TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2008

1) S. 2457 - A bill to provide for extensions of leases of certain land by Mashantucket Pequot Tribe – PASSED BY VOICE VOTE

2) H.R. 3522 - To ratify a conveyance of a portion of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation to Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, pursuant to the settlement of litigation between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, to authorize issuance of a patent for said lands, and to change the exterior boundary of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation accordingly, and for other purposes – PASSED BY VOICE VOTE

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008

1) H.R. 3513 - Copper Salmon Wilderness Act - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE

2) H.R. 5151 - Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special Places - YES

Dear Friend:

Over the next few months, I will be conducting live town hall meetings by telephone, and I hope you will participate if you are called. This new technology allows thousands of randomly selected District 7 residents to participate in a live, interactive conference call. It is a unique opportunity for me to contact you directly and hear your views on issues that are important to you.

This week, Former President Carter defied the stated foreign policy of the United States by meeting with leaders of Hamas.  This is the same radical terrorist organization that routinely targets Israeli civilians and is dedicated to the destruction of our close friend and ally, Israel.

When a gunman murdered eight students last month in the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva school library in Jerusalem, Hamas rejoiced and pledged that the attack would not be the last.  Hamas plans and executes regular suicide attacks and aims mortar rounds and rockets at Israeli civilians.  Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and Israel and has been condemned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.

Former President Carter should be reminded that he is a private citizen who has no business conducting freelance talks with a terrorist group that the rest of the free world is trying to isolate.  The United States has worked to restrict Hamas’ ability to function while simultaneously supporting our ally, Israel.  By meeting with Hamas, Jimmy Carter undermines our foreign policy in the Middle East and legitimizes Hamas’ positions.  This trip is a painful reminder of Carter’s own disastrous policies toward Iran, which contributed to the 1979 Islamic revolution and the rise of Iranian-backed Shia terrorism.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008

1) H.R. 5813 - To amend Public Law 110-196 to provide for a temporary extension of programs authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 beyond April 18, 2008 - PASSED BY VOICE VOTE

2) Frank Amendment to H.R. 2634 - Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 - YES The amendment passed 424 - 0 (Roll no. 196).

In an El Paso Court House yesterday, Psvaldo Aldrete Davila pleaded guilty to drug charges looming since D.E.A. agents apprehended him last year.  He was charged with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute, once count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. 

Aldrete Davila’s involvement with drug smuggling has shadowed him since his first encounter with border agents Ramos and Compeon in February of 2005.  The two agents shot him as he attempted to flee their apprehension, injuring him in the buttocks, but still allowing his escape back to Mexico.  His abandoned van was discovered shortly after the encounter, containing 743 pounds of marijuana.  

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, this Sunday was the 265th birthday of Thomas Jefferson, one of our Nation's greatest Founding Fathers, and someone who we, I think, as a Nation do not pay enough attention to.

His birthday, unfortunately, went largely unnoticed. And I'm going to take this time on the floor today, Madam Speaker, to honor this great good man, recognize his genius and the application of his core principles as solutions to the core problems our Nation faces today, and in conclusion, to read his first Inaugural Address which was given in this Capitol on March 4, 1801 as a reminder of his genius and as a guideline to really lay out a path for the solutions that we really need as a Nation today.

Today, the House Guest Chaplain is Dr. Charles Simmons, Senior Pastor at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston. Below is Congressman Culberson's one minute speech honoring Dr. Simmons.

MR. CULBERSON: Madame Speaker,

I rise to honor Dr. Charles B. Simmons, our chaplain for the day, who joins us from my hometown of Houston, TX. I have known Reverend Simmons and his family for many years now and am thrilled he was able to lead the House in today’s opening prayer, a tradition that began at the urging of Benjamin Franklin in the infantile days of our nation.

Reverend Simmons is serving in his tenth year as senior minister of Memorial United Methodist Church, and is recognized nationally as a dynamic preacher, dedicated pastor and respected leader among Methodists.