News Home
A new year, a strong economy
Washington, DC,
December 1, 2006
As we approach marks of time, it is human nature to reflect on the past and look to the future. As the 109th Congress comes to an end along with the year 2006, we reflect on what has been accomplished and what we anticipate in the future. My first term i
By Congresswoman Virginia Foxx As we approach marks of time, it is human nature to reflect on the past and look to the future. As the 109th Congress comes to an end along with the year 2006, we reflect on what has been accomplished and what we anticipate in the future. My first term in Congress has certainly been an eventful one and a time I will look back upon with mixed emotions. Under Republican leadership, we have seen virtually unprecedented economic growth and strength. While we have certainly made a great deal of progress, we still face many challenges in fighting the Global War on Terror, especially related to the War in Iraq. Our commitment to success must remain steadfast, and we must also continue to adapt to emerging obstacles and stand firm in our resolve to accept nothing but victory. Reflecting on our accomplishments and our disappointments should cause us to think about our political structure and the unique position we have in the world. Americans live in the greatest country in the world, a place where political power can shift without the violence common in some other countries. Our Constitution which has served us well for over 200 years begins "We The People." These three words embody our respect for the power of the people, the reason why we have been successful in the seamless transition of power in our government. We hope this principle will become the norm in countries all over the world. Americans have inherent rights which are not given to us by the government; rather the government is established by the people to protect our rights. Republicans recognize and believe that Americans know how better to spend their money than the government, and we put that philosophy into effect by pushing policies to promote economic growth, small business expansion, pension reform, fiscal accountability and tax relief across the board. Cutting taxes does not mean taking money from the government; it means allowing individuals to keep more of their hard earned money and spend as they see fit. Tax relief and spending restraint are the major reasons that our economy has done so well. Some excellent economic conditions that have resulted along with a few other notable accomplishments of the Republican led 109th Congress include: • 4.4 percent unemployment, the lowest rate in more than five years; Additionally, the 109th Congress accomplished a number of other goals over the past two years. We have taken steps to secure our borders and provide the Administration, intelligence community and our troops the resources they need to fight terrorism effectively. There is a correlation between freedom and economic success and our country proves it every day. Even if people do not always verbalize it, most Americans understand this relationship and believe that freedom is a right of all people. As we go from a Congress led by Republicans to one led by Democrats, my hope is that we will continue the policies which have helped us create a strong and vibrant economy and that we will continue to focus on defending our nation from security threats. Protecting our nation’s security is the number one priority of federal government officials; we must continue to secure our borders, confront nuclear proliferation in rogue nations, defeat terrorism and continue to pursue policies which will ensure that we maintain our freedom and way of life. This is the greatest nation in the world and we must continue to work tirelessly to defend it. 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. ### |