http://hutchison.senate.gov Important information from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. en-us Copyright 2012 Kay Bailey Hutchison Wed, 16 May 2012 08:34:26 EST Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) released the following statement on the news that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted Southwest Airlines non-stop service from Austin's Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): 'I am so pleased that Austin's Bergstrom International Airport is getting non-stop service to Washington National Airport,' said Sen. Hutchison. 'This will mean an increase in business and jobs for the Austin community and marks the city as a key destination point in the West and Southwest. I congratulate Southwest Airlines for winning one of the coveted eight new slots for nonstop service from outside the perimeter into Washington National Airport.' In March of 2012, Sen. Hutchison sent a letter to DOT Secretary Ray LaHood in support of Southwest's application. It can be found here. For more information on this order, click here.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1114 Mon, 14 May 2012 17:43:00 EST Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison joined three other Republicans - Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bob Corker (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) -- on the Senate floor in a colloquy to discuss tax issues and skyrocketing U.S. deficits. Below is an excerpt of her remarks, or to watch video, click here. Sen. Hutchison: I thank the Senator from Tennessee. I would just say this is interesting because there are four of us on the floor right now - the Senators from Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Wyoming, and myself. We have one thing in common: Every one of us has run a business. Every one of us were in business before we came to the United States Senate. So, we know when we're talking about new taxes -- which are all we hear from the Administration -- which new taxes are not going to help this economy grow because our small businesses are scared to death. I know, because I've heard the Senator from Tennessee and the Senator from Wisconsin -- who came straight out of a business, who ran for the United States Senate because he was so frustrated in business. We know that small business people out there today are looking at the increased taxes that are already in place with Obamacare, added taxes and surtaxes that have already been passed by the Democrats in Congress without one single Republican vote. Plus, you've got the fines that businesses are facing if they don't have the government-prescribed Obama health care plan. They're going to have to pay fines -- on top of the surtaxes -- to pay for the bill that they're not going to be able to use. And then they're looking at the regulations coming out of this Administration and they're saying: ‘And Congress wants to spend another $1 trillion this year?' Every one of us knows that we're looking at hitting the debt ceiling again -- over $16 trillion -- this fall, because this Administration will not even consider lower taxes and lower spending levels. So, I look at all of us on the floor right now who have been in business, who've run a business, who have met that payroll, who have met the regulatory environment -- and I think, why on earth don't we listen to the small business people of this country in this body and do what they do every year: pass a budget? You know, the Senator from Wyoming is here, and I would just ask if he has an idea of when was the last time the United States Senate passed a budget resolution.     http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1113 Mon, 14 May 2012 17:27:00 EST http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=video&id=1112 Mon, 14 May 2012 17:26:00 EST As we approach the peak driving months of summer, gasoline prices are nearly $4 a gallon - double the cost when President Obama took office. It's no coincidence that American workers and families are still struggling through the weakest economic recovery and highest sustained joblessness since the Great Depression. High energy costs are keeping our country in the economic doldrums. The President likes to remind us that he doesn't control the price of gasoline. He blames the Japanese earthquake, Middle East unrest, and conspiracies by wily speculators and greedy oil companies. The American people don't expect their President to halt earthquakes. They simply ask that he try to protect our families and businesses from price spikes and supply disruptions with the opportunities he does have. Unfortunately, the President is unwilling to do so. Instead, the Obama Administration is committed to priorities that reduce domestic energy production, increase reliance on foreign sources, and drive energy costs higher. Recall that the President's Secretary of Energy once suggested that $8 or $9 a gallon for gasoline should be the goal. Together, administration policies fulfill an extreme, no-growth environmental objective - and anchor our economy to a bleak future. The Obama oil and gas 'permitorium' has virtually halted new exploration offshore and on federal lands. New EPA rules are forcing coal-fired power plants across the country to close, which will drive up utility bills for businesses and families. The President presses constantly for higher taxes on domestic energy production that would only lead to higher prices at the pump. The President's wrongheaded energy policies are perhaps best illustrated by his blocking of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would bring a huge (estimated at 830,000 barrels of oil sands daily), stable supply of oil from our friendly neighbors in Canada. The privately financed pipeline would create thousands of construction jobs, as well as thousands of permanent jobs at U.S. refineries, at no cost to taxpayers. If the Keystone XL pipeline isn't built, Canada will have no choice but to export its oil to China. Republican and Democrat Governors and Members of Congress support the pipeline. Even the Washington Post has editorialized in support. But President Obama refuses to sign the necessary permits. Another troubling and recent decision by the administration was the President's executive order, 'Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources.' Don't be fooled by the name. President Obama now seems to believe that we need another government board, because the administration's efforts to regulate natural gas production have become so complicated and convoluted. When states are already safely and effectively regulating hydraulic fracturing ('fracking'), why is the President demanding more government control and more oversight over the development and production of natural gas? These kinds of policies will guarantee higher energy costs, fewer jobs, slower economic growth, and a lower standard of living for Americans. Fortunately, there is a better way forward. Underneath our lands and our shores are natural resources that can make the U.S. energy independent for generations to come. Thanks to new technology, the U.S. has access to 2,000 trillion cubic feet of known natural gas reserves - a 100-year supply of the cleanest, greenest of all fossil fuels. We are already the world's largest natural gas producer, and production increased by an astounding 50% last year. Natural gas use for electricity generation is growing rapidly, and conversion to natural gas-powered cars and trucks is on the horizon. But this progress is being threatened by the administration's intent on adding more and more layers of bureaucracy and control to regulate hydraulic fracking. We cannot let that happen. Our country also remains the Saudi Arabia of coal. Underneath the ground are still at least 275 billion tons of coal - enough for 250 years. Clean coal technology is becoming a reality and global demand for exports of American coal is growing by leaps and bounds. It's true that we continue to import most of the oil we need, but there is better news on this front, too. The use of new oil well technologies on private lands has boosted total U.S. oil production to new highs. Thanks to advances in exploration and production, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates there are 200 billion barrels of recoverable oil - not counting upwards of 100 billion barrels of oil (and 400 trillion cubic feet of natural gas) located in the Gulf of Mexico and other offshore areas where the Administration currently blocks development. We need to continue energy conservation and the development of alternative energy sources. But the crucial missing piece of our national energy strategy is development of our abundant natural resources. Responsible development of these resources can create hundreds of thousands of new, good-paying jobs, and protect American families and businesses against the skyrocketing energy costs that are holding back our economy. America can become energy independent. That's not a dream; it's a reality. But it will take a big change in Washington.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=blog&id=1110 Fri, 04 May 2012 16:30:00 EST Right now, you can't miss the wildflowers, particularly the Texas bluebonnets blanketing the sides of the road. The blooms are a seasonal reminder of our state's natural beauty. But the fact is Texas' natural beauty is always in season. I spoke recently at an Earth Day event in Dallas, attended by an enthusiastic crowd of Texans of all ages. In chatting with attendees, I was struck by their affection for and knowledge of the many natural treasures of our vast, diverse state. Preserving Texas' natural heritage has been a priority of mine in the U.S. Senate. Working with state and local officials, on issues big and small, we've made great strides in protecting many of the state's most valuable natural wonders. For example, I was pleased to announce recently that the U.S. Army and the Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement to transfer land and water rights in an area around Caddo Lake. This agreement is vital to long-term environmental stability at the lake, and I worked hard to encourage these two federal agencies to iron out the details. Caddo Lake is our state's only natural lake, home to 216 bird, 47 mammal, and 90 reptile and amphibian species. In recent years, the lake has been under siege by an invasive, non-native plant, the giant salvinia. I worked closely with the Caddo Lake Institute, founded by Don Henley, who was raised nearby, and the Texas Water Research Initiative, to obtain funding to help eradicate the giant salvinia. The lake and its diverse native plants and animals are now recovering, and future generations will be able to enjoy its pristine beauty. Big Bend National Park, which at 801,000 acres is the largest Dark Sky Park in the world - one of only ten such parks in the world. A Dark Sky designation means exceptionally starry skies and a night-time habitat in which manmade light is almost zero. Those of us who have camped out in Big Bend know the only light is the brilliant, star-filled sky. It's truly a natural wonder worth protecting against the encroachment of manmade light. Another irreplaceable site that I've worked to preserve is the Big Thicket National Preserve. It is often referred to as the 'biological crossroads of North America' because of its incredible cypress swamps, forests, creeks, and bayous. Within the diverse Big Thicket, ten distinct ecosystems have been identified, including species that originated in the Gulf Coastal Plains, Eastern Forests, and Central Plains. The Big Thicket's bald cypress swamps are a short distance from upland pine savannahs and sand hills. This is not only a Texas treasure but an American treasure. During my time serving in the U.S. Senate, I've had the privilege of visiting all 254 counties of Texas - from the great plains to Palo Duro Canyon, from the Gulf Coast to the piney woods of East Texas to the Hill Country, from the arid expanses of west Texas to the Davis Mountains. And I was struck by the unique and incredibly diverse flora and fauna our state has to offer. My travels have supplied inspiration for my efforts to restore and conserve our state's natural wonders for current and future generations of Texans. Before we know it, school will be out, and another Texas summer will be here. As you consider where to take your family vacation or even a quick day-trip, consider experiencing some of our state's natural wonders. We are blessed to have them.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=blog&id=1107 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:17:00 EST Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) applauded the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee's approval of key Texas water projects, which were contained in the Fiscal Year 2013 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. 'These projects will support job creation and economic activity at ports and channels critical to the Texas economy, and our nation's economy as a whole,' said Sen. Hutchison. 'These investments also support flood control and safe, efficient management of rivers, lakes, and waterways throughout Texas.' A Summary of the projects is below: Bayport Ship Channel - Maintenance: $1.398 millionJust off Galveston Bay, the Bayport Ship Channel serves the Bayport Terminal and its facilities. With capacity to handle approximately 2.3 million cargo container units, the Bayport Terminal is one the largest facilities in the country and adds approximately $1.6 billion to the nation's economy each year. These funds will support dredging of the Bayport Channel Flare, the entrance to the Terminal, maintaining the depth of the channel and support the continued flow of commerce.. Corpus Christi Ship Channel - Maintenance: $8.129 millionThe Corpus Christi Ship Channel is a 45-ft deep channel that extends from the Gulf of Mexico approximately 34 miles into the Port of Corpus Christi. The Port is ranked 5th in the nation for tonnage shipped, and the Channel is served by a variety of waterborne traffic, including tankers, barges, and commercial and recreational fishing. These funds will support dredging activities at the Entrance and Jetty Channel, and repair levees along the Channel, crucial to allowing the Port to meet the growing demand for access. Dallas Floodway, Upper Trinity River Basin - Feasibility: $700,000The Dallas Floodway runs along the Trinity River near downtown Dallas. The original levees and drainage improvements were first completed between 1928 and 1931 to address the threat of flooding in the Dallas area. In response to flood events in the area, the Corps and the City of Dallas have undertaken an effort to improve flood control along the Trinity. In order to develop a comprehensive, system-wide approach that considers flood risk, ecosystem restoration, and recreation through the Trinity River Corridor, the Corps' must conduct a study that considers all potential actions and recommends necessary steps to meet the City and the Corps' goals. The funds will support the Corps continued progress on the study of updates to the Dallas Floodway. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway - Total Operation & Maintenance: $25.580 millionThe Intracoastal Waterway traverses the entire Texas Coast, from the Sabine River to Port Isabel. The navigation portion of the main Channel, along with its tributaries, covers a distance of 423 miles. This waterway is critical to all Texas deep draft ports, and it provides navigation access to a combined total of commercial traffic fourth largest in the nation. These funds will support necessary dredging across the Waterway. Houston Ship Channel - Total Operation & Maintenance: 19.701 millionThe Houston Ship Channel's main channel is 54 miles long deep draft waterway which extends from near Galveston, TX north through Galveston Bay, the San Jacinto River, and the Turning Basin at Houston, TX. The Ship Channel serves the Port of Houston, which generates an estimated $118 billion in economic activity in Texas, and supports more than 785,000 Texas jobs. The Port houses the largest petrochemical facility in the world, and two of the four largest refineries; altogether, the complex handles roughly half of the nation's energy supply. Funds provided in this bill will support dredging at critical areas along the Channel, and avoid access restrictions or safety concerns at the Port. Matagorda Ship Channel - Maintenance: $4.920 millionThis Ship Channel serves a number of Texas ports, including Port O'Connor, Port Lavaca, and Port Comfort in Matagorda and Calhoun Counties. Previously, restrictions due to inadequate maintenance at the Channel have had an economic impact estimated as high as almost $50 million per foot of restricted access from the loss of bauxite production. While the Corps is moving forward to properly dredge the Entrance Channel this year, funding in this bill will support dredging activities along the next phase, bringing the section of the Channel between the Peninsula and Point Comfort to authorized depth. Sabine-Neches Waterway - Total Operation & Maintenance: $19.591 millionSabine-Neches is a 79 mile deep draft ship channel that extends from the Gulf of Mexico through a jettied channel to Port Arthur, to Beaumont via the Neches River Channel, and to the Port of Orange via the Sabine Lake. The Waterway is 4th in the nation for total tonnage and supports vessel access to multiple channel reaches. It supports much of the nation's petrochemical and natural gas industries. It also serves the Port of Beaumont, which is designated as a strategic national military port. Funding provided will support dredging at the Port Arthur Canal, and support overall work to ensure deep-draft vessels can continue to access all portions of the Waterway.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1106 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:10:00 EST http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=video&id=1105 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:13:00 EST WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) applauded the Senate confirmation of Gregg J. Costa and David C. Guaderrama to fill the judicial vacancies for the Southern District of Texas in Galveston and Western District of Texas in El Paso, respectively: 'I am pleased that the Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm Gregg J. Costa and David C. Guaderrama to fill the judicial vacancies for the Southern District of Texas in Galveston and the Western District of Texas in El Paso,' said Sen. Hutchison. 'Costa's professional career includes being a law clerk for Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 2001, as well as his current position as an Assistant United States Attorney in Houston, where he recently served as the Co-lead Counsel for the United States in the prosecution of Robert Allen Stanford. Judge Guaderrama, as a testament to his service to the El Paso community, has been a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District for the last two years. During his three decades serving in the Texas legal system, Judge Guaderrama has earned many accolades for his leadership in initiating and enacting several successful judicial programs in west Texas. I am confident that these two judges will serve well on the federal bench.' 'I'm thrilled Mr. Costa and Mr. Guaderrama, both of whom have impeccable credentials and a passionate commitment to upholding the law, were confirmed today,' said Sen. Cornyn. 'It was my honor to join Sen. Hutchison in recommending them, and I wish them the very best as they take on the important work the President and United States Senate have appointed them to do.' With assistance from their bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee, Senators Hutchison and Cornyn (R-TX) recommended them to President Obama in July 2011.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1104 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:25:00 EST Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to welcome Pastor Joel Osteen, senior Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Pastor Osteen offered today's opening prayer for the U.S. Senate, serving as the guest Chaplain of the day at the invitation of Sen. Hutchison. Below are excerpts of her floor remarks, or to watch the full video, click here. Pastor Joel Osteen: Thank you, Senator. Let us pray. Father, we receive your blessings with grateful hearts and thank you for the favor you show us. As we pray for those who lead our nation, we ask that you bless this body and those who serve in it. We thank you that these lawmakers serve with honor and integrity, and that you will continue to bless our nation through them. Give them wisdom that they will make good decisions, courage that they will hold fast to your truth, and compassion that all should prosper from their laws. We receive your presence here today, Father, and pray that these lawmakers will remain mindful of you, and that they will honor you in everything they do here. In Jesus' name. Amen. .... Sen. Hutchison: It is my pleasure to introduce Joel Osteen, the Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He is a native Texan and attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For 17 years, Pastor Osteen worked behind the scenes for his father, John, who founded Lakewood Church in 1959. In 1999, his father passed away, and Pastor Osteen accepted God's call to service in the church and took over the reins as senior pastor, despite having only preached once in his life. It was soon clear that this new young pastor had a natural gift for speaking and was able to personally connect with diverse audiences with the inspirational message of God's love. Since that time, he and his wife and Co-Pastor, Victoria, have led Lakewood through extraordinary growth. In 2005, the Osteens moved Lakewood Church from its original home in Northeast Houston to the former home of the Houston Rockets basketball team. With this space, Pastor Osteen now delivers a message of hope and encouragement to 38,000 people a week, with millions more across the country tuning in on their televisions. Pastor Osteen has reached millions more as a best-selling author. His first book, Your Best Life Now, was released in 2004 and remained on the New York Times best-seller list for two years. His most recent book, Every Day is Friday, offers commonsense advice on how to be happy by applying the principles of God's word to your daily life. Pastor Osteen has spoken throughout the world, and that's what brings him to the Capitol today. On Saturday, the Osteens will lead thousands in what is billed as a night of hope in Washington. That message of hope and encouragement is what has attracted me and my family to watch Pastor Osteen on Sunday mornings. When I went to his church, they welcomed me and my daughter Bailey, whose 11th birthday is today -- and I got to see this awesome place that he fills every single Sunday, sometimes more than the Houston Rockets ever had. I do want to ask - or say that the Chaplain of the Senate, Barry Black, who works with us every week here in the Senate and with all of our staffs, was wonderful in helping bring Pastor Osteen to the podium to open the Senate this morning. It's a wonderful Senate tradition that we start our day by thanking God for this wonderful world and also remembering the mantle of leadership and responsibility that is on our shoulders, and trying to do the very best we can with that message. I want to thank Pastor Osteen and his wife Victoria: wonderful people that I've gotten to know through the years, for they have inspired so many of us in our travails of life.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1103 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:17:00 EST Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), joined by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (T-TX), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Bob Corker (R-TN), has introduced S. 2338, which would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). 'I support reauthorization of this important legislation to protect victims of domestic abuse and violence. It's important to note that the last reauthorization of VAWA passed the Senate by unanimous consent,' said Sen. Hutchison. 'The reauthorization reported by the Judiciary Committee contains a handful of problematic provisions that undermine the goal of continued bipartisan support. The strong, credible bill we've introduced earlier this week parallels the committee-reported bill in most respects, including funding authorization. But we've added provisions that will update and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act in several important ways that can be supported by both Republicans and Democrats. Our bill will help victims of domestic violence, toughen criminal penalties, and shore up problems with Justice Department oversight of VAWA programs. Our bill also responds to controversial provisions of the committee-reported bill with common-sense help for Native Americans, immigrants, and others who are victims of domestic violence.' 'I care deeply about these issues,' added Sen. Hutchison. 'When I was in the Texas legislature, I learned there was a serious problem with the reporting and prosecution of rape. The state statute at that time discouraged reporting because of embarrassment to the victim and the difficulty in obtaining a conviction. In 1975, I led the effort to strengthen victim protections, which included limiting leading questions asked by law enforcement officials and attorneys, and redefining the meaning of consent, all of which enhanced the privacy rights of victims. My bill became the model other states used to strengthen victim protections throughout the country.' 'Moreover, the Hutchison bill created the National AMBER Alert system, through which more than 550 abducted children have been reunited with their parents. I've also been a strong supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, a critical national resource that saves lives each day. And I also helped to write the first federal anti-stalking law - and one of the most important similarities between S. 1925 and my VAWA bill is inclusion of the updated cyber-stalking legislation that Senator Klobuchar and I introduced earlier in this Congress.' S. 2338 has been endorsed by: • Criminal Justice Legal Foundation• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children• Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)• Shared Hope International • PROTECT (pro-child and anti-crime organization) Among the key provisions of the bill: Protecting Victims • Increases the percentage of STOP grants that must be targeted to sexual assault to 30%. S. 1925 requires only 20% of grants to be used to target sexual assault. • Requires that 70% of rape kit funding be used to reduce the backlog in testing rape kits. S.1925 allocates 40% of funding for rape kits testing.• Creates a 10-year mandatory minimum for federal convictions for forcible rape, bringing the minimum more in line with federal guidelines. S.1925 contains only a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence. • Creates a 1-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession of child pornography in which the victim depicted is under 12 years of age. There is no corresponding provision in S.1925.• Creates a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of aggravated sexual assault through the use of drugs or by otherwise rendering the victim unconscious. S.1925 lacks this provision.• Creates a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of interstate domestic violence that results in the death of the victim. S.1925 lacks this provision.• Grants administrative subpoena power to the U.S. Marshals Service to help them discharge their duty of tracking and apprehending unregistered sex offenders. There is no corresponding provision in S.1925.• Inserts gender-neutral language in all relevant provisions. S. 1925 seeks to categorize, rather than ensure equal access to VAWA services for all victims.• Contains a bipartisan-supported cyber-stalking bill, S. 1928, the Stalkers Act. This is identical language to S. 1925. Fiscal Responsibility • Funds the VAWA program at $682.5 million per year, which is the same funding level contained in S. 1925.• Does not increase the federal deficit. S. 1925 would add $105 million to the budget deficit.• Addresses recurring problems reported by the Inspector General with lax grant administration and oversight by the Department of Justice. Our bill addresses these IG concerns by including an annual requirement that 10% of grantees be audited, and a limit of 7.5% of appropriated funds on administrative costs. Immigrant Status • Maintains the current U visa program at a maximum of 10,000 visas per year. S. 1925 authorizes unused U visas from previous years to be used in future years. (This provision is the principle cause of the CBO's calculation that S. 1925 will add $105 million to the budget deficit.) Native Americans • Allows tribal councils to seek protective orders in federal court on behalf of affected Native American women. S. 1925 does not have a parallel provision. • S. 1925 includes a provision that would extend tribal court criminal jurisdiction to non-Indian members. The Congressional Research Service has released a memo that outlines a number of constitutional concerns regarding the approach taken in S. 1925. Senator Hutchison has compiled an extraordinary record on behalf of America's women, including: Marriage Tax Penalty: The 2001 tax reduction bill included provisions sponsored by Senator Hutchison to repeal the marriage penalty, and the 2003 tax cuts expedited that relief. Congress took another important step with the passage of H.R. 1308, the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004, which protects married couples by providing full relief through 2010. The broad tax agreement enacted last December (P.L. 111-312, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010) extended relief for this through December 31, 2012. In the 112th Congress, Sen. Hutchison introduced S. 11, which provides for permanent relief. Homemaker IRA: Beginning in 1997, Congress authorized the Homemaker IRA. This legislation allowed homemakers who are non-wage earners to make equal, fully deductible contributions to individual retirement accounts. Women have traditionally been at a disadvantage in saving for retirement because they spend time in and out of the workforce. Contributions of $5,000 for each spouse are allowed in 2011 ($5,000 in 2012 as well) if the couple's wages or self-employment earnings are $10,000 or more.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1100 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:28:00 EST It was a pleasure meeting with Reverend Joel Osteen this morning before he opened the Senate in prayer. The Senate has a wonderful tradition of starting every day by taking a moment to reflect and to thank God for the many blessings that we have in this great country. http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=blog&id=1098 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:13:00 EST Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke on the Senate floor about the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Below are excerpts of her floor remarks, or to watch the full video, click here. Sen. Hutchison: Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to talk about the Violence Against Women Act. Senator Leahy, the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has a bill with many good parts. But there are some areas of disagreement. I have worked with many of my colleagues to have a substitute that has the same coverage but is better in other ways. ........ When I was in the Texas Legislature, I learned that there were serious problems with the reporting and prosecution of rape in our country. The state statute in Texas in the early 1970's discouraged reporting because of embarrassment to the victim and the difficulty of obtaining convictions. Victims were not willing to come forward and report rapes because they felt like they were treated like a criminal sometimes. And, if they actually did report it and they agreed to help the prosecution, their treatment on the witness stand was so humiliating that they gave up. And so the reports were not made. This was true in Texas, but, Mr. President, it was true throughout our country. So I worked with Democratic members of the legislature and led the effort to strengthen victim protections in this area, and it included limiting irrelevant questions asked by law enforcement officials and attorneys and redefining the meaning of consent, all of which enhanced the privacy rights of our victims. We created a statute that was more in line with other crimes of assault and battery. Our bill was so good, Mr. President, that when it passed in 1975, it became a model for other states who were passing such legislation. ........ You know, one of the trends that is not good in this country right now is the downward curve of sentences handed down in federal courts in child pornography. The most recent report by the Sentencing Commission notes that child pornography defendants are being sentenced to terms below federal sentencing guidelines in 45% of cases. Almost half of these defendants are receiving less than the recommended sentences. In one particularly egregious instance, a man was convicted of knowingly possessing hundreds of child pornography pictures and videos of 8-10-year-old girls being abused. I can hardly even talk about that, but even worse, Mr. President, the sentencing guidelines called for him to receive 63 to 78 months of imprisonment. He was sentenced to one day in prison. Mr. President, that is ridiculous. It is obscene. Our bill would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in these cases. You know, if I could have written this bill by myself, it would have been more. . It's -- it's hard to talk about. We need to do something about it. Our substitute does create a minimum sentence for this type of violation. And, we have many other points of our bill that are very strong. My substitute is one that I think we can put with Senator Leahy's bill when we go to conference. I know the House is going to pass a bill. They are introducing their own. We will go to conference on this bill and we will come out with a good bill if everyone will cooperate. We are all on the same path. ....... I am looking forward to talking about it tomorrow, having a vote, and I hope that we will be able to go forward with the sincerity that I think everyone has on this issue. I think Senator Cornyn has a wonderful amendment that will get rid of the backlog on the rape testing kits so that people who are guilty of these crimes can be found through the testing and stopped from committing crimes on future victims. That's the purpose. So Senator Cornyn and I hope to be able to have our amendments put forward tomorrow, two amendments to Senator Leahy's bill, and we can pass this to the House. I hope that we will move on our very respectable alternatives and amendments and then let us go to a conference where we can come out with a bill that extends this very important act. Thank you.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1097 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:13:00 EST http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=video&id=1099 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:15:00 EST WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn commended the U.S. Department of Transportation's decision to solicit officials with the Interstate Highway 35W project in Tarrant County to apply for a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan. This potential funding opportunity would improve the North Tarrant Express Segments 3a and 3b - a 12-mile section of 35W immediately North of the city of Fort Worth. The Texas project was one of five selected to submit a loan application, which the Department of Transportation will review. If approved, the loan would go toward financing part of the estimated total project cost of $1.5 billion. 'This selection marks an important step forward for the development of the 3a and 3b project, which would create jobs, strengthen the local economy and provide long overdue traffic congestions relief,' said Sen. Hutchison. 'The Fort Worth Transportation Authority, or ‘The T,' would be able to operate in managed lanes, increasing its ridership by an estimated 80 percent. The economic impact is expected to result in 40,000 direct and indirect total jobs created. It is vital that this important infrastructure project receives the funds needed to upgrade and improve one of the most significant trade corridors in the country.' 'The North Tarrant Express is important to the mobility, economy and quality of life for North Texans, and I commend state and local officials for working to help relieve one of the most congested roadways in Texas,' said Sen. Cornyn. BACKGROUND The Texas Department of Transportation 'TxDOT' has rated this project as its highest priority out of the regular, FY2012 Transportation Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program. TIFIA is a federal credit assistance program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides loans and loan guarantees for transportation projects. The program is designed to fill market gaps and leverage substantial private co-investment by providing state and local officials an innovative mechanism for financing projects of national or regional significance. The North Tarrant Express (NTE) project proposes improvements to IH35W which consist of the reconstruction of existing lanes and construction of managed toll lanes, as well as upgrades to interchanges, frontage roads and cross streets expansion. The NTE has 3 main parts: Segments 3A and 3B, and upgrades to the IH 35W/IH 820 Interchange (see attached map). At the Interchange, the project will add two to three managed toll/transit lanes and ultimately expand to three free lanes. Segment 3A is a 5.4 mile road that runs north between IH 30 and IH 820, which will be constructed via a public-private partnership. Segment 3B is a 3.4 mile road that runs further north between the Interchange and the North Tarrant Parkway, which will be constructed by TxDOT under a traditional design-bid-build method. The project runs along a key NAFTA corridor, and the IH 35W/IH 820 Interchange is one of DFW's most highly congested road segments. It will also support expanded bus service for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority by providing access to dedicated transit lanes. Texas is already the signature TIFIA state, with existing credit assistance exceeding $3.3 billion for major highway and transit projects in Dallas-Fort Worth and Central Texas.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1096 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:34:00 EST Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison joined Cheryl Casone on Fox Business to discuss corporate tax reform and its effects on the economy. Below are excerpts of her interview, or to watch the full video, click here. Sen. Hutchison: We like record-setting in America, but to have the highest corporate tax rate in the world is not a record we want to see. This is keeping our businesses from coming back and creating jobs in America. They would rather be in another country where they have more predictability in regulations and a tax that is lower. We need to be competitive. We invented the competitive corporate tax rate and now we end up with the highest and it's not good. ... We need to lower the overall rate and cut out all of the special treatments. That is what everyone agrees would spur the economy -- and it would create jobs and it would entice our businesses to set up their manufacturing plants in America, instead of going overseas. If we could do that and lower the rates and take away all of the other outside incentives, then we would have something that corporations would understand. It would be simple, it would be fair, and everyone would be treated the same. I think that is a winner and I hope that when we do tax reform, we do individual as well as corporate tax reform.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1095 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:50:00 EST http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=video&id=1094 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:49:00 EST Two years ago, against the tide of public opinion, the Democrat-controlled Congress passed President Obama's health care legislation - the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Since then, Americans' doubts have been confirmed. In fact, opposition to the new law has grown. A recent Gallup poll reveals that two-thirds of Americans either support getting rid of the controversial individual insurance mandate that is the core of the PPACA, or favor repealing the entire law. Growing misgivings about the president's health care law are easy to understand. Even with nearly two more years before the health care law is fully implemented, the significant damage it has already done to Americans' health care and economic security is undeniable. Americans are in danger of losing their current health care coverage. In just two short years the president's assurance that 'if you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan' is one of many broken promises. A McKinsey & Co. study from mid-2011 found that between 30 to 50 percent of employers will stop offering health insurance to their employees once the health law is fully implemented in 2014. So where will those millions of people then get insurance? From government-run plans, subsidized by taxpayers, resulting in lower quality care and more deficit spending. Economic recovery and job creation are suffering. According to a recent Gallup poll, 48 percent of small businesses say they aren't hiring because of the current and anticipated costs of the health care law. Taxpayers' costs are skyrocketing. In September of 2009, President Obama told Congress that his health care law would cost 'about $940 billion' over the next ten years - on top of our already enormous national debt. Health care costs are rising even faster. For American families already struggling with stagnant wages and higher costs for gasoline and other necessities, higher health insurance costs threaten to make adequate coverage unaffordable. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in a lawsuit brought by a number of states to overturn the health care law on constitutional grounds (for which I and 42 other Senators have filed a legal brief in support). The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision later this year. This decision will have a major impact on our economy and our health care. Kay Bailey Hutchison is the senior U.S. senator from Texas. http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=news&id=1109 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison joined Soledad O'Brien on CNN's Starting Point to discuss recent trends in immigration and immigration policy. Below is an excerpt of her interview, or to watch the full video, click here. Soledad O'Brien: According to Pew Hispanic Research, from 2005 to 2010, 1.4 million immigrants moved to the United States. During that same time, 1.4 million moved from the U.S. back to Mexico. Joining me this morning is Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has dealt with a number of immigration issues in her time in office. Thanks for being with us, we appreciate it. This report I thought was interesting, this idea of a net zero. What do you think has caused that? The number moving in the same as number moving out? Sen. Hutchison: I think our bad economy is a major reason. We just have not been able to employ the people coming here seeking employment. I also think that we are beginning to get border control and border enforcement in order -- and I think people are realizing that they may be deported and may never be able to come back in legally if they are deported because we're getting better data banks. So, all of these things, I think, are a factor. But I think it still begs the question: Why don't we have an immigration policy that supports our border control and also allows legal immigration?   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1093 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:11:00 EST   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=video&id=1092 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:09:00 EST WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has introduced S. 2324, the Upper Neches River Wild and Scenic Study Act. This legislation requires a study to be conducted of the Neches River from the dam forming Lake Palestine in Anderson and Cherokee Counties to the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir in Jasper and Tyler Counties, to determine which areas of the Neches River should be eligible for a Wild and Scenic River designation. 'The Neches River is one of Texas' most beautiful, free-flowing rivers and provides a vital habitat for fish and other aquatic animals,' said Sen. Hutchison. 'Its location in the heart of the Central Flyway makes it a crucial path for migrating ducks, geese, and songbirds. A Wild and Scenic River designation would help preserve all these attributes.' The Secretary of Agriculture and/or the Secretary of Interior will complete the study within 3 years of passage of this legislation.   http://hutchison.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1091 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:07:00 EST