[StBernard] E-Update From Senator David Vitter

[Westley Annis]

IN THIS ISSUE

HOLDING TOWN HALL MEETINGS ACROSS LOUISIANA
PROMOTING HEALTHY RAIL COMPETITION
PROTECTING OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
PARTICIPATING IN THE HISPANIC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 

As March comes to a close I am looking forward to traveling around Louisiana
during the first week of April.  I will be traveling all over the state from
Tallulah to Bastrop to Crowley.  Please check my website to see when I will
be in your area.

Below you can read more about my travels in Louisiana, promoting rail
competition, protecting the second amendment, participating in the Hispanic
Leadership Summit and other key issues for Louisiana families. 

 David Vitter

P.S. - Please feel free to forward the newsletter to your friends, neighbors
and business associates, and encourage them to sign up for their own copy by
visiting my Web site at http://vitter.senate.gov/.  

I recently spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the USS New Orleans.  The
ship was built at Avondale Shipyard in Southeast Louisiana and will support
the Navy's Amphibious Ready Groups.




Holding Town Hall Meetings Across Louisiana 

During the first week of April I will be traveling across Louisiana to hold
town hall meetings
<http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=events/events&Month=4&Year=2007> .  I hold
a town hall meeting in each of Louisiana's 64 parishes every Congress.  I'm
excited to hear the issues and concerns on the minds of the people of in
each parish I visit.  Keeping in touch with Louisiana residents is my top
priority, and town hall meetings are one of the best ways to learn about the
top issues impacting Louisianans. Please visit my website to see when I will
be visiting your area.


Promoting Healthy Rail Competition 

The lack of healthy competition
<http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=PressRoom/VittersView&ID=021dcb9b-62b1-456
c-97bd-12d9b2fa34e9>  on our national rail system has created stifling
prices for rail customers like Louisiana agriculture, utility providers and
chemical manufacturers. These high costs and unreliable services have a
direct impact on jobs they provide and prices for consumers.  Recently I
joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to increase
competition and bring fair prices to our railroad system
<http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=PressRoom/PressItem&ID=008aee95-3207-44be-
ac7d-367a4c4da05b> .  




Protecting Our Second Amendment Rights

I believe one of our most fundamental rights is our right to keep and bear
arms.  It is a constitutional right, and no city, state or district has the
authority to trample an individual's constitutional right.  At the beginning
of March the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia made the
decision to overturn Washington, D.C.'s long-standing handgun ban
<http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=PressRoom/PressItem&ID=45baa187-0c0c-4966-
a8d3-afb8fc4ce1c8> .  This ruling was an important decision for protecting
our Second Amendment rights.

Last year I also authored and passed an amendment that prohibits the use of
any federal Homeland Security dollars for the seizure of firearms based
solely on the declaration of a major disaster or emergency.  In the wake of
Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans confiscated more than 1,000
firearms from private citizens, and my amendment will ensure this doesn't
happen again.


Participating in the Hispanic Leadership Summit 

Recently I visited with prominent Hispanic leaders from Louisiana while they
were attending the National Hispanic Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
The summit focused on policy proposals to create more jobs, ensure economic
development, educate our children, and provide affordable health care.  

This summit brought together leaders of Congress, members of the Bush
administration, and approximately 350 Hispanic leaders from across the
United States to explore ways to more effectively address the most pressing
issues that our country faces.