federal grants to areas hard hit by meth abuse; and tougher penalties against meth traffickers. It also sought to help rehabilitate users by strengthening the drug court system. This was language I had authored based on the success of local Arkansas drug courts. I will work to get this package through Congress, whether attached to the Patriot Act Reauthorization or on it own, as Arkansas is one of the states hardest hit by meth. We cannot sit back and let this drug destroy our communities when we know there is a way we can help.

As Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunities Subcommittee, I will continue to focus on how we can help our service members make a seamless transition back into civilian life. To that end, I have introduced a bill to require the Veterans Administration (VA) to award at least nine percent of their procurement contracts to veteran-owned small businesses. I will be working to get this legislation through Congress in 2006 as well as to get the Senate to take up my legislation that reauthorizes a grant program for homeless veterans and improves a separate grant program disabled veterans' housing grant program. This bill will allow disabled veterans to renovate their homes to accommodate their disabilities even if they do not own the home in which they live. The changes to this program will enable many younger, single veterans who are disabled and return to live with their families to be eligible to modify their parents' home through the program.

This is just a small portion of what is on tap for 2006. We have a full plate awaiting our return in February and it is likely to grow after President Bush gives his annual State of the Union speech next week. I look forward to hearing his take on the challenges that lay ahead. After that, it is time for us to get down to business and address the ambitious agenda we have laid out for 2006.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=38630