The Hill Report: Week of June 30 - July 4, 2008

Op-Ed

The Hill Report: Week of June 30 - July 4, 2008

This week Congress adjourned for the 4th of July District Work Period, and I value the opportunity to celebrate our nation's independence at various community events across the district. I was pleased to meet with constituents from different neighborhoods and discuss with them issues facing the people of North Texas.

As I joined constituents in attending Bar-B-Ques and parades in celebration of Independence Day, I wanted to highlight a few of the events I attended this week.

On Thursday evening, I attended the 23rd Annual Addison Kaboom! Town Independence Day event - a patriotic celebration filled with local entertainment, food, and a fireworks show. The Texas National Guard Band played while a flyover was performed by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum Warbird. Additionally, Civil Air Patrol Group 3 performed a Color Guard and the National Anthem to recognize the men and women who have sacrificed for our country. Addison's Kaboom Town! event has been nationally recognized as one of America's Top 10 Independence Day spectaculars, and I was pleased to attend this momentous celebration with constituents.

This morning, I participated in local parades to honor the 4th of July holiday. First, I attended the Rotary Club of Park Cities' Annual July 4th Parade, which began at the Highland Park Town Hall and concluded with a reception in Goar Park. I was pleased to participate in this event with many Dallas area officials, including State Senator John Carona, State Representative Dan Branch, and former Irving Police Chief Lowell Cannaday.

Following this event, I also attended the Lakewood 4th of July Parade, which has been operating for over 45 years through the neighborhood of Lakewood. The Lakewood Parade features neighborhood families and children and is themed every year—with this year's theme designated as "Lakewood's Favorite Cartoons."

This evening, I plan to attend Richardson's Family 4th of July Celebration in Breckenridge Park to watch fireworks, spend time with my family and constituents, and join in a patriotic salute to our country. I am grateful for the time I have been able to spend in the district and have enjoyed celebrating with my constituents the gift of freedom we have been given as American citizens.

Town Hall Meetings
On Tuesday night, I held a Town Hall meeting in North Dallas to discuss our nation's energy policies and economy. During the meeting, I highlighted my priorities for energy independence:

1. INCREASE PRODUCTION in an environmentally-safe way
-Expand exploration of next generation oil, natural gas, and coal
-Promote clean coal-to-liquid and recover vast oil shale reserves
-Reduce our dependence of foreign and often unfriendly sources

2. DEVELOP NEW, CLEAN, RELIABLE SOURCES
-Non-emission nuclear power
-Renewable solar, wind, and hydroelectric power
-Geothermal power

3. CUT RED TAPE and INCREASE SUPPLY
-Expedite the permitting process
-Improve environmental review
-Remove boutique fuel blends requirements

4. ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
-Increased CAFE standards so cars use fuel more efficiently (H.R. 6)
-Provide tax incentives to make homes and businesses more efficient

A balanced budget and tax relief for a slower economy were also topics of discussion, underscoring the need to end the tax-and-spend policies of the current Congress and eliminate Washington waste.

Earlier on Tuesday, I also had the opportunity to participate in the National Air Transportation Association's Addison Town Hall Meeting with James Coyne, the NATA President. I spoke with members about the rising cost of fuel and its effect on the larger aviation industry, highlighting my legislation, H.R. 6173, to suspend temporarily the excise tax on aviation fuel used in commercial aviation. Especially in times of economic strain, tax relief is critical to facilitating economic growth, including economic stability for the airline industry.

National Federation of the Blind March for Independence
On Wednesday, I participated in the 2nd annual National Federation of the Blind (NFB) March for Independence, beginning at the Hilton Anatole in downtown Dallas and commencing in a ceremony at the AT&T Plaza in the American Airlines Center.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is one of the leading forces in blindness today and has over 50,000 members nationwide. I was honored to participate as an honorary chair of their March for Independence event, and I joined with Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the NFB, and Ed Moy, Director of the U.S. Mint, in kicking off the "Braille Leaders are Readers" Literacy initiative by introducing the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar.

Every year the U.S. Mint makes two commemorative coins authorized by Congress to celebrate and honor important people, places, events or institutions. This coin program began in 1982 and the U.S. Mint has raised more than $420 million in surcharges to help support programs like the Braille literacy initiative. In 2009, one of the two coins produced will be the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar. The coin will go on sale in the spring of 2009, and the NFB is authorized to receive $10 for each silver dollar sold. The design features an image of Louis Braille on the face side of the coin and the word "Braille" in Braille code on the back—the spacing of these letters ensures that the text is identical to printed or written Braille.

As Congress returns to legislative business this following week, I look forward to working with my colleagues to promote energy independence for our nation through increased supply (more American energy production) and reduced demand (alternative energy and efficiency development). The financial security of the American people depends on it.

Have a good weekend.

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