[StBernard] Washington Report from Rep. Richard H Baker

[Westley Annis]

November 9, 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.

Congress Overrides WRDA Veto

After 7 years of negotiations, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA), legislation that authorizes billions of dollars for Louisiana flood control, hurricane protection, coastal restoration, waterway improvements, and ecosystem rehabilitation projects, has finally become law. Congressman Baker, who is the ranking Republican member of the Water Resources subcommittee and served as a lead House negotiator on the House-Senate conference committee that authored WRDA, issued the following statement:

"I am pleased that WRDA cleared the final hurdle today, setting the stage for the vital, comprehensive coastal and ecosystem restoration that our state needs. This legislation also authorizes over $330 million for projects in the Sixth District of Louisiana and creates an immediate savings of $20 million for East Baton Rouge flood control, providing the opportunity to move forward on numerous infrastructure projects right here at home. I stand ready to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make these important projects a reality."

Peru Free Trade Agreement Passes House

On Thursday the House passed the Peru Free Trade Agreement by a vote of 285 to 132. Congressman Baker supported this legislation, which has real economic benefits for U.S. agriculture, consumers, and businesses. Currently over 98 percent of Peru's exports to the United States enter duty-free. Upon implementation of this agreement, 80 percent of consumer and industrial products and more than two-thirds of U.S. farm exports to Peru will become duty-free immediately. This agreement is particularly good news for Louisiana as our state ranks third in the nation in exports to Peru.

Rep. Baker Lauds House Passage of Defense Appropriations Conference Report, Announces Funding for Baton Rouge Area Projects

This week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3222, the fiscal year 2008 Defense Appropriations Conference Report. H.R. 3222 has also passed the Senate and will be sent to President Bush who is expected to sign it into law. Key components of this legislation include a 3.5 percent military pay raise, funding increases for defense health programs, $1.1 billion for troop body armor and mine-resistance vehicles, increases in funding for military family support efforts, and $980 million for National Guard equipment.

This important legislation also includes $3.5 million for Baton Rouge area projects and $3 billion for the Road Home program specifically. H.R. 3222 also provides funding for the following local initiatives:

	*	Pennington Biomedical Research Center - $2 million for "Four Tasks to Address Personnel Readiness and Warfighter Performance"
	*	Louisiana State University - $1.5 million through the United States Air Force (USAF) Minority Leaders Program
	*	Innovative Emergency Management (IEM) - $1 million for "Capabilities Study for IED Detection"

Click here to learn more about H.R. 3222. <http://www.baker.house.gov/html/news_item.cfm?id=714> 

Rep. Baker Votes to Protect the Rights of Religious Schools and Organizations

After receiving many phone calls and letters expressing opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act also known as ENDA, Congressman Baker voted against the measure in the House of Representatives this week. Congressman Baker voted against final passage but in favor of two amendments that protected the employment practices of religious schools and organizations from government regulation. The measure passed the House and awaits further action in the Senate.

Rep. Baker Urges House Democrats to Pass Spending Bill for Veterans’ Health and Benefits

Earlier this week, Rep. Baker co-sponsored legislation that provides the highest level of funding for the VA in the history of the agency: $87.5 billion in total funding, including $43 billion in discretionary funding, which pays for veterans’ health care programs. The bill, H.R. 4104, was introduced in response to House Democratic leaders’ unwillingness to advance veterans' funding as a stand alone measure. House Democratic leaders who control the legislative calendar have been unwilling to finalize a veterans' funding bill in an effort to use its popularity to promote less popular spending programs. 

Rep. Baker, a senior Member of the House Veterans’ Committee, stated, "The FY08 VA budget as passed by both the House and Senate includes unprecedented funding for veterans’ health care and benefits programs. The VA forgoes $18.5 million in funding for each day that this bill is not signed into law. Millions of veterans depend on the services provided by the VA, and we do them a disservice by delaying much-needed additional funding for that department."

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both American men and women. The American Cancer Society estimates that 213,380 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007.  Rep. Baker continues to be a strong supporter of the National Institutes of Health, which funds research and treatment of cancer.  In September 2006, Rep. Baker met with representatives from the Louisiana Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and during that meeting, he pledged his support for cancer research and advocacy by signing the Congressional Cancer Promise. 

Visit the National Cancer Institute’s website at www.cancer.gov <http://www.cancer.gov/>  to learn more about different types of cancer and to read about how you can help increase awareness of cancer. Also, visit the Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge at www.cancerservices.org <http://www.cancerservices.org/> . Rep. Baker applauds the service and commitment of those in the cancer care community in the Greater Baton Rouge area.