**Carter Courier**

http://carter.house.gov

April 18, 2008 Volume 6, Issue 05

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

Dear Friends,

In the past weeks I have had the opportunity to address key issues that
our nation is currently facing. I was fortunate to have the opportunity
to travel to Colombia with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and
other members of Congress to discuss trade issues. I can tell you after
witnessing the progress in Colombia that it is critical we pass the
Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Next week in Congress we will be debating H.R. 5819, a bill to improve
the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer Program. We will also debate H.R. 2830, the Coast
Guard Authorization Bill that will authorize appropriations for FY 2008.

As always, I thank all of you in the 31st District for the opportunity
to serve you in Congress. I look forward to advancing the conservative
principles that make Central Texas so great.

> Until next week, 

**[BORDER SECURITY SHOULD BE A PRIORITY]{.underline}**

Securing our borders is the backbone of our national security, and
something I have dedicated my years in Congress to protecting.
Unfortunately there are those in Congress who don't seem to think it is
a priority.

Porous borders pose a grave threat to the security of America, and to
the economic stability of cities and towns, especially in Texas.
Concerned members from both parties, including myself, believe this
issue demands action now and should not wait for a new president or a
new decade. Unfortunately Nancy Pelosi has stopped legislation that I
have co-sponsored that would protect our borders from coming to the
House floor for a vote and being signed into law. To that end,
Representative Thelma Drake has filed a discharge petition to force a
vote on H.R. 4008, the SAVE Act. This bipartisan bill would address the
security loopholes in our borders. If 218 Members sign the petition,
Democrat leaders will be forced to hold a vote on this bill.

The SAVE Act, which is sponsored by Representative Heath Shuler, a
Democrat, has 145 co-sponsors, including myself and 48 of my Democrat
colleagues. The bill provides for a number of things that will
drastically improve the security of our borders including:

• An increase in border patrol agents by 8,000 over the next five years;
and additional 1,150 ICE agents, 140 Criminal Alien Program officers,
and 250 state and local law enforcement for immigration support.

• Strengthening of alien smuggling penalties.

• Expedited removal of and increased detention facilities for illegal
aliens.

• Authority for additional border infrastructure and aerial
vehicles/surveillance

equipment.

• Strengthened Employer Enforcement: (1) mandates usage of the E-Verify
system which allows employers to make an efficient and accurate check of
a hire's employment eligibility; (2) requires employer/employee
notification of Social Security number mismatches and multiple users;
(3) requires establishment of electronic birth and death registration
databases; (4) penalizes specified employers for failure to correct
information returns; and (5) prohibits employers from deducting from
gross income wages paid to unauthorized aliens.

Not only does this bill help to strengthen our borders immediately, but
it is a good step towards reforming our immigration process. Last year,
I introduced the Secure America for Everyone (SAFE) Act which consists
of four straightforward bills addressing law enforcement, border
security, and a secure ID system, ultimately leading to a practical
immigration process that will make it easier to come into this country
legally and harder to come illegally. Our country was founded on the
principles of freedom and opportunity for all citizens, and I stand
ready to work with my colleagues to create a system that makes sense.

Securing our borders should be at the heart of our national security
strategy. Although we are in an era where common sense legislation too
often gets caught up in partisan gridlock, this is not an issue we can
afford to delay on any further. The American people have called on
Congress repeatedly to act to secure our borders, and the Democratic
Leadership should listen to them.

**[REPUBLICAN LEADERS UNVEIL PRINCIPLES FOR HOUSING
LEGISLATION]{.underline}**

This week, House Republicans unveiled principles for bipartisan housing
legislation. Congress must work together to address the housing crisis
and possible solutions to tackle the economic concerns of middle-class
American families. One thing is certain: raising taxes on the back of an
uncertain economy is irresponsible and will only add to the problem.

These clear, responsible and balanced principles should guide this
debate, and I hope Democrats will agree to work together to craft
legislation that can become law with bipartisan support. I, along with
other Members of the House Republican leadership team unveiled the
following principles for bipartisan housing legislation:

• Support Homeownership. Homeownership is central to the American dream
and a key part of our free economy. We need to keep the dream of
homeownership within reach of middle-class families.

• Jump Start the Housing Market. The best way out of the housing crisis
to get Americans purchasing homes again. The housing market needs a
jump-start, not a bail-out.

• Lower Taxes on Middle-Class Families. Lower taxes on middle-class
families will help increase homeownership. We cannot tax our way to a
housing recovery, and higher taxes on American families will only add to
the middle-class squeeze.

• Help Needy Homeowners Who are Truly Victims. We must address the
threat to our economy and help needy homeowners who are truly victims
without a taxpayer bailout that rewards reckless behavior.

• Reform and Transparency. We must bring reform and transparency to the
housing market and improve our overall economy, as well as ensure that
this situation doesn't become a feeding frenzy of trial lawyers eager to
profit from people's misfortune.

• Fairness for Responsible Homeowners. As a matter of fairness, we
should stand up for Americans who saved and invested responsibly, not
reward reckless behavior at the expense of those who did the right
thing.

• Protection for Taxpayers. We should protect taxpayers from having to
bail out speculators and scam artists.

• Stake in the Outcome. Anyone receiving government assistance should
have to make a financial sacrifice and have a stake in the outcome.

**[PETRAEUS/CROCKER REPORT]{.underline}**

General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered testimony
to the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committee on the status
of our troops' progress in Iraq.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave a very honest and clear
assessment of the situation on the ground in Iraq. There is no doubt
that Iraq is safer and more stable than it was a year ago, and we have
our soldiers to thank for this undeniable success.

As the Representative for Fort Hood, the largest military base in the
nation, I have the privilege of meeting with our soldiers both at home
an on the ground in Iraq. I can tell you that they believe strongly in
their mission and the success they are achieving. Violence in Iraq is
down, and I have witnessed first-hand our American soldiers working with
Iraqi forces to bring their country to a more secure state. Political
reconciliation is coming along slowly, but it is happening. The Iraqi
government has met 12 of the 18 benchmarks, while continuing to make
progress on the remainder of them.

We must realize that the stability of Iraq is fragile and attempt to
pull out our troops prematurely will only devastate the progress being
made in the region, putting the security of our country in grave danger.
General Petraeus is a man of integrity and we owe it to him and our
troops the serious consideration of this report. We also need to send
our men and women in uniform the funds and resources they need to be
both safe and successful.

It is clear we have a choice to make here in Washington. We can
surrender our success, or we can put our political battles aside, work
together to give our troops what they need to succeed, and bring them
home under the American flag, not the white flag of defeat.

**[CEDAR PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT AWARD]{.underline}**

I was proud to announce that the Cedar Park Fire Department has received
an \$18,856 grant for fire prevention education programs. The funding
was awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Assistance to Firefighters Grants
(AFG) program.

These federal funds will be critical to provide fire prevention
education programs in Cedar Park. I thank the Cedar Park firefighters
for their tireless efforts to protect the residents of Cedar Park, and
hope this \$18,856 grant will allow them to better fulfill the fire
protection needs of the community.