This Week In Congress

Statement

Dear Friend,

Welcome to this special edition of "This Week in Congress."

From Washington to Home: Big First Listening Tour Concludes
This morning, I concluded my 13th annual Big First Listening Tour, "From Washington to Home," with a town hall meeting in the community of Home, located in Marshall County. Every year since coming to Congress, I have visited communities in each of the 69 counties of the First Congressional District to learn about issues important to Kansans. The conversations I have at each town hall meeting give me direction in our nation's capital. To date, I have held more than 800 town hall meetings.

In each of the communities I visited during this year's tour, which began in Washington, Kansas, folks shared with me their concerns about the disastrous increase in government spending and the continual growth of the federal government-represented by bailouts, stimulus packages, cap and trade legislation, government intervention in health care and other damaging legislative proposals. While I did not go to Washington, D.C., to be opposed to everything, that has happened often this year. I have voted against every bailout and stimulus package, Cash for Clunkers, cap and trade, financial re-regulation and health care reform. The growth of government, represented by these bills, threatens our way of life in Kansas and makes it more difficult to have prosperity and leave things better for the next generation. With the recent legislation that Congress has passed without my support, I fear our children and grandchildren will have more debt, less freedom, diminished personal responsibility and fewer economic opportunities. Kansans also expressed their frustrations with Republican-Democratic business as usual and a clear desire for common sense and good judgment. I have heard Kansans' concerns and will make sure those in Washington, D.C., understand them as well.

I appreciated meeting with all those who took time out of their day to share their ideas, suggestions and concerns with me during my tour. If you were unable to attend a town hall meeting or have additional thoughts to share with me, please contact me through my Web site.

I am honored to represent Kansans in Congress and look forward to continuing to work hard on your behalf in 2010. Based upon what I heard from Kansans at each town hall meeting, I will return to Washington, D.C., in January committed fully to fighting for what I believe is right for America.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Very truly yours,

Jerry

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