Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Independence Day, 2004
In June, we marked the passing of Ronald Reagan, one of our greatest Presidents and one of the greatest voices for freedom and democracy the world has ever known. President Reagan was a man of principle and purpose. He confronted the Soviet Union as an Evil Empire that must be ended for the sake of all humanity. He brought America from the depths of economic despair to the heights of success. He was a voice of moral principle, a compassionate example of the American spirit, and he will be rightly remembered as one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. Today, in a time of great challenge, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, we should heed President Reagan's words: "Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams."
The Challenge of Iraq
There is no question that the handover of power from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the Iraqi government is an important landmark. By completing the transfer of power ahead of schedule, the coalition and Iraqi government frustrated the attempts of terrorists to disrupt the process, weaken our resolve, and paint America as an aggressor. We have kept our promise to the Iraqi people, and are setting them on the path to be a free and secure nation. The Iraqi people currently enjoy a freedom that they never had under Saddam Hussein, and we already are seeing glimpses of what a free and peace-loving Iraq will mean to the Middle East and the world. We will continue to be the Iraqi people's greatest ally as they accept the responsibility of building a new nation.
Defending Traditional Marriage
This month, the Senate will hold a vote on an amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as solely the union between one man and one woman. For the good of our families and children, I believe we must pass such an amendment.
There are some who still insist, despite what we have seen in Massachusetts and elsewhere, that we should not amend the Constitution. Yet what they are really saying is that radical judges should be able to amend the Constitution, but the people should not. The Constitution is going to be amended either way-the question is now whether that amendment will occur by judicial fiat or by the process spelled out in the Constitution itself-the most democratic process we have in America. The American people, not activist judges, should have the right to decide this critical issue.
Protecting the Rights of Artists
The full Senate has unanimously passed a bill I introduced, the Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, or ART Act, to help combat the growing threat of piracy to consumers, the entertainment industry, and the U.S. economy. It increases penalties for distribution of pre-release copyrighted works, and provides a means for copyright owners to be compensated for economic harm caused by the theft and release of their work. And for the first time, use of camcorders in theaters is criminalized at the federal level. This bipartisan legislation will help stamp out the widespread theft and distribution of copyrighted material.
Freedom of Religious Expression
In June, I held a hearing in the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights to address the problem of hostility towards religious expression in the public square. I strongly believe that government should not discriminate against private expressions of faith, yet that is precisely what we are seeing all across the country. Whether out of ideological motivation, ignorance of the law, or simple fear of litigation, local governments across the nation have repeatedly attempted to banish faith from the public square. Americans should never have to hide their faith. They have the constitutional right to exercise their faith openly - not just at home, but in the public square as well.
Economy Continues to Grow
We continue to see encouraging news about a strong economic recovery. Since last August, over 1.4 million new payroll jobs have been created. Over 1.1 million new jobs have been created in 2004 alone, and if the current pace of job growth for 2004 continues, over 2.8 million jobs will be created this year. A new report indicates that consumer confidence in the U.S. economy is at the highest level in two years. The current national unemployment rate is 5.6 percent, well below the average unemployment rates of the past three decades. And long-term interest rates are now at their lowest levels in over a generation. These are all good signs, and we need to make sure that America and Texas remain the most free market-friendly places on the planet.
Come See Me
If you're traveling to Washington for business or pleasure, I would greatly appreciate the chance to say hello while you're
here. I have an open house in my office, HartSenateOfficeBuilding, Room 625, from 9:00 to 9:30 AM every Tuesday while the Senate is in session, so I can greet and talk with Texans who are here. Please call Denise Pleasant in my office at (202) 224-2934 to let me know you'll be coming.
Best regards,
Senator John Cornyn