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

July 13, 2007

Dear Friends,                              

This week, the Senate began debate on the fiscal year 2008 defense authorization bill, which authorizes funds for our nation’s military forces. This debate will continue into next week and is centered around our military mission in Iraq.

On Wednesday, I spoke on the Senate floor in support of U.S. efforts in Iraq and the War on Terror, stressing that it is critical for Congress to give the recent increases in troops a chance to work before advocating a change in strategy in Iraq.  It is important for us to continue to pursue the goals of the recent surge of nearly 30,000 additional troops to Iraq and have a debate not in advance of the facts but after we know the facts as they stand.  We may in fact have to change our strategy, but we owe it to ourselves to do it when our military generals report back in September on our own timetable and not as a retreat.  To declare a retreat today on a time precipitous schedule is wrong for America, it’s wrong for our effort in the war on terror and it strikes a dagger in the heart of our newfound policy of preemption. 

Withdrawing troops before Iraq is fully secure or revealing timelines for the withdrawal of troops would send a message of hope to the terrorists and insurgents that America has lost its will.  During more than 20 hours of Foreign Relations hearings on Iraq, 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.

Wounded Warrior Care Amendment Passes Senate

On Thursday, the Senate passed an amendment I co-sponsored to the fiscal year 2008 defense authorization bill that is designed to enhance the care of wounded warriors.  The amendment provides for the establishment of a comprehensive policy on the care and management of wounded warriors and seeks to address the shortcomings in the government process that facilitates the transfer of wounded soldiers from active duty to veteran status.  This amendment addresses what we have learned regarding the injuries that result from the type of warfare our troops are facing in Iraq. We are saving many more of our wounded warriors on the battlefield, and as a result, we need to make sure we have a structure in place to address their long-term needs here at home.

Border Security

This week, Senator Chambliss and I sent a follow-up letter to President Bush urging him to send an emergency supplemental spending bill to Congress to fund border security.  One month ago, as the U.S. Senate debated an immigration reform bill, we wrote to President Bush and urged that border security be de-coupled from other immigration reform measures.  We also told the president during a meeting with other senators on Capitol Hill that emergency supplemental funds to secure the border will go a long way towards restoring the confidence of the American people in the federal government’s commitment to border security.  

Here is an excerpt from the letter:   

“We believe there is a clear way to regain the trust of the American public in the competency of the federal government to enforce our immigration laws and manage our immigration system: We should prove our abilities with actions rather than make promises. To that end, we believe that you and your administration could alleviate many of the fears of our constituents by calling for an emergency supplemental bill to fully fund the border and interior security initiatives contained in the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007, as well as any outstanding existing authorizations.  Such a move would show your commitment to securing the border first, stopping the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into our nation, and creating a tamper-proof biometric identification card for foreign workers.  It will also work towards restoring the credibility of the federal government on this critical issue.” 

 To read the full text of the letter, click here.

Deficit Forecast Looking Up

The latest economic forecasts show that the federal budget deficit will be $43 billion less than last year, and I credit the tax cuts for helping to boost revenues and foster a strong economy.  The tax policies enacted by Congress and the President have generated unparalleled economic growth, strengthened government revenues and helped to reduce the deficit. The economy has grown for 22 consecutive quarters, and the United States gained more than 8.2 million jobs during the last four years. The current unemployment rate remains at a low 4.5 percent.  These numbers confirm what I have always believed — letting American taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned money pays far better dividends than sending that money to Congress to spend on another government solution. 

However, we must take large and immediate steps to end the reckless spending by the federal government that is threatening the future of our nation.  I believe the Stop Over-Spending (“S.O.S.”) Act that I have co-sponsored would force Congress to become better stewards of taxpayer money.  Among other elements, the S.O.S. Act would implement procedures to automatically slow the rate of growth for mandatory programs if Congress fails to meet deficit reduction targets and would reinstate statutory caps on discretionary spending.   

Tennessee Valley Authority Board

This week President Bush nominated Thomas Gilliland of Blairsville, Ga., to serve on the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.  The TVA delivers power to some 123,000 households in northern Georgia, but no Georgian before Mr. Gilliland has ever been nominated to serve on the TVA board.  The president nominated Mr. Gilliland to fill the vacancy created when Bill Baxter resigned from the board in January.

I originally voiced concern over Georgia’s continued lack of representation on the TVA board in February 2006 when six new nominees to the board were considered before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on which I serve. I exercised my right to block those nominations from final confirmation until each nominee had given him assurances in writing that the interests of Georgia would be represented in some form by the board.

With the nomination of Mr. Gilliland, I feel that President Bush has selected an outstanding candidate who is extremely knowledgeable about the environmental, recreational and power resources provided by the TVA. The TVA has jurisdiction over power issues that are critical to Georgia, and I’m extremely pleased my constituents will finally have a voice on that governing board. 

Georgia Selected as Finalist for Federal Research & Development Facility

On Wednesday, Governor Sonny Perdue, Senator Saxby Chambliss and I announced that Georgia has been included in the short list of candidates for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which named Georgia to a select list of 18 candidates in August 2006, narrowed the field to five states, including Georgia. 

According to DHS, the NBAF would address the federal government’s need for research and development space to meet threats from emerging disease pandemics and bio- and agro-terrorism. The Athens site selected is University of Georgia-owned property on South Milledge Avenue near Whitehall Road, on the southern end of campus used as an extended animal farm for the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. The site is only minutes from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and its Animal Health Research Center, USDA facilities, Merial Ltd. and Athens Technical College, as well as the Athens bypass and connecting highway network.

With the CDC, USDA facilities, our top-ranked health institutions and our research universities, Georgia is the ideal location for the new National Bio and Agro-Defense facility.  This is great news for Georgia and reflects the hard work and preparation of everyone involved. We are committed to continuing the hard work to bring this facility to our state.

New Interns

This week, both my Georgia and Washington, D.C. offices welcomed new interns to our organization.  Among other duties, interns assist with office research, attend official meetings, aid Georgia constituents in the office and on the phones, and give Capitol tours.  Courtney Austin, Graves Englund, Kevin Ewalt, Casey Futrell, Anna Mize, Cami Mercurio, and Matthew Smith are working as our Washington, D.C. interns.  Nishi Kumar and Katy McEver are working as our Atlanta interns.  Harry Saag and Chris Chammoun are full summer fellows in our Washington, D.C. office through a program with the University of Georgia.  I appreciate the hard work and effort our interns provide our office and look forward to working with these bright young people during their time with us. 

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

Next week, the Senate will continue debate on the fiscal year 2008 defense authorization bill.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson