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I am a strong supporter of environmental stewardship, but the benefits of the Democrat's Cap and Trade plan are too low and the costs to Americans too high.

Cap and trade is one way to attempt to manage pollution - most notably carbon dioxide.  In its current form the Democrats want to force companies who emit pollution to buy permits to release more pollution than what they are allotted.  Those who emit less can sell their unused allotment to others who emit more.  Cap-and-trade has been tried in Europe, and has had no affect whatsoever on CO2 emissions, but it has had a harmful effect on the economy. 

The Democrats are asking consumers to pick up the tab for the cost of their bill.  It's been estimated that the current cap and trade proposal will raise a single household's energy bill by 77 to 129 percent.  That means if you're energy bill is $160 a month, under this bill, it could soar to $390 per month.  It will increase gas prices, food prices, consumer product prices, and the cost of government. 

Even President Obama Admitted "electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket" under his cap-and-trade program (January 2008).  Anyone using a car, public transportation, electricity or any product that involves creating CO2 would face higher prices.  Under this plan families can expect to pay an additional $3,000 in energy costs per year.

The additional costs the Democrats are asking to taxpayers to bear is all done to affect one one-hundredth of a degree in global warming.  Again, the benefits of the Democrat's cap and trade plan are too low and the costs to Americans too high.

We need meaningful solutions, which is why I am a sponsor of the American Energy Act.  This bill will increase American energy production made by American workers, encourage greater efficiency and conservation, and promote the use of clean, alternative fuels. 

As you may know, the downturn in the housing industry is weighing heavily on our economy. Millions of mortgages continue to spike from their introductory "teaser" rates to rates less appealing.  With the nationwide decline in housing prices, many homeowners find themselves owing more than their home is worth leading to additional foreclosures.  Unfortunately, the homeowner is not the only person affected when they lose their house to foreclosure. Because foreclosures often lead to abandoned homes, communities with high foreclosure rates have seen crime rates goes up, tax revenues generated by local governments have declined, and the neighboring property values have decreased. The lenders and investors holding the loan typically take a loss in the event of a foreclosure. For instance, investors typically lose 30% to 50% of the unpaid mortgage balance when a home has to be resold due to foreclosure.

It is in the best interest of everyone involved and the broader economy to stem the tide of foreclosures. In August of 2007, the Hope Now Alliance was established to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. This program is bringing together private companies involved in the current mortgage turmoil to develop a solution that does not reward risky behavior but has the ability to slow down the number of foreclosures.

To date, over 2.3 million loans have been restructured through the Hope Now Alliance. These workouts allow the borrowers to stay in the home and help ease the burden these pending foreclosures have had on our economy.

Additionally, earlier this year six of the largest mortgage servicers in the United States announced Project Lifeline, a targeted outreach to homeowners' 90-days or more delinquent that may lead to a pause in the foreclosure process. This voluntary initiative is intended to reach not only subprime borrowers, but all 90-day delinquent homeowners nationwide with a step-by-step approach to find individual solutions to individual problems.

While these agreements are a step in the right direction, communication is essential. If you are facing a potential foreclosure, it is important to learn about all of the options that are available to you. By calling the Hope Now Alliance (888-995-HOPE), you can receive free confidential counseling about your particular housing concerns from a professional. This 24-hour hotline can provide you with information about Hope Now, Project Lifeline and other available options.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has several programs designed to promote homeownership and avoid foreclosures. HUD recently unveiled the HOPE for Homeowners program that will refinance mortgages for borrowers who are having difficulty making their payments, but can afford a new loan insured by HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  You can reach HUD to get more information on their homeowner assistance programs by visiting their website at www.hud.gov or by calling 800-569-4287.

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, I believe that when it comes to immigration policy, national security should be our main priority. This is why I am focused on a sound border enforcement plan.

I have held hearings to discuss the problem of our porous borders. During a hearing, "Checking Terrorism at the Border," Members heard that terrorists had defrauded America's border security and immigration system, including many since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One of the witnesses, an individual experienced as a top security official in the immigration field, told Members in frank terms that top immigration officials aren't taking seriously their responsibility to counter terrorism. The USCIS, the agency that establishes the immigration status of millions of applicants yearly, remains deeply flawed, which a Government Accountability Office report highlighted.

Knowing of the border vulnerabilities America faces I cosponsored the Secure Fence Act, and strongly supported it when it passed by overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate. The Secure Fence Act requires double fencing and puts a fence where it is needed most -- in areas that have the highest instances of drug smuggling, human smuggling, and gang activity. However, the omnibus spending bill, passed in December 2007, removes the two-tier requirement and the list of locations. The omnibus also puts up numerous bureaucratic and legal hurdles to undermine the fences completion. I voted against the omnibus bill.

I cosponsored the Fence By Date Certain Act which would largely reinstate language included in the Secure Fence Act. The Fence By Date Certain Act would repeal the omnibus language, reinstate provisions of the Secure Fence Act which required 700 miles of double-layered fencing at specific locations along the border, authorize full funding, and require the fence to be built by June 30, 2009.

I am an original cosponsor of the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. I am also on the discharge petition to bring the bill to the floor. This bill will secure America's borders, implement mandatory work authorization verification, and reduce illegal immigration through interior enforcement. This legislation provides the tools and resources necessary to enforce immigration laws.

It requires all employers to verify employee's eligibility to work and sanctions them if they do not do so. It requires mandatory notification of Social Security number mismatches and multiple uses and makes the Department of Homeland Security assess the maximum allowable penalties on employers.

This legislation provides the tools and resources necessary to enforce immigration laws. We must begin to restore the integrity of our nation's borders and reestablish respect for our immigration laws.

To view of a list of immigration related legislation I've cosponsored please, click here.

As you know, Congress is currently debating health care reform. I am concerned about the cost of increased government intervention in health care. Earlier this year the head of the Congressional Budget Office said, "The federal budget is on an unsustainable path…" The recent massive shift toward a government run economy has been expensive. Our budget deficit for this year ($1.6 trillion) will be roughly 13 percent of our GDP; twice the size of any year since WWII. And the ten year deficit is projected to be $9 trillion. Adding another trillion dollar commitment for a government run healthcare plan is irresponsible.

Additionally, government-backed competition in a private market undoubtedly distorts markets, drives out competition and could end up costing taxpayers billions. This is what happened with the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Should a "public option" be inserted into the health care market and perform like other government programs, many Americans could lose their current coverage.

When it comes to health care reform, I believe that we need to help those who need it most, and give individuals choice. Too many families don't have access to affordable, high quality health care, and this needs to change. Simply put, our health care system should put patients first. Patients should be able to get the care they need when they need it and patients and doctors should be making the health care decisions.

I support doing some common-sense changes that will reduce costs, expand access, and increase the quality of care in a way that America can afford. We need to change federal laws to help families keep their health insurance regardless of employment status or a preexisting condition. We need to encourage new and existing local programs to provide all Americans access to affordable health care. We should give states the tools to design innovative programs that make health care coverage more affordable for everyone.

I support letting small businesses band together to purchase high quality health care for their employees at a more affordable price, just as large corporations and unions do. We should also focus on prevention and wellness programs to help avoid serious and costly illnesses. We need to encourage the development of advances in treatments that help people live longer, healthier lives. And finally, we should rein in junk lawsuits that make health care more expensive for everyone.