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

[Westley Annis]

April 27, 2007

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.  

Rep. Baker Again Rejects Troop Withdrawal Language

Congressman Baker voted against the House-Senate Conference Report on the war funding bill that includes a deadline for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq. Click here <http://baker.house.gov/html/release.cfm?id=261>  to view why he supports a swift Presidential veto of this legislation.

Rep. Baker Speaks Out Against Amnesty, Supports Tougher Immigration Legislation

Congressman Baker addressed the House of Representatives on April 25, 2007, to speak about the increasing threats and costs of illegal immigration, particularly in South Louisiana:

		"Madam Speaker, in 1986 the United States Congress passed an Immigration Reform Act. As a result, 2.7 million illegal immigrants were given amnesty. That translated immediately into 2.7 million reasons why anyone who wishes to come here should come here illegally. Last week, in the storm-ravaged Katrina area, 88 illegal immigrants were arrested, 13 of whom had criminal felony convictions. This is no longer just a minor problem. It is a taxpayer tragedy. Limited taxpayer resources are being stretched to meet the repair and rebuilding needs of the Katrina/Rita areas. To have those resources dissipated for those who ignore our law and come here illegally is not only a disservice to the American taxpayer, but to all the immigrants who play by the rules, who abide by American law and come here through the normal immigration process. It is time for this to come to an end. It is no longer an inconvenience. It is a tragedy."

Congressman Baker also added his name as a cosponsor to H.R. 1940, the "Birthright Citizenship Act," which would designate that babies born in the United States are eligible for citizenship only when one of the parents meets one of the following criteria: 

*	He/she is a legal U.S. Citizen; 
*	He/she is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States whose residence is in the United States; or, 
*	He/she is an alien performing active service in the armed forces.

House of Representatives Urges Arab League to Address Genocide in Darfur

Since 2003, more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2 million people have been displaced in Darfur, Sudan. The House of Representatives, the Senate and the Bush Administration have each declared that the atrocities in the Darfur region constitute genocide. Despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, violence against civilians, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers continues unabated. 

On Wednesday, April 25th, Congressman Baker joined his colleagues in the House to call on the League of Arab States to acknowledge and increase their efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur. H.Con.Res.7 also strongly urges the Arab League to accept the United Nations peacekeepers as the best option to enforce the ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure access to humanitarian assistance in Darfur. The resolution asks that the Arab League work with the United Nations, the African Union and the U.S. Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan, Andrew Natsios, to bring about lasting peace and stability to Darfur and the refugee camps. While the Arab League has voiced concern over the developments in Darfur, it has failed to take substantive action and fully cooperate with international efforts to stop the violence.

House of Representatives Approves Resolution Against Child Abuse

On April 24, 2007, the House of Representatives unanimously approved H. Res. 299,  expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect and should continue to work with the states to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect. To learn more about Congressman Baker’s efforts in Congress to fight child abuse, please click here <http://baker.house.gov/html/content.cfm?id=353> . 

Baker supports efforts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education

Congressman Baker voted in support of two separate bills this week to provide enhanced educational opportunities for students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. H.R. 362, the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Technology Scholarship Act," <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:3:./temp/~c110wNuSy7::>  provides grants to institutions of higher learning for scholarships and stipends for math and science majors. H.R. 363, the "Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act," <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:3:./temp/~c110MfCit9::>  provides funding for graduate fellowships and for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering. Both bills were passed by the House of Representatives and will now head to the Senate for consideration. 

New Poll on Congressman Baker’s Website

Be sure to visit Congressman Baker's homepage <http://baker.house.gov/>  to vote on what considerations should drive the rebuilding of the Veterans Hospital in New Orleans.