http://culberson.house.gov/U.S. Congressman John Culberson : 7th District of Texas ~ In the NewsNews.aspx?A=494H.R. 3997 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 – This bill Empowers the new Office of Financial Stability in Treasury to purchase troubled assets from private financial institutions, making $250 billion available immediately, with another $100 billion subject to the President’s request. The final $350 billion would be subject to a Congressional vote. The total $700 billion amounts to a $6,000 outlay per US household.; Nationalizes an array of mortgages and troubled securities. Authorizes private financial institutions to carry out the provisions and creates an oversight board to monitor the program. Requires the Treasury Department to establish a federally-backed insurance program, similar to FDIC, for holders of troubled assets, if it utilizes its purchase authority (which it is expected to do). Treasury would guarantee up to 100% of the timely payment of principal and interest on certain classes of troubled assets. Provides limits on executive compensation of financial firms that participate in the program. Allows the government to get profit-sharing “warrants” from participating firms to allow taxpayers to gain as the firms recover. Requires the President to submit a plan to Congress to recoup a shortfall if the plan is losing money after 5 years. Raises the debt limit for the 3rd time this year to $11.3 trillion. OMB points out that the plan authorizes the purchase of assets so these may produce income once they’re sold. CBO couldn’t quantify the budget impact of the bill but estimated that the impact would be substantially smaller than $700 billion. I voted against this bill because I cannot saddle our children and grandchildren with new debt. - NO H.R. 7175 - To amend the Small Business Act to improve the section 7(a) lending program - Permits the pooling of 7(a) program loans based on a weighted-average interest, to improve the efficiency of the secondary market for small commercial loans. Simplifies the standard for determining small business loan eligibility to encourage more lender participation in the program. Specifies criteria which a development company must meet to qualify for SBA lending. YES H.R. 6867 - The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 - NO - This bill provides an additional 7 weeks of federal unemployment insurance to those unemployed, costing an extra $6 billion to the unemployment trust fund. The extension would be in addition to the current 20 weeks of state unemployment and then 13 weeks of federal unemployment for a total of 46 weeks; for states with hard hit areas, it would expand federal unemployment by an additional 13 weeks (for a total of 59 weeks). I voted against this bill because as Martin Feldstein stated in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee in January of this year: "[w]hile raising unemployment benefits or extending the duration of benefits beyond 26 weeks would help some individuals ... it would also create undesirable incentives for individuals to delay returning to work. That would lower earnings and total spending." Financial Stabilization Package - NO - Provides up to $700 billion to the Secretary of the Treasury to buy any troubled assets from any financial institution operating in the US (except for Foreign central banks or institutions). Requires the Treasury Secretary and federal agencies to modify troubled loans held by the government (Section 110). Establishes the Financial Stability Oversight Board to review the exercise of authority under this Act and requires the Secretary to make reports to Congress. Allows the SEC to suspend Mark to Market Accounting. Increases FDIC coverage amounts to $250,000 for one year and gives FDIC an unlimited credit line from the Treasury; contains tax extenders for one or two years including state sales tax deduction and R&D tax credit but contains $42 billion in permanent new tax increases S. 3197 - National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 - YES - Under current law, a person filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy must meet a minimum income threshold, this bill removes the threshold for members of the National Guard and Reserve that have been deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan; will not have a significant impact on the budget 10/6/2008News.aspx?A=496My preferred solution to the credit crisis was to repeal the mark-to- market accounting rule and raise the $100,000 FDIC insured limit on bank deposits to $250,000. Unfortunately, this bailout bill also included $42 billion in tax increases and pork barrel spending, and I could not support it. I am committed to finding a solution that restores liquidity to the banking system, and these two steps will help immensely, giving Congress and the Administration time to think the problem through carefully. While I am glad the SEC Chairman Chris Cox repealed the mark to market rule, and that the bailout bill raised the FDIC insured limit to $250,000, I co-sponsored the conservative alternative, H.R. 7223. To read about the Free Market Protection Act, click here. The White House and the Treasury both tell us that nothing in this bill will prevent this crisis from happening again, or bring those responsible to justice and that $700 billion may not even be enough. The bill grants the Treasury Secretary unprecedented authority - he can bail out any financial institution operating in the United States by paying any price he wants for any financial instrument, for any reason, and no one can stop him or restrain him in any way as long he makes a phone call or writes a letter to Congress telling us what he has done. Since we will have to borrow the $700 billion by selling TBills on the international bond market, and the largest percentage of TBills are bought by the Chinese or other hostile powers through Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, under this bill, American taxpayers will borrow billions of dollars from Chinese and Middle Eastern banks to bail out Chinese and Middle Eastern banks. This bill also raised the national debt to $11.3 trillion, doubled the deficit overnight, and saddled our children with at least $1 trillion in new unfunded obligations. All for a bill the Treasury Secretary admits won't prevent the problem in the future and may not solve the urgent problem in front of us. Federal property managers will be able to rewrite mortgages to reduce principal and lower interest rates to zero if they wish, and they can give away foreclosed or distressed-loan homes in your neighborhood to anyone they wish. Liberals who manage these programs will give away millions of free or reduced homes in neighborhoods all over America to families who could not otherwise afford them. The federal government now has the power to create federal housing projects, house by house, in neighborhoods all over America. Just imagine what that means for property values and the safety and security of your neighborhood. I was one of only seven House members to vote against loosening lending restrictions on FHA home loans in 2007, I opposed the taxpayer bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac earlier this year, and I strongly supported the unsuccessful Fannie/Freddie reform bill of 2005, which would have helped avert this crisis. We need Congressional action to help forestall and ease the credit crisis, but this bill won't solve that problem, won't prevent future problems, and was rushed through far too fast for us to be thoughtful and deliberative. Here are several recent news articles that help explain the history of the current credit crisis: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-democrat-fingerprints-are-all-over-the-financial-crisis-949653.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122212948811465427.html 10/3/2008News.aspx?A=495Click here to read the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act that the House will consider on Friday. Update from Congressman Culberson Since Treasury Secretary Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke testified before Congress on the depth of the financial crisis facing our economy, in the midst of our recovery from Hurricane Ike, I have heard from thousands of District Seven constituents expressing their shock and outrage over the government’s failure to prevent this crisis and their failure to respond with a sensible solution that instills confidence in the markets and protects taxpayers from long-term liabilities. Since I have represented you in Congress, I have consistently voted against loosening lending standards and supported reforms to prevent the systemic failures of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (link to votes below). To be clear, I understand that Congress must do something to restore liquidity and ease credit, but yesterday’s bill was focused more on protecting Wall Street institutions than protecting taxpayers. Handing over unlimited power to the Treasury Secretary to purchase toxic assets with our tax dollars under a new system that will take weeks or months to set up and raising the debt limit to more than $11 trillion (or 78% of GDP) is not the solution; instead we should focus on preventing a run on banks by raising the FDIC limit to $250,000 for deposit insurance in checking and money market accounts. As former Federal Reserve Governor and National Economic Council Director Larry Lindsey said, “Nearly 40% of the assets in the banking system are not protected by FDIC insurance because they are in accounts that exceed the $100,000 insurance limit. Most of these are not ‘investments’ in the usual sense of the word. They are often the transaction accounts of businesses that have to meet payrolls and pay vendors. If you have to make a biweekly payroll for 50 people, it is sheer folly to expect the paychecks to be drawn on accounts in three or four separate banks. Sometimes individuals who would normally keep a balance well under $100,000 might be over the limit to make a down payment on a house, purchase a car, or pay quarterly taxes.” Suspending the “mark to market” accounting rules approved under Sarbanes-Oxley would improve corporate balance sheets overnight and inject much-needed capital back into the markets, and it can be done with a stroke of the pen by SEC Chairman Cox. Eliminating or suspending capital gains taxes, slashing corporate income taxes, and cutting taxes on offshore profits repatriated back into the U.S. would also provide short-term cash infusion and encourage investment. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to resolve this crisis as quickly as possible, but I cannot ignore my obligation to taxpayers just to say that Congress did something. We have an opportunity to come back in session on Thursday and consider a new bill, hopefully much-improved over Monday’s version, and send a strong message that we care enough to solve this crisis the right way. 9/30/2008News.aspx?A=493H.R. 6983 – Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 – This bill would require equity in mental health benefits if an insurance company provides medical and surgical benefits; the bill does not does not codify mental health diseases. It contains an opt-out provision for small business with less than 50 employees. I voted for this bill as it is compromise legislation that will provide insurance for mental health related services. - YES H.R. 2638 - The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 - The legislation includes the FY2009 Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, and enacts a continuing resolution (CR) for the remaining spending bills , funding the basic operations of the federal government through March 6, 2009. The 2008 fiscal year ends next week, and this bill provides the federal government the resources it needs to continue functioning. I am pleased that the House responded quickly to the need for disaster relief in the areas damaged by Ike. The spending bill provides Texas with nearly $22.8 billion in relief funding that will serve as an immediate infusion of emergency assistance to families and businesses affected by the hurricane. The total cost of Ike will not be known for many months, but this relief package will help Texans rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the storm. - YES 9/29/2008News.aspx?A=492Congressman John Culberson released the following statement today voicing his strong opposition to the Paulson-Pelosi $700 billion Wall Street bailout. "The $700 billion Paulson-Pelosi bailout forces Americans to choose between bankrupting our children or big Wall Street banks. The revised plan was just released a few hours ago, and while it contains some oversight, eliminates golden parachutes for bad actors, and creates an investment banking insurance program for the future, the bottom line requires me to oppose it. "This bailout will saddle our children and grandchildren with at least $700 billion in new debt on top of the existing $9.8 trillion national debt. It will double the budget deficit overnight, and it will lead to additional bailouts as the multi-trillion dollar credit default pyramid scheme collapses. "I fought to help Congressman Richard Baker enact essential reforms of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which would have prevented this crisis today. I was one of only seven congressmen to vote against loosening FHA loan requirements and I have opposed efforts from liberals like Congressman Barney Frank to push Fannie and Freddie to encourage banks to make loans for politically correct reasons rather than sound financial reasons. "I will not vote to bankrupt future generations to protect Wall Street investment banks from their own mistakes. The best solution to this crisis is to suspend mark-to-market accounting rules, establish a mandatory insurance/guarantee program to cover the banks’ losses at no expense to taxpayers, cut the capital gains rate to zero, cut taxes for offshore dollars repatriated back into the U.S., and slash corporate tax rates to encourage investment and lending. Changing the mark to market accounting rule alone will solve a huge part of the problem by allowing banks to keep non-performing assets on their books until they recover their value. "My principal, long term goal in Congress is to balance the budget and protect the treasury from bankruptcy - which is why I have opposed so many spending requests as a member of the Appropriations Committee and voted 'no' so often against big spending programs like the Farm Bills, the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, fighting AIDS in Africa, and so many others pushed by this Administration." 9/28/2008News.aspx?A=490 My highest priority is protecting the Federal Treasury against unfunded liabilities. Congress must stop bailing out private investors with money pledged in advance from future generations of Americans. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson recently announced a $700 billion plan to buy up private banks’ bad debt with taxpayer money. The plan contains no taxpayer protections and is not guaranteed to stop the credit crisis. It cedes massive authority to the Treasury Secretary, allowing him to purchase bad mortgage-related assets from any financial institution with its headquarters in the United States. Any financial institution with mortgage-related assets would be eligible, not just those who are “too big to fail.” More troubling, the proposed bailout raises the national debt limit to over $11 trillion. I believe we should work to restore trust in the financial markets without scrapping the free-market foundation of the American financial system. First, I propose we follow the recommendations of former FDIC chairman William Issac to reform our accounting rules, clamp down on abuses by short sellers, and eliminate new capital level rules for banks. I also support a two-year suspension of the capital gains tax, reforming the more burdensome provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley, and passing a comprehensive energy plan that will make America energy independent. These steps will encourage capital formation and won’t expose the American taxpayers to hundreds of billions of dollars of bad debt. This recent article in the Wall Street Journal illustrates how the current housing crisis and subsequent credit crunch can be traced to the failed Democrat and Bush Administration policies that emphasized low-income homeownership. For years congressional leaders have pushed banks to make politically-correct loans to consumers who are incapable of paying their mortgage. Chairmen Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd persuaded Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide “affordable housing” financing in exchange for limited federal oversight. I have repeatedly opposed bills aimed at providing home loans to people who have no means to repay them. 9/24/2008News.aspx?A=491Power beat out process last week, as Democrats pushed through their No Energy Bill less than 24 hours after introducing it without any committee hearings or amendments. Americans are in desperate need of relief from high energy prices and need Democrats and Republicans to work together and pass a comprehensive energy bill that expands domestic oil exploration and invests in renewable energy resources. The partisan Democrat energy bill, introduced late Monday night and passed along party lines on Tuesday, does nothing to improve our current energy situation. The Congressional moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) expires on October 1. I voted against the Democrat energy bill (H.R. 6899) last week because it would vastly restrict exploration in the OCS, an area containing abundant amounts of oil and natural gas. The Democrat bill would only permit drilling along a narrow band further than 50 miles off the U.S. coastline, and only after a state’s legislature passes a bill allowing it. Most of our known OCS resources are much closer to our coasts and these areas would be permanently banned from drilling. Once a ban is enacted, two-thirds of Congress and the president would be required to overturn it. 9/23/2008News.aspx?A=488The state, county, city and FEMA have met on a daily basis to determine daily POD locations. Areas with water service, electricity and with retail stores open to the public are generally considered to be self-sufficient so that a POD is no longer needed. All PODs are now closed. No other POD locations will be opened. Where can I get information about FEMA Assistance?FEMA hotline: 1-800-621-3362 Additionally, eight mobile and one fixed Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are open throughout the Southeast Texas region. Hours of operation: Daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information go to the FEMA web site listing of sites at https://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/drcLocator.jsp. The following sites are in Harris County: Giao Xu Duc Me La Vang Church Pavilion Our Lady of Lavang Church 12311 Old Foltin Road Houston, TX 77086 African-American Chamber of Commerce6112 Wheatley StreetHouston, TX 77091 Home Depot Store11500 Chimney RockHouston TX 77035 Home Depot Store10707 North FreewayHouston TX 77037 Ellington Joint Reserve Base, Building 138314657 Sneider StHouston TX 77034 Home Depot Store6810 Gulf FreewayHouston TX 77087 Services Offered: Crisis Counseling, DUA, FEMA Other, Hazard Mitigation, Housing Assistance, IRS, Information, ONA, Other, SBA Business Loan, SBA Home Loan, State/Local Other, Teleregistration, USACE, VA, Volunteer Organization, Web Registration9/22/2008News.aspx?A=489 H.R. 6604 - The Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2008 – I voted against this bill because it fundamentally changes the mission of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This bill directs the CFTC to ensure that the standards and procedures employed by foreign commodity markets, such as the London InterContinental Exchange, on which oil and gas futures are traded, meet the standards of U.S. commodity markets. - NO Miller (CA)/Sarbanes Amendment to H.R. 3036 – I voted in favor of this amendment because it clarifies that funds issued under the National Capacity Environmental Education Grant Program may be used to address environmental justice issues that may arise in low income communities. Provides that funds may be used to develop and implement policy approaches to environmental education including specific topics. - YES H.R. 3036 - No Child Left Inside – This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive, matching grants for activities to improve and support environmental education (appropriates such sums as may be necessary). However, the Environmental Protection Agency has been the primary federal agency responsible for environmental education since 1992. Creating this program within the Education Department would be duplicative. The federal government should not be telling our schools what to do; that is best left to the state and our school districts. Cost: $24 million. - NO9/22/2008News.aspx?A=487The following locations are operating Points of Distribution sites for Sunday, September 21, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The state, county, city and FEMA meet daily to determine the following day's POD locations. Areas with water service, electricity and with retail stores open to the public are generally considered to be self-sufficient so that a POD is no longer needed. Both sites will be distributing ice, water, and MREs. 1. La Porte High School 301 E. Fairmont Pkwy., La Porte 77571 2. Jim Fonteno Courthouse Annex 14350 Wallisville Rd., Houston 77049 Where can I get information about FEMA Assistance?FEMA hotline: 1-800-621-3362 9/21/2008News.aspx?A=486The following locations are operating Points of Distribution sites for Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The state, county, city and FEMA meet daily to determine the following day's POD locations. Areas with water service, electricity and with retail stores open to the public are generally considered to be self-sufficient so that a POD is no longer needed. 1. La Porte High School 301 E. Fairmont Pkwy., La Porte 77571 Water & Ice 2. Bay Area Community Center 5002 NASA Road #1, Seabrook 77586 Water & Ice 3. Jim Fonteno Courthouse Annex 14350 Wallisville Rd., Houston 77049 Water & Ice 4. Sharpstown Mall 7500 Clarewood, Houston 77036 Ice5. Baytown Courthouse Annex 701 West Baker Rd., Baytown 77521 Water & Ice 6. Church Without Walls 5314 Bingle Rd., Houston 77092 Ice 9/20/2008News.aspx?A=485Today, Friday, September 19, the following 20 locations are Points of Distribution (POD) sites. The POD sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PODs in the Houston city limits will not have water. Most PODs will have only ice and only some of the PODs will have Meals Ready to Eat (MREs). The POD at Clyde Abshire, Deer Park Football Stadium will close permanently today at 3:00 PM 1. Harvest Time Church 17770 Imperial Valley, Houston 770602. La Porte High School 301 E. Fairmont Pkwy., La Porte 775713. Clyde Abshire, Deer Park Football Stadium 710 West St. Augustin, Deer Park 77536@Center 4. Bay Area Community Center 5002 NASA Road #1, Seabrook 775865. Jim Fonteno Courthouse Annex 14350 Wallisville Rd., Houston 770499/19/2008News.aspx?A=483Today, September 17, in Harris County, the following point of distribution (POD) centers are open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or until supplies at the sites run out. University of Houston, Parking Lot 12B, between Robertson Stadium and Scott St. Houston Rockets players will be distributing food, water and ice 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. Harvest Time Church 17770 Imperial Valley Lomax Jr High School 9801 North Avenue L, 77571 West Town Mall 4100 Decker Drive Veterans Stadium 2901 Dabney Clyde Abshire, Deer Park Football Stadium 710 West St. Augustin @Center 9/18/2008News.aspx?A=484In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, many of our neighbors are in critical need of blood donations, but Houston blood supplies are low due to hurricane evacuations and power outages. It is estimated that around 900 blood donations are needed every day to keep up with current demand. On Saturday, September 20, along with the American Red Cross, we will be coordinating a blood drive at Memorial City Mall from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the ice skating rink entrance located off Gessner. Donating blood takes about one hour of your time, and you must be at least 17 years of age, a minimum of 110 pounds, and in basic good health. For more information on donating blood, click here. There is no substitute for blood, and your donation could help save multiple lives. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your family during this difficult time. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at 713-682-8828 if you need any assistance with a federal agency. 9/18/2008News.aspx?A=482My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and all Texans who are recovering from the terrible devastation of Hurricane Ike. Below, you can find information about where to find points of disbursement in Houston, stores that are open and have gas, water, food, ice, and information on how to register with FEMA. One of the biggest challenges for west Houston right now is debris removal and power restoration. I am working diligently to restore power to our neighborhoods and I am in constant contact with Centerpoint Energy getting updates on the power situation in Houston and working with them to restore power as quickly as possible. Volunteers are urgently needed to assist with Hurricane Ike relief efforts. Individuals who are interested in volunteering can assist at various locations throughout Houston and Harris County, including the Points of Distribution Centers (P.O.D.s) and area non-profits and shelters. To volunteer or for more information, please call the volunteer line at 713.853.8802 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. If I can be of any assistance to you in dealing with a federal agency during this difficult time, please contact my office at 713.682.8828. 9/17/2008News.aspx?A=480Today, September 17, in Harris County, 26 point of distribution (POD) centers are open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or until supplies at the sites run out. Each person can receive two boxes of water, two meal packets and one bag of ice. Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway, 77057 (Woodway and San Felipe in Memorial) Greenspoint Harvest Time Church, 17770 Imperial Valley, 77060 (Greens Road and Imperial Road) St. Agnes Baptist Church, 3730 South Acres, 77047 (US 288 and Airport Boulevard) Church Without Walls, 5314 Bingle, 77092 (US 290 and Bingle) 9/17/2008News.aspx?A=479The following point of distribution (POD) centers are open today, September 16, until sundown. Each person can receive two boxes of water, two meal packets and one bag of ice. Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway, 77057 (Woodway and San Felipe in Memorial) Greenspoint Harvest Time Church, 17770 Imperial Valley, 77060 (Greens Road and Imperial Road) St. Agnes Baptist Church, 3730 South Acres, 77047 (US 288 and Airport Boulevard) Church Without Walls, 5314 Bingle, 77092 (US 290 and Bingle) 9/16/2008News.aspx?A=475Hurricane Ike appears to be headed our way; and some predictions suggest we could start feeling the effects of the storm as early as tomorrow. Though we may not be hit directly, the destruction seen in Baton Rouge, LA as a result of Hurricane Gustav should serve as a precautionary example. We should expect strong winds, heavy rain, and likely power outages. Here are some tips I follow to keep my family and home safe during hurricane season: Listen to the radio or TV for information. Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects, like patio furniture, or bring them indoors. 9/12/2008News.aspx?A=477Hurricane Ike has remained on its predicted path and appears to be slowly gaining strength. Currently, Ike is a strong category 2, but could move into a category 3 hurricane by landfall. The Houston area can expect to begin seeing impacts of the storm beginning late this afternoon, with hurricane force winds expected to hit between 7-10 P.M. tonight. We will see heavy rainfall, widespread power outages and severe damage from debris. Please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family from these powerful winds. Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects, like patio furniture, or bring them indoors. Turn off propane tanks and avoid using your landline phone, except for serious emergencies. Make sure you have provisions for AT LEAST 72-hours after the storm strikes, including food and water as well as other needed supplies, including a battery powered radio to get information if electricity is out. For more information on hurricane preparedness, click here. here. 9/12/2008News.aspx?A=478The eye of Hurricane Ike is poised to cross the west end of Galveston Island late tonight, and then head north/northwest across the Houston area. This will be one of, if not the, most destructive storms to hit the Houston-Galveston area since the Great Storm of 1900. All of Galveston Island is predicted to be under water for about 12 hours, submerged by a 20 foot tidal surge with 12-15 foot waves. Texas City will also suffer severe flooding if not complete submersion. Everyone along Galveston Bay must evacuate immediately. West and northwest Houston will have a lot of rain and strong winds for most of the night. District 7 residents need to stay indoors, while residents of east and southeast Harris County and all of Galveston County need to evacuate. District 7 and all of Houston will suffer significant power outages, so be prepared to be without power for a period of time. 9/12/2008News.aspx?A=474Today we remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and reflect on the events and heroic acts that changed our nation forever. We honor the memory of those who were lost and pay tribute to the brave officers and fire fighters who gave their lives to protect their fellow Americans that day. Though seven years have passed, we still remember those sacrifices that truly embody the home of the brave. Today is also a day to honor our men and women in uniform who fight to protect us and ensure that freedom endures. 9/11/2008News.aspx?A=473I am very pleased to report that the Katy Freeway reconstruction will be completed in record time, and we can expect to see it finished and the ribbon cut in late October. My first promise to you in 2001 when I was sworn in as your new Congressman was to speed up the Katy Freeway reconstruction. In 2001, I was told the project would take 10-15 years, and was short $500 million in funding. The lengthy construction schedule and cash shortfall were completely unacceptable, so together with TxDOT and the Harris County Commissioners’ Court, we came up with a cost-effective plan to pay for the reconstruction. I won the federal permit for I-10 as the nation’s first Interstate highway with locally operated toll lanes, and our local toll dollars have paid the balance of the expansion. Construction began in June 2003, and just over 5 years later, the largest, most expensive freeway reconstruction in Texas history is nearly finished. As a dedicated fiscal conservative, I am also pleased to report that I was able to spearhead the freeway reconstruction without designating any new federal dollars for the project, even though I serve on the Appropriations Committee. 9/9/2008News.aspx?A=481 On September 30th, the current prohibitions on oil and gas leasing on most of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and on oil shale leasing on federal lands will expire, unless Congress votes to extend them. Bringing domestic resources online and increasing the supply of gasoline will lower prices at the pump, and I am ready to do what is necessary to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. According to a law enacted in 1982, the moratorium must be renewed each year or it expires. President Bush lifted the Presidential ban in July and it is now Congress’ turn to let these shortsighted prohibitions expire. I will actively oppose any attempt to extend them, as exploration and production of our resources here at home is the first step towards energy independence. 9/1/2008News.aspx?A=472On Wednesday, September 3, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., it is my privilege to host FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach at one of my official town hall meetings which will be held in Room MSB 3.001 of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. We all know and admire this good man from his outstanding leadership over three decades at the Texas Medical Center as a physician, surgeon, oncologist, and as Chairman of the Department of Urologic Oncology, Executive Vice President, and Chief Academic at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In September 2005, President George W. Bush appointed him as Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Commissioner von Eschenbach is here at my request to see some of the latest research being done at the Medical Center, to meet with the heads of these great institutions, and to answer your questions in a town hall meeting format. My principal goals on the Appropriations Committee are doubling funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and providing the funding that NASA needs to preserve our leadership role in space exploration. I know how important these investments are for the future of our nation, and I also know that Houston and the Texas Medical Center institutions will win a significant share of any objective, peer-reviewed grant funding because of the unparalleled quality of our researchers, scientists, and doctors.8/28/2008News.aspx?A=471 Americans are fed up with high energy prices – with good reason. They have been victimized by a Do-Nothing-About-Energy Congress. Speaker Pelosi and her mob have been running Congress like the old, lawless Western frontier, where the Leader makes up her own rules and flaunts her position in the face of Americans. As House inaction continues, a bi-partisan group of 10 senators has been meeting to discuss energy legislation. However, their proposal falls far short of utilizing all of America’s energy resources. Congressman Culberson, along with his Republican House colleagues, signed a letter to the so-called “Gang of 10” outlining the shortcomings of the Senate proposal. The letter urges the senators to consider an “all of the above” bill rather than a “some of the above” compromise. According to Senator John Thune’s website, a co-founder of the “Gang of 10,” the bill focuses on transitioning America to alternative fuels for transportation and only adopts a targeted approach to domestic energy development. The Senate’s proposal maintains the ban on offshore drilling, with a small exception for areas in the Gulf of Mexico and permits only the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia to opt in to a leasing program. The proposal even creates a new “no drill zone” within 50 miles of the coast in areas where drilling would be permitted, permanently taking off-line some of the most promising areas for production. This is unacceptable. The ban prevents Americans from accessing oil rich regions like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Without access to the resources in these regions, our country will continue to be dependent on oil from despotic foreign regimes like Venezuela and Iran. 8/20/2008News.aspx?A=470For over a week now, Republican Members of Congress have been calling on Congress to return to Washington for a special session to debate energy policy. On Friday, August 1, Congress, led by Speaker Pelosi, adjourned for five weeks, ignoring demands for an up-or-down vote on offshore drilling and closing all debate on proposals to increase domestic exploration. Congressman Culberson joined his colleagues on the House floor Monday morning. Though the CSPAN cameras and microphones are still off, Congressman Culberson took to the Floor, answering questions from visitors in the House Gallery and sending updates on Twitter and Qik, social media outlets that have allowed him to bypass traditional media and report the events as they unfold. The use of these new media tools has been a key component of the Republican “uprising,” allowing them to broadcast their demand for action on energy legislation, but also demonstrating the power of the Internet as a means to increase transparency in government. He has acted as a citizen journalist, recording events, speeches, and interviews with his fellow protestors on Qik and sending instant messages on Twitter. As the Houston Chronicle reports, Culberson “has harnessed state-of-the-art electronic devices to break through the Democratic speaker's attempted blackout of the Republicans' unofficial House proceedings.” 8/12/2008News.aspx?A=468Dear Friends, Tropical Storm Edouard appears headed our way; and some predictions suggest we could start feeling the effects of the storm sometime after midnight tonight. After the destruction of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, Houstonians know that no tropical storm should be taken lightly. While the winds may not be as strong, the rain can be even more devastating. Here are some tips I follow to keep my family and home safe during hurricane season: Listen to the radio or TV for information. Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects, like patio furniture, or bring them indoors. 8/4/2008News.aspx?A=469 H. R. 1108 --the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act – NO This bill provides explicit authority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products and the marketing of tobacco products. It would increase regulations on manufacturers and consumers, allowing the FDA to do everything BUT outright ban tobacco. I voted against this bill because of the increased regulation and the concern that the FDA does not have the current manpower or the wherewithal to regulate tobacco, given the recent food outbreak). Allowing the FDA to regulation tobacco would give a false impression that the FDA has approved the use of cigarettes and has given the item a seal of approval, given that the public perceives the FDA as approving the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices. The bill also includes more than $5 billion in new taxes on the manufacturers, which would then be passed onto the consumer. H.R. 4040 --Conference Report on Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act – YES This bill limits the amount of lead in children's products. It would requires manufacturers to place identifiable tracking labels on recalled children's products. It increases standards on manufacturers for corrective action plans in the event of a hazardous product threat and increases civil penalties against people who violate these consumer product laws. 8/4/2008News.aspx?A=467Last Friday, Congress adjourned and left Washington for five weeks. Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership did not schedule energy legislation to bring desperately-needed relief to American families. After Speaker Pelosi adjourned the House, I took to the floor with my Republican colleagues to voice my disappointment. Along with Republican Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Roy Blunt and others, I stayed on the floor fighting for a vote to drill here and drill now. Speaker Pelosi turned off the lights, the cameras and the microphones, but we stayed and in the dark we demanded action to open up domestic sources of oil and gas. It is my hope that our words in the dark will shine a light on Democrat inaction. Through Twitter.com and Qik.com, I was able to give my constituents a first hand look at the proceedings on the House floor, which were not accessible to anyone else. By using this new technology, I am able to shine sunlight into the deepest corners of Congress. The following article best describes why I will continue to be an advocate for new media. Culberson's Last Stand Tweeted By Jason Lee MillerFriday, 08/01/2008 - 5:02pm. The day the lights went out in Congress The last time Representative John Culberson staged a Twitter riot (a twiot?), he set flame to a strawman . That same strawman, though, became the Guy Fawkes of the "LetOurCongressTweet" movement. Today's actions may also be some fine Texas grandstanding, but it sure is fun to watch. Culberson and the Republican minority today had every intention of forcing a vote on domestic oil drilling today in an attempt, so the story goes, to drop oil and gas prices. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, though, apparently had plans to adjourn before lunch so they could all get a head start on a five-week House recess. 8/2/2008News.aspx?A=459 This past Monday, after months of delay, the Fifth Circuit of Appeals rendered their decision in the Ramos and Compean case. I am profoundly disappointed the Fifth Circuit did not free former Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean. Their 11 and 12 year prison sentences are grotesquely unjust, and their continuing imprisonment symbolizes everything that is wrong with America's broken borders - our government is more concerned with placating Mexico than truly securing our borders. Ramos and Compean were convicted in a Texas court of misusing their firearms and covering up the shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, who was wounded as he fled back to Mexico. He had entered the United States illegally and crossed the border with 743 pounds of marijuana. Under the prosecution of U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, the drug smuggler was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony against Ramos and Compean. 7/29/2008News.aspx?A=457 H.Res.1202 --Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day (5 minutes)– YES This bill is a well-deserved recognition of this Program, which has successfully helped thousands of high school dropouts. Since 1993, more than 77,100 students have successfully graduated from the program, of whom 80 percent earned their high school diploma or GED, 26 percent entered college, 18 percent entered the military, and 56 percent joined the workforce in career jobs. The resolution does not authorize expenditures. H.R. 6578 --Consumer Energy Supply Act of 2008– NO Congress created the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as a result of the Arab oil embargo in 1973. The SPR was not created to help adjust the price of gasoline, it was created to defend against a similar supply disruption in the future. I voted against this bill because it would drawdown from the SPR crude that is easier to refine and replace it with crude that is harder to refine. In the event of an oil supply shock, the heavy grade crude in the SPR, if released, would take longer (and thus be more costly) to refine, delaying the crisis-mitigating effects of the SPR. Cost: No score. H.R. 6493 --Aviation Safety Enhancement Act – YES I supported this legislation because it requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a new office to investigate claims of safety violations made by FAA and air carrier employees. The bill also requires the FAA to modify certain internal initiatives with regard to the FAA’s treatment of air carriers. 7/28/2008News.aspx?A=455Dear Friends, I hope this email finds you well! Please join me this evening at 7:30 p.m. CDT, when I will be hosting a live Internet town hall meeting, which you can watch here on my website: (www.culberson.house.gov). Tonight, my special guest will be Dan Naatz, the Vice President of Federal Resources from the Independent Petroleum Association of America. Feel free to ask a question using the chat box and join in our discussion. I have asked Mr. Naatz to join me and discuss the energy problems we are facing. I have heard from many of you over the past few months, expressing your concerns and frustrations regarding record gas prices, untility bills, and food costs, and the difficulties you and your families are facing as a result of these price spikes. 7/22/2008News.aspx?A=452 H.Res. 1067 --Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the crossing of the North Pole by the USS Nautilus (SSN 571)– YES This resolution recognizes the historic significance of the journey to the North Pole undertaken by the USS Nautilus and commends the officers and crew of the USS Nautilus on the 50th anniversary of their magnificent achievement. The resolution does not authorize expenditures. President’s Veto of H.R. 6331 --Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008- YES I voted to override the President's veto of this bill because I believe could not cast another vote that would force physicians to drop Medicare patients or expose their practices to severe financial losses. I suspect the Democrats deliberately waited until the last minute to bring this bill to the floor, when doctors were facing an imminent 10.6% cut in the Medicare reimbursement rate and paid for the bill with deep cuts to the private Medicare Advantage insurance program which allows our nation's seniors to choose their insurance. I support FULL reimbursement for physicians who treat Medicare patients, and I believe the entire reimbursement formula should be reworked rather than just passing temporary fixes. Physicians should not be punished for treating Medicare patients, and they should not be forced to rely on short-term gimmicks to fix a long-term problem. I will continue to be an advocate of improving conditions for doctors to preserve their Medicare practice and for patients to preserve Medicare itself. 7/21/2008News.aspx?A=450Growth in demand for oil appears inexhaustible, yet supply and new discoveries will peak soon, while oil stocks are too low, and the oil delivery system is too old. America needs a “Manhattan Project” sized R&D effort to invent new sources of energy for transportation, and a Marshall Plan to map our energy future. In the meantime, we need: Tax incentives for the industry to rebuild the oil infrastructure ASAP Tax incentives to expand refineries and build clean coal and new nuclear plants ASAP Tax incentives to telecommute from home Tax credits for R&D for new technology, especially nanotechnology Congressman Culberson supports legislation that accelerates permitting of oil, natural gas and oil shale exploration and production to quickly decrease energy prices and put Americans on a path to energy independence. 7/17/2008News.aspx?A=460 Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to urge the Speaker of the House to join with our leader, John Boehner, in lowering the price of gasoline. They can do it immediately simply by holding a press conference and announcing we're going to work together in a nonpartisan way for the good of America to open up domestic energy sources by drilling in the United States. We're the only Nation on the face of the Earth that will not use our own natural resources. This is just fundamental common sense. Schlumberger and Shell have said that there is more shale oil in three Western States than all the oil in the Middle East combined. We could open up the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Congress now can move, and in a bipartisan way, to bring down the price of oil simply by announcing we're moving to open up these domestic sources. The marketplace will respond and the price of gas and the price of oil will drop. This is so simple, it's so easy, it's so good for America. Let's all stand together without regard to party for the benefit of this Nation, which is hurting so much from high gas prices, and say we are going to use American resources for America to create good, high-paying American jobs. Drill in America in a safe, environmentally clean way, and bring down the price of gas today. 7/15/2008News.aspx?A=462Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues. Our pride and support for NASA is, indeed, bipartisan. Without regard to where we come from in this Nation or our party origins, we share that great pride in the accomplishments of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. They've touched our lives in so many ways. I have always admired NASA, particularly as an amateur astronomer, as a native Houstonian. I have passed this bill the last two Congresses, and for whatever reason, it has had problem escaping the gravitational pull of the Senate. And with the help of my good friend, Al Green, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee we passed it again this year. This is going to be a remarkable and beautiful coin set that will contain a $50 high relief gold coin commemorating the lives lost in space. Those astronauts who gave their lives will be honored and recognized in that $50 high relief gold coin, with on the front coin a scientifically accurate image of the Sun and the reverse, a design commemorating those astronauts' sacrifice. The other coins will represent each one of the planets in the solar system, with the front of the coin with a scientifically accurate image of that planet and then the reverse of the coin with a design honoring the NASA flight center that was responsible for missions to that planet. And then, of course, now that Pluto has been called a dwarf planet, the Pluto coin will have a reverse that honors the Hubble telescope and the Goddard Space Flight Center and the remarkable achievements of the Hubble telescope. The proceeds of this coin will go to fund the NASA Families Assistance Fund. Those families who have lost a loved one in the space program will benefit directly from the sale of these coins. The Ronald McNair Education Science Literary Foundation will benefit from the sale of these coins. The Challenger Center for Space Science Education to increase interest in math, science and technology will benefit from the sale of this coin. And then finally, the Smithsonian Institute, National Air and Space Museum, will benefit from the sale of this coin. And because of the difficulties with the gravitational pull of the Senate, as my friend Mr. Price so eloquently points out, because this authorization bill is coming out a little late this year, the changes the Senate made are good ones, and that is to allow the Mint to sell the coins this year through December 31 of 2008, but to continue to mint them through next year so that people will have a chance to order them and the Mint will have plenty of time to complete the designs and to market them. It is going to be a beautiful set that the Mint estimates will raise a great deal of money for the benefit of the families, the benefit of these educational funds, and for the benefit of the National Air and Space Museum. I'm very grateful to my colleagues from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, my good friend Al Green, and my good friend Congressman Tom Price of the Georgia delegation, next to Texas my favorite delegation in the United States Congress. 7/15/2008News.aspx?A=448Dear Friends, Over the past few weeks, I have been leading the charge to bring more transparency and accountability to our government. New technology and social media outlets, such as Facebook, Twitter, Qik, and YouTube, allow you to engage your representatives directly in Washington and maintain an open and honest dialogue with them. My efforts to spread sunshine through Congress have been reported by the New York Times, CNN, The Sunlight Foundation, AOL, The Houston Chronicle, and several blogs. As the first representative to communicate with my constituents from the House floor via the instant messaging site Twitter.com, I welcome ideas, feedback, or suggestions from constituents. All of my posts are personal, unfiltered, and straightforward. You can also find me on Qik.com, where I record videos and interviews of the daily business in Congress and stream the footage live to the Internet. 7/15/2008News.aspx?A=446In an effort to become a more accessible representative, I have discovered the extent and potential of social media. I will keep expanding my use of these tools beyond Qik, Twitter, Utterz and Ustream to communicate with constituents and anyone interested in a polite thoughtful debate/discussion. I began using this new technology this past May, and have since been communicating with the public in real time through text messaging and live video streamed directly to the internet. Anyone can sign up on these free communities and open a direct dialog with me. I have been able to answer questions, take suggestions from the public and become more accountable in my day-to-day undertakings in Washington. I am the first to personally send a text message (through Twitter.com) on the House floor, soliciting YOUR input on current legislation. Last Tuesday, an alert was sent from Repub. Leader John Boehner's staff and announced on his website, that it looked like House Leadership was proposing to shut off our access to all social media sites by regulating what a Member of Congress can post on the internet, and where he or she may do it. I launched a few Twitter alerts about the announcement before speaking to the key players on the House floor and was slightly off target initially. The social media community quickly responded and helped me think though what was occurring, and as a result, I found the right target for my work to change the House rules. My first Twitter alerts assumed the proposed new rules would shut us out of using social media, but the community quickly helped me see the problem was both the proposed new rules AND the existing rules - under current rules use of new/social media is a "twilight zone" where it is not exactly legal or illegal - just uncertain and probably not permitted. Under the new rule, Members of Congress could indeed clearly use new media tools BUT ONLY if the website/blog etc (1) was "sanitized" and had no political or commercial advertising or political opinion; (2) contained a disclaimer that the post was official business etc, and (3) our post conformed to House rules, I.E. was edited and/or approved by House franking. 7/14/2008News.aspx?A=447 Monday, July 14, 2008 H.R. 3981 --To authorize the Preserve America Program and Save America's Treasures Program– YES I voted yes on this bill because it establishes the Preserve America Program in order to provide competitive grants to specified entities to support preservation efforts through tourism, education, and historic preservation planning activities. The non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out a project provided under this program must be no less than 50 percent of the total cost of the project. Cost: $300 million over the 2009-2013 period. H.R. 1423 --Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Lease Act – YES This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to lease a portion of a visitor center to be constructed outside the boundary of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Porter County, Indiana. Cost: $1 million. H.R. 4199 --To amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to add sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park– YES This bill provides for the acquisition and inclusion of additional sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, including the Wright Company factory. Cost: $15 million over the 2009-2013 period. Final Passage of H.R. 1286 --Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Designation Act – YES I voted in favor of this bill because it ensures the preservation of one of our Nation’s important historical trails. The route designated by this Act is one of the most famous in our country, and it marks the route General George Washington followed with this French allies to defeat General Cornwallis at Yorktown. The American victory at Yorktown affectively ended the Revolutionary War. The bill does not in any way limit access for hunting, fishing, trapping or recreational shooting. It also provides that the bill does not in any way infringe on a State’s right to manage, control or regulate it’s hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting activities on these lands. Cost: about $2 million over the 2009-2013 period. Pearce Amendment to H.R. 1286 --YES -- This amendment would require the Secretary to complete and submit to Congress a report on the energy resources included in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. In today’s environment of high energy prices, it is important that our government fully explore the energy resources on all public lands. 7/14/2008News.aspx?A=451Congressman Culberson is proud to represent the great city of Houston and is working hard to ensure that it remains one of the strongest and most business-friendly cities in America. Since 2000, Houston’s population has grown 15% and our total employment has grown 13%, which is second only to Phoenix. No longer just the energy capital of the world, Houston is now home to 25 Fortune 500 companies, which is second only to New York, and burgeoning technology, aerospace and medical industries. Houston added over 100,000 jobs in the last year. Businesses small and large were attracted by Houston’s low taxes, limited regulation, and cheap and plentiful land. People are drawn to our good schools, affordable housing, and the overall quality of life that can’t be matched anywhere else in America. Congressman Culberson strongly opposed the new budget passed by the liberal majority in Congress, which includes the largest tax increase in American history. Here’s how it affects District 7: Raises taxes by more than $3,000 per person; eliminates 2,735 jobs; and costs our local economy $532 million. We must continue fighting for lower taxes and less regulation on businesses from federal, state, and local government to ensure that Houston remains in economically-vibrant, attractive, and affordable city. 7/14/2008News.aspx?A=445The new media on the Internet is instantaneous and transparent, and it is a truly distributed network of free people using their own judgment to make decisions and to communicate. New media can open up our government to public scrutiny and participation in ways we cannot yet fathom. I am committed to using these new media outlets to communicate and to bring my constituents into the room with me as I represent them in Congress. I want to be a real time representative, and I want to shine sunlight into every corner of Congress. It is very hard for someone to steal money in broad daylight, and unfortunately, there are too many people in Congress today that want to put their hand in your pocket. If We the People can see and hear what our representatives and senators are doing, and communicate with them in a wide variety of ways in real time, the people of America will have tremendous new power over our elected officials.I deeply appreciate the thoughtful advice, support and criticism I have received over the last several days as I launched a new media communication effort to shine sunlight into the halls of Congress using Twitter.com and Qik.com. I listened to the advice and the criticism, and changed my focus in a way that will be far more productive and effective. My letter to the House leadership explains the changes I seek to achieve. To view the letter, please click here. 7/11/2008News.aspx?A=444As many of you know, I have recently put cutting edge technology to use in an effort to better communicate with the public and become more accessible to my constituents. Two sites on the internet, Twitter.com and Qik.com, have offered new channels of communication, allowing me to instant message an entire community and upload live video in real time, respectively. With these devices at my disposal, I am more accountable, more accessible and am able to connect instantly with the public.In the past few days, government regulation of such communication has come into question. A new rule has been submitted to House leadership, which would limit video posts to “approved” websites that do not contain political or commercial ads or commentary. Congressmen could only post video that complied with House rules (subject to review and editing by the House Franking Committee) on pre-approved websites. The video would also be required to contain a disclaimer proclaiming it as an official communication from an official federal representative. 7/10/2008News.aspx?A=441Today House Republican Leader John Boehner issued a statement indicating that Democrats are seeking to quash the right of Members of Congress to have free speech. According to the statement, the Democrats are looking at restricting Member content on websites outside the house.gov domain. Congressman Culberson is quickly becoming a "real time representative" by posting on Twitter.com, where he sends regular updates from the House floor and the halls of Congress, and on Qik.com, where he films and posts video updates on the Internet. This new technology allows him to bypass the mainstream media and shine sunlight into the darkest corners of Congress. If the Democrats strong-arm this rule, he would no longer be able to use these websites and our fundamental right to free speech will be taken away. The following is Mr. Boehner's statement:I’m writing to alert you to an attack on free speech that is making its way through Congress. This attack, which should concern activists of all political affiliations across the ideological spectrum, comes in the form of a new congressional rule that would prohibit Americans from viewing content published by Members of Congress on websites that are not “approved” by the Committee on House Administration, the panel that creates rules governing the internal operations of the U.S. House.7/8/2008News.aspx?A=442“No matter who is in charge, this intolerable censorship of Congress' right to communicate with We The People, it must be stopped.”Today House Republican Leader John Boehner issued a statement indicating that Democrats are seeking to quash the right of Members of Congress to have free speech. According to the statement, the Democrats are looking at restricting Member content on websites outside the house.gov domain. Websites such as Youtube and other social networks would have to comply with government regulations before Members of Congress could post content on them. To view the letter, which lays out the Democrats’ proposals, click here. Congressman Culberson has recently been communicating through these targeted websites, making him more accessible and accountable to his constituents. He has quickly become a "real time representative" by posting on Twitter.com, where he sends regular updates from the House floor and the halls of Congress, and on Qik.com, where he films and posts video updates on the Internet. This new technology has allowed him to bypass the mainstream media and shine sunlight into the darkest corners of Congress. If the Democrats strong-arm this rule, he would no longer be able to use these websites and our fundamental right to free speech will be taken away. 7/8/2008News.aspx?A=439Bellaire: Parade starts at 9:30 festival from 10:00-1:00 at Bellaire-Zindler Park Theme: Bellaire’s 100th birthday*if there is thunder and lightning at 8:30 the parade will be cancelled* for more information call :713-662-8280 Southside Place: Bike Parade at 10:00 in front of City Hall. Activities in the Park follow the parade. 7/3/2008News.aspx?A=440I hosted the first ever Internet/telephone town hall meeting last Thursday night, broadcast live from my Washington office. I answered questions from constituents via telephone, direct messaging, and email through a live video stream on my website. This exciting new technology gives me the opportunity to maintain a constant and direct dialogue with you. I will be hosting these meetings throughout the summer, and I hope you will participate. You can also catch me on Twitter.com, where I send regular updates from the House floor and the halls of Congress, and on Qik.com, where I film and post video updates on the Internet. This technology allows us to bypass the mainstream media and shine sunlight into the darkest corners of Congress. The House again considered the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch last week, which passed and will now go to the Senate for consideration. I voted against this bill, which maintains the status quo AMT structure for one year, but it also raises taxes on carried interest by taxing private equity at ordinary income tax rates rather than the lower capital gains rates. The bill also strikes the manufacturing tax credit for the five largest, domestic, integrated oil and gas companies, and reduces the manufacturing tax credit for independent, domestic oil and gas companies from 9% to 6%. With record gas prices and oil around $140 a barrel, the worst thing Congress can do is discourage domestic production by raising taxes. The bill does not single out any other industry that receives the manufacturing tax credit. The permanent tax increases included in this bill total nearly $62 billion. 7/3/2008News.aspx?A=438 H.R. 6275 --The Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 – NO This bill is a one year patch of the AMT with a hold harmless provision for those middle-class Americans who are affected by the AMT. But it contains PERMANENT tax increases for carried interest, meaning it would tax private equity at ordinary income tax rates instead of the currently capital gains rates. The bill also strikes the manufacturing tax credit for the five largest integrated oil and gas companies, and reduces the manufacturing tax credit for all other independent oil and gas companies from 9% to 6%; the bill does not single out any other industry which receives the manufacturing tax credit. I voted against this bill because it contains permanent tax increases. Total cost is approx $64 billion. 6/30/2008News.aspx?A=449Public tours of the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) tours are offered on selected Monday evenings from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM. These tours include a presentation of the Mission and History of the Naval Observatory, a look into the USNO’s timekeeping responsibilities and a viewing of celestial objects with a 12-inch Alvan Clark refractor. Please visit their website to request a tour. An individual can request a tour for up to 20 people; full names and birthdates are required in order to request a tour. 6/25/2008News.aspx?A=435I am happy to report that the Democrat led Congress has finally passed a responsible Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, (FISA), that President Bush can sign. FISA expired earlier this year, and months ago, the Senate passed a bipartisan FISA bill providing the intelligence community with the tools and resources it needs to conduct surveillance and the House has now followed suit on this long overdue renewal. The final FISA bill protects the rights of Americans by requiring a court order to listen in to domestic phone calls, and allows our intelligence services to listen in to phone calls between foreigners in foreign countries with an administrative order. The plotted terrorist attack on skyscrapers in Los Angeles and other attacks in the US and in Iraq were prevented using these long established surveillance techniques.6/24/2008News.aspx?A=433Congressman Culberson will appear as a guest on Lou Dobbs Tonight discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold environmental waivers that Congress approved in 2005 so the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could build the border fence without unnecessary environmental delays.Congressman Culberson cosponsored and supported the Secure Fence Act, which gave DHS the authority to waive certain environmental laws to speed construction, and he is pleased that the Supreme Court upheld the law.The program will air from 6-7 P.M. CDT this evening on CNN. Please tune in to see Congressman Culberson speak about this important decision. 6/23/2008News.aspx?A=463Speaker Cuellar, it's perfectly appropriate that you're in the chair today because you and I have served together in the Texas House, and we have worked together, Mr. Speaker, in cooperation with our friend, Congressman Ciro Rodriguez of Del Rio. You and I and Ciro have worked together to successfully implement a program that I want to single out for praise tonight. In the Laredo sector and the Del Rio sector, the immigration laws of this country are being enforced with a zero tolerance in a program called Operation Streamline. With the full support of the local community that you represent, Mr. Speaker, because the crime rate in Laredo has dropped 70 percent--excuse me; in Del Rio we have seen a 70 percent drop. I think you have seen about a 60 percent drop in the crime rate in the Laredo sector as a direct result of simply enforcing existing law in a team effort, Mr. Speaker, between the Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals, the prosecutors, the judges, the magistrates, and the sheriffs, with their local Congressman, Congressman Cuellar. You, Mr. Speaker, Ciro Rodriguez, and myself on the Appropriations Committee, we have been able to bring together that team approach in a bipartisan way that has resulted in a dramatic decline in the crime rate. The illegal crossings in the Del Rio sector are now at the lowest level they have been since the Border Patrol started keeping statistics in 1973. I bring this to the attention of the House tonight, Mr. Speaker, first of all, to congratulate and praise those fine men and women in the law enforcement community of the Border Patrol in Del Rio and Laredo, also in the Yuma sector, where this is working so well. In particular, in the Laredo and Del Rio sectors we have seen real success because of the teamwork of those law enforcement officers and the judges and the cooperation we have seen at an unprecedented level between members of both parties in making sure the community and the Nation are safe in those sectors. I am working with you now, Mr. Speaker, as well as with the local Members of Congress in rolling out Operation Streamline, it's called, the zero tolerance program, in the Rio Grande Valley sector. So that the goal is, of course, from the mouth of the Rio Grande now, up through the Del Rio sector, Lake Amastad, that the border will be secure. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, it is a very different story in Tucson, Arizona. In Tucson, Arizona, the local U.S. Attorney refuses to enforce existing law, and in Tucson, if you are arrested by the Border Patrol, for example, in Del Rio or Laredo, you have a 100 percent chance of being prosecuted and serving some time in jail, obviously with the exception of women and children. The officer will use their good judgment and their good heart. But if you're arrest in Del Rio or Laredo, you're going to jail. If you're arrested in Tucson, Arizona, Mr. Speaker, carrying less than a quarter ton of dope, you have a 99.6 percent chance of nerve going to jail, and you will probably be home in time for dinner. It's an unbelievable and outrageous situation that I have worked on behind the scenes as quietly as I can with the Department of Justice, with the U.S. Attorney out there, Diane Humetewa, who refuses to met with me, who refuses to talk to me, who refuses to cooperate. She, to this day, Mr. Speaker, refuses to do anything to improve the prosecution rate in the Arizona sector of the border. As a result, those officers' lives are in danger. As a result of her refusal to enforce the law, the lives of the people of Arizona are in danger. This Nation is in danger because of the refusal of the U.S. Attorney in Arizona, Diane Humetewa, to do her job. Frankly, I am sick and tired of it, and it needs to be brought to the attention of the American people here on the floor because we have found a bipartisan solution to this. We have found a solution that people on the border support. You represent the Laredo sector, Mr. Speaker. I know your community, the people you represent are thrilled with the reduction in the crime rate. It has been a team effort. There are no party labels when it comes to Texans. My good friend, Sheila Jackson-Lee, will be speaking in a moment, and we are Texans first. There are no party labels when it comes to what is good for Texas and the Nation. We have found a solution, Mr. Speaker, in Operation Streamline and the Zero Tolerance Program, enforcing existing law with existing resources and existing personnel in a unified team effort, and it's about time for the U.S. Attorney in Arizona to get with the program and recognize that she has an essential role in protecting this Nation. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, if the U.S. Attorney in Arizona will not enforce the law and live up to her oath of office, I think she ought to find another job. It's about time for her to just step aside. It's unacceptable for a U.S. Attorney to refuse to enforce the law. Those officers' lives are in danger. We on the Appropriations Committee, I serve on the Homeland Security subcommittee, Mr. Speaker, we sent 40 additional U.S. Attorneys, prosecutors to the southwest border with specific instructions that those attorneys be used to prosecute border crime. The U.S. Attorney in Arizona got 21 of them, and she will not use them to protect the border or this Nation. Mr. Speaker, we have done great work in Laredo and Del Rio, and the U.S. Attorney in Arizona needs to get with the program and enforce the law with zero tolerance or find another job. 6/23/2008News.aspx?A=428 FISA Bill YES I supported this legislation because it provides for the continuation of key surveillance efforts targeting foreign terrorist suspects in foreign countries, it streamlines the process to obtain FISA court orders, it includes civil liberty protections for US citizens, and it includes immunity for telecommunications companies who worked in good faith with the federal government to provide records on suspected terrorists. FISA expired earlier this year and this legislation is long past due. This bill will give the intelligence community the tools it needs to locate and track suspected terrorists and it aids our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing them with the most accurate intelligence in their fight against terrorists overseas. 6/23/2008News.aspx?A=434 H.R. 5749 --Unemployment Insurance (5 minutes)– NO Would temporarily extend unemployment benefits for up to 13 weeks in all States and for up to 26 weeks in certain “high unemployment States”, on top of the 26 weeks of benefits provided under current law. The “minimum of 20 weeks of work” requirement is NOT included in this bill - which Congress included in the 2002 temporary extended benefits program that was 100% federally funded, as is this bill. So, workers who qualify for 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits – and could have an attachment to the workforce of as little as two weeks before being laid off – could qualify for up to 52 weeks of regular and extended benefits in some States under this bill. Prior extended benefits programs have never begun when the national unemployment rate was at today’s modest 5.5% (compared to the most recent program, enacted in March 2002, of 5.7%) This bill also violates PAYGO-the fifth time the Majority has violated PAYGO in the past 6 months. Cost: $14 billion over two years and will operate through March 31, 2009 6/16/2008News.aspx?A=432 With the onset of the 2008 Hurricane Season, it is important for you and your family to be prepared in the event of a major storm. Be sure to assemble disaster kits with items such as batteries, flash lights, water, food and a first aid kit. Your family will want to have an evacuation plan in place, taking relatives with needs and stipulations for your pets into account. Individuals with special needs can pre-arrange for evacuation transportation or for information on local shelters call 2-1-1. Please read on to view valuable resources pertaining to evacuation routes, shelters and emergency management numbers.6/12/2008News.aspx?A=431“It is inexcusable, it is intolerable for us to send one dime to the Mexican government when they can afford to pay for this equipment themselves. But even more importantly than that, our southern border is not secure.”   Congressman Culberson spoke on the House floor yesterday in opposition to the Merida Initiative, a plan that would send $1.6 billion dollars to Mexico and Central America over the next three years.  Congressman Culberson requested a recorded vote on the legislation, which passed 311-106.   The proposal would provide equipment, training and resources for Mexican law enforcement officers to fight drug trafficking and drug-related violence.    The Congressman opposed the plan because our border sheriffs, border patrol agents, U.S. marshals, federal judges, and prosecutors need this funding to expand the successful zero tolerance program, Operation Streamline.  This program has been implemented in several U.S. border sectors and has effectively reduced crime and drug trafficking.      Click here to see the Congressman’s remarks on the House floor. 6/11/2008News.aspx?A=430Dear Friends, In the midst of my work to expand the zero tolerance policy for illegal aliens all the way to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and to open up drilling and production of domestic oil and gas fields, I am also working this week on the Appropriations Bills for Homeland Security and for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, NASA and Science. I am very passionate about balancing the budget while focusing our limited resources on the essentials like national security, border security, and critical infrastructure, but I never forget the vital importance of investing in medical and scientific research, including our nation's space program. I am sending you this second e-mail in case you want to witness a very interesting event on Monday morning. At 10 a.m. CDT, if you log onto http://qik.com/johnculberson you will be able to watch me broadcast a portion of the weekly meeting of the Mars Rover scientists and engineers as they decide where and when they will drive the Opportunity Rover on the surface of the Red Planet. The Rover is on the edge of a huge crater which has exposed multiple layers of ancient Martian soil. The Mars Science Operating Working Group, led by Principal Investigator Steve Squyres, will review the latest data and photographs, decide and design the next moves of the spacecraft, and then run simulations with computer graphics to ensure the spacecraft can perform the movements without getting into trouble. (See marsrover.nasa.gov/home/index.html, look at the Opportunity Rover). 6/10/2008News.aspx?A=461 Mr. Speaker, at a time of record national debt and deficit, at a time when gasoline prices are now well over $4, when oil is over $130 a barrel and Mexico is sitting on one of the largest oil reserves in the world, it is inexcusable, it is intolerable for us to send one dime to the Mexican Government when they can afford to pay for this equipment themselves. But even more importantly than that, our southern border not secure. We should not send a dime to Mexico until our own American law enforcement officers have the resources they need to secure the border once and for all; not one dime to Mexico until the American border is secure. 6/10/2008News.aspx?A=436 Conference Report on S. Con. Res. 70 --The Concurrent Budget Resolution for 2009 – NO I voted against the conference report because for the first time in history, it allows $1 trillion in discretionary spending, which is $24.5 billion more the President's budget. Additionally, the total budget rise to over $3.01 trillion, the first time the federal budget has reached over $3 trillion. This conference report also includes the largest tax Increase in history, automatically raising taxes by at least $683 billion over the next 5 years, and it contains no entitlement spending reform for Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. We cannot continue spending money. The federal government currently has $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and until Congress gets our fiscal house in order, I will continue voting against spending more money. 6/9/2008News.aspx?A=429We are fortunate to have the finest doctors, researchers, and hospitals in the world at the Texas Medical Center. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, my job is to protect taxpayers against unnecessary spending, while ensuring that our scientist and doctors have the resources they need to treat and cure diseases such as cancer and juvenile diabetes. Over the long term, the innovative research being done at the Medical Center is the most effective way to bring down the rising cost of health care. I am especially passionate about the work of the Alliance for NanoHealth, the first collaborative research effort among Medical Center institutions: University of Texas Health Science Center, MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist, Rice University, UTMB, University of Houston, and Texas A&M Health Science Center/Institute for Biotechnology. Their work has led to successful clinical trials on the treatment of soft-tissue cancers, such as breast cancer. I have secured over $12 million for the Alliance, and I am confident that their cutting edge work will one day lead to the identification and cure of genetic diseases. 6/9/2008News.aspx?A=427My highest priority as your Congressman is to protect our prosperity now and in the future by working to keep the U. S. Treasury, and our children and grandchildren, from going deeper into debt. On every vote and on every issue, I always remember our nation’s immense unfunded financial burden. Unfortunately, as you can see on pages 5 and 6 of this important GAO report, this $53 trillion unfunded financial burden grew by 158% since 2000. This is the principle reason I have voted against so many spending initiatives since I was sworn in as your Congressman in January 2001.6/9/2008News.aspx?A=426Today we remember the 64th Anniversary of D-Day, which began the liberation of Europe during World War II. I am proud of the men and women who are risking their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. It is important that we remember their sacrifices and that we honor them with our support and prayers. We must also remember the sacrifices of our veterans in past wars. President Ronald Reagan's speech on the 40th Anniversary of the landings given at Pointe du Hoc, France, is perhaps the most moving and meaningful speech of my life, and I want to remind us all of the greatness of President Reagan and the sacrifices of our soldiers. It is vitally important that we support our armed forces without precondition, without hesitation and without regard to politics. 6/6/2008News.aspx?A=423Over the next few months, I will be conducting live town hall meetings by video, and I hope you will participate. This new technology allows you to visit my website and participate in a live, interactive meeting. It is a unique opportunity for me to hear your views on issues that are important to you. On Tuesday, June 10, at 10 a.m. CDT, I will be hosting my first web-based town hall meeting, which you can watch here on my website. Just fill out the form provided, and I’ll do my best to answer it live over the Internet. Town hall meetings always help me do a better job of representing you, and I’m thrilled for the chance to hear from you in real time while I’m on the job in Washington. I’m anxious to hear your comments and concerns, and to report on the work I’m doing to strengthen the economy, secure our borders, balance the budget, improve health care, and make us energy independent. Your input is invaluable to me. Your ideas and suggestions make me a more effective leader, and I hope these meetings will make me more accessible and responsive. Please feel free to contact my staff in Houston or Washington if you have any questions. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you in the United States Congress. 6/4/2008News.aspx?A=424This week, the Senate is debating the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. This bill aims to reduce American greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2012 through a “cap and trade” program. Houstonians are already paying record gas, food, and electricity prices, and this irresponsible bill will increase our utility bills by 50-100 percent (according to local providers.) The main component of the Lieberman-Warner Bill is a nationwide “cap” on the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Federal permits would be distributed controlling the amount of pollutants each company would be allowed to produce. While I applaud the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, I cannot support a cap and trade program because of its harmful effect on the free market. Under the bill, a newly minted Carbon Market Efficiency Board would distribute the permits, and thereby regulate 85 percent of the U.S. economy. There is no proven and available technology to comply with the bill’s emission standards. As American companies struggle to develop technologies to meet the bill’s strict requirements, the costs will be passed onto consumers. Non-compliant companies could be subjected to fines up to $25,000 a day, driving up energy prices even more. The projected costs of this bill are truly staggering. The Environmental Protection Agency forecasts a $1 trillion loss in GDP by 2030. The Heritage Foundation predicts as many as 900,000 jobs lost by 2016 and another 500,000 per year through 2030. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a 15% cut of emissions would raise average household energy costs by almost $1,300 a year. 6/4/2008News.aspx?A=422Congressman Culberson Pushes Congress to Expand the Zero-tolerance Policy Border Wide. By JAY ROOT, McClatchy-Tribune DEL RIO--Many in Congress are counting on border walls to discourage illegal immigration and dope smuggling from Mexico. Here in Del Rio, authorities are using jail cells instead. The ever-expanding Val Verde County jail is filled with would-be yardmen and maids, immigrants awaiting deportation. They've been caught in a law enforcement dragnet known as "Operation Streamline," a zero-tolerance program that began here and has since spread both east and west along the Mexican border. Critics of the lock-'em-up approach question the skyrocketing costs, complain of poor conditions inside the detention facilities, and predict that ultimately the efforts won't stop immigrants and drugs from making their way north. But supporters say the approach is reducing crime and discouraging immigrants from trying to cross into the United States. The number of illegal immigrants caught in the Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector is at its lowest level since the early 1970s. "Enforcement works," said Val Verde County Sheriff D'Wayne Jernigan. "We're definitely seeing a reduction in crime throughout the border area and a reduction in the number of aliens running loose in our community." 5/27/2008News.aspx?A=437 H.R.1464 --To assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of nations within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations– NO The U.S. already participates in numerous international programs either financially or through the donation of other resources. CBO: cost is approximately $19 million from ’09-’13. 5/26/2008News.aspx?A=420The Houston/Galveston National Weather Service will be hosting a Hurricane Workshop on Saturday, June 7, from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Houstonians will be able to receive information from meteorologists and city experts on topics such as evacuation plans, first aid, electricity use and general tips to help prepare for the next major hurricane. The event is coordinated by a partnership of private and public organizations. Partipants this year include CenterPoint Energy, the City of Houston, Harris County Office of Emergency Management, the John C. Freeman Weather Museum, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and the National Weather Service. The workshop provides a venue for citizens of southeast Texas to learn how to be prepared should another major storm hit our area. To learn more about the workshop, please click here.5/23/2008News.aspx?A=421The American tradition of Memorial Day began with women. In the spring of 1865, when America began the process of healing its wounds from the Civil War, decorated gravesites of fallen soldiers began appearing all over the country. It happened in a grassroots manner, but soon small organizations of women found a cause in honoring fallen heroes by spreading flowers throughout cemeteries, battlegrounds, and even disinterring soldiers distantly buried to bring them to a resting place closer to home. Paying tribute in this manner became known as Decoration Day, though it was celebrated at different times in the North and the South. What came to pass is Memorial Day as we know it, which Congress designated as a national holiday in 1968, over a century after the last battle of the Civil War. In those hundred years, America earned its familiar nickname: the Home of the Brave. In a now time honored tradition, Memorial Day is the day Americans set aside to pay homage to our soldiers, who have served our country with great courage and resolve. We have endured as a people on the gifts bestowed upon us by the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, past and present. Throughout America’s history, our military has answered with valor when called to protect our Nation and way of life. Let us never take for granted that the freedoms we enjoy as a nation have come at the precious sacrifice of many. Our core values and principles of liberty, freedom and democracy endure today because of the strength, sacrifice and bravery of our military. 5/23/2008News.aspx?A=419Food prices are on the rise worldwide and American families are paying record prices for their groceries, yet the current version of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) that passed the House last week costs $714 billion and would increase subsidies by $20 billion over the next decade. The USDA reports that total net farm income has risen 56% in the past two years alone. The top five crops (cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat and rice) receiving government assistance have enjoyed massive price spikes since the bill was last reauthorized in 2002. The price of cotton has increased by 105%; the price of wheat by 256%, so there is no justification for more subsidies. This bill even repeals the limit on the total amount of subsidies a farmer can receive, and continues direct payments regardless of crop prices. The Farm Bill expands the size and scope of the federal government by creating new government mandates on the private sector and it vastly expands entitlement programs. Comptroller David Walker says balancing the budget in 2040 could require actions as bold as “cutting total federal spending by 60 percent or raising federal taxes to 2 times today’s level.” For all of these reasons, I voted against the Farm Bill in July 2007 and again last week, and I will vote to uphold the president’s veto. 5/21/2008News.aspx?A=418In case you missed it, Congressman Culberson commented on President Bush’s proposal to send $500 million dollars to Mexico in the Houston Chronicle and the Austin-American Statesman last week. President Bush’s plan, the Merida Initiative, aims to send these funds to Mexico to combat drug trafficking and violent cartels. As quoted in the Austin-American Statesman article, Congressman Culberson said, “since Texas border county sheriffs don't even have bullet proof vests, I think these resources should go to our own law enforcement officers rather than Mexico's." "What's most maddening to me is the answer is so easy: Help our own law enforcement officers do their job, quit obsessing with how to placate Mexico and focus on protecting America at our border," he further commented to the Houston Chronicle. Click here to read the full article: Texas Republicans Wary of Bush’s Plans for Mexico 5/19/2008News.aspx?A=415TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2008 1) H.R. 6022 - Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - YES 2) H.R. 4008 - Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act - YES 5/16/2008News.aspx?A=416Congressman Culberson voted “present” today on an amendment to increase taxes by billions of dollars to pay for more domestic spending and new entitlement programs. Entitlement programs already account for two-thirds of all domestic spending, and expanding these programs would only add to our record debt and deficits. “The Democrats used the troop funding bill as a shell game to sneak 54 billion dollars of new taxes and spending past Congress. We have a responsibility to provide our soldiers with the resources they need to accomplish their mission in Iraq. Our military leaders on the ground have told Congress they need this funding by Memorial Day to sustain their progress, and we should honor their request. “Republicans used the only legislative tool at their disposal to protest the unacceptable conditions that were imposed on troop funding by voting ‘present.’ Democrats brought this bill to the floor without a hearing, without amendments, and without any input from the minority party. “The bill contains items that have nothing to do with the safety of our troops in the field. Muddying the bill with new taxes and spending is a blatant abuse of power and process,” Congressman Culberson said. 5/15/2008News.aspx?A=465 Mr. Speaker, I think it's important for the American people to understand that throughout the history of this Congress and this Nation that party divisions in time of war have always ended at the water's edge, until today. Tragically, for this Congress, for this House, for the Appropriations Committee, the Speaker of the House has decided to unilaterally impose on the will of the entire Nation this appropriations bill without the benefit of a hearing, without the benefit of amendments, without the benefit of input not just from the Republican Members, Mr. Speaker, but from the Democrat Members. It's, I think, a terrible precedent to set for this great committee that I am so proud to be a member of. I know that my colleague, Mr. Lewis, and my colleague, Chairman Obey, are both men of good will and good hearts. I know this is, I think, a particularly sad day for the institution and the Nation where 300 million Americans are not given an opportunity to be heard on a question of national security as important as the issue of funding our troops is. Never before in the history of this institution have the entire committees, the Congress been shut out of this process. On the aftermath of 9/11, when you could stand in front of the Capitol Building and still smell the Pentagon burning, the Congress came together and by unanimous consent agreed to approve a supplemental appropriations bill to help pay for the costs of the war. In a time of emergency with the hurricane damage in New Orleans and across the South, we all came together and agreed to do this. But this is done unilaterally, without the consent of both sides, in a time of national emergency, and it is a travesty, Mr. Speaker. It contains provisions that have nothing to do with our troops' survival and safety in the field. To burden our troops with pork, with tax increases, with special provisions that have nothing to do with the war, adds to, I think, the obvious misuse of the process, and I urge Members to vote against the pork and support our troops. 5/15/2008News.aspx?A=466Mr. Speaker, it is approximately 2:10 p.m. on the east coast, and in less than 24 hours, the Speaker of the House has announced that she is going to drop on this House floor a $250 billion spending bill for the United States war against terror. It has always been the policy of this Nation that party labels end at the water's edge. Until today, it has always been the policy of this House that the Members of this House were given the privilege and opportunity of debating in committee and offering amendments. On legislation as important as funding a war for the survival of the American people and a war against barbarians from the Dark Ages, this House of Representatives has been shut out. It's appalling, it's embarrassing, it's outrageous, it's unacceptable for the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Appropriations Committee to be the only two people in this institution allowed to see the bill. No one has seen the bill. All 300 million Americans have been shut out of this appropriations process to fund our soldiers. To ensure their protection and survival in the field, to ensure the survival of this Nation, this entire House of Representatives needs to be involved, and the country needs to know that this Speaker is running this House like the Supreme Soviets. 5/13/2008News.aspx?A=412TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008 1) H.R. 3658 - To amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel to United States territories for members of the Foreign Service – YES 2) H.Res. 1109 - Honoring the memory of Dith Pran by remembering his life's work and continuing to acknowledge and remember the victims of genocides that have taken place around the globe – YES 5/12/2008News.aspx?A=413In case you missed it, Congressman Culberson was quoted in the Houston Chronicle last week on two important stories. The first article was about President Bush’s plan, the Merida Initiative, to send $500 million to Mexico to combat the drug cartels and the second article was about government credit card abuse by NASA employees. President Bush proposed that the U.S. provide Mexico with half a billion dollars to aid in drug trafficking control. Though sharing information on drug activity and international cooperation is important, Congressman Culberson explained to the Chronicle that “these resources should go to our own law enforcement officers rather than Mexico's.” Our Texas border sheriffs, border patrol agents, U.S. marshals, federal judges, and prosecutors need this funding to continue expanding the successful zero tolerance program, Operation Streamline. This program has proven to be the most effective way to reduce crime, drug trafficking, and illegal crossing along the border. Click here to read the full article: Bush Pitches Funding Plan for Military Aid to Mexico Additionally, the Chronicle reported that NASA employees were found fraudulently using their government credit cards to purchase items such as I-pods and other electronics, and stated that “160 cases of credit card abuse were referred to NASA investigators during fiscal years 2007 and 2008.” 5/9/2008News.aspx?A=411Congressman Culberson was recognized at the U.S. Capitol this morning by U.S. English, Inc. for his dedication to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. The Congressman was one of a select number of House members honored with an “A in English” award based on his votes and co-sponsorships of official English legislation in the 110th Congress. 5/8/2008News.aspx?A=464 Mr. Speaker, let's be clear. It is not we Members who are shut out, it is the constituents that we represent. On this Financial Services bill, those constituents that we represent have been shut out in committee and not offered an opportunity to offer an amendment. On the Appropriations Committee, the war funding bill, life or death for our troops, the most important question facing our Nation, our survival as a Nation and the war on terror, the 19 million Americans that we represent on the Republican side have been shut out of the process and denied an opportunity to offer amendments in debate on the survival of the Nation in the war on terror, on life and death of our soldiers in the field. I, for one, had an amendment to make the Iraqi Government pay more of their own share of this reconstruction and make sure that with oil at $120 a barrel, the Iraqi Government, sitting on the world's third-largest supply of oil, I have an amendment to require the Iraqi Government, that I was going to offer in committee, to make the Iraqi Government pay for the reconstruction of roads, utilities, schools, job training and economic development. Because we have a record debt and deficit in this country, that amendment is an important piece of the debate in the appropriations bill to pay for the war. This is not just any bill that the American people have been shut out of the debate on. It is the bill paying for the lives and safety of our troops in the field. I would, frankly, think that the Democrat leadership of this House would be embarrassed to deny the American people an opportunity to have their elected representatives participate in this debate. When we started this Congress, the Speaker promised the most ethical and open Congress in the history of the Nation. We don't see it in the process. Over and over again these bills come to the floor without an opportunity to debate them or offer amendments on the floor. Don't forget, it is not just the Republicans that are shut out, Mr. Speaker, but the Democrat members of the Appropriations Committee have been shut out, just like the members of the Financial Services Committee have been shut out. The American people have been shut out of this process, and the Democrat leadership ought to be embarrassed for bringing a bill to fund the war without giving us all an opportunity. 5/7/2008News.aspx?A=409TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2008 1) S. 2457 - A bill to provide for extensions of leases of certain land by Mashantucket Pequot Tribe – PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 2) H.R. 3522 - To ratify a conveyance of a portion of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation to Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, pursuant to the settlement of litigation between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, to authorize issuance of a patent for said lands, and to change the exterior boundary of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation accordingly, and for other purposes – PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 5/5/2008News.aspx?A=407TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008 1) H.R. 3513 - Copper Salmon Wilderness Act - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 2) H.R. 5151 - Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special Places - YES 4/28/2008News.aspx?A=408Dear Friend:Over the next few months, I will be conducting live town hall meetings by telephone, and I hope you will participate if you are called. This new technology allows thousands of randomly selected District 7 residents to participate in a live, interactive conference call. It is a unique opportunity for me to contact you directly and hear your views on issues that are important to you. 4/28/2008News.aspx?A=406This week, Former President Carter defied the stated foreign policy of the United States by meeting with leaders of Hamas. This is the same radical terrorist organization that routinely targets Israeli civilians and is dedicated to the destruction of our close friend and ally, Israel. When a gunman murdered eight students last month in the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva school library in Jerusalem, Hamas rejoiced and pledged that the attack would not be the last. Hamas plans and executes regular suicide attacks and aims mortar rounds and rockets at Israeli civilians. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and Israel and has been condemned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.4/22/2008News.aspx?A=404WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008 1) H.R. 5813 - To amend Public Law 110-196 to provide for a temporary extension of programs authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 beyond April 18, 2008 - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 2) Frank Amendment to H.R. 2634 - Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 - YES The amendment passed 424 - 0 (Roll no. 196). 4/21/2008News.aspx?A=403In an El Paso Court House yesterday, Psvaldo Aldrete Davila pleaded guilty to drug charges looming since D.E.A. agents apprehended him last year.  He was charged with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute, once count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.  Aldrete Davila’s involvement with drug smuggling has shadowed him since his first encounter with border agents Ramos and Compeon in February of 2005.  The two agents shot him as he attempted to flee their apprehension, injuring him in the buttocks, but still allowing his escape back to Mexico.  His abandoned van was discovered shortly after the encounter, containing 743 pounds of marijuana.   4/18/2008News.aspx?A=402Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, this Sunday was the 265th birthday of Thomas Jefferson, one of our Nation's greatest Founding Fathers, and someone who we, I think, as a Nation do not pay enough attention to. His birthday, unfortunately, went largely unnoticed. And I'm going to take this time on the floor today, Madam Speaker, to honor this great good man, recognize his genius and the application of his core principles as solutions to the core problems our Nation faces today, and in conclusion, to read his first Inaugural Address which was given in this Capitol on March 4, 1801 as a reminder of his genius and as a guideline to really lay out a path for the solutions that we really need as a Nation today. 4/17/2008News.aspx?A=401 Today, the House Guest Chaplain is Dr. Charles Simmons, Senior Pastor at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston. Below is Congressman Culberson's one minute speech honoring Dr. Simmons. MR. CULBERSON: Madame Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Charles B. Simmons, our chaplain for the day, who joins us from my hometown of Houston, TX. I have known Reverend Simmons and his family for many years now and am thrilled he was able to lead the House in today’s opening prayer, a tradition that began at the urging of Benjamin Franklin in the infantile days of our nation. Reverend Simmons is serving in his tenth year as senior minister of Memorial United Methodist Church, and is recognized nationally as a dynamic preacher, dedicated pastor and respected leader among Methodists. 4/16/2008News.aspx?A=399TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008 1) H.Res. 265 - Honoring military children during "National Month of the Military Child" - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 2) H.J.Res. 70 - Congratulating the Army Reserve on its centennial, which will be formally celebrated on April 23, 2008, and commemorating the historic contributions of its veterans and continuing contributions of its soldiers to the vital national security interests and homeland defense missions of the United States - YES 4/11/2008News.aspx?A=397Congressman John Culberson will be a guest on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight, discussing the Democrats’ attempt to stop construction of the border fence. Acting on the influence of environmental interest groups, 14 House Democrats (including 8 committee chairmen) are seeking to overturn the 2005 House and Senate approved waiver of environmental restrictions to building the fence. The fate of 470 miles of border fence is in the balance, as these members of Congress are doing everything in their power to stop its construction. Please watch Congressman Culberson on Lou Dobbs Tonight, as he discusses the importance of the fence and why Democrats should answer Americans’ call for a secure border and drop their appeal. 4/8/2008News.aspx?A=396 LOU DOBBS: Drug traffickers invading the Tucson, Arizona area. It is exactly that, an invasion. And it can be linked as well to simply a lack of enforcement by the U.S. attorneys' office in Tucson. Congressman John Culberson of Texas is a strong advocate for border security. He says some of the smugglers arrested in Tucson may never go to jail. Congressman Culberson joins me now from Capitol Hill. 4/8/2008News.aspx?A=395MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008 1) H.R. 1187 - To expand the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 2) H.R. 2342 - To direct the President to establish a National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System, and for other purposes - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 4/4/2008News.aspx?A=398Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, there is no more noble endeavor that we can engage in than to cure human diseases. All of us in Congress I think have an obligation to be sure that we are, for example, doubling the investment we make in the National Institutes of Health, in the National Science Foundation, in the research work that they're doing to identify and cure human diseases at the earlier stages. I represent the Texas Medical Center, and I'm proud to do so. Those institutions, the greatest in the world, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor, University of Texas Health Science Center is doing research today, particularly on nano research, where we have the potential, within the next 10 to 15 years, of being able to identify in a child before she's born genetic predisposition to certain diseases, for example, like Lou Gehrig's disease, or diabetes, or cystic fibrosis. These genetically-based diseases can be identified before a child is born using nanotechnology, reinjecting, for example, nano sponges with a protein fix back into the mother's amniotic fluid. The child would then take up those nano sponges. And we can cure diseases in children before they are born. 4/3/2008News.aspx?A=394 Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, in our personal lives, when we have our credit cards topped out, when we have a second mortgage on the home, we quit spending money. We balance our own personal budget and we focus on the essentials. And this Congress needs to do the same thing. But, unfortunately, the Obama-Clinton-Pelosi Democratic leadership of the Congress is driving America's economy right over the cliff, like Thelma and Louise, spending money and raising taxes. The Comptroller of the United States has certified that we are in a $54 trillion hole; that in order to pay that off, every American would have to write a check for $175,000. This is outrageous. It is unsupportable. 4/1/2008News.aspx?A=391"In 1971, when so many young people were disillusioned with their government at the height of the Vietnam War, Congressman Bill Archer started a program to select one deserving junior from each high school in District Seven and send them on an all expenses paid guided trip to Washington, D.C. This program was the first of its kind in the nation, and it allows these future leaders to see for themselves how our government works and that it is led by honorable people sincerely devoted to their States and our Nation," Congressman Culberson said. "When I was elected to succeed Chairman Archer, I pledged to continue this worthwhile program, and I have renamed it the Bill Archer Student Intern Program in his honor. With the help of an all volunteer staff, we raise the money for this non-profit, tax-deductable program." 3/24/2008News.aspx?A=392MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2008 1) H.Res.537 – Expressing support for the designation and goals of "National 9-1-1 Education Month". - YES 2) H.R.3196 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 Sussex Street in Port Jervis, New York, as the "E. Arthur Gray Post Office Building". - YES 3/17/2008News.aspx?A=393Mr. CULBERSON. Thank you, Mr. Ryan. Mr. Chairman, the American people face the greatest financial challenge we have ever encountered in the history of the Nation. The free people of Great Britain overcame the greatest challenge they ever faced in their history during the early days of the Second World War because Winston Churchill told them the truth. They won the Battle of Britain because they were told by their leaders the truth, and they could deal with the truth as Americans can deal with the truth, but we have got to be told the truth. Today at 5 o'clock, unfortunately, one of our great public servants retired, the Comptroller General of the United States. David Walker, when he left work today, has moved on to the private sector. 3/12/2008News.aspx?A=38966 Days Since FISA Expired It has now been 66 days since the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the principal legal tool for wiretapping overseas terrorists expired. Democrat House leaders have repeatedly forbidden a vote on a bipartisan reauthorization. Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups are dedicated to violently attacking our American way of life, yet for over three weeks, our intelligence agents have been unable to monitor suspected terrorist phone calls and email communications without needless and dangerous delays. The reason for this lapse in national security – partisan leaders in the House refuse to allow a vote on a bipartisan bill to extend the provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). On February 16, FISA, the principal tool for listening to foreign terrorists, expired due to Congressional inaction. This act is important because it allows our intelligence agents to quickly and effectively gain legal permission to wiretap terrorists. Essentially, FISA makes our country safer by helping to prevent future attacks. Since these provisions can only be used for communications taking place overseas, it balances the security needs of the nation while guaranteeing Constitutional privacy protections for Americans. 3/12/2008News.aspx?A=390TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2008 1) H.R. 1143 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park, and for other purposes - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 2) H.R. 1311 - To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Alta-Hualapai Site to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the development of a cancer treatment facility - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE3/10/2008News.aspx?A=388MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 1. H.Res. 978 - Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 3-7, 2008, as "School Social Work Week" to promote awareness of the vital role of school social workers in schools, and in the community as a whole, in helping students prepare for their future as productive citizens- YES 2. H.Res. 930 - Supporting the goals and ideals of "Career and Technical Education Month" - YES 2/29/2008News.aspx?A=387