Capitol Connection Newsletter
Washington, Jun 9 -
House Funds Tougher Border Security: Congressman Miller supported the measure, which must still be approved by the U.S. Senate.
Border security funding will see a significant boost next year under a funding bill for the
Homeland Security Department that passed the House Tuesday. The department will receive
$32.1 billion next year, of which 61 percent ($19.6 billion) is earmarked for border security and
immigration enforcement, including:
The bill will also prevent the border patrol from giving the Mexican government information about
the location of the Minutemen that are helping patrol the border.
House OKs Bill to Speed Permits for New Refineries:
Importing gasoline into the United States is much more expensive than importing oil. But
because of a lack of domestic refining capacity, the United States is forced to import 12 percent
of its gasoline supply, resulting in higher prices at the pump. The House on Wednesday passed
legislation aimed at streamlining permits for new refineries, a step that could expand energy
supplies and eventually cut prices. A new refinery has not been built in the United States in 30
years. Congressman Miller supported the measure, which passed 238 to 179. The U.S. Senate
must also pass the bill before it becomes law.
House Passed Bill Will Lower Cable Prices:
A bill making it easier for phone companies to compete with cable providers and sell television
services directly to consumers passed the House on Thursday. The Government Accounting
Office estimates cable prices will fall by more than 15 percent if competition is introduced into the
marketplace. After receiving assurances that cities' concerns about rights-of-way management
would be addressed during negotiations with the Senate, Congressman Miller supported the bill,
which passed 321 to 101.
Chino Hills High School Student to Exhibit Art in U.S. Capitol:
Walnut High School sophomore and Chino Hills resident Sarah Kim won Congressman Miller's
annual Artistic Discovery art competition. Her winning entry, a painting of a grandfather holding
up his grandson to kiss a name on the Vietnam Memorial wall entitled “A Kiss of Remembrance,”
will hang in the Capitol building for one year and she received a free trip to Washington, DC to
see its unveiling in June.
Outrage of the Week:
June 9- The number of volunteers fanning out across Arizona 's southern deserts to aid illegal
immigrants is expected to surge this summer. Leaders of two groups, No More Deaths and
Samaritan Patrol, say they've signed up hundreds of volunteers to deliver food, water and
medical aid to illegal aliens as they cross the border. No More Deaths alone has 500 registered
volunteers, up from 300 last summer. A third group, Humane Borders, puts water tanks in areas
frequented by illegal immigrants. But would-be volunteers beware. Last summer, two volunteers
were jailed on federal charges they intentionally conspired to transport illegal aliens.