On Thursday, the House passed

the All-American Tax Relief Act of 2003 (H.R. 1308). This bill builds

on the Jobs and Growth Tax Act Of 2003, signed into law in May, and restores

many of the provisions eliminated by the conference committee from the

President's original request.

Specifically, H.R. 1308 will

ensure that the increase of the child tax credit to $1,000 will be available

to tax payers through 2010. Without this change, the child tax credit

will be reduced in 2005. Additionally, H.R. 1308, eliminates the marriage

penalty in the child credit. The phase-out thresholds of the child credit

create a marriage penalty for married couples with incomes over $110,000.

Millions of children are denied the child credit because of this penalty.

This bill eliminates the marriage penalty by raising the phase-out threshold

for married couples to $150,000.

Other provisions of H.R. 1308

provide tax relief and enhance tax fairness for members of the Armed Forces,

suspend the tax-exempt status of designated terrorist organizations, and

provide tax relief for the survivors of astronauts who die on space missions.

Legal Reform

On Thursday, the House of Representatives

passed legislation to protect consumers and business owners from unscrupulous

attorneys. With my strong support, the House passed the Class Action Fairness

Act of 2003 (H.R. 1115) by a 253 to 170 vote.

The act would end the current

practice of trial lawyers who "venue shop" state courts for

class actions seeking the court which they believe will most likely give

them a favorable decision. This measure would mandate federal court treatment

for class actions suits with more than 100 plaintiffs from multiple states

or where the award sought is more than $5 million.

In addition to ending many

of the abuses of our state courts, this legislation also includes the

Consumer Class Action Bill of Rights, which would end many of the abuses

that attorneys often commit against their clients in class action cases.

In class action suits, lawyers often keep large portions of settlements

for themselves, leaving class members with virtually nothing, such as

$1 off coupons in the well-known Blockbuster case. In some cases class

members have actually lost money.

FAA Reauthorization

On Wednesday, with my support,

the House passed H.R. 2115, the Flight 100, Century of Aviation Reauthorization

Act, by a vote of 418 to 8. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation

Administration through 2008 and provides assurances that all the taxes

and revenues coming into the aviation trust fund from passengers and airlines

are used specifically to address airport improvements and air traffic

control modernization efforts.

Protecting Our Nuclear Waste

On Friday, I signed a letter

of support for the continuing development of the Yucca Mountain, Nevada

site as a repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste

and spent nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and its 1987

amendments require the Department of Energy to locate, build, and operate

a specially designed underground disposal facility for used nuclear fuel

and radioactive waste.

There are two nuclear plants

in the state of Georgia, the Hatch Plant in Baxley, and the Vogtle Plant

in Waynesboro, which together house 1,665 metric tons of spent nuclear

fuel.

Locating this dangerous material

in one, isolated location will make it safer and more cost-effective to

guard from terrorists than storing it in scattered locations throughout

the country.

In the wrong hands, this material

could be used by those intent on spreading fear to create a radiological

or "dirty" bomb. While not a nuclear weapon, a dirty bomb can

spread dangerous radioactive material over a large area, causing significant

fear and economic damage.

Additionally, prolonged exposure

to this material can result in a significantly increased cancer risk or,

in cases of extremely high exposure, result in radiation sickness and

even death.

While nuclear power supplies

an estimated 26.7 percent of the electricity generated in the state, and

is a cost-effective and safe way to meet our energy demands, care of the

products used in this production must be taken to prevent them from falling

into the wrong hands.

Happy Birthday USA

Friday morning at Fort McPherson,

Governor Sunny Perdue and I participated in the 228th birthday celebration

of the U.S. Army. This celebration recognized the Army's history, traditions,

and service to the nation.

The Army's birthday theme this

year, "At War and Transforming," took on special meaning following

Operation Iraqi Freedom and continuing Army operations in the global war

on terrorism.

The ceremony acknowledged American

soldiers, active duty, National Guard, and Reserves, who are currently

deployed around the world performing critical national security missions

while the Army transforms for the future.

Gov. Perdue and I thanked the

soldiers, retirees, veterans, and their family members for their service

to Georgia and the nation.