TBILISI, Georgia -- House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, traveled today to the Republic of Georgia, meeting its president and other top leaders at the request of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"We hope our presence demonstrates American solidarity and lifts the morale of the Georgian people," Berman said.

The congressmen arrived on a U.S. military C-17 aircraft carrying humanitarian aid. They met with President Mikheil Saakashvili, Speaker David Bakradze and other parliamentary officials, along with Georgian Prime Minister Vladimer Gurgenidze and the minister of defense and minister of reintegration and conflict resolution. They conferred as well with U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John F. Tefft

“Russian troops must withdraw from Georgia immediately as they promised to do," Miller told Georgian officials. "The integrity of the Georgian borders must be restored and its national sovereignty must be honored."

"We came here with the strong belief that Russian troops must leave Georgia as promised," Berman said. "Their presence serves no good purpose, represents an intimidating force, and obstructs the delivery of humanitarian assistance as well as the rebuilding of what they have destroyed. America cannot sit idly by in the face of such aggression and the effort to remove the democratically elected leader of a sovereign nation."

The Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on June 18 to examine U.S. policy on long-term conflicts and potential flashpoints in the Caucasus. At the hearing, Berman asked Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried to explain "what steps this Administration (would) take in the coming months to help prevent further escalation of this conflict."

Before leaving Georgia, Berman said that when Congress comes back into session in September "we will turn our attention to providing the assistance that Georgia needs to rebuild its infrastructure, proviide humanitarian relief, aid its damaged military and help shore up its currency."

Miller noted, "Congress should give quick approval to an aid package to help repair the war damage and assist the affected population."

Gold River CA – Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA), today issued the following statement after the Washington Post reported (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR2008082103473.html?wpisrc=newsletter wpisrc=newsletter) that Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) was “pushing” for a four day work week for federal employees to help cope with rising gas prices: “The Democrat answer to high gas prices is a four day work week for themselves and federal bureaucrats. While the Speaker of the House is off jet setting to promote her book, the Majority Leader is figuring out how to get more time off. Americans are struggling to pay their bills and fill their gas tanks. They deserve better from their elected officials.“My constituents and people across the country are demanding Congress do something, anything to lower costs at the pump. The American Energy Act is an all of the above approach that will move the country in the direction of greater energy independence. For months, we’ve made it clear that we need conservation, renewable energy, alternative fuels and we need to produce energy in America for Americans so we can drive down the cost of gas. Though Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer continue to block our efforts, Republicans will keep fighting for a comprehensive, common sense energy plan that includes all of those goals.”

Gold River CA – Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA), today issued the following statement after the Washington Post reported that Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) was “pushing” for a four day work week for federal employees to help cope with rising gas prices: “The Democrat answer to high gas prices is a four day work week for themselves and federal bureaucrats. While the Speaker of the House is off jet setting to promote her book, the Majority Leader is figuring out how to get more time off. Americans are struggling to pay their bills and fill their gas tanks. They deserve better from their elected officials.“My constituents and people across the country are demanding Congress do something, anything to lower costs at the pump. The American Energy Act is an all of the above approach that will move the country in the direction of greater energy independence. For months, we’ve made it clear that we need conservation, renewable energy, alternative fuels and we need to produce energy in America for Americans so we can drive down the cost of gas. Though Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer continue to block our efforts, Republicans will keep fighting for a comprehensive, common sense energy plan that includes all of those goals.”

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Diane E. Watson issued the following statement today on the passing of House Ethics Committee Chairwoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio:

(Washington D.C.)- Rep. Brian Bilbray announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Ames Construction, Inc. of Phoenix and Coffman Specialties, Inc., of San Diego, a joint-venture contract of $98.3 million to construct a water reservoir and water delivery project in Imperial County, Calif.

(Carmichael, Calif.) - Tuesday evening, August 19, Congressman Dan Lungren welcomed roughly 100 residents of California's Third Congressional District to a Town Hall Meeting, at the La Sierra Community Center, to discuss their issues of concern. The robust conversation chiefly covered American Energy and the need for solutions through various technologies. Congressman Lungren spoke of the need for an all-of-the-above approach to American Energy production. I support an energy proposal, The American Energy Act, that addresses all aspects of the energy issue,” Lungren said. “We have incentives for conservation, incentives for more efficiency and tremendous incentives for alternatives. The discussion ranged from consideration of solar power, wind power, hydro-electric generation, the lithium ion battery, to off-shore drilling and conservation. Rep. Lungren addressed the original intent in regulating particular lands in Alaska, specifically the 2,000 acre plot that is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), so they would be set aside for future energy exploration and production. Preceding the Town Hall Meeting, an alternative energy vehicle (images/District_Events/smud%20plug-in%20hybrid%20electric%20vehicle.jpg) was on display, courtesy of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Bill Boyce, leader of SMUD's Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) project, was on hand to discuss the capabilities of and technologies behind the alternative energy car. Congressman Lungren acknowledged the important potential of PHEVs, which offer a more efficient use of energy resources by charging during the night hours, when power stations produce electricity in excess of the rate of consumption.

(Carmichael, Calif.) - Tuesday evening, August 19, Congressman Dan Lungren welcomed roughly 100 residents of California's Third Congressional District to a Town Hall Meeting, at the La Sierra Community Center, to discuss their issues of concern. The robust conversation chiefly covered American Energy and the need for solutions through various technologies. Congressman Lungren spoke of the need for an all-of-the-above approach to American Energy production, calling it, a comprehensive approach that finally does everything. We have incentives for conservation, we have incentives for more efficiency. We also have tremendous incentives for alternatives. The discussion ranged from consideration of solar power, wind power, hydro-electric generation, the lithium ion battery, to off-shore drilling and conservation. Rep. Lungren addressed the original intent in regulating particular lands in Alaska, now known as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), noting that the discussion at the time included establishing the 2,000 acre plot for future exploration and production of energy. Preceding the Town Hall Meeting, an alternative energy vehicle (images/District_Events/smud%20plug-in%20hybrid%20electric%20vehicle.jpg) was on display, courtesy of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Bill Boyce, leader of SMUD's Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) project, was on hand to discuss the capabilities of and technologies behind the alternative energy car. Congressman Lungren acknowledged the important potential of PHEVs, which offer a more efficient use of energy resources by charging during the night hours, when power stations produce electricity in excess of the rate of consumption.