[StBernard] Washington Report from Rep. Richard H. Baker

[Westley Annis]

September 8, 2006

Thank you for signing up for Congressman Baker's newsletter. Below are issue updates that you may find interesting. As always, please visit his website at http://www.baker.house.gov <http://www.baker.house.gov/>  for the most up-to-date news and information on what Congressman Baker is working on in the Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana.

One-Year Anniversary of the Energy Policy Act

A year ago Congress passed landmark legislation to overhaul America ’s energy policy. To learn more about the Energy Policy Act and its effects on energy supply and costs, click here <http://www.energy.gov/about/EPAct.htm> .  Also visit Congressman Baker’s Energy Page <http://www.baker.house.gov/html/content.cfm?id=241>  to learn more about new federal initiatives to increase energy supply and decrease energy costs. The page also includes up-to-the minute energy news.

Baker Supports College Saving Plans   

Signed into law by President Bush on August 17, 2006, the Pension Protection Act (H.R. 4) included an extension of the federal tax exemptions for college savings plans – allowing earnings on investments in state-sponsored plans to be used towards college costs tax free. As college costs continue to rise and higher education becomes more necessary than ever before, the extension of these benefits will pay dividends for generations to come. To learn more about Louisiana ’s college saving plan, please click here <http://www.startsaving.la.gov/savings/index-fl.jsp> . 

Be a Part of the Tiger Battalion!   

Over 200 students each year from LSU and surrounding universities in southern Louisiana participate in Army ROTC courses. Freshmen and sophomore Military Science courses at LSU, UL, SLU, and BRCC introduce students to the opportunities available as Army officers and provide training in leadership, ethics, military history, and land navigation, as well as several other subjects – with no military obligation. Learn more about opportunities available through Army ROTC by clicking here <http://baker.house.gov/files/ROTC.doc> , or visit the LSU Department of Military Science and Leadership at www.lsu.edu/milscience <http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/milscience.nsf/index> .

LSU Wins Energy Grant

As authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and as part of the President’s goal to popularize clean, abundant hydrogen as a fuel for the future, LSU has been awarded a $2.25 million grant to research the hydrogen gasification of coal. At a time when oil and natural gas are more expensive than ever, LSU is taking the lead to explore alternative fuel sources for the future. 

Gas Prices Still High 

Peak driving season is over, but gas prices remain historically high. Visit the Department of Energy’s web page on gas savings <http://www.energy.gov/3464.htm> . Also visit Congressman Baker’s Energy Page <http://www.baker.house.gov/html/content.cfm?id=241>  to learn more about new federal initiatives to increase energy supply and decrease energy costs. The page also includes up-to-the minute energy news. 

Pennington Awarded Research Grant

The world renowned Pennington Biomedical Research Center <http://www.pbrc.edu/index.asp>   was awarded a $1.5 million research grant for their project “Mentoring Obesity and Diabetes Research in Louisiana .”  Congressman Baker has long been an advocate of the pioneering research achieved at Pennington. Congressman Baker helped designate Pennington as a USDA Nutrition Center <http://baker.house.gov/html/release.cfm?id=49> , a recognition shared by only seven other research institutions in the country.