Summary of Important Legislation for February 2007

H.R. 976: Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007
This bill passed the House on February 16th and we must now get agreement from the Senate.

I supported this legislation.
In January the Democrats in the House voted to raise the minimum wage without regard to the negative ramifications this would have to small business owners across the country. In response to the outcries from citizens across the nation, this legislation was proposed and passed. It provides critical tax relief to assist small businesses' job growth which will help to offset the pending minimum wage increase.

We must be aware that the tax cuts that President Bush set in motion and the Republican Congress passed are set to expire in less than three years, in 2010. What does that mean to you and me? The average working family in the United States of America will experience a tax increase of $2,098 .

I hope the Democrats will act to make the tax cuts permanent. Tax cuts will create an environment that gives the American people the opportunity to create jobs and strengthen our economy.

H. Con. Res. 63: Iraq War Policy resolution
This bill passed the House on February 16th by a vote of 246 to 182.

This resolution states that "Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the U.S. Armed Forces...but disapproves of President George W. Bush's January 10, 2007, decision to deploy more than 20,000 additional U.S. combat troops to Iraq."

I did not support this resolution.
We must remember our past and learn from the lessons of those who came before us as we seek direction for our future.

As our forefathers pondered the Revolutionary War, no more than a third of our nation was in favor of Independence and freedom. World War I was not America's war. No one attacked us. But an attack was made on freedom and we responded. Hitler didn't attack us. He didn't even threaten us. He threatened all that freedom meant to the world. We then spent billions of dollars to rebuild a free Europe.

After World War II we spent 50 years in a war against an idea that threatened the freedom we hold so dear - the idea of communism versus a free society. Then came September 11, 2001. We stood together on the Capitol steps in solidarity that lasted a good week. And then it became politics as usual.

President Bush believes that our nation, more than any other, ought to defend the right of people to live free. A president must continue to fight for posterity even when it becomes unpopular to do so. This war has always been about the principle, the virtue, and the idea of freedom. To walk away now will have catastrophic consequences for its future.

President's Day District Work Period

I had the opportunity last week to meet with the Walton County Board of Commissioners and President of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce as well as the President of the Barrow Chamber of Commerce and members of the Barrow County Commission. These meetings were of great benefit and I look forward to continuing to forge a close relationship with everyone in the new 7th Congressional District.

My visit to Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) last week also provided members of our Congressional Delegation an update as to the strides they are making in the war on terror.


Update on the FairTax

Many of you have inquired as to the status of the FairTax. I am happy to report that despite the change in control on Capitol Hill, the FairTax has seen incredible success so far this year. I reintroduced the Legislation this January with a record number of original co-sponsors. At present the bill now has 55 co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.