Energy Production

Senator Roberts supported legislation to allow U.S. companies to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Cuba. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that there are approximately 4.6 to 9 billion barrels of oil and 1.9 to 22 trillion cubic feet of natural gas off the southern U.S. coast in the north Cuban basin. Roberts said, "At a time when energy costs are high with increased worldwide demand, it makes very little sense to ignore the resources just off our shores when other nations are free to reap the benefits."

Ft. Leavenworth’s Army Command and General Staff College celebrated its 125^th anniversary and Senator Roberts was invited to deliver remarks. The follow are excerpts from his speech:

"It is a pleasure and privilege to be back at Fort Leavenworth, the intellectual center of the Army.

Now, we are here today to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of one of the most time-honored and relevant schools in the military, the Command and General Staff College. During its 125 years in existence this college has played a unique and vital role in developing an intellectually equipped United States Army officer corps.

"It is this education which provides the Army with the creativity to design war plans, like those in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well as the agile thinking required to transition from conducting major combat operations to initiating stability operations in the face of the potent insurgency we see in Iraq today."

After nearly two years at the CIA, Porter Goss resigned this month as its Director. As Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Roberts will hold confirmation hearings on the President’s nomination of General Michael Hayden to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Senator Roberts signed onto the Call Home Act, bipartisan legislation to reduce the cost of calling home for military personnel stationed overseas. Through new technology, flexible billing procedures or reduced surcharges, the Call Home Act would expand the Federal Communications Commission’s efforts to benefit troops wherever they are deployed in support of the global war on terrorism.

A former Marine, Senator Roberts remarked, "When stationed abroad, our men and women in uniform need to remain connected to their families. Calls home are critical for morale and enable the soldier, sailor, airman or marine to better concentrate and fulfill their mission. This legislation is one of many common sense initiatives to improve the quality of life for our military families."

Senator Roberts praised the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution on singing the National Anthem in English. The resolution states that official statements of national pride and unity like the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance should be said in English. Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS) introduced a similar resolution in the House.

Senator Roberts said, "While this resolution does not prohibit translations, it does make the statement that no matter where we are from, together, we celebrate our nation in a common language, English."