[StBernard] E-Update 2-2-09

[Westley Annis]

e-update
2.2.09 <http://www.vitter.senate.gov> 


IN THIS ISSUE 


WORKING TO BRING THE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND TO BARKSDALE
ANNOUNCING NEW COMMITEEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE 111TH CONGRESS
VISITING THE GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION FACILITY 


On January 20th we witnessed our government's transfer of power, and
Louisianans from all over the state came to Washington, DC, to see the
inauguration of President Obama.  Since then, the Senate announced new
committee assignments, and Louisiana received some optimistic news regarding
Barksdale Air Force Base.

This week I joined some of my Republican colleagues on a Congressional
Delegation trip to Guantanamo Bay where we had the opportunity to inspect
the detention facility that houses a number of suspected terrorists.
President Obama recently announced his intent to close this facility, and I
have serious concerns about what will then happen to these individuals. The
last thing we want is for them to be allowed to enter the United States.

You can read about these and other issues I've been working on in the U.S.
Senate below.

 

 

 David Vitter Signature

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 applauded the announcements by the Secretary of the Air Force that
Barksdale Air Force Base is being considered for the permanent location of
the Global Strike Command and that Barksdale is one of six locations in the
running for the Cyberspace Numbered Air Force.

This decision to consider Barksdale for these missions is great news for
Northwest Louisiana. In my numerous meetings with the Air Force over the
past few years, I have consistently touted the strengths of Barksdale, and
these announcements are proof that the Air Force recognizes the strong
capabilities that Barksdale offers in cyber and nuclear enterprise.
Barksdale is such an important part of Northwest Louisiana, and these
programs would only increase that presence both economically and militarily.
It is exciting to see Barksdale as a leader in 21st century warfare.

 

ANNOUNCING NEW COMMITEEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE 111TH CONGRESS

I was pleased to be named to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing
and Urban Affairs when new committee assignments were announced in January.
This committee has jurisdiction over our financial industry as well as
housing and other important initiatives to Louisianans.  I pushed hard to
get a seat on the U.S. Senate Banking committee to be a voice for the
taxpayers back home, and I look forward to building on my work to block the
Senate's approval of the automotive bailout and to incorporate more
transparency into the TARP fund.

I also secured a position on the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Louisiana has a large and proud military history, and with this position on
the Senate Armed Services Committee I plan on taking an active role in
making sure that our brave men and women in service have a voice in the
legislative process.  

I will keep my positions on the U.S. Senate Committees on Commerce, Science
and Transportation; Environment and Public Works and Small Business and
Entrepreneurship.  These committees are important to our fight for important
hurricane and flood protection measures and help me make a positive impact
on legislation affecting Louisiana's infrastructure and economy.

 

VISITING THE GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION FACILITY 

This week I joined U.S. Sen. James Inhofe and other members of Congress on a
Congressional Delegation to the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.  In
recent days, I have expressed my concerns over President Obama's executive
order to close in approximately one year the Guantanamo Bay detention
facility, which currently houses enemy combatants and suspected terrorists.
This facility should not be closed, and these individuals should not be
released until we can determine the extent of their potential involvement in
terrorist activities.  And we most certainly should use every available
measure to ensure that they do not make their way into the United States if
in fact they are released.

I recently introduced a bill that would prevent detainees from Guantanamo
Bay from being admitted into the United States.  The bill provides that no
court of the United States may order the release or parole into America of
any alien detained as an enemy combatant by the United States at Guantanamo
Bay.  As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Border Security and Enforcement First
Caucus, I have great concerns about the possibility of allowing into the
United States individuals who were, and will likely remain, a threat to
homeland security.  We most certainly do not want a policy where we legally
admit terrorists, or suspected terrorists, into our country.  My legislation
would prevent that.