Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

With so many complex issues facing our nation, I was grateful for the opportunity to return to Texas to meet with people across the state and listen to their concerns about what is happening in Washington, how these issues affect them and what common-sense ideas they have for how best to address them.

Just before recess, the Senate passed President Obama’s budget without any bipartisan support. Along with all of my Republican colleagues, I voted against the budget that spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much. The budget represents a missed opportunity for Congress to put policies in place that will encourage economic recovery, foster opportunities for Texans and all Americans, and prevent future generations from inheriting insurmountable debt.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the President’s budget is his proposal to limit the deduction for charitable contributions, which could cost charities and non-profit organizations nationwide anywhere from $4 billion to $9 billion annually. Last week I hosted a roundtable in Austin, where I met with representatives from local non-profit organizations at Meals on Wheels and More to hear their concerns about the President’s proposal. While I worked with both Senate Democrats and Republicans to reject the President’s proposal during the budget debate earlier this month, this does not mean Congress will not consider the President’s proposal in the future. Given today’s economic climate and with so many Americans hurting and in need of assistance, we should instead encourage charitable giving.

The economic downturn has led to greater demand for charitable services and placed a strain of many of these organizations already operating on limited resources. Homeless shelters across the state have seen a marked increase in the number of people seeking help. This week in Fort Worth, I am meeting with Mayor Mike Moncrief and other local officials who have been successful in reducing homelessness in their community. I hope to learn the keys to their success and share that with other cities and communities throughout Texas.

While Americans participate  in the annual practice of filling out their federal taxes, I’m looking forward to meeting with the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission Chair and Vice-Chair at the State Capitol in Austin to discuss our shared goal of stamping out government waste. I will be announcing introduction of my legislation to help save more of taxpayers’ hard-earned money. In Congress, I’ve been working to create a Federal Sunset Commission, based on the successful Texas model, that would improve government accountability and help ensure our tax dollars are spent efficiently. Congress moved a step closer to establishing this important body when the Senate recently passed an amendment I sponsored that lays the groundwork for a Federal Sunset Commission to eliminate government waste and increase oversight of ineffective programs.

On Friday I am joining Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at Fort Sam Houston to visit our nation’s wounded warriors receiving medical care at the Warrior and Family Support Center. These brave soldiers and their families have sacrificed so much for our nation, and I look forward to thanking them for their exemplary service. The Warrior and Family Support Center plays a vital role in treating both the visible and invisible injuries that our soldiers face as a result of their service, and we must continue to ensure the needs of our servicemen and women are adequately met as they recover from their injuries and return home. I recently reintroduced legislation that would authorize construction of a VA hospital for veterans in the Rio Grande Valley, who currently have to drive hours out of their way to receive medical treatment. Service members and veterans in Texas and across our nation have earned access to the high-quality medical treatment through their enormous sacrifices for our nation.

For more information on these and other topics, go directly to my Web site. To view floor speeches, interviews and other video messages from me, please visit my YouTube Channel. To receive additional updates, please select the issues that interest you listed on the right. It’s an honor to serve you in the United States Senate.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator John Cornyn