For Immediate Release:
Friday, August 25, 2006

This month I am traveling the Second District to hear from hundreds – perhaps thousands – of constituents.  Listening to your concerns and applying those to the work I am doing in Congress is one of the most important parts of my job as Eastern Oklahoma’s voice in Washington. 

 

The Second District continues to be concerned with issues ranging from rural development and transportation funding to the future of the Social Security program and the spread of methamphetamine.  But the issues dominating my recent town hall meetings have been immigration reform, rising energy costs and disaster assistance for agriculture.  As I have shared with constituents in these meetings, here is an update on the work being done on these issues:

 

Immigration reform

 

Any effective immigration reform has to start with securing our southern border.  It is a matter of national and economic security.  While America has always been a welcoming nation, illegal immigration creates an underclass of workers who provide unfair competition with hardworking Americans struggling just to make ends meet.

 

In December I voted in support of H.R. 4437, The Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act.  It includes provisions to hire more border patrol personnel and build a security fence along parts of the Mexican border.  It also requires employers to check the immigration status of job applicants and it stiffens penalties for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

 

The Senate passed an immigration bill in May much different from the one passed by the House.  Though the two chambers seem to have reached an impasse in striking a deal on immigration, I am hopeful that the differences can be resolved in a timely fashion to give Americans the security they deserve.

 

Rising energy costs

 

Oklahomans overwhelmingly agree that something must be done to address rising energy costs.  Rural Oklahomans often drive long distances to work and many are on fixed incomes.  We cannot sustain these prices much longer.

 

I have continually supported measures that would allow energy exploration on the outer continental shelf (OCS) and in a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).  This is our best shot at being able to increase domestic production to levels that would stabilize our market and make us less dependent on volatile foreign sources.

 

Our reliance on foreign energy is not the product of Democratic or Republican leadership and cannot be corrected by relying on only one set of principles.  It is critical that a national energy policy reflect a balanced mix of domestic production of reliable energy resources, development of renewable energy sources, improvements in our infrastructure and a commitment to conservation.

 

Disaster assistance for agriculture

 

Oklahoma is facing its worst drought ever.  Crop yields are low, hay is scarce and there is no relief in sight.  The state has been under a USDA disaster declaration since January 2005, providing some help through the Farm Service Agency for low-interest loans and pond construction.

 

But this assistance is doing little to help farmers whose fields are producing barely half of what they could, or ranchers selling cattle because they don’t have enough hay to feed.  Earlier this year I joined the majority of the Oklahoma and Texas delegations in asking the House Appropriations Committee to provide drought relief through the Crop Disaster Program and Livestock Assistance Program.

 

Rural America is suffering severe financial losses as a result of unpredictable weather conditions.  Our farmers and ranchers provide the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world and now they need our help.  I, for one, am committed to doing whatever I can to help them get it.

 

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Rep. Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) represents Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District.