Congressman champions benefits to veterans
JEB HENSARLING R-Dallas

JEB HENSARLING

2007 was an interesting year in Congress, where I fought against amnesty for illegal immigrants, championed increased benefits for our nation's veterans, and labored on behalf of East Texas taxpaying families.

I count the defeat of the immigration amnesty bill (S. 1639) as a major accomp lishment Senate 1639 would have granted amnesty to more than 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States. While it was not considered by the House, I led efforts to win a disapproval vote in the House Republican Conference, which we viewed as a major blow to its chances of passage. America is a nation of immigrants, and I am committed to ensuring that it stays that way, but we must remain a nation of legal immigrants.

East Texas veterans were winners in 2007. This year, I supported H.R. 2642, which included the largest increase in veterans funding in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I have repeatedly called upon the House leadership to bring H.R. 2642 up for a final vote. When they do, and after President Bush signs it into law, veterans and their families can take advantage of more than $18 million per day in funding increases approved by Congress.

Before the House approved the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R. 1538), it accepted the Hensarling Amendment, which was aimed at reducing the length of time between the date a veteran or serviceman requests an appointment with the VA and the date that appointment actually occurs. I also offered an amendment to the 2008 budget that would place a firewall around the $43 billion allocated to the VA so Congress could not use those funds for lower priority programs. In response, the Veterans of Foreign Wars thanked me for my efforts .

This was a tough year for the American taxpayer, primarily because Washington cannot break its tax-and-spend habits. While few taxpayers argue that Washington does not spend enough, the House leadership muscled though the largest tax increase in American history in their 2008 budget to pay for even more. This budget would result in a tax increase of more than $3,000 per American taxpaying family. I opposed this budget and every other tax increase that was considered in the House.

I fought throughout 2007 to rid next year's funding bills of pork barrel spending - a process that lends itself to the triumph of seniority over merit, secrecy over transparency and the special interest over the national interest. I led the efforts of my conservative colleagues to ensure that earmarks in all 2008 spending bills were publicly disclosed along with the member's name who requested them. I offered amendments to strike $6.5 million in pork barrel spending from those bills. There is no reason that a family in East Texas should be forced to fund a Teapot Museum in North Carolina or pay to train future employees of Hollywood movie sets. More spending means higher taxes, and I will oppose efforts to take money out of the pockets of hardworking East Texans to pay for politicians' pet projects.

You can be certain that I will continue my efforts to protect the family budget from the explosive growth of the federal budget in 2008 and will always fight for greater freedom and greater opportunities for East Texas families.

Jeb Hensarling is the Republican U.S. Representative for Texas District 5.