In the early

morning hours of Dec. 20, the House of Representatives passed The Economic

Security and Worker Assistance Act (HR 3529).

This bill is

a comprehensive economic stimulus package that will help America's workers

who have been displaced by the recent economic slowdown and the terrorist

attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Health Care

HR 3529 would

provide access to health care coverage for ALL displaced workers. The

legislation would create a new time-limited tax credit, the Displaced

Worker Health Insurance Tax Credit, which would help offset up to 60 percent

of the costs of health care coverage premiums for individuals and their

families. Displaced workers would have the option of continuing to receive

health care through their former employer-based program, or they could

use the credit assistance to purchase insurance on their own in the marketplace.

This proposal provides the maximum amount of flexibility, giving the maximum

number of displaced workers affordable access to health care coverage.

Unemployment

Insurance

HR 3529 would

also provide additional direct assistance to those who have lost their

jobs since March 15, 2001 - the approximate start of the recession. The

bill extends the availability of unemployment insurance from the typical

26 weeks by offering an additional 13 weeks. The bill transfers $9 billion

in surplus federal unemployment funds to the states in flexible spending

block grants. Under HR 3529, states would have the flexibility to adapt

those funds to their state's specific unemployment needs without increasing

unemployment taxes.

Because of

obstruction and manipulation of the rules by Senate Majority Leader Tom

Daschle, the Senate was prevented from voting on the measure, which had

more than the sufficient support needed to pass had it been voted upon.

Fighting for

American Businesses and their Workers

On Wednesday,

I joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, Rep. Peter

Hoekstra, Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, and other colleagues

at a press conference calling for the reform of Federal Prison Industries.

Joined by representatives from business and labor groups, we expressed

unified support for the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting

Act of 2001 (HR 1577) and called for its consideration and passage by

Congress.

Under current

law, the FPI enjoys an effective monopoly for any federal agency contract

for which it submits a bid. Last week, the House and Senate passed the

Department of Defense Authorization bill (SB 1438), which included an

important provision that will reform the role of Federal Prison Industries

in the DOD procurement process. As a result, the Defense Department will

no longer be subject to the FPI monopoly resulting from FPI's "mandatory

source" authority. This will enable American businesses and their

workers to compete for these contracts and help ensure that our armed

forces have the best product at the best price.

Unfortunately,

American workers and businesses are still handicapped in the open marketplace.

While we have reformed the defense procurement process, FPI still holds

a monopoly over procurement in other federal agencies, costing law-abiding

citizens the opportunity to compete for this work. HR 1577 would help

ensure that not only DOD but all government agencies have access to the

best products at the best price.

In the next

year, I will work with Chairman Sensenbrenner, congressman Hoekstra, and

others to pass HR 1577 so businesses owners and their employees are able

to compete in the open market for government contracts.

House Passes

Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for 2002

On Thursday,

Dec. 20, I supported the fiscal year 2002 Defense Appropriations Act Conference

Report (HR 3338). This was the final appropriations conference report,

and certainly one of the most important, the House needed to pass in order

to complete business for the year. HR 3338 is critical to funding our

military services and providing resources for the dedicated men and women

in uniform fighting to defend our nation.

Important highlights

of this legislation include an emphasis on the necessary resources that

the president and Department of Defense need to successfully engage our

enemies throughout the world in prosecuting the war on terrorism. The

legislation fully supports a military pay increase and increased military

housing allowances requested by our commander-in-chief for our soldiers.

Just as important,

the bill thoroughly supports the Defense Health Program, including the

new "TRICARE for Life" Program for eligible, over-65, military

retirees. This legislation addresses the critical needs of our military,

and will ensure that they remain the most dominant fighting force in the

world. The conference report is expected to be passed by the Senate and

sent to the president for signature in the coming days.

As we celebrate

the birth of Christ, let us remember those who have lost loved ones so

recently, and please keep our leaders in your prayers. May you and your

family have a joyous Christmas this year.