Lawmaker News

Turkey

May 8, 2006

Months ago, when we planned to visit Ankara, the capitol city of Turkey, on our way back from Iraq, little did we know that our visit would take place in the midst of swirling international developments regarding Iran. I did not imagine that our meetings with the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, would take place while the UN was debating sanctions against Iran.

And I never imagined that our meeting with the General Secretary of Turkey's National Security Council would take place in the same building and in the same conference room where the National Security Advisor of Iran had just concluded a meeting ten minutes earlier. But that's just what happened.

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The Financial Services Committee is holding a hearing this Thursday on my bill, the Credit Union Charter Choice Act. It protects the rights of credit union members to choose a financial charter that best fits their needs.

I put forward this legislation to establish consistent, reasonable guidelines for credit unions converting their charters. The process should be fair, transparent and efficient - while giving credit union members more control over their own destinies.

The bill amends the Federal Credit Union Act regarding conversion of a credit union charter to a mutual savings bank or savings association charter. It would make the conversion process more clearly defined by outlining what a converting credit union must disclose to members and how the conversion vote is held.

This hearing will provide an excellent forum to discuss the conversion issue with industry representatives and experts. I look forward to this opportunity and expect a spirited, constructive debate.

Once again the trial lawyers’ efforts have paid off. The ones who lose the most from today’s vote are expectant mothers and every other American who will continue to see doctors closing their practices and turning away high-risk patients because of sky-high medical liability premiums.

The lack of medical care in certain areas of the country is indisputable. The skyrocketing cost of medical liability premiums is forcing doctors to relocate out of certain areas or stop practicing altogether, and today’s vote will ensure that trend continues. Many Americans will no longer have access to the doctors they know and trust and will be forced to find other options for their care, or not receive any care at all.

I will continue to work so that doctors are able to do what they do best –provide health care and peace of mind to their patients. I hope members of the Senate who opposed a vote on this bill will reconsider so that in the future we can make sure doctors are available when and where they are needed.

Those with Armenian, Jewish and Cambodian heritage, among others, understand all too well what happens when good people remain silent and allow atrocities to continue unabated. Last week, they were among the thousands who attended a rally for those affected by the strife and unrest in Darfur. Although many at the rally had divergent political and economic views, tragic situations have a unique way of compelling many people to speak with one voice.

The Darfur conflict began in February 2003, when rebels launched attacks seeking greater political autonomy. In response, Sudan's Islamic government dispatched troops and pro-government militias known as the Janjaweed to quell the uprising. The militias embarked on a campaign of terror, killing and raping civilians mostly from ethnic groups.

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Chief Justice William Rehnquist served the American people by sitting on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court for over 33 years, first as an Associate Justice, then as Chief Justice. It is important that Congress honor him and his service with a marble bust for the court he loved so dearly. It's a small token of appreciation to a man that dedicated his life to upholding the rule of law of this great nation.

Wasteful, frivolous lawsuits have plunged our country into a crisis in terms of access to quality care. Patients who have been wronged by negligent doctors deserve justice, but limitless and irresponsible awards are forcing good doctors to close their practices and leaving patients in need. The Medical Care Access Protection Act will improve the availability and accessibility of quality medical care for patients throughout the nation.

Our military families make tremendous sacrifices on a daily basis and asking them to now pay nearly double for their prescription medications is simply unthinkable. While the majority has zeroed out the cost of mail order drugs, this fails to take into consideration those families who need their medications immediately. A family with a sick child cannot wait 4 to 5 days for their medications to arrive via mail, and they should not have to pay more for going to their local pharmacist.

In a time of war, making our veterans and their families pay more for the stability of a trusted local pharmacist is simply not a morally responsible plan.

As Chairman of the House Select Education Subcommittee, I recently convened a field hearing in Westerville, Ohio so fellow lawmakers could learn first hand about the local impact of programs for senior citizens authorized under the Older Americans Act. This law is up for renewal, and my subcommittee has jurisdiction over it.

The Older Americans Act is the 1965 federal law governing the organization and delivery of a wide assortment of social services for older Americans.

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Experts have repeatedly told me and members of the Homeland Security committee that our ports are one of our biggest vulnerabilities. The bi-partisan bill I introduced along with other committee members will help build a coordinated approach to maritime and port security across all levels of government and with our overseas trading partners.

In addition to improving our nation’s security, it will expedite trade with foreign governments and businesses, and provide financial assistance to our ports as they strive to strengthen their terrorism prevention and response effort. The enactment of these reforms will ensure that cargo containers entering our ports do not become the Trojan horses of the 21st century.

Sunday morning our day began at 4:00 am as we mustered our delegation for a 20-hour day in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As we approached the C-130 U.S. military aircraft awaiting us on the tarmac, we were issued flack jackets and helmets. We greeted our crew as we walked up the ramp under the tail of the idling aircraft. Next stop: Iraq.

1. Mosul, Iraq

Mosul is in the center of the Nineveh Province, which derives its name from the ancient city of Nineveh, the site of the events recorded in the Book of Jonah.

While this region is steeped in the history of the ancient world, our focus was present-day Mosul, which has become, after a difficult period of insurgent violence, a model for the rest of the Iraq.

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