A Decade of Service

As I contemplate a decade in the United States Senate, it is plain to me that I have been privileged to serve during a unique time in our nation’s history. From the breakup of the Balkans, to the impeachment of a president to September 11, 2001 and the war in Iraq, I have been awed and inspired by the challenges, the tragedies and the triumphs of the American people. So many critical issues have been considered in the past ten years, and our world has changed dramatically since I was sworn in on June 14, 1993. Military As a member of the Defense Appropriations Committee and chair of the Military Construction Subcommittee I have focused on improving the quality of life for military personnel and strengthening Texas bases. My highest priority has been a strong national defense. Colonias When I first ran for the Senate in a special election, I visited every corner of the state. One visit remains particularly vivid and continues to motivate me to this day. Ten years ago, I was led through the streets of a colonia, a community that lacked paved roads, wastewater facilities and running water. Quite frankly I could not believe I was in America. I offered as my first amendment in the Senate a bill authorizing $50 million for a colonias clean-up project, and I have consistently worked to improve the quality of life for people who live on the border. Since then I have helped secure more than $615 million to upgrade the colonias of our state. Homemaker IRA When I learned from personal experience that homemakers could not fully contribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) as could their counterparts in the workplace, I knew this inequity needed to be eliminated. A woman’s role in the home is every bit as important as a woman’s role in the workplace, and the savings and investment opportunities should be equal. I made it my mission to ensure that our laws did not discriminate against homemakers. I was proud my legislation passed and today homemakers and those who work outside the home may make equal savings investments in IRAs. Anti-Stalking In 1996, Congress passed “Interstate Stalking” legislation I introduced to protect people from predators who travel across state lines with the intent to kill, injure, harass or intimidate. Two years later, an Alabama man accused of threatening his ex-wife and sons here in Texas became the first in the nation to be convicted and sentenced for interstate stalking, under the law I wrote. This was a landmark case for a number of reasons. It was the first to be tried by a jury after the legislation was enacted; it was tried here in Texas; and most important, this legislation stopped him before violence occurred. It was clear from his words and actions that this predator intended to harm or kill his ex-wife. Fortunately, he was sent to prison for 20 years before he could act. Marriage Penalty Relief I have long advocated the elimination of the marriage penalty, which places a tax on couples simply because they get married. In 2001, I was able to pass a law to lessen this fundamental inequity. With this year’s Jobs and Growth package, we eliminated temporarily this added tax by doubling the 15 percent bracket and the standard deduction for married couples. In June I introduced a bill that would eradicate permanently this penalty levied on American couples. Higher Education One of my top priorities since I joined the Appropriations Committee in 1997 has been to increase the amount of federal research dollars coming into Texas’ institutions of higher education. When I began looking at the funds coming into our state, I was astounded to learn we ranked sixth nationally. Since that time I have worked closely with our universities and medical schools to ensure we are actively pursuing federal research dollars and highlighting the centers of excellence at our universities to federal agencies. We are now ranked 4th in the nation, bringing in nearly $1 billion in 2001. Aviation Security After September 11, securing our nation’s aviation system became a top priority. As the chair of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, I worked closely with my colleagues, the airlines, and the Administration to make our skies safe again. The changes we enacted were dramatic and clearly made a difference. Flying today is safer than ever before. As I reflect on 10 years in the United States Senate, I am honored to serve the greatest state in the union and to represent the finest people in the world.