Pickering's Mississippi E-Memo #11

Press Release

Pickering's Mississippi E-Memo
Congressman Chip Pickering
Mississippi - Third District
Monday - 12/13/2004 - #11
www.house.gov/pickering

CAPITOL HILL UPDATE: Last week Congress adjourned after completing several issues including the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act to implement recommendations by the 9/11 Commission to improve our nation's intelligence programs. Also passed was a package of telecommunication measures which made a technical exemption for the Universal Service Fund that prevented every phone user's bill from increasing in January by $1.25 billion nationwide.

PROTECTING OUR BASES: Last week Congressman Pickering cosigned a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with every member of the Mississippi delegation: Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott and Congressmen Roger Wicker, Gene Taylor and Bennie Thompson. The letter discusses the value and missions of the Mississippi military bases and requests the Department of Defense consider the broader network of military resources and investments in the Magnolia State. To read the letter: http://www.house.gov/pickering/Rumsfeld120804.pdf

JUDGE CHARLES PICKERING: US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Charles W. Pickering, Sr. retired last week just moments before the Senate adjourned and his recess appointment expired. The father of Congressman Pickering said in a prepared statement, "I will always be grateful to the people of Mississippi - both black and white, both Democrat and Republican - who supported my confirmation with their prayers, their words of encouragement, letters of support and trips to Washington to speak on my behalf. The people of Mississippi are a constant source of encouragement to me and my family. Most of all I want to express appreciation to my wife who walks with me each day through this journey. Margaret Ann and I are at peace. I look forward to the opportunities to contribute to my State and community in the future. I am blessed by my experiences on the Court and the work of all those who serve the Court and the administration of justice." For his full statement, see Buddy Bynum's column from Saturday's The Meridian Star

INAUGURATION PLANS: The 55th Inauguration of the President of the United States will take place on January 20th, 2005 on the West Front of the United States Capitol at 1:00 p.m. Mississippi Senator Trent Lott is serving as the Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. If you are coming to Washington DC from Mississippi's Third Congressional District and would like tickets, you can contact Kimberly Crowder in Congressman Pickering's Washington DC Office at 202-225-5031. You should leave your name (or group affiliation), address, phone number, e-mail and the number of tickets you will need. Requests to participate in Inauguration Day events for marching bands, marching units, mounted units and other performers are collected by the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee. The Presidential Inaugural Committee selects the participants from the collected requests. For more information on the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee visit: http://www.afic.army.mil and for more general information on President George W. Bush's Second Inauguration visit: http://inaugural.senate.gov online.

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