**Carter Courier**

http://carter.house.gov

March 28, 2008 Volume 6, Issue 04

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

Dear Friends,

I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to spend time at home in the 31st
District during the Easter and St. Patrick's Day recess. I was fortunate
to attend numerous events across the district, including a trip to Fort
Hood to tour the hospital and discuss proposed expansions.

Next week in Congress we will be debating H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and
Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and
Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. This bill will authorize funding
and other strategic plans to help combat several growing epidemics
throughout the world. In the past, there have been attempts to include
provisions that pursue an international pro-choice agenda in legislation
such as this. Should that occur, I am committed to fighting those
provisions and ensuring the rights of the unborn are protected.

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

> Until next week, 

**[OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM:]{.underline}**

**[FIVE YEARS LATER]{.underline}**

This week marks the fifth anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over
the past five years, Iraq has become a nation that lives in freedom, not
fear. The efforts of our men and women in uniform serving in Iraq have
made the World and America safer from terrorists.

I have had the opportunity to visit Iraq four times since the beginning
of the war. During my visits, I have had the great honor of visiting
with our troops from Fort Hood, and I have been able to see first hand
the progress we have made. We owe eternal gratitude to the brave men and
women fighting for the safety of America and the freedom of the Iraqi
people.

Violence has declined throughout Iraq, particularly in Baghdad and
al-Anbar Province. Total civilian deaths and coalition deaths have
dropped by more than 70% since July of 2007, according to the House
Armed Services Committee. Coalition forces have captured or killed
thousands of extremists and key al-Qaeda leaders. This major reduction
in violence has been made possible by the troop surge and the Sunni
rejection of al-Qaeda.

A neighborhood watch program called the "Sons of Iraq" movement is now
90,000 strong and has been the inspiration for other Iraqis to take up
the fight. This neighborhood watch program has helped protect
communities from terrorists and insurgents. During the past year, the
Iraqi government has added its own surge of 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers
and police officers, and the Iraqi government is now responsible for the
security in nine of Iraq's 18 provinces. The increase in Iraqi forces
has also enabled them to become more capable of executing their own
missions.

Political progress is also taking place in Iraq. The Iraqi Council of
Representatives and the Presidency Council are working through key
pieces of legislation that will balance the central government in
Baghdad with the strong local governments. They are also working to pass
election laws and legislation that would set the framework for foreign
investment in Iraq's energy sector.

While the surge has enabled us to reduce the amount of violence, the
stakes in Iraq are still great. We are witnessing the first large scale
Arab uprising against Osama bin Laden and his terror network. Defeating
al-Qaeda in Iraq will show that we are capable of defending liberty and
defeating terrorists.

In the past five years, we have learned that when we pull our forces out
too fast terrorists and extremist step in and spread violence. General
Petraeus has warned that too quick of a withdrawal could result in a
surge in violence again. I believe that we must listen very carefully to
our experts on the ground in Iraq and trust that their advice to
Congress is in the best interest of America, our troops, and the people
of Iraq.

I cannot talk about the success in Iraq without mentioning our troops.
Brave American men and women have fought and sacrificed for the freedom
of the Iraqi people and the War on Terror. Back home, many families are
sacrificing while their loved one serves in Iraq. We should all remember
our military families and be thankful for their contribution to our
freedom. This has been a long struggle -- frankly, longer than many of
us realized. But we owe it to the Iraqi people, and to the memory of
those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to finish the job. Our
military needs to leave Iraq in victory under the American flag, not in
defeat under a white flag. I ask that the residents of the 31st District
continue to show support for these brave souls by flying your flag,
thanking a troop and their family, and letting them know that you stand
behind them.

**[SENIORS AND DISABLED VETERANS SHOULD]{.underline}**

**[FILE A 2007 TAX RETURN TO GET STIMULUS CHECK]{.underline}**

I want to remind local seniors and disabled veterans in the 31st
District of Texas that they must file a 2007 tax return in order to
receive the recently enacted economic stimulus tax rebate.

This spring, more than 130 million Americans will receive a tax rebate
from the federal government as result of the recently enacted economic
stimulus bill. According to the new law, an individual or family with at
least \$3,000 in income, including Social Security and veteran
disability benefits, or that pays at least \$1 in income tax, will
receive a rebate check of at least \$300.

In recent weeks, many seniors and veterans that do not regularly file
income taxes have contacted my office seeking guidance and assistance on
how to properly obtain their tax rebate. I want to remind those
residents, including qualified seniors and disabled veterans that would
not typically file tax forms with the IRS, they must file a 2007 tax
return in order to receive their rebate check.

According to the IRS:

• Those who have already filed a 2007 return reflecting qualifying
income of \$3,000 or more do not have any additional filing requirements
and do not need to do anything more to receive their payments.

• Those who have already filed a 2007 return showing less than \$3,000
in qualifying income and did not list their Social Security, Railroad
Retirement or certain veterans benefits should file a Form 1040X to
amend a tax return in order to qualify for stimulus payment.

• Those who are not required to file a 2007 return but whose total
qualifying income including Social Security, certain Railroad Retirement
and certain veterans' benefits would equal or exceed \$3,000 should file
a return reporting these benefits on Line 14a of Form 1040A or Line 20a
of Form 1040 to establish their eligibility.

Free Tax Help is available to help low-and moderate-income taxpayers and
elderly taxpayers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
provides help to these individuals. Call 1-800-906-9877 to locate the
nearest VITA site.

**[DEMS LATEST FISA BILL DEAD ON ARRIVAL IN THE SENATE]{.underline}**

I recently issued the following statement after Democrats pushed through
a surveillance bill laden with obstacles that prevent our intelligence
community from protecting our country, and gives 4th amendment
protections to foreigners and terrorists. Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid has already said this bill will be dead upon arrival in the Senate.

"Passing a FISA bill that has no chance of becoming law is highly
irresponsible and poses an urgent threat to the security of this
country. For six months now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to
permanently close loopholes in our intelligence laws-outdated laws that
are leaving our intelligence community blind to terrorist communication
abroad.

"Delaying passage of a good intelligence bill has drastically weakened
the ability of our intelligence community to access vital foreign
intelligence information, including the location, intentions and
capabilities of terrorists. Our national security will continue to
weaken as long as Congress insists on playing politics with it.

"Keeping America safe from terrorist attacks is not, and never should
be, a partisan issue. For the sake of our security, I hope the two-week
Easter break will knock some common sense into the Democrat Leadership
and they will bring up the bipartisan Senate bill that arms our
intelligence community with the tools they need to keep us safe."

**[THE MAJORITY'S BLOATED BUDGET]{.underline}**

I recently made the following statement after House Democrats rejected a
budget proposal that balances the budget and keeps taxes low on American
families, and instead passed a budget, which includes a \$683 billion
tax increase for working families and small business owners, refuses to
address the looming crisis in entitlements and increases the deficit for
2009 to \$340 billion.

"By passing this budget today, Democrats are leaving Americans with
nothing but empty pockets and a crushed economy. Taxpayers in Texas will
carry an extra \$2,100 burden in order to pay for the billions in new
government spending the Democrats' budget proposes. The budget is more
than numbers on paper. It is a reflection of our national priorities,
and the Democrats have shown that their priorities lie not with the
taxpayer, but with billions in wasteful government spending."

**[TEMPLE HOUSING AUTHORITY AWARDED]{.underline}**

**[\$62,500 ROSS HUD GRANT]{.underline}**

I was proud to recently announce that the Temple Housing Authority has
been awarded a \$62,500 Resident Opportunities for Self Sufficiency
(ROSS) Resident Service Delivery Models-Elderly Persons with
Disabilities (RSE) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD).

I am proud to represent the Temple Housing Authority and congratulate
them on receiving this grant. As the Representative for Central Texas, I
know what a great impact this grant will have on elderly people who wish
to live independently. This program will provide assistance and services
designed to help elderly people retain their independent living status
as long as possible.