News Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Auth
202-225-2071

By Rep. Virginia Foxx

As I enter into my second year in Congress, I am fortunate to have recently gathered many great ideas on how to continue leading our district, state and country in the right direction.

This week, President Bush delivered a strong State of the Union address and laid out a clear road map for our nation’s future. As the President said, we are living in very challenging times and are facing challenges unlike any we have encountered before. We are winning the War on Terror, decreasing our dependency on foreign oil so we can lower our energy costs and we are addressing other critical issues such as health care and cutting the size of the Federal Government.

The world we live in is changing every minute. It is imperative that we keep up with this change and use technological advancements in an ethical manner to our advantage. America has long been the world leader in innovation and we must continue to keep our competitive edge. We must do so without government interference and unnecessary regulations.

As the President said, keeping America competitive begins with keeping our healthy economy growing. The 4.6 million jobs created in America over the past two and a half years is more than all of the jobs created in the European Union and Japan combined during that same time period. In this rapidly changing world, America must continue to lead the way.

Our district is the home of some of the greatest agricultural, medical, technological and academic advancements being made in the world today. I recently visited Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where they are leading the world in breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, and they are doing it without destroying human life. These scientists and doctors agree with the President that destruction of human life to foster research is not only unnecessary, but it is absolutely wrong. The brilliant minds and hard work being done in the district exemplify the human talent and creativity that make us the greatest nation on earth. We must continue to foster that growth to stay competitive. One great way to do that is to reduce the tax burden on American families and businesses – large and small. Americans deserve to send less of their hard earned dollars to Uncle Sam and spend more on their families, businesses and dreams.

One specific area where we must focus our innovative efforts is on energy consumption. As the President said, “Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.” Our energy demands leave us susceptible to the foreign entanglements that our forefathers warned about. Our economy and national security are directly linked to our energy consumption. By using domestic resources and technological advancements we can greatly improve both.

Another important issue that greatly affects our economy and national security is immigration. I have fought for much stricter enforcement of our immigration laws over the past year and will continue to fight against illegal immigration at all times. We need rigorous enforcement of our immigration laws and I will be working with the White House and my colleagues on the Immigration Reform Caucus to ensure that our borders are secure. The influx of illegal immigrants into our country drains public resources and leaves us susceptible to terrorist attacks.

While our President outlined a positive national agenda, I remain committed to the local needs of my constituents. As I have said before, my philosophy is that the best ideas don’t come from policymakers in Washington, D.C. The best ideas come directly from the real-world experiences of folks right here in Northwest North Carolina. That is why I commute to Washington to vote, but return home every chance I get. The more time I spend with folks in the district, the better I can represent them.

This is the reason I spent the last month and a half working in the district and meeting directly with constituents. I also conducted a “listening tour” throughout each of the district’s 12 counties. These meetings gave me the opportunity to meet with local government officials and community leaders to discuss each county’s priorities for the year.

During the listening tour, we discussed a wide array of issues including economic development, immigration concerns, energy costs, transportation, taxes and the rising costs of health care. The feedback I received on these issues is very important because it is helping me to set goals for the year.

I am constantly seeking my constituents’ opinions and ideas. Please write me or go to my Web site and send me an e-mail. I want to know what issues are important to you. A representative democracy is only as strong as the people who participate in the process. I look forward to hearing from you.

Editor’s Note: Virginia Foxx is a United States Representative from North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District. You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.foxx.house.gov.

###