Ehrlich on Washington column, December 23, 2001

с LuthurvilU, Morylond 2 1 093 NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. 1 407 York Rood, Suita 304 Second Congressional District of Maryland 3 1 5 Conn on Houta Office Building Wmhington, D.C 20515 J EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Week of December 23, 2001 Much To Be Thankful For This Holiday Season When you stop and think, we have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. Despite the tragedies of September 1 1, Americans have shown their resilience by coming to the aid of fellow countrymen in need, rallying behind our Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush in an effort to end the worldwide terrorist threat, and by supporting our Armed Forces abroad. We are blessed to be citizens of the United States. No other people on earth enjoy the individual liberties or the self-determination that we enjoy every day, and which we often take for granted. Each of us has the right to speak, work, or worship in a manner that we believe is right. In fact, it is this right to self-governance that allows all Americans to celebrate this holiday season in a manner he or she sees fit, whether they observe Christmas, Hanukkah, or the religious holiday of another faith. This is the bedrock of our national heritage. Looking back over this first session of the 107th Congress, you can be proud of the efforts of the House of Representatives to protect our personal freedoms and ensure the well-being of our country. I am especially proud of the work we have done on President Bush’s top initiatives. For instance, in June President Bush signed into law one of his most important priorities, a tax- cut initiative to relieve working Americans of $1.7 trillion in tax obligations to the federal government. In light of America’s recent economic downturn, this tax-relief is a big reason why Americans have more money in the family account to cover this year’s holiday expenses. Most importantly, it gives American families greater freedom of choice while budgeting their priorities. Just last week, Congress delivered President Bush a sweeping bill to reform America’s public schools, making accountability and achievement the guiding principals in our classrooms. The No Child Left Behind Act will increase investment in our nation’s poorest schools, like many of those in Baltimore City, where so many young, promising kids are failed year after year by an outdated school system. I was proud to deliver this bill to President Bush, who, despite events since September 1 1, never wavered in his commitment to provide America’s children with the best education possible.