Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn
June 2004
As Texans and all Americans this week gathered together to mark Memorial Day, we were reminded that we continue to face challenges the likes of which we've never seen before. And in this historic time, it is important that we are united as we pay tribute to the honored dead, those young men and women who fell in the line of duty on the field of battle. We inherit the cause they served, the task of ensuring that the freedom they won is just and lasting - we owe them nothing less. We will not walk away from their graves, and we will not give up the ground they won. And years from now, when our grandchildren see those names etched in stone and ask why these brave men and women gave their lives, the answer must ring sound and true: "For liberty, for justice, for America."
Iraq and the War on Terror
I met with President Bush this past month, and I am proud to say that the President has made it clear, if anyone had a doubt, that he is absolutely determined to finish the job in Iraq. We will use every resource at our disposal to achieve that goal. I'm proud of the job the Texas military men and women are doing in this effort and the sacrifices they are making. I've now traveled to 16 of the 17 military installations in Texas, and witnessed first hand the courage, dedication and sacrifice of our Texas troops, and the sacrifices their families make.
Even the most extreme critics of the war on terror cannot deny that the world is a safer place thanks to U.S. and international efforts to find and remove terrorists around the globe. The world is safer with the Taliban out of power in Afghanistan, with Hussein and his thugs in a prison rather than a palace, and with Osama bin Laden working from a cave rather than from the safeguards of state sponsorship. And for the millions of Iraqis and Afghans who have been liberated, the world is undoubtedly a much safer place. We all must recognize that the world has changed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Our nation, as always, seeks peaceful avenues before resorting to the use of force - but we will not hesitate to act in self-defense when we see a threat on the horizon. We will no longer wait and sit on our hands while our enemies gather together to arm for war.
Defending Traditional Marriage
On May 17, Massachusetts began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples - the first time in U.S. history this is happening. This does not come as the result of a vote of the people of Massachusetts, but out of the 4-3 ruling of the Massachusetts top court. We have now reached the point of no return - since Massachusetts has crossed the line, people in every state will try to justify same-sex marriage, and a lawsuit has already been filed to bring down the bipartisan 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. I strongly believe that traditional marriage is too important to leave to activist judges run amok.
We must defend it through a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. 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. As elected representatives, we have a duty to let the American people decide this important issue.
Improving Health Care for the Uninsured
I was proud to participate in the Senate Republican Task Force on Health Care Costs and the Uninsured, and I believe we achieved some real progress toward finding effective, workable health care solutions for the uninsured. Estimates tell us that more than 20 million Americans are uninsured for more than one year. Some choose that path - they've chosen to buy their health care more directly. Yet we all recognize that there are many other Americans who are uninsured not out of choice, but because they lack the economic means. The costs of those in Texas with no health insurance are passed on to everyone.
All too often, the uninsured go straight to emergency rooms - the most expensive place to treat patients. So it is important that we strengthen and preserve the health care safety net that our poorest citizens have come to rely on. The task force policy recommendations are a common-sense attempt to be good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars, while providing the staffing, legal protection, and resources that are needed to ensure accessible and dependable to health care for those who need it most.
Jobs and Economic Growth
We continue to see more encouraging news about the economic recovery. The Commerce Department announced that first quarter GDP has been revised upward from initial estimates and the Labor Department reported jobless claims down. In Texas, unemployment fell again and more jobs were created. This is all good news, and I believe that we in government need to do more to help entrepreneurs and small businesses by passing comprehensive lawsuit abuse reform, lowering the tax burden, and acting to stop rising health care costs. 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, Hart Senate Office Building , Room 625, from 9:00 to 9:30 AM every Tuesday while Congress 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