I write today to update you on recent legislative activities in the United States Congress. I appreciate the opportunity to contact you.
Protecting Children from Online Predators
This month, I hosted three special programs for 8th District parents to help them keep their children safe from predators roaming the Internet in search of young victims.
Sadly, online predators are targeting our children and using the anonymity of the cyber-world to victimize millions of them. As the father of two, I am well aware of how much our children enjoy the ability to find information, do their homework, and talk with friends or play games on the computer. But there are very sophisticated criminals who have learned how to use the same computers and communications technology to get at our children in ways that are both shocking and frightening.
As parents, we are the first line of defense against these predators and the harm they do to our children.
That is why I recently hosted three training sessions for parents featuring cyber crime experts from the FBI, the local sheriff’s departments, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
These sessions gave parents an opportunity to interact with and learn from experts who have been cracking down on online predators for years. The sessions also helped train parents how to recognize the danger signs, how to report concerns to authorities, and most importantly, how to keep their children safe from dangerous criminals on the internet.
For a news report on these sessions from WLNS in Lansing, please click here.
Fighting Illegal Immigration and Securing Our Borders
Recently, I was upset to learn that the Governor of New York announced a plan to allow illegal immigrants to obtain New York State drivers’ licenses. I believe providing an official government-issued identification to individuals who are here illegally rewards those who disrespect our nation’s immigration laws and threatens our national security.
Because of my concerns with this dangerous proposal, I co-authored a resolution in Congress condemning drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants. This resolution, H. Res. 800, expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that states should not issue government-issued photo identification to aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States.
I am pleased to report that only eight days after this resolution was introduced to Congress, with strong support from my colleagues in the House, the Governor of New York announced that he would abandon his attempt to give drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants.
Rest assured, as Congress considers immigration issues this year, I will remain vigilant and oppose any measure giving amnesty to illegal aliens. Furthermore, I will not support any measure that threatens our national security or reduces our nation's critical border enforcement efforts. Instead, I will continue working to strengthen our border patrol and beef up immigration enforcement efforts across the country.
To read more about this issue, please click here.
Medicare Prescription Coverage Season Opens
In Michigan, November 15 is known as the first day for hunting deer with guns, but across America the date has taken on a different significance for senior citizens as the opening of the season to sign up for the Medicare prescription drug coverage.
The Medicare prescription drug program has proven to be very popular with seniors, including 1.3 million Michigan seniors among the more than 34 million nationwide receiving prescription drug coverage of the popular plan. Surveys continue to show that 80 percent of Medicare beneficiaries like the prescription drug coverage which is saving seniors and average of $1,200 a year.
The open season to sign up as a new participant or to switch to a new plan is from November 15 until December 31. Seniors needing assistance with the prescription drug coverage sign-up process may compare 2008 plans at http://www.medicare.gov/ or at 1-800-MEDICARE. Assistance is also available from staff in my Lansing office at 1-866-333-6453 or 517-702-8000.
I appreciate your continued interest in the legislative activities of your U.S. Congress. As always, should you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me know.