**Carter Courier**

http://carter.house.gov

October 31, 2006 Volume 4, Issue 37

\*Please note, the text version does NOT include the kids' or coloring
pages due to technical difficulties.

***[LETTER FROM THE CONGRESSMAN]{.underline}***

Dear Friends,

Traveling throughout the District, during the past week I have had the
opportunity to visit students and teachers, local Boys & Girls Clubs,
and the Lions Club. I also met with my Veterans Advisory Council to
discuss the action Congress is taking to protect the interest of our
nation's brave veterans. We also discussed their concerns on a variety
of other issues that affect veterans, and how I can work with my
colleagues to address these concerns.

Last week I was honored to receive the "Protector of Property Rights"
award from the Property Rights Alliance (PRA). I was also named a"True
Blue" Member of Congress by the FRCAction and Focus Action for my
unwavering commitment to the family. Many groups announce their awards
at the end of a Congress to make people aware of the actions of their
Member of Congress. I was honored to receive these awards, and will
continue to protect families as well as the property rights of
individuals.

Until next week,

***[Strong Border Policy Must Be a National Priority]{.underline}***

Illegal immigration has affected Texas for as long as I can remember.
Just about anybody who has lived along the Texas-Mexico border can tell
stories of illegal immigrants crossing their property. The illegal
immigrants who crossed 10-20 years ago were in the U.S. primarily to
work and make money for their families. Illegal immigration and border
security has been a law-and-order issue for border states for years. Now
it is also being recognized throughout the country as an urgent national
security issue.

9/11 changed America forever. If we are to protect the well-being of our
citizens, we must know who is in our country, and the intentions of
those individuals. We must come to the realization that there are
individuals crossing our borders who wish to harm our nation and our way
of life.

I have been a strong proponent of enforcing our immigration laws and
securing our borders. In Congress, we have provided significant funding
and resources to assist in border security efforts.

I was pleased that President Bush recently signed into law the Secure
Fence Act. This bill is critical to keeping our nation and borders
secure by allowing for the construction of a 700 mile fence along the
U.S.-Mexico border. It also mandates that DHS achieve and maintain
operational control over the entire border through a "virtual fence"
that deploys cameras, ground sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and
integrated surveillance technology.

As a member of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee,
I have continually supported funding for border security measures, while
keeping the Department of Homeland Security accountable for its actions.

Significant funding was provided for border security efforts in the
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year
2007. Now law, this act will provide more than \$21 billion for border
protection and immigration enforcement. This includes \$5.2 billion for
the Secure Border Initiative, which will give the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) the technology, personnel, and infrastructure to help
prevent terrorists and other criminals from exploiting our borders and
immigration system.

This bill also provides \$1.2 billion for the construction of a border
fence and other border security measures, including vehicle barriers,
tactical infrastructure, and technology. Although the 700 miles of
fencing required by the Secure Fence Act will take years to build, this
funding will allow the project to begin immediately.

Realizing that additional border patrol agents are needed, this bill
also includes \$2.77 billion for border patrol, allowing for an increase
of 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, brining the total to 14,800.
Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will receive \$4.2
billion for operating costs. Funding is also being made available for
additional ICE detention facilities, immigration verification systems,
and Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security. Finally,
this act includes \$28.2 million to assist state and local efforts to
enforce immigration law.

This bill also included language making it a crime to knowingly
construct, finance, or allow the construction of an unauthorized tunnel
across a U.S. international border. Individuals caught using such a
tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists will
now face penalties of more than 20 years in jail.

Since President Bush took office, funding for border security has more
than doubled -- from \$4.6 billion in 2001 to \$10.4 billion this year.
We have also increased the number of Border Patrol agents from about
9,000 to more than 12,000, with additional 6,000 agents set to join to
the force in the next two years.

I have toured the Texas-Mexico border four times in the past year to
examine operations along the border. The reality is that the border is
no longer safe. In fact, a new report by the House Homeland Security
Committee outlines an alarming rise in the level of criminal cartel
activity, including drug and human smuggling, along the Texas-Mexico
border. The recent border security bills that have been signed into law
will go a long way toward improving our nation's homeland security, but
more needs to be done. Full immigration reform is a complex issue that
cannot be easily resolved. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate
for immediate border security measures followed by common sense
immigration reform.

***[CARTER PRESENTS GRANT TO BOYS AND GIRLDS CLUBS]{.underline}***

***[OF CORYELL COUNTY]{.underline}***

*PHOTO: Last week I had the honor of presenting a check for \$60,000 to
the Boys and Girls Clubs of Coryell County.*

*The federal grant was awarded to the Boys and Girls Clubs through the
Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs. I was pleased to play
a part in securing funds for this valuable organization. The Boys and
Girls Clubs give children throughout Coryell County an opportunity to
learn and succeed, and I thank them for their service.*

***[CARTER REACTS TO 20th STRAIGHT QUARTER OF GDP GROWTH]{.underline}***

Last week's announcement of the 3rd quarter GDP growth marked the 20th
consecutive quarter of economic expansion. This news is another signal
that pro-growth economic policies are benefiting American families.

Since August 2003, the American economy has created more than 6.6
million new jobs, including over 1.7 million jobs in the past 12 months
alone. Real take-home wages are up by 2.2 percent over the past year,
which means an extra \$1,300 for the typical family of four with two
wage earners. Further, the economic growth spurred by tax cuts has
helped reduce the deficit. Tax revenues have soared as the economy has
grown, allowing us to meet our goal of cutting the federal deficit in
half three years ahead of schedule.

These policies are allowing Americans to enjoy a prosperous economy, and
I will continue policies that put money in the hands of individuals, not
Washington bureaucrats.

***[CARTER SUPPORTS BILL TO BETTER DEFEND AGAINST
TERRORISTS]{.underline}***

Before Congress recessed for October, the House passed an important bill
that will help protect our country from future terrorist attacks by
making it easier to monitor terrorist communications. Updating our
surveillance laws is crucial in order to successfully combat 21st
century threats.

The Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act updates the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act to make it technology neutral in the
Internet and cell phone era. The bill also increases congressional
oversight of terrorist surveillance and installs other safeguards to
ensure that Americans' civil liberties are protected.

In multiple polls conducted earlier this year, nearly 70 percent of
Americans strongly support the Terrorist Surveillance Program. Further,
65 percent of Americans believe that investigating terrorist threats and
protecting Americans is a higher priority than protecting privacy.

I will continue to support efforts such as this to strengthen our
homeland security by ensuring that our intelligence agencies have the
tools necessary to stop terrorist plots before they happen.

***[Carter visits Frost Elementary in GEORGETOWN]{.underline}***

*PHOTO: Congressman Carter observes students during Frost Elementary's
Demonstration Day. Carter visited the kindergarten, first, and second
grade classes during his visit.*

***[CONG. CARTER ANNOUNCES GANG PREVENTION FUNDS FOR
TEMPLE]{.underline}***

I was pleased to announce that the Temple Police Department has been
awarded \$14,489 from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Gang
Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program. These funds will
allow the Temple Police Department to expand the GREAT Program to all
sixth grade students at a new middle school campus in the Temple
Independent School District.

The GREAT Program is a valuable tool in keeping our students and
communities safe from the threats of gang related activities. This
federal funding will allow Temple police to continue to reach out to
school children so they avoid gang pressure and youth violence

As a district Judge for more than 20 years, I know the devastating
impact violence can have on the future of our youth. I applaud the City
of Temple for proactively working with our students to keep them from
getting involved in gangs.

The GREAT Program coordinates with federal, regional, state, and local
agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The
goal of the GREAT program is to train law enforcement officers in a
school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to
school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and
anti-violence techniques.