With the baby boomers’ retirement fast approaching, these past several years would have been a good time for federal policymakers to put the government’s fiscal house in order by reducing the national debt.  Instead, they expanded it.
At the end of fiscal year 2006, the national debt stood at roughly $4.8 trillion.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that $2.3 trillion, or nearly half of the debt, was the result of tax cuts and spending increases approved by Congress and the Administration since January 2001.

Sad to say, but the nation would be in much better shape today if Congress had left the budget on automatic pilot for the past six years.

Where did that $2.3 trillion go?  A bit over half of it went to tax cuts, and another third went to increased spending for defense, homeland security, and international affairs (primarily the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan), according to CBO data.  Only 6 percent of the $2.3 trillion represents increases in domestic discretionary programs, the part of the budget some have mistakenly claimed is “exploding.

Today, I attended the official bill signing of the U.S./India nuclear deal.  This is truly an historic day for U.S./India relations, and I congratulate the Indian-American community for its dedication to building support for this landmark law.

The most significant comments at today's bill signing came from President Bush when he stated that India is a friend.  I believe this deal best demonstrates this strong bond of friendship that exists between our two nations, one that will only grow stronger in the years to come.

The United States has an important strategic partnership with India, and this civilian nuclear cooperation deal is a critical component to a continued, successful partnership.  The agreement strengthens energy security for the US and India and promotes the development of stable and efficient energy markets in India to ensure adequate and affordable supplies.

This deal is also the foundation of a promising US-India alliance that will serve as a defense against terrorism and nuclear proliferation.  The US has an important stake in ensuring regional stability in South Asia, even as Pakistan continues to produce and test nuclear weapons without proper safeguards.  With the rising power of Communist China in the region and Osama bin Laden continuing to hide in Afghanistan or Pakistan, we need India as our strategic ally, and this deal today furthers that goal.

I wholeheartedly welcome the recent news that the Department of Homeland Security will begin requiring freight railroads and chemical makers to cooperate with the government in formulating rail security strategies.  Time and again terrorists have attacked rail lines around the world and it is up to the federal government to take the lead in making certain that hazardous rail cargo is secure.  It is also critical that in the 110th Congress, we act immediately to pass my comprehensive rail security legislation, which includes increased funding for security technology and police officers on both freight and passenger rail lines.

All Americans are united in our admiration and concern for the soldiers, sailors, and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the holidays, as we cherish time spent with family and friends, we are also aware that many of the brave men and women who are fighting for us will be spending this time of year far from home. There are some practical, personal, and meaningful ways, however, in which you can reach out and say thank you to our soldiers this holiday season.

Not surprisingly, the USO is leading the way in allowing Americans back home to send personal letters, e-mails, and "care packages" to soldiers who used to be strangers by organizing Operation USO Care Package.  This program has delivered a "touch of home" to more than one million service members since 2001. Citizens can sponsor a care package for $25 with a personal message of support and thanks to a service member. For more information, go to www.operationusocarepackage.org. The Department of Defense offers a similar service through an official group called America Supports You (http://www.americasupportsyou.mil).  Care packages can include practical things like microwave popcorn, books, or phone cards. But, in the end, it is the thought that counts most.

By all accounts, the troops appreciate knowing how thankful individuals are for their service abroad. And they are also grateful for the personal touch. As one soldier wrote, "Thank you for the many wonderful things you have sent me. Please let the person responsible for crocheting the hat know that it is a big hit with all the guys. I hope you don't mind but I shared the package with all the guys in my unit. It really helps us over here knowing there is someone back home thinking and worrying about all of us over here."

This year, I urge you to contact the USO or any of the other grassroots organizations dedicated to matching up people with troops in the field. I can't imagine a gift that would be more appreciated this holiday season. Each of us can make a difference in the lives of America's soldiers.

Hypocrisy reigns in the legislative process. The 110th Congress has yet to begin, but Democrats are putting in place plans to deny Republicans the opportunity to fully participate in the legislative process. Their claims of having the “most open and honest government in history

Congresswoman Pelosi and the vast majority of Democrats voted against nearly every piece of critical anti-terrorism legislation that Republicans brought before Congress in the last four years. They voted against border security, tracking terrorist finances, listening to terrorist communications, and against effectively and aggressively interrogating terrorists in custody.

Terrorists are significantly emboldened now that Democrats have a majority in Congress. Unless Democrats reverse their policies 180 degrees, this country is in grave danger of again falling prey to violent attacks of terrorists in the near future. Ultimately, if Congresswoman Pelosi's and many of her Democrat colleagues' present policies remain unchanged, I sincerely believe that America could face nuclear jihad in this generation. It is that serious. The stunning reality is that they either do not understand the nature and gravity of this threat or they lack the will to face and defeat it.

This Holiday Season you can post well wishes to our troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world just by adding a message to my website.

The 2006 “Hometowns to Heroes Project

It seems unfortunate that in order to help desperately poor people, infected with a life-threatening illness, U.S. officials first see a need to help U.S. corporations. We could have done so much more, but instead we missed an untold number of opportunities to extend a hand.

The Center for Public Integrity's “Divine Intervention

It is beyond words how grotesque and how offensive that a nation-state would in the 21st century send an invitation to all of the bigots, racists and anti-Semites of the world to gather for a conference where the sole aim is to incite hatred against Jews.

Iran’s pretense that this conference would somehow shed light on the historical truth of the Holocaust is shattered when one looks at the list of attendees, with the likes of David Duke, the avowed anti-Semite and former Klansman, topping the list. While legitimate historians were not included in the conference, some of the world’s most notorious anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers were given an open microphone to spew hatred and bigotry against Jews with the cameras rolling.

For two days, these anti-Semites, racists and Holocaust soldiers rubbed shoulders with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranian leaders and members of the fringe anti-Israel sect Neturei Karta, the black-garbed Jews who advocate the “dismantling Read more...