Edition 27

Dear Friend,

Having completed my first year in Congress, I want to let you know about some of the accomplishments. With Southern Arizona’s common sense attitude in Washington, I worked in a bipartisan manner to get results for our communities. Fighting for our veterans and military families, promoting solar energy, and restoring fiscal accountability have been among my top priorities. I hope you will take a moment to read the following summary of my efforts as your representative.

Also please notice the invitation to our February 5th open house at our new campaign headquarters. I look forward to seeing you there!

Gabrielle

2007: What Happened in Washington

We all like statistics so I decided to put together some numbers for you about 2007.  Here is a short reference list to remind you of what we were able to accomplish in just the first year in office:

3 committee assignments
- Armed Services: Readiness Subcommittee and Air & Land Subcommittee

- Foreign Affairs: Western Hemisphere Subcommittee

- Science and Technology: Vice Chairperson of Energy & Environment Subcommittee

16 bills and amendments introduced – 7 have been signed into law, while a total of 12 have passed the House, the remaining are awaiting committee action
Signed into law:

- Tunnel Enforcement Act (H.R. 4326)

- SCAAP Funding increase Amendment to the House CJS Appropriations

- Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act (H.R. 2774)

- Safe and Effective Drug Development Act (H.R. 2592)

- Advanced Research Projects Agency (H.R. 364)

- 2 amendments to H.R. 362, the “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds” Act

167 bills and resolutions co-sponsored
18 floor speeches on immigration, 43 floor speeches total
32 trips home since swearing-in in January with 15 trips to Cochise & Santa Cruz Counties
1 Border Security Summit attended by 75 officials from the U.S. and Mexico
2 Education Summits attended by more than 300 constituents
2 bipartisan Congressional delegations to the Middle East (Iraq, Kuwait and Israel)
2 Congressional delegations to congressional district 8 (Border Security and Armed Services)
5 Checkpoint workgroup meetings and 12 subcommittee meetings with 27 workgroup members and more than 500 participants
5 Advisory Councils – Veterans, Military, Health Care, Senior and Aging, and Solar Energy with a total of 121 members
7 on-site workplace town halls with major employers in the area
10 “Congress on Your Corner” events attended by more than 1200 constituents
Offices or office hours in 9 communities including Douglas, Green Valley, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, Sierra Vista, Tucson, Vail, and Willcox
1,980 constituent cases opened and 1559 closed (94% favorably)
79,228 constituent contacts received by email, telephone, fax or mail
18 meetings and events on solar energy
31 issue forums and town halls with topics including border security, military readiness, Medicare, immigration, veteran’s issues, preventing identity theft, and foreign affairs.
7 video or teleconference town halls on issues including immigration, FEMA, No Child Left Behind, health care, Head Start, the farm bill and education in science and mathematics
190 meetings and events in Arizona
163 days the 110th Congress was in session in 2007 (compared to 101 days the 109th Congress was in session in 2006)
1,128 bills passed by the 110th Congress in 1 year (compared to 1,457 passed by the 109th Congress in 2 years)
256 Giffords for Congress volunteers who participated in community service activities as the Cactus Roots Connectors
1 wedding
3260 contributions to Giffords for Congress 2008 from people like you who want to keep making change happen in Washington

Celebrating this first year in office at Hotel Congress

I would like to express my deep appreciation to all of you who came to the Hotel Congress event. It was a wonderful success and Mark and I were struck by the incredible energy that the hundreds of you who came have to keep change moving forward in Washington.

For those of you who were not able to make it, here is a link to an article that appeared in the Arizona Daily Star about the event  Thanks again to all of you who came – your support is what makes my work possible!

Giffords for Congress 2008

Join us on Tuesday, February 5th  for an Open House at our new Giffords for Congress Headquarters

During the day on February 5th, we are holding an Open House at our *Brand New Headquarters* at 4444 E. Grant Road, Suites 105 and 106. Please drop in between 8 am and 8 pm to join our campaign workers, volunteers and Congresswoman Giffords throughout the day for light refreshments and a chance to catch up with old friends.

Help Gather Petition Signatures to get Gabrielle’s name on the ballot!

Greet your friends and neighbors as they arrive to vote in the Presidential Preference Election on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 with a Giffords nominating petition. We have morning and afternoon shifts at polling places throughout Congressional District 8 – including yours! This is a terrific opportunity to participate in an exciting political event. We hope you can join us even for a few hours.  Please email Jennifer@www.GiffordsforCongress.com or call (520) 269-2155 to get information about location and a brief orientation.

We look forward to seeing you on February 5th!
Sincerely yours,

Gabrielle Giffords