The Conaway Chronicle

The Conaway Chronicle
November 14 , 2005 - Volume 1, Issue 17

Thank you for reading The Conaway Chronicle, a weekly review of my activities in Congress. I use this newsletter to let you know what's going on in Washington and what important issues are being debated in Congress.

Last week was another busy one in Washington as we continue to make progress on our 2005 agenda. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 has been in the news a lot this past week. This Act aims to find federal budgetary savings of nearly $54 billion over the next 5 years. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in Congress as we reduce the deficit, reform the government, and renew our commitment to hardworking American taxpayers. This bill will provide a good first step in reducing the deficit and will put us back on the path towards fiscal responsibility.

On Tuesday, I sent a letter out to all of my colleagues in Congress encouraging them to cosponsor my 'No New Federal Programs' resolution. We must be committed to slowing the growth of spending, reforming inefficient programs, and removing burdensome regulations to lower the federal budget deficit. Increasing the size of government with new federal programs could defeat any effort by Congress to reduce federal spending. Our economy will continue to grow and generate rising tax revenues as a result of lower tax rates and sound economic policy. This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that any bill or joint resolution that establishes a new federal program should not only contain an offsetting reduction in spending, but also terminate an existing federal program or programs.

On Thursday, November 3 we received the tragic news of the death of U.S. Army Spc. William Justin Byler of Ballinger. Byler, 23, was killed on October 31, 2005 during a patrol operation in Iraq. He was one of four troops assigned to the 101st Airborne Division killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when a roadside bomb detonated near the Humvee they were in at Mahmudiyah, just south of Baghdad in central Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He put his life on the line to protect and defend our great nation and died a hero. I attended the services on Wednesday.

On Thursday, I was back in Washington for a meeting with Ambassador John Bruton, head of the European Commission Delegation. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Doha Development Agenda and upcoming trade meeting in Hong Kong. The meeting in Hong Kong will give the participants a forum to continue trade discussions regarding manufacturing services and agriculture issues. It was a privilege to meet with Ambassador Bruton, and I look forward to traveling to Hong Kong to continue pushing an agenda that will level the playing field for American farmers and ranchers.

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