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**Rep. Ed Royce\'s Email Update[\
]{.underline}[www.royce.house.gov](http://www.royce.house.gov/)**

**February 18, 2005**

**[MESSAGE FROM ROYCE:]{.underline}**

\"Capitol Hill was abuzz this week with visits from Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and our very
own Governor Schwarzenegger. On Thursday Rice discussed the 2006
international affairs budget proposal with the House International
Relations Committee, while Greenspan gave his annual monetary policy
report to Congress. The California delegation also had a productive
meeting with Governor Schwarzenegger to discuss some of the ways we can
help to secure California\'s fair share of federal dollars. Congress
will not be in session next week, so I look forward to seeing many of
you around Orange County when I am back at home.\"

**[THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON:]{.underline}**

The following is a list of legislation that the House voted on this
week. Visit [www.congress.gov](http://www.congress.gov/) to look-up
complete legislative information and to learn more about the bills
listed below.

**H.R.27 Job Training Improvement Act of 2005**

> This bill amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to enhance the
> workforce investment system by strengthening one-stop career centers.

######### H.R. 310 Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005

> This bill would increase the penalties for violations by television
> and radio broadcasters for the transmission of obscene, indecent, and
> profane material.

######### H.J.Res. 18 Recognizing Prisoners of War

> This resolution recognizes the historic commitment of the United
> States to the recovery of and full accounting for Americans who are
> prisoners of war or in a missing status.

**H.Res. 91 Honoring Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri**

> This resolution condemns the terrorist bombing attack that occurred on
> February 14, 2005, in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed former Lebanese
> Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and killed and wounded others.

######### S. 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

> This bill amends the procedures that apply to the consideration of
> interstate class actions to assure fairer outcomes for class members
> and defendants. See more about this bill under \"News.\"

**[IN THE WEEK AHEAD:]{.underline}**

Next week Congress will not be in session and will return the week of
February 28th.

**[NEWS:]{.underline}**

# First Intelligence Chief Nominated

> This week President Bush named John Negroponte, a former U.S.
> ambassador to the United Nations and currently the U.S. Ambassador to
> Iraq, to be America\'s first National Intelligence Director.
> Announcing the nomination, Bush said that Negroponte understands
> global intelligence needs because he has had a long career in the
> Foreign Service. Negroponte has also been Ambassador to the
> Philippines, Mexico and Honduras. Following on the recommendations of
> the 9/11 Commission, Congress passed legislation to create this new
> position of National Intelligence Director. In November, President
> Bush signed it into law, making it the most sweeping intelligence
> legislation in over 50 years. The director of national intelligence
> will hold a pre-eminent role in U.S. national security affairs and
> coordinate the work of all 15 U.S. intelligence agencies. The director
> will also make decisions on the budgets for the various intelligence
> agencies. Negroponte\'s nomination will now be subject to confirmation
> by the Senate.

-   **Class Action Reforms Signed Into Law**

> This week the House passed and President Bush signed into law the
> Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 \[S. 5\], which will curtail the
> systematic abuse of our nation\'s class action system. During the
> signing ceremony on Friday, Bush called the bill \"a critical step
> toward ending the lawsuit culture in our country.\" He also pointed
> out that \"junk lawsuits have driven the total cost of America\'s tort
> system to more than \$240 billion a year, greater than any other major
> industrialized nation.\" The bill includes procedural changes to end
> the most serious abuses by allowing more interstate class actions to
> be heard in federal courts, while keeping truly local cases in state
> courts.  This will end a lawyer\'s practice of shopping around for
> sympathetic courts and judges to try their case. The legislation also
> implements a consumer bill of rights that will keep class members from
> being take advantage of. This will curb outrageous settlements, which
> too often benefit only a small number of lawyers and trample the
> rights of the class members. The core provisions of this legislation
> have passed the House in the last three Congresses.

-   **Royce Holds Hearings on Iran and North Korea**

> This week Congressman Royce held his first two hearings as the new
> Chairman of the House Subcommittee on International Terrorism and
> Nonproliferation. Wednesday\'s hearing focused on Iran\'s 25-year
> sponsorship of terrorism. Because of Iran\'s support for terror
> groups, like Hezbollah, the State Department calls Iran the \"most
> active state sponsor of terror.\" The hearing featured personal and
> compelling testimony from two former hostages in Iran, and the sister
> of a Marine who was killed in the 1983 bombing of a Marine Barracks in
> Beirut. Thursday\'s hearing was on the challenge posed by North
> Korea\'s nuclear threat. It was timely because last week, North Korea
> announced that it would withdraw from the six-party negotiations and
> step-up their nuclear production. The hearing examined possible
> solutions for resolving the humanitarian and nuclear crisis in North
> Korea. Click here to read Congressman Royce\'s statement on [Iran\'s
> support for
> terrorism](http://www.royce.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=6841)
> and the [North Korean nuclear
> challenge](http://www.royce.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=6840).

**[ANNOUNCEMENTS:]{.underline}**

-   **March 15: U.S. Service Academy Info Night**

> Congressman Royce will hold his annual U.S. Service Academy
> Information Night on Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at Orange High School at
> 7:00 pm. The meeting will profile each of the four service academies
> that require a Congressional nomination: Military Academy at West
> Point; Naval Academy at Annapolis; Merchant Marine Academy at Kings
> Point; and Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. It is important that
> all students who wish to attend any one of these academies attend this
> meeting\...[Read
> more](http://www.royce.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=1578).

-   **D.C. Office Summer Internship Deadline is April 15th**

> If you or someone you know is interested in applying to become and
> intern in Congressman Royce\'s Washington, D.C. office the deadline
> for applications is Friday, April 15th at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
> Internships are a great learning experience for students who are
> interested in public service and want to see our government in action.
> For more information about internships and to learn how to apply,
> please visit Royce\'s internship webpage at
> [www.royce.house.gov/ConstituentServices/internships.htm](http://www.royce.house.gov/ConstituentServices/internships.htm).

-   **White House to Hold Annual Easter Egg Roll**

> The White House Easter Egg Roll is one of the oldest and most unique
> traditions in Presidential history. It is the largest public
> celebration at the White House. Each year, it is customary for
> Presidents, First Ladies, their children, grandchildren and pets to
> attend the festivities - although the most eagerly anticipated guest
> is always the Easter Bunny. This year\'s Roll will be held Monday,
> March 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the South Lawn of the White House.
> [Click here to find out how to get
> tickets.](http://www.royce.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=1584)

**[ABOUT THIS E-UPDATE:]{.underline}**

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is intended to keep those who sign up informed of the issues going on in
Congress and of impact to the 40th Congressional district.

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