At this time of year, I like to recall the famous Norman Rockwell painting, “Freedom from Want,

I am thankful for the freedoms and liberties that we have, with a special thanks to the men and women protecting us from the War on Terror. I am thankful for the farmers and laborers involved in the food chain, helping to prepare the bountiful meals we will enjoy this Thanksgiving. I am thankful for family and friends, and I am thankful for the privilege to serve the fine people of Iowa in the United States Senate. I enjoy what I do.

If a bill I introduced Nov. 15 along with Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) becomes law, more schools would benefit from a program to help retiring military personnel start second careers as school teachers.

My "Troops to Teachers" program was originally created in 1994 to help recent military retirees find teaching positions, especially in math and science. In later years a stipend was added to help the veterans obtain proper accreditation, and a provision was approved to help interested personnel begin working for accreditation prior to leaving the service.

The intention was to increase the pool of available teachers across the country to 'high need' schools (broadly defined), and that's how the Pentagon implemented the program. But when management of the program was moved to the Education Department a few years ago, that Department interpreted the law to define 'high need' much more narrowly, meaning that participants in the program would have to teach in schools with an exceptionally large percentage of students from low-income families. Those schools need extra attention, but only three percent of Wisconsin's school districts (for example) qualify under the Education Department's regulations.

My new bill is a compromise between my original intent and the Education Department's interpretation. My bill ensures that veterans teach in high-need schools first and foremost, but are not locked out of the program based on the geographic makeup of their communities. If, as defined by the Education Department, no high-need school exists within 50 miles of a veteran's home, veterans would be eligible to fulfill their obligations in schools that serve low-income students under the original definition of high-need, which was a school receiving Title I funds.

As I promised in September, GAO on November 17 sent to congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle a list of 36 suggested areas for oversight in the 110th Congress. The list is based on GAO's work, including our High-Risk List and 21st Century Challenges report.

As I said in my transmittal letter: "There are two general themes that support our recommendations. First, we cannot afford to continue business as usual in Washington, given our current deficit and growing long-term fiscal challenges. Second, most of the federal government's current policies, programs, functions, and activities are based on conditions that existed decades ago, are not results-based, and are not well aligned with 21st century realities. Therefore, there is a need to engage in a fundamental review, reprioritization, and re-engineering of the base of government."

GAO stands ready to assist the new Congress in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities, and we believe the areas for inquiry that we include in our correspondence (GAO-07-235R) would be a good place to start.

Congressman Charlie Rangel’s renewed calls for the reinstatement of the military draft, while they might be well intentioned, seem to be nothing more than misguided attempts at criticizing this Administration and its management of the current conflict in Iraq. Congressman Rangel has stated that his legislation is intended to serve as a deterrent to keep Congress and the Administration from entering into wars, and that he believes President Bush would not have invaded Iraq if we had a draft and “members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way.

The holiday season is officially upon us, and while this is a time of year when folks look forward to gathering with family and friends, it is a time when the increased number of travelers on the highways and interstates presents many opportunities for dangerous or fatal accidents.  Sadly, what is intended to be a joyous time of fellowship and blessings can turn tragic.

As a father and a grandfather, I share the concern families have when their loved ones are traveling on the road, and my heart goes out to any family who has suffered an untimely loss as a result of a traffic accident.

Statistics show that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest highway traffic day of the year, and as a way of raising awareness about driver safety, I introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate designating Sunday, November 26, 2006, as “Drive Safer Sunday.

Syria’s relentless campaign of intimidation and destabilization in Lebanon has taken the life of yet another prominent Lebanese democrat. The best answer to this tragedy is for the international community to intensify its commitment to a full and uncompromising investigation of the Hariri assassination and all subsequent political murders in Lebanon, an investigation that Damascus is transparently and ruthlessly trying to prevent.  The UN Security Council should immediately approve a fully empowered international tribunal to investigate these crimes. My colleagues in the U.S. Congress and I firmly support the democratically-elected Lebanese government and all democratic Lebanese.

I am dismayed and distraught over the news of the brutal assassination of Pierre Gemayel. I strongly condemn this brutal act and call for a full and thorough investigation of the matter.

Mr. Gemayel was a leading voice against the Syrian regime's influence in Lebanon. As such, he was a natural target of the Syrian regime and his murder fits this rogue nation's pattern of assassination of Lebanese dissidents and political figures, who seek full Lebanese sovereignty and independence from nefarious outside forces as Syria and Iran.

Mr. Gemayel's murder must serve as a catalyst for the United States to pursue further punitive action against Syria, as called for by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. Moreover, this dastardly act should move the UN to once and for all hold Syria accountable for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, for other such acts of violence, and for terrorist attacks committed by Hezbollah, with Syrian and Iranian assistance.

It is my hope that the international community does not fall prey to Syria's manipulation and accordingly, that they wake up to the reality that Syria and Iran are wolves in sheeps' clothing. They kill, attack, destroy, and sow discord in Lebanon, Iraq, and elsewhere, only to then offer themselves as the solution, so that they may gain yet more power and influence in the region.

This must not be allowed to continue.

It is critical that the 109th Congress stop imminent cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors and hospitals before we adjourn in December.  When the Medicare Modernization Act was signed into law it included provisions to reclassify certain hospitals to higher and fairer reimbursement rate status.  These provisions are set to expire at the end of this calendar year.  For many hospitals, not extending these provisions will put them at a competitive disadvantage and jeopardize their very ability to stay in business.  Similarly, failure to extend other provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act could mean a cut in provider reimbursements by as much as 5 percent.

I have been working hard with my colleagues for several months to ensure that extension of these provisions is passed through Congress before the end of the year.  In fact, I recently authored a letter, also signed by over half of the New Jersey Congressional delegation, to House leadership to urge the addition of the extension of these provisions to our agenda before Congress adjourns next month.  The response has been encouraging, but I will not rest easy until the extensions are in signed into law.  This could be a real crisis for our nation's healthcare system and it must be averted before the adjournment of the 109th Congress.