The passage of my resolution of inquiry was a critically important step forward in protecting the privacy and constitutional rights of millions of Americans who are deeply concerned about the scope and legality of the NSA's domestic surveillance program. I want to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner for his steadfast cooperation and willingness to work in a bipartisan manner to pass this resolution. Bipartisan support for this resolution sends an unequivocal message to Attorney General Gonzalez that stonewalling the Committee's request for information regarding this program is unacceptable. It is unconscionable that the Administration continues to ignore Congress' Constitutional authority to oversee legal safeguards, which were put in place to protect the civil liberties of all Americans. It appears that this Administration has assembled what news reports have called 'the largest database ever amassed in the world' from the telephone records of ordinary Americans, without the lawful supervision of FISA courts. It is clear that this Administration has arrogantly disregarded the law, and we must now immediately hear the legal justification of this program.

I believe that our flag should be afforded our utmost respect and protection.  That's why I am a cosponsor of a measure that would amend the U.S. Constitution, giving Congress the power to prohibit the act of flag desecration.  In fact, I have cosponsored similar amendments in every Congress since I came to the Senate in 1995.  The House of Representatives has passed their version of this amendment in every Congress since 1995 by the necessary two-thirds majority.  The issue, therefore, lies in the hands of the Senate.  We must do what we can to protect this symbol of our nation.

A Health Savings Account, HSA, would cut the social safety net underneath America's Middle Class. HSA is GIA- Go It Alone. Do you forgo car insurance and set aside $100 a month in case you're in an accident?

Would saving $50 a month cover your deductible for a heart transplant, or even a broken arm?

Who but the wealthiest could afford to save enough money to pay the expenses resulting from a serious medical illness or injury before a high deductible policy even kicked in? Of the 46 million Americans without health insurance today, many don't earn enough to benefit from the HSA tax holiday.

A bedrock principle of this nation is to pool resources and share risk, because it benefits us all. That's why we collectively support police, fire, national defense and other services. This would turn back the clock 100 years, when people were wiped out by one moment of misfortune.

In the end, HSAs are about reward, not health care. They are a great tax shelter for the rich. For the rest of us, HSAs are lost revenue for the government, and missed opportunity for the nation.

America's health care crisis is not going to be solved until we create a national program, covering everyone, and sharing the risks as one nation.

When we send Americans to fight a war, our principal goal must be victory. Despite the administration's mismanagement of this war, their early miscalculations that were based on faulty intelligence and their failure to adequately armor and protect our troops, victory must still be our goal. Last year, the Louisiana Guard deployed to Iraq for what turned out to be a very difficult tour of duty. I went to see them in Iraq, and have talked with the leadership since their return. Based on these conversations, as well as my own observations of the circumstances today, I do not believe now is the time to set arbitrary start or end dates for withdrawal. We all want a peaceful and democratic Iraq, guarded and defended by Iraqis, but in my judgment, the disengagement of American forces, when it comes, must be based on protecting American lives, smart strategy and the realities on the ground -- not on arbitrary timetables.

The House passed bill is going to facilitate competition in the cable tv service marketplace and that should lower cable rates. We know competition has worked to lower rates in markets located in Texas, Florida, and Virginia.

Over the past decade we've seen cable bills go up primarily because government regulations make it extremely difficult for new providers to enter a market and compete. The House bill will let new entrants provide service without negotiating individual franchise agreements with each locality in the area they hope to serve. New entrants will have to pay the same franchise fees to local governments as existing providers, carry the same level of public access channels, and local government will continue to have control over rights of way. I had introduced the first franchise reform bill with Rep. Wynn last year and I'm glad to see it push the debate in the right direction and lead to a bill. I hope the Senate will join us on this.

The estate tax reform bill will help local, family-owned businesses and farms - the backbone of communities throughout our country - stay local and family-owned. I have met with small business owners in my district who are facing the prospect of having to sell to giant corporate conglomerates because estate tax burdens prohibit them from passing their companies onto the next generation. Fathers and mothers should be able to pass the farms and businesses that they worked so hard to build onto their children without being unfairly penalized.

This bill is not perfect - I have serious concerns about the fiscal impact of lowering tax rates for estates over $10 million. However, the benefits the estate tax exemption will bring our local, family-owned businesses and farms, and in turn our communities, are worth this current compromise.

This bill also includes a critically important tax provision that will help the Northwest's struggling timber industry, and the more than 45,000 people in my home state who are employed by the forest products industry.

by Michael Franc--Vice President, Government Relations--The Heritage Foundation

The Congressional Budget Office reports that federal revenues are on track to grow 12.8% this year. Last year, revenues grew at an even faster clip - 15.5%.

It's been a long time since federal tax receipts grew at such a torrid pace over a two year period. Back then, a powerful and fleet-footed rookie by the name of Mickey Mantle was trying to replace Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio in centerfield and Humphrey Bogart was pulling down an Oscar for Best Actor in African Queen.

By the end of this fiscal year, tax revenues consume 18.3% of Gross Domestic Product. Remarkably, given all the heated rhetoric about the fiscal devastation wrought by the Bush tax cuts, the tax burden will soon exceed the historical norm of 17.9% that has prevailed since World War II.

Liberals refer to this phenomenon as - "unanticipated revenues." Conservatives simply shrug their shoulders and say "we told you so."

This week the International Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations approved my legislation to assist struggling businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. This bill will contribute to ending Africa's dependence on handouts from the international community. The Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act (HR 4319) makes available professional, technical, and other resources for private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, it offers entrepreneurship training for small and medium enterprises and helps financial institutions build their capacity for risk management.

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I voted against both resolutions because I support setting measurable goals for progress in Iraq and not arbitrary timetables and dates for redeployment. The American people want to see a plan for Iraq. As Nebraska's Senator, I hear from Nebraskans that they want to succeed in Iraq and bring the troops home.

We need to stand up the Iraqi military force, the security force and a functioning government. How many troops do they need in their army? How many do they have now? How soon can we get to the target number? If we can set measurable goals in those areas and work toward them then the American people will better understand what it is we are trying to achieve and how close we are to achieving them. Setting measurable goals, not arbitrary dates for withdrawal, will help the American people realize that our troops won't be there forever and objectives are within reach.