When I first ran for Congress this Spring, I told you I was running because I believed the people of Louisiana deserved a Congressman who fights for their needs, stands up for their values, and gets things done.  Over the last few months, I've tried to live up to that promise. Here are a few examples of the work I've been doing on your behalf in Washington .

Fighting for Our District

I've been standing up to my own party on offshore drilling because I believe in order to lower the price of gas and reduce our reliance on foreign oil, we have to do it all. That includes drilling, increasing our refining capacity, exploring alternative energy sources, and renewing our commitment to conservation. Although, I have been disappointed in the lack of support for drilling among many members, I am optimistic that many members have been hearing from their constituents over the last few weeks and will head back into session in September with a more open mind. I think its incumbent on Democrats and Republican from the Gulf Coast region to help other members understand that we can drill responsibly and safely, and that increasing our domestic supply has to be part of the solution.

Standing up For Our Values

Shortly before we adjourned for the August work period, I was also proud to stand with the NRA and sign on as an original co-sponsor to HR 6691, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act. This bill is needed to enforce the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, and I will do everything I can to help pass it in September.

Getting Things Done

In my first few months in Congress, I was able to introduce and pass 3 bills which were bipartisan, commonsense solutions to problems we face. The first was the Public Housing Disaster Relief Act of 2008 , (H.R. 6276) which allows FEMA to assist public housing authorities trying to rebuild damaged facilities in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita. Previously, government red tape prevented FEMA from assisting these agencies. The second bill I sponsored and passed was H.R. 6445 , which eliminates co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans at VA hospitals. The bill also improved other aspects of veterans' health care, including pain management, counseling, and accounting services. The final bill I passed was the National Energy Security Intelligence of 2008 , which requires the director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress on how rising energy prices affect national security. I believe the report will give lawmakers a better understanding of the importance of reducing our supply of foreign energy (H.R. 6545). All of these bills passed overwhelmingly, and with bipartisan support because they were commonsense solutions to problems about which all Americans are concerned. I plan to continue to work hard to get things done for the people of the 6 th District, and I am honored to serve you.