A Weekly e-Newsletter from
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) 

February 9, 2007 

Dear Friends,                              

This week, I had the honor and privilege to host introduce the Reverend Henry Holley of Marietta to the Unites States Senate, where Holley served as the guest chaplain for Thursday’s session of the United States Senate.  It is a great privilege to know him as a friend, a pastor and a mentor.  Rev. Holley serves as the Director of Asian Affairs for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  In a tradition that dates back to 1789, every session of the Senate opens with prayer, strongly affirming the sovereignty of God. The role of the Senate Chaplain as spiritual advisor and counselor has expanded over the years from a part-time position to a full-time one. The Senate Chaplain is an officer of the Senate. Each month, on the recommendation of senators, the Senate Chaplain invites two clergy members to pray in the Senate as guest chaplains.   

Iraq Resolutions

On Wednesday, I spoke on the Senate floor regarding the various proposed resolutions condemning the President’s strategy in Iraq.  I urged my colleagues to choose success over failure by sending a clear message of support for the President.  Our men and women in the military watch what we say, and what we say on this floor is important. Those resolutions – binding or not – should not send mixed signals.  And there’s another audience that’s listening and that’s our enemies. Those television networks are their intelligence agencies. The messages we send should not be a message that sends a lack of confidence to our troops or to our Commander in Chief.  During more than 20 hours of Foreign Relations hearings on Iraq over the past few weeks, every witness – even those who opposed the President’s strategy – testified that withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would result in thousands of lives lost and an increase in the sectarian violence across the region.  I will support the President. Not out of partisanship. Not out of blind loyalty. I will support the President because the evidence submitted in all of the hearings in Foreign Relations told me we had two choices. We could choose an opportunity to succeed or we could subscribe to a recipe for failure. I choose success and I pray God’s blessings on our men and women in the Armed Forces of the United States. 

SCHIP/ PeachCare Funding

I continue to work every day with Senator Chambliss in trying to find a solution to the funding shortfall facing Georgia and some 16 other states for their State Children’s Health Insurance Program, known in Georgia as PeachCare. Governor Perdue testified in Washington before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee last week on behalf of the 17 states facing a shortfall.  Senator Chambliss and I have been exploring every opportunity to find a solution to the funding shortfall, and we also must re-authorize the program this year to permanently fix a funding formula that penalizes states such as Georgia that do such a good job providing health insurance for underprivileged children.  

Academy Day

Senator Chambliss and I announced our statewide Military Academy Day event in coordination with the Georgia delegation on Saturday, March 24, at Naval Air Station Atlanta from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. to familiarize students with the application and nomination process for applying to the nation’s five service academies. I am honored to once again be able to offer this excellent opportunity to Georgia’s youth.  Many of my former academy nominees have used our Academy Day to decide which service is the right choice for them.  Representatives from all five academies as well as cadets and midshipmen will also be in attendance to explain more about their requirements and expectations and will be available to answer questions.  The event is open to students grades eight through 12.  All attendees must make reservations and must present photo identification at the Atlanta Road checkpoint for admittance because of security restrictions.  All persons who are interested in attending must make a reservation by contacting Nancy Brooks, Academy Director, at (770) 661-0999 or register online at http://isakson.senate.gov/academy-day.htm. All persons who wish to attend must provide their phone number, address and social security number by the registration deadline, which is Thursday, March 15, 2007.                                                                                                                                                   

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

The Senate will debate the Continuing Resolution to provide funding for the federal government through the end of this fiscal year, which ends October 1, 2007.                                              

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson