Graves Lays Out Third Term Agenda
Graves Lays Out Third Term Agenda
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Congressman Sworn In and Ready to Push Priorities
(Washington, D.C) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves was sworn in today for his third term in the United States House of Representatives. He took the oath of office with his family present to witness the event. Immediately afterward he filed legislation and talked about his priorities in the upcoming 109th Congress.
"It is an honor to represent the people of Missouri's Sixth Congressional District," said Graves. "I have always believed that it is my job to represent my district to Washington and not the other way around."
Graves filed a bill to close Tory's Loophole in the Amber Alert system. The bill, named after Victoria Jo Stinnett, is designed to give law enforcement the flexibility to issue an Amber Alert even if the only descriptive information about the child is that it is a newborn. Graves said he did not want bureaucracy to slow down the process when time is of the essence.
"We need to give our law enforcement all of the tools they need to solve these kind of heinous crimes," said Graves. "This legislation ensures that this will be the last time our law enforcement has this problem."
Graves also said that he would continue to push for immigration reform. He plans to introduce a bill that calls for a moratorium on non-resident immigration until fast-track programs are eliminated and plans are made for each visa applicant to be interviewed. Fast track programs speed immigrants quickly through the visa application process with little or no background check.
"I think we have a sick immigration policy in this country," said Graves. "The United States needs a manageable, common sense immigration policy."
Graves also hoped that Congress would finish work on reauthorizing the transportation bill and establishing a national energy policy. An energy bill would contain provisions for alternative fuels as a part of the solution for making the United States less dependent on foreign oil. Many alternative fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol are grown in Missouri.
"I would much rather depend on Missouri farmers for energy than Saudi Arabia," said Graves. "Ethanol is good for consumers, its' good for the environment and its' good for producers."
http://www.house.gov/graves/newsroom/010405a.htm