Today, U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) introduced an amendment to H.R. 700, the Healthy Community Water Supply Act of 2007, stating that his amendment will provide for additional consideration being given to rural communities in areas that are served by a public water system serving 10,000 or fewer individuals. Heath Shuler (D-NC) co-sponsored the amendment, and was accepted by the House of Representatives by a voice vote. H.R. 700 passed the House by a vote of 368 to 59. "For the past d...
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Today, Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) arranged a one-on-one private meeting in his Washington, D.C. office with FutureGen Alliance CEO Mike Mudd. Mudd updated Conaway on Texas’ recent FutureGen efforts and the necessary steps to make in the six months leading up to the site decision. Conaway made the following statement after the meeting: “Odessa’s efforts in the next six months are critical for Odessa to receive the FutureGen site. I will continue working as hard as I can to ensure that Odess...
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Earlier this week, Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11), along with fellow Congressmen Joe Barton (TX-6) and Chet Edwards (TX-17) organized a meeting with Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams to present members of the Texas Delegation with an update on the FutureGen project. This month, Conaway, along with Rep. Barton and Rep. Edwards sent letters to both the Department of Energy Secretary Sam Bodman, and to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee....
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Monday, U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) toured Susie’s South Forty, a Midland-based candy company, which is one of the first in the nation to participate in a national pilot government program to help eliminate the hiring of illegal immigrants. The owner of the company, Susie Hitchcock-Hall, began using the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program in 2006. "It is a terrific step by free enterprise to voluntarily comply with the laws ...
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Earlier this week, U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) traveled to Laredo, Texas to meet with Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff on the Texas-Mexico border. The trip provided an opportunity for local lawmakers, members of Congress, and the Department of Homeland security to come together and take a personal look at border security and immigration reform. "It was good to visit with Secretary Chertoff and the many key players involved in the immigration reform debate," said Conawa...
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The Granite Shoals Fire Department is the recipient of a $9,120 grant from the 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the Department’s United States Fire Administration. The grant is for the area of safety and operations.“Congress recognizes the importance first responders’ play in keeping our communities safe,” said Conaway. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program helps to ensure that firefighter...
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This week, the House of Representatives debated a Democrat resolution disapproving of the President’s plan to deploy approximately 20,000 more troops to Iraq. During his January 10 speech to the nation, President Bush announced his strategy for the way forward in Iraq, which included the idea of a troop surge. In accordance with the President’s proposal, additional American troops will deploy to Iraq, primarily to Baghdad, in order to better train the Iraqi military, clear and secure neighborhoo...
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Today, Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) at a House Committee on Agriculture hearing questioned Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns regarding the Administration's farm bill proposals. Congressman Conaway specifically questioned the Administration's proposal to decrease in the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) eligibility cap for all commodity program payments from the current $2.5 million to $200,000 annually. The Administration’s proposal would also repeal the current provision in law that waves the AGI...
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Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX), along with other Members of the House Committee on Agriculture, met with European Union Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel this afternoon to exchange views on a variety of issues, including world trade and the reauthorization of the 2007 Farm Bill. This meeting comes on the heels of 150 member-countries of the World Trade Organization gathering in Geneva yesterday to asses the status of the Doha Round of negotiations. Trade talks were suspended in late July b...
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The Lamesa Fire Department has received a grant for $8,981 from the 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant will provide direct assistance to the city of Lamesa. "Congress recognizes the importance first responders’ play in keeping our communities safe. Fire Act Grants are vital to our nation’s fire departments and we will continue to work closely with the fire service community to help meet their needs," said Conaway. "Th...
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