Doug Bereuter: “Today I have introduced four bills for consideration during the next year and I want to call them at least briefly to…”

“Today I have introduced four bills for consideration during the next year and I want to call them at least briefly to the attention of the House for the Members and staff who will be watching or reading the Congressional Record. The first of them is entitled the Lewis and Clark Voyage of Scientific Discovery Act, and it really is a comprehensive effort to foster the better management of the biological and physical health of the Missouri River. The second and third bills relate to Afghanistan and Central Asian republics and the ability and assistance and authorization for that part of the world to produce food sufficient to feed themselves, at least on a sustainable or subsistence basis. The second of the bills relates to a multi-lateral approach we would participate through the Treasury Department with cooperation and assistance with the State Department. It has 15 bipartisan cosponsors already, and it would utilize a trust fund with the fiduciary responsibility placed in the World Bank. The third is a bilateral authorization program involving the State and USAID, and I will come back to those two bills briefly. The fourth bill is a Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act, and I had a chance to briefly mention that in a 1 minute address several hours ago. This bill will address a significant differential and reimbursement levels to urban and rural health care providers.”