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

November 10, 2005

Dear Friends,

This week, I co-sponsored two bills to force Congress and the Administration to take steps to cut reckless, wasteful government spending: the Government Reorganization and Program Performance Improvement Act and the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act . The Government Reorganization and Program Performance Improvement Act creates a commission that will require Congress and the Executive Branch to regularly and formally examine whether Federal programs and agencies are achieving desired results for the American people or if these programs should be eliminated. The Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act establishes a bipartisan commission to review federal domestic agencies and programs within agencies in an effort to eliminate federal spending on programs that are duplicative, inefficient, outdated, or failed. The commission would make recommendations for the elimination or realignment of such programs, and Congress would be required to vote on these recommendations.

On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 and in support of the War on Terror and how important it is that America stay the course in Iraq. We must remember today we are not in a war like past wars. We are in the ultimate war between good and evil. The terrorists don’t want to beat us. They want us to lose our resolve so they can rule the world through intimidation. Terrorists don’t want what America has. They don’t want America to have what it has: the First Amendment, freedom of speech, the right to worship as we see fit, the right to bear arms, all the things that would stand in the way of the tyranny they would like to employ around the world. In one year we have caused the Iraqi people to have an interim election, draft a constitution, ratify it and seek a permanent election to elect permanent representatives, something that would have been unthinkable just two or three years ago. On behalf of our men and women in harm’s way, the children they protect, and the dreams and aspirations of Americans for a bright future, I will stay the course as a member of the Senate to support them in the war on terror.

In our debate on the Defense Authorization Act, I co-sponsored a measure to ensure that the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy may legally offer voluntary, non-denominational prayer as an element of their daily activities. The Senate passed the amendment 99-0 and I believe that the young men and women who attend these military schools and are dedicated to ensuring our country can live in freedom, should have the opportunity to participate in a prayer if they so choose.

In addition this week, the Atlanta Regional Commission Chairman visited Washington for a Senate hearing to discuss implementation of air quality standards. I believe the Clear Skies Act, which has been stalled in committee, would be an improvement over the current law and would fix the many of the problems discussed in the hearing. Currently, 60 percent of Georgia’s citizens live in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards. Air quality is a critical issue in our state and this legislation would be a meaningful positive step for many of us in the South to address what has clearly been a problem. ARC Chairman Sam Olens, who testified before the Subcommittee, said that local communities need support from their federal partners in providing effective guidance and the means by which to meet clean air standards in a manner suitable to each region. I also questioned the Acting Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation about the status of Walker and Catoosa counties to meet federal air quality standards. The EPA official said they are considering the counties’ appeal of their nonattainment status. There is nothing these counties can do currently to get out from under nonattainment because of circumstances beyond their control and we want to find a solution to that problem.  

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

Tomorrow the Senate will be in recess in observation of Veterans Day. Next week, the Senate is expected to take up final conference reports on several appropriations bills. 

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson