Archive for the ‘Africa’ Category

Weekly Update

Sunday, January 21st, 2007

Here is this week’s update from the office of Congressman John Boozman.

This is a regular weekly email to subscribers to our list every weekend. If you wish to subscribe, click here.

Winter Storm

This week, Rep. Boozman has been keeping tabs on the weather in the 3rd District, and how last weekend’s ice and snow affected everyone.

He is very proud of the efforts by city and county leaders, in addition to Governor Beebe’s staff, to find shelters for people and to begin the process of repair.

This past Wednesday, two members of the Congressman’s Lowell office staff toured the damage in Benton County with Judge Gary Black. Rep. Boozman received updates on the situation in case the state asked for a federal disaster declaration. So far, no request has been made, but the office remains ready to assist any way it can.

100 Hours

This week, the “100-hour” lockdown of the House ended (we think, since no one was sure how time was kept*) with Rep. Boozman siding with bipartisan majorities on over half of the votes taken.

Here is a snippet of what he had to say at the end of the “100 Hours”:

“My votes the last two week illustrate my commitment to common-sense legislation important to the 3rd District,” Boozman said. “Now, because of the speed and lack of debate during the passage of this legislation, some bills which I supported did contain flaws which I will work with Republicans and Democrats to fix.“After two weeks of lockdown, we have a new chance for bipartisanship in Washington,” Boozman added. “It is my hope what was demanded by the people will be allowed to flourish in the House and allow the people’s business to be conducted in good faith.”

* U.S. News and World Report found four ways to count it. Based on different calculations, start times, and pauses, 100 hours would elapse on:

  • Jan. 9 at 4 pm
  • Jan. 18 at 3 pm
  • Jan. 23 at 8:30 pm
  • Jan. 31 at 3 pm

GOP Leadership

We learned early this week that Rep. Boozman was named a Deputy Republican Whip, joining the Whip Team headed by our neighbor just over the Missouri border, Rep. Roy Blunt.

“John Boozman’s new role will give Arkansas’ Third District an even bigger voice in the decision-making process in the House,” Blunt said. “This is a real win for Arkansas.”

To learn what others are saying about the appointment, click here.

Working for the 3rd District

This week, Rep. Boozman learned which subcommittees he will be serving on as part of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He received three assignments on each committee, which is a rare feat considering the changeover in the House majority.

On “T&I,” he received three assignments which have a direct affect on the 3rd District. His assignments are:

  • Aviation – Focusing on improving air travel, and security in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.
  • Highways and Transit – Where he can focus on the completion of Interstate 49 through Western Arkansas
  • Water Resources and Environment – Working to address the minimum-flow issues on the District’s water ways

On Foreign Affairs, Rep. Boozman’s assignments will allow him to focus on international issues grabbing today’s headlines:

  • Africa and Global Health – Ending the genocide in Darfur and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria on the continent
  • International Terrorism and Nonproliferation – Winning the Global War on Terror, stopping the rampant spread of nuclear technology to rogue nations
  • Western Hemisphere – Working with our neighbors to stem the tide of illegal immigration to the United States, and to open up trade markets for products produced in Arkansas.

Arkansas World Trade Center

On Saturday, Rep. Boozman hosted Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong for lunch and a tour of the Arkansas World Trade Center in Rogers. The focus of the visit by the Ambassador was to speak with District business leaders and tour the new WTC, announced in September.

“This is the reason for establishing a World Trade Center in the 3rd District: to expand Arkansas’ reach to the world and create new markets for our home-grown businesses,” Boozman added.

Pro-Family…

Rep. Boozman signed on to co-sponsor legislation this week which will make permanent a $10,000 tax credit for parents who adopt children physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves.

Monday is national Walk for Life Day. On the occasion of millions of Americans taking to the streets to affirm human life, Rep. Boozman will join Rep. Duncan Hunter in introducing the Right to Life Act, which will once and for all protect our unborn children from harm.

Rep. Boozman will also be speaking about the bill, and other issues, on the radio Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. (CT). You can hear him on Spirit Radio, 106.3 FM, KZKZ in Fort Smith.

… Lower and Simpler Taxes

Rep. Boozman added his support to legislation which will ABOLISH the Internal Revenue Code by the end of the decade, so Congress will have a firm deadline to fix the 5.6-million-word tax law which is seven times the length of the Bible.

“It is time get serious about tax reform, force the issue in Congress, and give Americans a simpler way,” Boozman said.

Also this week, Rep. Boozman voted against Democrat-sponsored “Energy Bill,” which is nothing more than a tax increase on business.

“This bill is a tax increase on every person who fills a gas tank, turns on the lights, heats their home, or grills outdoors,” Boozman said. “Americans won’t send their check to the government directly, they will just pay the higher prices passed on to them by the companies who will owe new taxes to the government.

More People in College

Rep. Boozman voted for the Student Loan bill this week which, while a good start toward making college more affordable for all students, only helps graduates who still have loans to pay off.

The Congressman, a former member of the Rogers School Board, looks forward to working with Republicans and Democrats on a college bill which will benefit actual students, and those preparing to head to college.

As always, we welcome your input as to the issues you are interested in the 3rd District. Make sure to visit our website at http://boozman.house.gov, or contact us at (202) 225-4301.

Posted in 100 Hours, 50 States, Africa, Arkansas, China, Congress, District News, Energy Policy, HIV/AIDS, House, International Relations, Pro-Life, Rep. Boozman, Republicans, Taxes, Trade, Transportation & Infrastructure, Uncategorized, World Trade Center | No Comments »