As promised, I would like to provide you with further details regarding the second portion of my trip to the Middle East, specifically Afghanistan. Like I said before, it is absolutely crucial for President Obama to follow through on his campaign promises pertaining to the needs of our troops overseas. I can say conclusively that after meeting with our service men and women, their lives truly depend on the resources that are needed on the front lines right now.

In Afghanistan I had the opportunity to sit down and share a meal with some soldiers from Georgia. It was a very meaningful experience for me to be able to spend some time with them and thank them for their service. I also took some pictures with them that I was able to send to their families back home in Georgia. To view some pictures from my trip, click here:

I also had the opportunity to speak with military commanders, both from the United States and Afghanistan. I specifically asked the American commanders if, with the additional troops that our top commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, requested from the President, they could achieve their mission. Without hesitation, their answer was yes, but only if the President follows the advice of the General and sends additional troops.

My friends, I assure you I am fully committed to holding the President accountable to his campaign rhetoric, and I will work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure we achieve our mission overseas and that our brave men and women have the support they need while deployed and here at home.

This morning, I landed in the United States after traveling on a Congressional fact-finding trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan. I traveled overseas with two other Members of Congress – Democratic Members Jane Harman (Chairwoman of the Intelligence Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee) and Brian Baird. Both portions of the trip were extremely interesting and informative as I was particularly interested in getting a first-hand assessment of the situation in the region. As you know, the trip was very timely as President Obama is preparing to release his decision on whether he will follow the recommendation of his top commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, that 40,000 additional troops be deployed there, or if we will pursue another course of action. I wanted to share with you some more details of my trip and what I learned. Today’s blog will focus on Pakistan and I’ll post more next week on Afghanistan.

In Pakistan, we began in Islamabad where we met with President Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in late 2007 by a suicide bomber. The political climate is extremely challenging for the Pakistani President given that he does not enjoy the support of the military. We then traveled to the Northwest Frontier Province, to Peshawar, where we met with government officials, including the Governor of the province and the Chief Minister. From Peshawar, we traveled into the Swat Valley, north of Peshawar, to the city of Mingora. Click on the link for a map of Pakisan to see where we were: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/maptemplate_pk.html. The Taliban had burned all of the schools in Mingora, but the Pakistani Army has since overthrown the Taliban in the area. Thus, it was particularly poignant and meaningful for us to be able to visit an all-girls school while we were there. To see young girls have the opportunity for an education, a right that the Taliban had denied, was a reminder that progress has been made.

Check back early next week for more on my travel to Afghanistan and what I think the President should do. In the meantime, be sure to tune into Fox& Friends Sunday morning at 9:45 AM to hear me talk more about my trip.

Today, the Senate Finance Committee voted 14-9 to report their health care reform bill out of Committee to the full Senate for consideration. Unfortunately, this bill represents more of the same bad policy. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its analysis of the Senate Finance Committee health care reform bill and there is much to be concerned about. By the CBO’s estimate, the Senate bill will increase premiums for young Americans by 10-20 percent, something those who are just starting out in their careers can ill afford. Additionally, three million people in employer-sponsored plans will lose their current coverage and 14 million people will be moved into the CHIP program (PeachCare in Georgia) and Medicaid. According to the Republican staff on the Senate Budget Committee, when the bill is fully implemented, the 10 year cost is actually $1.8 trillion while cuts to Medicare/Medicaid add up to $1 trillion from FY2014 – 2023. A study by PriceWaterhouse Coopers found that, on average, the cost of a family plan would increase an average of $4,000 by 2019 over the predicted baseline. Premiums would increase for every insurance market, with the largest increases felt by small businesses and individuals without employer-sponsored coverage.

Want to know what’s worse than this plan? Click here to find out.

Voting against the Democrats’ Cap and Tax Bill today. Call your Congressman and encourage him to vote ‘no’!

Tune in to C-SPAN’s Washington Journal program on Tuesday morning to see Congressman Gingrey talking about health care reform and fielding questions from Americans throughout the country. Congressman Gingrey will be hosting between 7:25 AND 7:55 AM. Check your local listings and be sure to tune in.

Congressman Gingrey met this week with the Polk County Chamber of Commerce to discuss the issues facing Polk County and the State of Georgia. Congressman Gingrey spent the morning fielding questions and concerns from Chamber members and local government officials on issues such as economic development opportunities and health care reform. A photo of this group is attached.

Congressman Gingrey submitted the following remarks, recognizing the contributions of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, to the Congressional Record:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a delegation from my district that has traveled to Washington representing Polk County, Georgia and its Chamber of Commerce.  The delegation includes representatives from the Chamber, elected officials from the City of Cedartown, elected officials from the City of Rockmart, county elected officials, as well as local business leaders.

Located just outside metro Atlanta on the Georgia-Alabama line, Polk County offers a number of great opportunities for both residents and businesses that are looking to locate to Georgia.  However, like counties across America, Polk County and its citizens are facing their own economic challenges.  For this reason, this delegation has come to Washington to advocate on behalf of their community and to discuss both the potential positive and negative impact that actions here in Washington can have not just on Polk County, but on all of our nation’s communities. 

I want to take this opportunity to commend the Polk County Chamber of Commerce for taking this proactive approach in representing the best interests of the people of Northwest Georgia.  I look forward to our visit as we continue to work together to facilitate a stronger and even more economically vibrant Polk County.

Congressman Gingrey will have a representative in Gordon County on June 12th to assist constituents with case work, legislative questions and other concerns and inquiries. Stephen Smith, Constituent Services Representative for the Congressman, will be at the Calhoun Depot, on Friday, June 12th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.  All members of the community are invited to stop by for assistance with federal agencies, answers to questions about Congressional legislation, and an opportunity to voice comments or concerns they would like brought to Congressman Gingrey’s attention. This service is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Stephen Smith at (706) 290-1776.

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey will have a representative in Polk County on May 27^th to assist constituents with case work, legislative questions and other concerns and inquiries. Linda Liles, Constituent Service Representative to the Congressman, will be at City Hall, 201 E. Avenue in Cedartown on Wednesday, May 27^th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.  All members of the community are invited to stop by for assistance with federal agencies, answers to questions about Congressional legislation, and an opportunity to voice comments or concerns they would like brought to Congressman Gingrey’s attention. This service is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Linda Liles at (706) 290-1776.

I just wanted to make sure you knew that I had created a twitter account. You can find instant updates there:

http://twitter.com/RepPhilGingrey

President Obama’s promise to cut the budget by $100 million in 90 days is little more than a publicity stunt that misses the mark. This proposal would only cut 0.0025% of his record-breaking $4 trillion dollar spending for this year alone; prompting one journalist to point out that Obama’s new “thrifty proposal” is the equivalent of asking a family that spends $60,000 in a year to save $6. Check out this AP article which gives perspective on the proposed “budget cuts.”

Tune in to Fox News on Sunday afternoon at 4:20 PM to watch Congressman Gingrey discuss the AIG bonuses and the need to outlaw these taxpayer-funded bailouts.

Congressman Gingrey will have a representative in Polk County on March 25th to assist constituents with case work, legislative questions and other concerns and inquiries.  Linda Liles, Constituent Service Representative to the Congressman, will be at the Council Chamber Room of the Municipal Building at 200 S. Marble Street, Rockmart, Georgia 30153 from 10 AM until 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.  All members of the community are invited to stop by for assistance with federal agencies, answers to questions about Congressional legislation, and an opportunity to voice comments or concerns they would like brought to Congressman Gingrey’s attention.  This service is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Linda Liles at (706) 290-1776.

The immigration reform advocacy group, Numbers USA has featured a bill introduced by Congressman Gingrey on the front page of their website. H.R. 878, the Nuclear Family Priority Act, closes the “chain migration” loophole whereby the extended families of legal immigrants are obtaining visas to come to America. So-called “chain migration” – which gives visa priority to the cousins, adult children and distant relatives of legal immigrants – creates a back-log of visa applicants and lets genealogy – not job skills, education or English proficiency – determine who immigrates to our country.

Click on the link below to read more about Rep. Gingrey’s bill at the Numbers USA Website:

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/

Click HERE to view a video of Phil questioning the merits of the $825 billion economic stimulus package that the House will consider Wednesday. The clip is a segment from MSNBC’s Hardball.

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey will have a representative in Gordon County on December 12 to assist constituents with case work, legislative questions and other concerns and inquiries. Stephen Smith, Constituent Services Representative for the Congressman, will be at the Calhoun Depot at 109 S King St. in Calhoun on Friday, December 12th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.  All members of the community are invited to stop by for assistance with federal agencies, answers to questions about Congressional legislation, and an opportunity to voice comments or concerns they would like brought to Congressman Gingrey’s attention. This service is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Stephen Smith at (706) 290-1776.

Rep. Gingrey was back on the House Floor today calling on Speaker Pelosi to immediately reconvene the chamber to give all 435 Members a chance to vote on energy legislation to address out-of-control gas prices. Rep. Gingrey will be back on the Floor tomorrow.

Yesterday, Rep. Gingrey was honored to deliver the Commencement address for Kennesaw State University. Click on the icon below to read more about his speech in today’s Marietta Daily Journal.

On Sunday morning, Rep. Gingrey appeared on Fox News to discuss what Congress should be doing to lower gas prices for American families. In case you missed the segment, click on the Fox News icone below to see the debate.

Congressman Gingrey smiles with a great group of summer interns from across Georgia’s 11^th District before a staff outing to a Rome Braves game. If you have called one of Phil’s district offices over the summer, the friendly voice who answered the phone was likely one of this year’s summer interns, who have been a great help to the Gingrey team. Interning is a wonderful way for 11th District students to learn about our government and gain valuable professional experience.  If you or a student you know is interested, please click HERE for more information. Pictured above are (from left to right) Meg Livermore, Hope Johnson, Zac George, David Oster, Ross Durrence, Wes Watt, and Casey Sims.

Click on the gas nozzle above to watch a video of Rep. Gingrey outlining a plan to lower gas prices.