Tax Relief for Military Families

Senator Pat Roberts, a former Marine, supported a military tax relief bill, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act, which has passed the Senate. The HEART act, provides tax relief for veterans, servicemembers, and their employers. One of the key provisions in the bill includes tax relief for small businesses that continue to pay salary to members of the National Guard and Reserve who are called to duty.

Senator Roberts also co-sponsored a bill to improve the process for members of the active duty military forces to exercise their right to vote no matter where in the world they serve. The bill will expedite collection and delivery of ballots of overseas troops. "Thousands of men and women in uniform are serving our country, but their ability to exercise their right to vote is often hindered by their very service, and that’s not right," Senator Roberts said.

Tuesday was a special day for Kansans in the nation’s capital. President Bush welcomed the National Championship Basketball team, the Kansas Jayhawks, at a White House Rose Garden ceremony. The entire Kansas congressional delegation celebrated with the team along with Kansas’ favorite son, Senator Bob Dole. The President told the players that they brought new glory to one of the nation’s most storied basketball programs, and they gave their fans all across America one more reason to chant Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

Later, the team and Coach Self came to Capitol Hill for a reception with the delegation and Kansas fans. Senator Roberts congratulated them on their incredible season. It was truly an amazing year for the Jayhawks: Orange Bowl Champions in Football and National Champions in Basketball.

As debate in the Senate continues on the Boxer/Warner/Lieberman Climate Change bill, Senator Roberts expressed his concerns regarding the proposed bill’s impact on the Kansas economy. The bill requires the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2020 and 66% by 2050 through a cap-and-trade program. It specifically targets coal fired power plants, natural gas processing facilities and petroleum refineries. Senator Roberts said, "I have serious reservations about a bill that will increase utility rates, increase fuel prices, increase fertilizer prices, and harm the Kansas economy and cause job losses while developing countries around the world continue to pollute."

Roberts, a strong advocate for the role of production agriculture in greenhouse mitigation, has previously introduced major legislation that encourages carbon sequestration and was successful in funding research for such projects a Kansas State University and the University of Kansas. In contrast, the Boxer/Lieberman/Warner bill provides little incentives for agriculture to assist with carbon capture and storage.

Senator Roberts has called for a long term, comprehensive solution to high energy prices. This solution includes increasing the domestic production of energy to help reduce energy costs for Kansans.

This year, Roberts has cosponsored the American Energy Production Act ,which increases energy exploration within the U.S. and off shore. He has supported the energy bills of 2005 and 2007, that when combined with the newly passed Farm Bill, reduce consumption of oil, advance production and use of renewable and alternative fuels, and will lead to renewable fuel feedstocks that are not in competition with our food and feed supply.

Likewise, Roberts has called on the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to exercise its authority to monitor transactions in energy markets for potential abuses and market manipulation.

"I’ve conducted many town hall meetings over the last few months and can easily report that the number one domestic issue on the minds of my constituents is energy prices. I encourage and challenge you to continue to root out manipulation and shine a light on transactions where needed," Senator Roberts said. "The new farm bill gives you a bigger and brighter flashlight to use."

Senator Roberts supports long term comprehensive energy solutions for the nation, which would increase the supply of affordable, clean, domestic energy.

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