Congress Promises Good Results For Middle Tennesseans

January 5, 2007, In recent years, debates in Washington seemed to produce more partisan bickering than good results. But Middle Tennesseans deserve better. You deserve greater integrity in government, and common-sense proposals that will improve your everyday life. As the new session of Congress convenes, I look forward to returning civility to the Capitol and working together to produce good results for Tennessee families.

I want to see integrity replace the corruption that has undermined trust in the legislative process. The ethics reform package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 4 begins to sever the links between lobbyists and legislation by banning gifts and travel from lobbyists and the organizations that employ them. The package also brings civility back to the Capitol by enacting rules to prevent the arm-twisting and voting abuses that have plagued Congress.

In our first hours, the U.S. House of Representatives also has approved changes that will help to restore fiscal responsibility to Congress. By enacting “pay as you go” budgeting, or PAYGO, we will help to ensure that legislation passed by the House does not increase the nation’s deficit. We must work to reverse the record budget deficits that are passing trillions of dollars in debt to our children and grandchildren. American families must live within their budgets, and it’s time for Congress to do the same.

In the coming days, we will make America safer by implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, make our economy fairer by raising the minimum wage, make college more affordable by cutting the interest rates on student loans, improve health care by requiring Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, and work to achieve energy independence by repealing subsidies to oil companies and investing the savings in renewable energy.

These are not partisan ideas. In fact, each enjoys broad bipartisan support, and congressional leaders will work with members of both parties to secure their passage.

This spirit of civility will also be found at our committee meetings. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, I have a tremendous opportunity to put aside partisanship and work to fight meth abuse in our nation’s communities and ensure America remains competitive by improving our math and science education and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

The American people entrusted this Congress with their hopes and aspirations for themselves, their families and their future. We are prepared to honor that trust, and we will deliver results.

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