A Weekly e-Newsletter from
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

September 8, 2006

Dear Friends,

This week, President Bush paid a visit to Georgia to speak to guests of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation about the progress we have made securing our nation from terrorists since September 11, 2001.  I was pleased to attend this event, and I strongly agree with the President that we are safer today, five years after the terrible events of 9/11. We are on the offensive against our enemies, with the help of legislation such as the Patriot Act and with the the actions of our brave men and women in uniform. During the August recess, I spoke to a number of organizations on this issue and it is clear to me that the majority of Georgians supports the President’s stance on the War on Terror. Folks from all over the state tell me that they feel we are making great strides in our ongoing efforts to secure our nation. 

A very special treat awaited President Bush, Senator Chambliss and me at the airport when we arrived in Atlanta on Thursday.  We were greeted by the Columbus Northern All-Stars, who won the Little League World Championship on August 28, 2006.  President Bush signed their team ball caps and we congratulated them on their victory and the good sportsmanship they exhibited throughout the tournament.  They are excellent representatives for the state of Georgia and for the United States, and I want to again congratulate the Columbus Northern All-Stars!

Also this week, the Senate resumed consideration of H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations bill and passed the bill on Thursday.  I am pleased with the passage of this bill, as it strengthens national security, addresses important quality-of-life issues for troops and includes funds for weapons systems made in Georgia. Georgia’s military bases and defense systems manufacturers are critical to our national security and have played a key role in the War on Terror, and I am very pleased to see such a strong commitment to them from Washington.  One of our most important duties in Congress is to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to protect our homeland and continue the fight for freedom around the world.  Please click here for highlights of Georgia-related items included in the bill.

This August, I attended and hosted a number of events around Georgia, including events in Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Marietta, McDonough, Perry, Rockmart, Rome, Valdosta and Watkinsville.  In addition to support for the War on Terror, I continue to hear that immigration reform and border security are on the minds of Georgians.  I have continued to fight for my border-security-first amendment as a compromise for immigration reform, and will continue to push to end debate and vote on this issue. 

During August, I hosted a public hearing in Gainesville along with Senator Chambliss and Representative Deal to address the Army Corps of Engineers’ management of Lake Lanier and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basins. Governor Perdue also testified at the hearing. We were all able to ask tough questions of the Corps and we encouraged open communication between the Corps, the state and our local communities.  This week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a biological opinion on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Interim Operations Plan for water releases at Jim Woodruff Dam into the Apalachicola River, saying it would neither affect survival of the four listed species nor preclude their future recovery.  Georgia is still concerned that the Corps is releasing more than the species actually need.  I will continue to facilitate open discussion as we try to resolve this issue.

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

Next week, the Senate will continue debating a Port Security bill.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson