Congressman Lamar Smith 21st district of Texas

Contact: Brad Bennett 202-225-4236

Washington, Sep 2, 2002 - While the weather in Texas will remain hot for a while and the days will remain long, we know that autumn is coming and summer is ending. We unofficially mark summer’s arrival on Memorial Day and bid it farewell on Labor Day.

Each year on the first Monday in September we celebrate Labor Day. The holiday was first observed in the 1880s as a tribute to American workers and their economic contributions. Today it is seen as the last long weekend of summer. The three-day holiday is the last chance to enjoy lazy summer days, take a vacation or gather with friends and family for picnics and parties before returning to our everyday activities.

After Labor Day students return to classes and business people go to work. Congress also returns to work.

If one were to look at legislation that has passed this year in the House they would see a full agenda. One glance at the list of bills the Senate has yet to consider would lead one to believe they have been on summer vacation all year.

At the beginning of summer President Bush said, “We have been pleased with how many of our initiatives have moved through the House of Representatives, and been frustrated by the fact they haven’t moved through the Senate.”

Now several months later nothing has changed. In fact, the Senate never passed a budget resolution this year. Major legislation that has often passed overwhelmingly in the House has yet to be considered in the Senate. Those bills include:

· The Pension Security Act that includes new protections and options to preserve and enhance retirement savings;

· The Tax Relief Guarantee Act that makes last year’s tax relief permanent;

· The Human Cloning Prohibition Act that provides a ban on human cloning;

· The Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act that reauthorizes the welfare reform law;

· The Corporate and Auditing Accountability Act that improves the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures and increases supervision of accountants that audit public companies; and

· Three bills I authored, the Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act, the Cyber Security Enhancement Act, and the Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act.

Summer is coming to a close and so is this legislative year. The House has been busy passing legislation. It’s time for the Senate to follow our lead and do the same.