This week, the House is in recess for the Independence Day District Work Period and will reconvene on Monday, July 10, 2006.

Agriculture Summit

Today, I hosted the Northern California Agriculture Summit in Auburn. My featured guest was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. The purpose of the summit was to discuss the 2007 farm bill. Farmers, ranchers, and foresters from throughout the Fourth Congressional District had the unique opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns directly with Secretary Johanns. One of the issues most commonly raised during the discussion was the need to properly manage our national forests so as to improve forest health, reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire, and revitalize the economy in rural communities. Another focus was the need for the farm bill to adequately support growers of specialty crops. Unlike other areas of the country such as the Midwest, California agriculture is based primarily on so-called specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, beef, and almonds.

Secretary Johanns also announced the release of an analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural development programs based on comments he received from thousands of producers during last year’s Farm Bill Forums. These programs are important because promoting the overall well being of America’s rural areas is a critical part of maintaining a healthy farming sector. Rural development initiatives include efforts to increase the development of biomass power generation in rural areas.

On May 23rd, the House passed the agriculture appropriations bill which includes funding for rural development projects across the country for Fiscal Year 2007. Due to my efforts, the measure gives several projects in the Fourth Congressional District priority consideration for financial and technical assistance resources. The local projects highlighted in the bill are: the Greenwood Lake Water Treatment Facility (El Dorado County), the Chester Storm Drain Improvements (Plumas County), the Grizzly Flat Community Center (El Dorado County), the Loyalton Wastewater Treatment Plant (Sierra County), the Colfax Wastewater Treatment Facility (Placer County), the Sierra Lakes County Wastewater Treatment Plant (Placer County), the Grass Valley Emergency Medical Services Station Remodel (Nevada County), and the Cascade Shores Water Treatment Plant (Nevada County). While the local project sponsors will still have to complete all established requirements to access assistance available through the Rural Development Agency, this legislation helps ensure that they will receive the assistance they need.

Missile Defense Needed

While we celebrated American's independence on Tuesday with fireworks displays, the North Korean dictator Kim Jung-Il tried to launch some Taepodong 2 Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles into the sea. Fortunately, this limp attempt at flexing international muscle demonstrated that North Korea has not yet developed the capacity to directly threaten the United States through such weaponry. Unfortunately for the people of North Korea, their general starvation and oppression simply paid for a very expensive fireworks display.

However, what this week’s saber rattling did accomplish was provide hard evidence as to the wisdom of President Reagan in initiating the research and development of a robust missile defense system. While we have a long way yet to go toward attaining real security from potential missile attacks, we have invested heavily in this much needed program. Critics of Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush have argued that all we need is deterrence against foreign threats, or that missile defense is “destabilizing”, or that our system would never work against an all-out assault from a nuclear power like Russia or China. The reality is that rogue states like North Korea are exactly the reason we need to develop and mobilize a full-scale missile defense system as soon as possible. I will continue my work in Congress to support this vital effort.

Quote of the Week

“I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” – Founding Father John Adams writing to his wife, Abigail, foretelling the manner of celebrating the Fourth of July.