The President gave his annual

State of the Union address [last week]. In general, the President did

an excellent job of outlining the challenges facing our nation and offering

common sense solutions. I was very impressed with the line the President

took with regards to Iraq.

Saddam Hussein presents a clear

and present danger to the safety of the United States and to the rest

of the world community. President Bush does not desire armed conflict

against Iraq. However, because of Saddam Hussein's record of using weapons

of mass destruction (WMDs) against his own people and against neighboring

nations, and because of his decision not to comply with the United Nations

Security resolution requiring him to disarm, Hussein is choosing to force

military action against his regime.

I also appreciated the President's

resolve in dealing with issues which previous administrations have avoided

or passed on. It is time we resolve the looming crisis confronting Social

Security and Medicare. It is time to provide prescription drug options

to those seniors who do not currently have the means to pay for their

lifesaving medications. It is time to shore up America's faltering retirement

plan by giving young workers the option of investing a portion of their

retirement savings in safe, secure investment plans which will have a

higher rate of return than the current system.

I agree with the President

that we need to accelerate the tax cuts we passed last year so that their

stimulative effect can be felt now, when the economy needs it and when

workers need jobs. If these cuts are a good idea in five years, they are

an even better idea right now.

I will continue to work to

reduce the burden of taxation that costs Americans their hard-earned dollars.

On the Social Security Subcommittee, I will continue to work to pass legislation

to improve the long-term stability of the Social Security program while

protecting the current benefits of seniors.

Reform of the Social Security

system should address the needs of three generations of Americans: those

currently receiving Social Security; those who will reach eligibility

age in the next few years; and the younger generation who have several

years before they will become eligible.

Reform proposals should ensure

that there will be no change to those currently receiving benefits. Individuals,

who will reach Social Security age in the next few years, should be able

to choose to participate in the current system or in the reformed program.

Finally, younger generations

should enjoy the same level of security today's seniors enjoy, with a

wider array of investment options.

As a member of the Ways and

Means Committee, I look forward to the challenges of the year ahead in

enacting meaningful, common-sense measures to provide more Americans with

the freedom to meet their own financial, healthcare and retirement needs.