Special to the Green Valley News

Published: Saturday, January 23, 2010

Americans are rightly outraged about intelligence and security failures that allowed a would-be terrorist aboard a Northwest Airlines flight bound for Detroit on Christmas Day.

This frightening incident highlights the fact that the security procedures implemented after 9/11 fell well short of their intended goals.

Stronger security measures are needed to ensure that Americans can board an airliner without fearing that a fellow passenger will turn on them.

President Obama has properly directed increased and random screening of passengers on flights from other countries into the United States. He also directed that every passenger from 14 specific countries be patted down and have their carry-ons searched.

The new rules apply to passengers from Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

These are strong first steps, but more needs to be done.

Several countries remain off that increased-screening list despite the insistence of intelligence sources that terrorism remains a problem there. I strongly urge that this list be expanded.

We must subject airline passengers to more intensive security checks if they fit a particular pattern of travel, originate from a suspect country or are of a specific age, economic or behavioral profile common among likely terrorists.

Some will claim this is an improper basis for scrutiny, but I reject that notion. We cannot ignore the fact that there are certain indicators of potential terrorist activity which can and should be used to initiate additional screening.

It is nonsensical to subject grandmothers in wheelchairs and babies in strollers to the same level of security as travelers from known terrorist safe havens.

We also must now reconsider the use of full-body scanners at airports. While giving proper consideration to privacy and civil liberty concerns, we must take all necessary steps to assure Americans that they can fly as safely as possible.

I fly frequently between Tucson and Washington, D.C. and stand in the same security lines, walk through the same metal detectors and remove my shoes as all travelers.

Like many, I wonder whether these procedures really make flying safer or if they are merely a facade to make us think that something is being done to improve security.

I have the utmost respect for the work done by the men and women of the Transportation Security Administration, who are on the front lines of airport security. But we must support the work of TSA by identifying threats before they reach an airport.

We created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to unify the efforts of security-related agencies in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Yet we still do not have a single accessible national database containing all terrorism-related information.

The review ordered by President Obama after the failed Christmas Day attack revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies remain unable to verify the visa status of all known or suspected terrorists on the No Fly list.

On Christmas Day a cascading series of failures allowed a person who was a known danger to come dreadfully close to exploding a commercial airliner over the United States. This should never have happened.

As a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, I have been focused on the issues of airport and border security, terrorism, defeating al Qaeda and denying terrorists safe havens.

It has never been clearer that terrorism remains a very real threat to the United States and to our freedoms.

We will need renewed vigilance – from our allies, our government and the traveling public. Most importantly, we also will need decisive leadership – from the intelligence community, Congress and the White House.

U.S, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in her second term representing Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

MARANA — The Town of Marana and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ offices combined to raise 1,465 pounds of food for the Marana Community Food Bank in a one-week period last week.

Giffords’ office challenged Marana Mayor Ed Honea and the town to see who could collect the largest amount of food from Nov. 18-24.

While Giffords’ office outdid the town 984 pounds to 481, it was the Marana Community Food Bank that came out the biggest winner as it prepares for the holiday season rush.

“Donors to the food bank a year ago are walking in the front door today,” said Giffords “Obviously we had a little fun competition, but also it’s letting folks know that while we’re celebrating with our families there’s a lot of folks who don’t have enough right now.”

A U.S. flag is going to fly outside the new Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr., Library in Marana, thanks to the determined efforts of a Vietnam War veteran.

Dick Jarenski, who flies the U.S. Flag and a Prisoner of War remembrance flag outside his Marana home, wants to see the U.S. flag fly in public places such as the county-operated library off Silverbell in Marana.

In October, during a presentation at the library, Jarenski was puzzled why the library had no flags. He learned there wasn’t money in the county library budget for flags.

Jarenski wrote many letters, contacted the offices of elected and appointed officials, and notified the media.

Then, at an event Nov. 24, Jarenski accepted a flag from U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. In turn, Jarenski has given the flag to the county library. Marana Mayor Ed Honea said a flag pole would be installed outside the new library.

Giffords thanked Jarenski for his service, “and for your commitment to the flag and all that it represents.

“When I have visited our Armed Forces here and overseas, our flag is proudly flown over bases and outposts wherever our troops are stationed,” Giffords said. “It represents to all of us and to people around the world the liberties and freedoms that make our country so great.”

The flag Giffords presented has flown over the U.S. Capitol. She added to the library’s collection with a presentation of the weighty volume “Women in Congress, 1917-2006,” to Sharla Darby, library manager.

Jarenski learned Giffords rides a Harley-Davidson, and he gave Giffords an associate membership in the Submarine Veterans Motorycycle Club.

By U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords/For the Range News

When our nation asked Raymond Federico to serve, he answered the call.

Raymond joined the U.S. Navy and served in Southeast Asia, seeing combat from the decks of troop transports and other ships. He manned a .50-caliber machine gun on boats patrolling the rivers of Vietnam.

Patriots such as Raymond are at the forefront of our minds as we mark Veterans’ Day. But honoring the service of veterans like him must go beyond mere words. Deeds are required and Raymond is among the many veterans who know just how serious that requirement is.

After firing the big guns with no ear protection for almost four years, Raymond developed tinnitus and hearing loss and filed for a service-related disability. Earlier this year, Raymond was working for a Tucson automobile dealer, but lost his job and had trouble making his mortgage payments when the business closed.

Things became a little easier for Raymond and his wife when Congress passed the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.

Like many bills concerning our veterans, this one had strong bipartisan support. It increased the annual compensation rate for disabled veterans and their dependent survivors by the same cost-of-living adjustment payable to Social Security recipients.

“It certainly helped so we didn’t get behind in our bills,” Raymond said.

On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, we must pledge that when service members such as Raymond return home, we leave no veteran behind.

To help fulfill this solemn commitment, I am proposing needed changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect in August. This bill restores the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

These benefits will be available to 2.1 million veterans and to all children of fallen soldiers since 9/11. This is an excellent bill, but I want to make it better.

Some retired veterans eligible for education benefits are unlikely to use them, because they have degrees or went on to careers. I have proposed that eligible veterans who retired before Aug. 1, 2009 have the right to transfer those benefits to other family members.

I also am proposing that housing allowances under the bill be available to veterans who take classes online. And I am asking that veterans who received benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill also be eligible, under some circumstances, for benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, up to a maximum total of 48 months of benefits.

This year Congress has passed numerous bills to improve the lives of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Each bill will benefit our nation’s heroes, past and present, and the military families who support them.

Among those bills was the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, which will provide better healthcare services for the 1.8 million women veterans.

We also passed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which authorizes Congress to approve Veterans Affairs medical care appropriations one year in advance. This will help assure that veterans’ medical care will be delivered quickly and will end a cycle of late payments by Congress to the VA.

Legislation, though, is only half the battle. This is why I am urging the Veterans Department to establish a much-needed Vet Center in Cochise County. And this is why I and other members of Congress successfully persuaded the VA to change a policy that required Southern Arizona veterans to travel to Phoenix to collect emergency education benefits.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee who represents a district with two military installations and a large number of veterans, I know how important it is to keep our promises to the courageous men and women who served in our armed forces. I also know that I am far from alone.

If you want to be sure of reaching a destination, you need a map. It’s the same with an ambitious goal like ramping up solar energy in America.

Last Thursday, the U.S. House approved a bill to create a “Solar Technology Roadmap” that would provide much-needed focus and resources.

A committee, including representatives of the solar-power industry, would lay out the research-and-development needs for the next 15 years. The roadmap would be updated and revised regularly. The bill would authorize funding for R&D and demonstration projects, ramping up from $350 million in fiscal 2011 to $550 million in 2015.

For Arizona, solar power is a double economic opportunity: developing a solar industry and diversifying our power sources with a clean source of electricity. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a second-term Democrat who is a champion of solar power in southern Arizona, sponsored the bill, HR 3585.

Other countries have sped ahead of the United States in developing solar power, and China is making a major push. If we don’t adopt better policies and support innovation, Giffords warns, America will go from importing foreign oil to importing solar panels.

This isn’t an easy time to argue for spending more money. But the bill picked up bipartisan support for a reason.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, a Maryland Republican who describes himself as a fiscal conservative, a scientist and an engineer, argues that the bill would not use too much money. The funding level, he explains, “only begins to reverse 20 years of underinvestment in solar power.”

The solar roadmap is modeled on a previous effort to develop semiconductors, which spurred two decades of technological advances. The bill still needs a sponsor in the Senate. It would be a real stretch for Sen. Jon Kyl or John McCain to back a bill that was opposed by Arizona’s three Republicans in the House. But they should take a look.

Gabrielle Giffords/U.S. Rep. Congressional District 8

They are a political dynasty with roots stretching back to Arizona’s rough-and-tumble territorial days. Some have referred to them as the Kennedys of the West.

Whatever you call the Udalls, there’s no denying the pivotal role this storied family has played in shaping our state and nation. They have been a fixture of the political landscape for more than a century.

This is why I was honored recently to vote with a majority of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to change the name of Tucson’s Morris K. Udall Foundation to the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.

A simple name change might seem insignificant. It isn’t. This is a fitting tribute to the lasting legacy of a pair of true environmental pioneers – brothers who worked together over decades to raise awareness of our fragile surroundings and expand our national parks system.

Their contributions were featured prominently in Ken Burns’ recent PBS television series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” It is at the Udall Foundation, though, where the ideals of the Udalls are passed on to the next generation of environmental champions.

The Udall Foundation has many valuable programs that – like the Udall brothers – have a direct and positive impact on our lives. It annually awards about 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 each to college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American health care.

It also funds 12 Native Americans or Alaska Natives each summer for a 10-week internship in Washington, D.C. and, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, takes 12 middle school students every summer to explore Arizona’s natural wonders. The foundation includes the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution that provides mediation and other services and training to help parties resolve environmental conflicts.

The foundation, which is headquartered in downtown Tucson, was established in 1992 to honor Morris Udall’s 30 years of service representing Southern Arizona in the House. Known affectionately as “Mo,” his love of the environment resulted in numerous pieces of sweeping legislation, including the Alaska Lands Act of 1980, which doubled the size of the national park system and tripled the size of the national wilderness system.

Morris Udall was appointed to the House in 1961 when his older brother, Stewart, was named secretary of the interior by President John F. Kennedy. Stewart Udall’s environmental sum is no less impressive than his brother’s.

In 1963, Stewart Udall authored the landmark environmental book, “The Quiet Crisis,” in which he told of those who fought tirelessly against the industrial fouling of air, water and land, the widespread destruction of beauty and the encroachment on open space.

During his eight years as head of the Department of Interior, Stewart Udall oversaw the creation of four national parks, six national monuments, eight national seashores and lakeshores, nine recreation areas, 20 historic sites and 56 wildlife refuges.

The contributions of the Udall brothers stretch across our nation – literally. The easternmost and westernmost points in the United States are named in their honor. Point Udall at the east end of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands honors Stewart, while Udall Point at the west end of Guam honors Morris.

Morris Udall died in 1998. Stewart Udall is 89 and lives in New Mexico. Their sons Mark and Tom continue the Udall legacy today. Each served in the House for a decade – Mark from Colorado and Tom from New Mexico – before they were elected to the Senate last November.

Legislation to change the name of the foundation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva and I am an original co-sponsor. Together, our districts encompass much of the same region that Mo and Stewart represented in the House.

Terry Bracy, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, has said the Udall legacy is really a shared legacy and that renaming the foundation to also honor Stewart is an appropriate way to honor his vision and leadership. I agree.

The combined contributions of Morris and Stewart Udall are like the rugged and wild lands they dedicated their lives to preserving: They will endure through the ages.

GREEN VALLEY (AP) — Southern Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords toured sites in Tucson, Amado and Green Valley to see firsthand how stimulus dollars are changing lives.

Giffords said $300,000 in stimulus funds given to the Amado Community Food Bank will help meet needs throughout the community that never existed before.

At a pediatric facility in Green Valley, the Democratic lawmaker got a glimpse of its nearly completed expansion and a tour of a dental RV that will cater to children in underserved areas.

In Tucson, Giffords attended a briefing at Tucson International Airport. It received $1.8 million to strengthen security.

The money is part of about $7 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

SPECIAL TO THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR,  October 12, 2009

American and British forces launched the war in Afghanistan with an intense nighttime bombing raid on Oct. 7, 2001. Most Americans — and much of the world — had no doubt that the mission was justified.
Less than a month earlier, al-Qaida terrorists had launched surprise attacks against the United States — attacks that seared the date Sept. 11 into the American consciousness and permanently altered the way we view the world.
This was a war worth fighting eight years ago and it remains so today.
The terrorists who engineered those attacks were hosted and protected by the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan. Our military goal was — and is — clear: Remove the Taliban from power, track down al-Qaida and other terrorists, and allow the people of Afghanistan to run their own country.
Last week, as we marked the eighth anniversary of the start of the war, a stable Afghanistan remained very much a work in progress. I witnessed this for myself recently on a congressional delegation trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan with two fellow members of the House Armed Services Committee.
Among the top officials we met with was Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. McChrystal’s assessment of the war is under review by President Obama.
In Afghanistan today, the Taliban no longer call the shots in Kabul, but they remain a potent force throughout much of the countryside. Al-Qaida no longer enjoys the safe haven it once did, but the terrorist who ordered the 9/11 attacks — Osama bin Laden — remains out of our grasp.
And while the people of Afghanistan recently selected a leader, widespread allegations of fraud marred the election and government corruption remains rampant.
The future of peace and stability in Afghanistan is inexorably linked to security in Pakistan. During my visit, it was encouraging to see the important gains being made in the training of Pakistani special forces by American counterterrorism experts.
There also have been steps forward in Afghanistan. Residents of Kabul now have electricity all day instead of sporadically. The pay of police officers has been increased to be competitive with that of soldiers. And more women soldiers and police officers are being trained to search female insurgents for hidden explosives and weapons.
Still, the challenges the world faces in Afghanistan cannot be understated. It is an agrarian, largely tribal society with little respect for the central government. The continued scourge of drugs adds to the difficulties. The untold number of poppy fields remains a stumbling block to true reform and is a large source of revenue for the Taliban.
American drug agents working with Afghan soldiers and police have wiped out poppy cultivation in 20 of the country’s 34 provinces. But poppy cultivation is deeply ingrained in Afghan history and tradition.
Despite substantive gains, the question I had for officials I met with was “Where do we go from here?”
Like so much about Afghanistan, the answer to this question is not easy. Complicating matters is the mounting toll this conflict is taking on our armed forces. In the first nine months of this year, 222 U.S. troops were killed.
Since our initial commitment to Afghanistan in 2001, that war of necessity became secondary to a war of choice in Iraq. As we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan, our strategies and goals became less clear and the Taliban insurgency was allowed to regroup and plot its return. It must not be allowed to succeed.
Today, President Obama is faced with the challenge of rallying public and congressional support for the mission in Afghanistan. As commander in chief, he must set goals and establish metrics for success.
It must be the goal of our nation to ensure that we never repeat the same errors of indifference that preceded 9/11, and we never again allow terrorists to seek safe haven in Afghanistan.

Wilcox Range News – September 16, 2009

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords this week outlined the future of solar power and its potential for growth, telling a conference in the nation’s capital that energy from the sun is becoming cost-competitive with traditional energy sources.
Giffords spoke Thursday at the Solar Economics Forum USA. The event, held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, was an opportunity for policymakers, investors, utilities and solar companies to explore the economics and debate the viability of solar power as part of the U.S. energy mix.
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, told the forum that solar power has made tremendous strides in recent years – even recent months. But she pointed out that most people, including many of her colleagues in Congress, are unaware of solar’s exciting recent advances.
The Arizona lawmaker said the biggest hurdle now facing the solar industry is not so much technological as psychological. She said the solar industry needs to do a better job of telling its story so more people understand how it can make a serious contribution to meeting our nation’s energy challenges.
The text of Giffords’ prepared remarks is below.

Solar Economics Forum – “Telling the Solar Story”
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, September 10, 2009

Good morning everyone. It’s great to be with you all today to take part in this important discussion on the future of solar energy.
As many of you may know, I’m relatively new to Washington. I was first elected to Congress in 2006 and I am now serving my second term. I’m proud to say that I have been a strong supporter of solar power since the day I arrived, and it is one of my highest policy priorities.
As a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, I have had an especially good position to advocate for increased solar research and development. In fact, I am working with the committee right now on a bill to reauthorize the solar R&D program at the Department of Energy.
I have been a strong advocate for other pro-solar policies as well, including the investment tax credit, a renewable electricity standard, a manufacturing tax credit, loan guarantees, and workforce development programs. I have also been promoting solar in my other committees, especially the Armed Services Committee, where I have been an outspoken supporter of renewable energy leadership by our military.
People sometimes ask me why I’m such a big fan of solar power. Well, there’s no doubt that it helps to represent a district in Arizona, a state with some of the highest solar potential in the world. In my hometown of Tucson we are blessed with over 300 days of sunshine every year and solar power is very popular with my constituents.
But the fact is that our entire country has great solar potential, not just the desert Southwest. Anyone who has ever seen a map showing the solar energy levels received by different areas of the U.S. knows that our entire nation can make effective use of solar power.
So there’s lots of solar potential out there. Does that mean tapping it is necessarily a good thing to do? I firmly believe the answer is ‘yes’, and I’ll tell you why.
Since I became a member of Congress, I wake up every morning, and I go to bed each night, thinking about the major issues confronting our nation. Among the largest challenges we face are:
· How do we create good jobs and get our economy moving again?
· How do we ensure our national security in a dangerous world? and
· How do we protect our natural environment – especially from the threat of catastrophic climate change?
Ultimately, the reason I get so excited about solar power is that it offers a viable solution – at least in part – to all of these major challenges. Economic competitiveness, energy independence, and climate protection: solar is truly a win-win-win.
As I was preparing for today and looking through the brochure for the conference, a few lines of text caught my eye. I’d like to read them to you:
“The U.S. solar industry could become the largest solar market in the world and solar can play a significant role in the U.S. energy mix, providing a viable option that addresses environmental and security issues.”
That’s a true statement, of course, and it’s not really surprising to find it on a brochure for a solar conference. But it is exciting: “solar can play a significant role in the U.S. energy mix…” In my experience, most people simply don’t know this!
Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege of speaking with scores of people working on solar power: researchers, manufacturers, investors, project developers, people from private industry, the Department of Energy, the military, and the non-profit sector. Their message to me has been clear: Solar technology works, it is rapidly getting even better, and it can contribute significantly to meeting our energy needs.
Given what I was saying earlier, about solar’s potential to help address some of our most serious challenges, that is fantastic news. There’s just one problem: many of my colleagues in Congress don’t believe it!
Well, that’s not quite true. It’s not so much that they don’t believe it as they just don’t know it. They don’t know what solar is capable of.
Most of my colleagues haven’t spent as much time as I have keeping up with this industry. They are not aware of the amazing strides solar technology has made in recent years. As a result, their view of solar power and its potential is several years behind the curve.
Many policymakers still see solar as a niche technology, suitable for limited applications. They view it as expensive and unreliable. As for making a “significant contribution to our energy mix,” most don’t view solar as up to the task. They talk about solar being great sometime in the distant future. But right now? No way. They just don’t think today’s solar has the muscle to power our industrial economy. They don’t see solar power as serious energy.
This view is mistaken. Solar is very serious. Between solar hot water, concentrating solar power, and photovoltaics, solar technologies have the potential to make a dramatic contribution to our energy challenges right now. What’s more, many countries in Europe and Asia see solar technology as a great emerging industry in its own right.
But as they say in politics, perception is reality. That, in my view, is the number one challenge facing the solar industry in the United States.
The inaccurate perception of solar power’s capabilities can have serious repercussions for U.S. energy policy. Let me give you just one recent example. You all know the House passed a large energy bill at the end of June: the American Clean Energy & Security Act. Among the primary goals of this bill was to establish a program to mitigate climate change. Given that one of the major benefits of solar power is emissions-free electricity, one might think it should figure prominently in the bill.
To be fair, there is significant support for renewables and energy efficiency in general, including a Renewable Electricity Standard and funding for states to implement efficiency and renewable projects. If we use EPA estimates for the value of emissions allowances, the bill would generate about 90 billion dollars between 2012 and 2050 for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Unfortunately, none of that is specifically dedicated to solar – or any other renewable for that matter. But given that solar is not the least-cost renewable, there are some concerns about how much of that support solar will ultimately get.
By contrast, the bill provides up to 60 billion dollars specifically for the development of “clean coal”- a technology that even its supporters concede will not be ready for at least a decade, if ever. Now I’m not opposed to providing some R&D support for coal, but what I find stunning is the difference in levels of assured support.
On the one hand we have solar, a proven suite of technologies built by an emerging industry; on the other hand we have “clean coal,” an unproven technology supported by a mature industry. To deploy either one will require building new infrastructure, so coal offers no particular benefit in that respect. As for prices, the trend for solar is consistently down, while the trend for coal is persistently up. Despite these circumstances coal received tens of billions in assured support. Solar, meanwhile, is eligible for funding, but received no explicit assurances of any deployment support at all.
We are in a race – actually two races – against time. One is to firmly establish the United States as a solar industry leader before other countries open up an unbeatable lead. The other race is to transform our energy system and reduce emissions soon enough to prevent the worst effects of climate change. In these two races, where time is of the essence and financial resources are finite, our lopsided energy policy threatens to have significant consequences.
There are reasons, of course, for why the bill contains such different levels of assured support, and the differences come as no surprise to veteran Hill watchers. We all understand the role of lobbying in our political system. The coal industry has deep pockets and significant resources to get its message out. That probably helps explain their success in this bill.
The solar community, by contrast, is not protecting the status quo – it is selling a vision of the future. It is painting a picture of something that could be, but isn’t yet. As such, its resources and its base of support are much smaller.
But I believe the biggest problem solar has is one of perception. It is too easy to marginalize solar because not enough people take it seriously yet. Many people believe what they’ve been told: coal is up to the task of powering our country and renewables are not. In my opinion, solar will never receive the support it needs to achieve its full potential until the conventional wisdom changes about what it can do.
If lawmakers understood that solar offers a serious energy solution, its political support would increase substantially. Solar would cease to be a side project and would become a strategic investment. Policymakers would be more likely to discuss the full suite of policies necessary to ensure solar can meet its potential.
Today’s solar industry is populated mostly by small companies, each one engaged in a daily struggle to survive. New technologies are still emerging, and while there are some dominant players it is not clear whether they will stay on top. Everyone is busy jockeying for position and growing their own companies.
That’s fine. That’s capitalism. But we also need to create space for cooperation on a common message. Every solar company, big and small, is affected by the current policy bias toward traditional energy. Consequently, every solar company has a vested interest in updating the conventional wisdom regarding what solar can do.
This challenge is more fundamental than changing policy – it is about changing minds. Once the conventional wisdom changes, the policy will follow.
In short, the solar community must get better about telling its story. It must get into the offices on Capitol Hill and share the exciting news about the tremendous strides made in recent years, and what this industry has to offer America.
This will not be easy – there’s a lot of competition for Members’ attention on energy these days. But don’t get discouraged! Yes, solar is a young industry that can’t possibly match coal and oil dollar for dollar. But that just means other means of communication become more important. Individual companies need to establish close relationships with their Representatives in Congress. A visit from a constituent is almost always more effective than a lobbyist visit anyway. Visit often and keep Members and their staffs updated. Make sure they understand the benefits that solar has to offer their communities and their constituents.
Considering the limited financial resources, solar policy has made remarkable progress over the last year. The fact is, solar is popular.
But people need to know that solar is also practical, that it can meet multiple needs of individuals and society at a reasonable cost. I know the industry is working hard, but more effort is needed to spread this message.
Most solar companies tend to view their primary competition as other solar companies. They pour their efforts into developing the best technology. But when it comes to public policy, the entire industry is in the same boat; every solar company currently takes a back seat to fossil fuels. By joining together to get the word out, every solar company will ultimately benefit.
To finish up I’ll just share a little bit of what we are working on in my office to spread the word. As I mentioned before, solar is one of our top priorities, and our advocacy efforts extend well beyond introducing legislation.
On the education front, my district office delivers free “Solar 101″ seminars across Southern Arizona. These events are designed to help people understand how to go solar themselves, and they often draw standing room crowds. We have also helped organize day-long solar conferences in southern Arizona and in Phoenix.
Many of my recent efforts have involved working with the military on energy. The military is not only one of the largest landowners in the country, it is also one of the biggest energy consumers. So there is tremendous potential for the military to lead in the deployment of solar and other renewables. They are already doing great things and I like to encourage them to move even more aggressively. This will help create demand, drive down costs, and improve our national security in the process.
To improve communication in Arizona, I have recently begun a weekly call with solar leaders across our state. We call this our Solar Hot Team, and the regular communication has been invaluable. It is a great help to know what everyone is working on. Currently, the Hot Team is developing outreach initiatives to educate business and community leaders across the state in the possibilities of solar.
Finally, we are planning the launch of a monthly solar newsletter soon. If you’d like to receive it, I encourage you all to check my website. We will have a sign-up form there soon, and in the meantime you can see all of what we are working on. Just click on the link to “solar news.”
If the solar industry is to achieve its full potential in the U.S., good technology will not be enough; we must get the policy right as well. To do that, we must have broad support; and to get that support, people must understand what solar can do.
Solar technology, and the industry as a whole, has made tremendous strides in recent years. Prices continue to fall, performance continues to rise, and real progress is being made on storage. Challenges remain, but the fact is that solar is ready to start making a serious contribution to our nation’s energy needs right now. Policy makers need to know that solar is serious energy.
My mission as an elected official is to help move solar policy forward so this country can secure all the benefits solar energy has to offer. We can create good, domestic jobs and get our economy moving again; we can bolster our security and reduce our dependence on foreign energy; and we can protect our natural environment for our children and grandchildren. We can do these things, and we must. Solar makes it possible!
Thank you for being here today and thank you for all that you are doing to move solar forward. Our challenge now – for all of us – is to take our efforts to the next level. We must communicate what this industry is all about and what solar can do. I look forward to working with you!

Health care and border issues have been stealing the headlines, but U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., has been giving plenty of attention lately to Afghanistan, a part of the world she says was ignored far too long.

Her comment, of course, was a thinly veiled swipe at the Bush administration’s hyper-focused attention on Baghdad. But it’s not far off the mark.

The U.S. and its allies went into Afghanistan almost eight years ago, just weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. The goal was to take down the Taliban for sheltering al-Qaida leaders who planned the attacks on American soil. Initially, U.S. forces knocked the Taliban off balance, but the terrorists regrouped and have come roaring back — and their resurgence has come at a price. About 750 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan and the region since the invasion.

Giffords returned Tuesday night from a four-day trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan, her second in less than a month. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, she has made the 20-hour flight to, literally, the other side of the world several times.

The burning question now seems to be whether there is a timeline for a U.S. exit, but Giffords thinks it’s the wrong question. She expects to be briefed this week by top military leaders on an exit strategy but didn’t think it would include a hard timeline.

“I think it’s premature to discuss leaving Afghanistan when we’re now giving the country our full attention,” she told the Green Valley News this week. “I believe this mission is important.”

But troop support at home and abroad is waning and there are questions about whether additional troops will solve any problems there. And a questionable election last month that still isn’t resolved didn’t say much for the Afghans’ ability to take charge of their own destiny — something Giffords says is vital.

She’s not sold on the whole program, but is committed to the mission.

“There’s a growing debate about what constitutes success in Afghanistan,” she said. “I have serious questions about our approach, but I think picking up and leaving is simply not an option.”

The good news out of the region is that the cultivation of opium poppies — a major revenue source for the Taliban — is down 22 percent, according to Giffords. Actual production is down 10 percent. The terrorist group gets about half its funding from the sales of poppies, according to intelligence.

Still, the country’s porous borders mean 98 percent to 99 percent of the drug is getting out.

Giffords, who says about 10 percent of those in Afghanistan support the Taliban, isn’t a Pollyana, particularly after coming off the deadliest month for U.S. troops, when we lost 51 in August. But after watching elite Afghan special forces train, and hearing briefings in Pakistan and Afghanistan, she sees an eventual victory.

“But the Afghan people have to be a part of it,” she said.

By Bill Hess

Eight years ago, terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes in the United States, crashing two in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and when passengers rose up and tried to take over another aircraft it went down in a Pennsylvania field.

That day — Sept. 11, 2001 — started the United States on a path of countering worldwide groups of terrorism, taking the Americans to Afghanistan where the Taliban government was in cahoots with al-Qaida. Both became a target of America’s armed forces.

Those who died on America’s soil that day and the men and women of the nation’s military have to be remembered, especially considering that the United States and its allies are still in Afghanistan fighting a resurgent Taliban and its al-Qaida supporters, many of whom are in Pakistan, said Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona’s 8th Congressional District representative.

Back from a four-day trip to both countries with two other Democratic members of the House of Representatives, Giffords said the fighting in Afghanistan must continue.

“It deserves our full attention and cannot become a forgotten war,” she told the Herald/Review Wednesday.

The initial defeat of the Taliban and their al-Qaida supporters has to be repeated now that the United States is once again focused on that nation and not as much as in Iraq.

“Those who perished on 9/11 and who have died in Afghanistan since then deserve nothing less,” Giffords said.

On the trip were two other members of the House Armed Services Committee, on which she serves. They were Adam Smith of Washington, chairman of the terrorism and other unconventional threats subcommittee, who led the delegation; and Bobby Bright of Alabama.

Meeting with top officials in both countries, the two-term congresswoman said she came away with the feeling both countries want to eliminate the problem sources, the Taliban and al-Qaida, within their borders.

But it will be difficult since the international boundary between the two is porously remote and rugged.

A high point of the trip for her was meeting 12 Afghan women members of parliament.

They were enthusiastic about seeing their nation become a democracy, the congresswoman said.

However, because of the male-dominated power in that nation it will take time for women to be recognized as individuals.

Afghanistan, and in many parts of Pakistan, women are treated as second-class citizens, and are denied educational rights and civil liberties, according to human right organizations in the world.

Pakistan has more of a history of suffrage for women, Giffords said.

There are many civil problems within Afghanistan that must be addressed to include corruption at all political levels and drug production, the congresswoman said.

The delegation got a briefing from U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration representatives who are involved, along with the U.S. and coalition forces military, in counternarcotic efforts, Giffords said.

While the picture is improving it is still bleak, she said.

Although poppy cultivation is down 22 percent and production has been reduced 10 percent Afghanistan is still the world’s top conduit for opium, Giffords said.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the Taliban has always used poppy production as a financial source, revenue to keep them in power, and it has become a fairly large cash product for farmers instead of growing food, Giffords said.

In the past, Afghanistan was able to produce sufficient food for all its population, as well as export agricultural products, according to many global reports.

Gaining the trust of Afghans, who although they are tribal do have a national identity, is important, Giffords said, noting for centuries the people in that area have fought every interloper who has tried to rule them and most times they were successful.

Historically Afghanistan had other names such as Bactcia in centuries past and throughout its history it has been known as a cemetery of invaders, defeating Persian to ancient powers in India to imperial Russia and Great Britain, and in the most recent past, the forces of the Soviet Union.

But, Giffords said she sees a desire of many Afghans to govern themselves and although fearful of the Taliban again they do not like them, she said, adding Afghans see al-Qaida people as foreigners.

The current U.S. and coalition commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, is seeking a way to forge an opposition against the Taliban and al-Qaida, Giffords s aid.

There is no denying he will seek additional troops but that will have to gain the approval of President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, she said.

A potential block to additional forces are rank and file Democrats and some of that party who are members of Congress.

On Thursday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said there’s little support in the country and Congress for sending more troops to Afghanistan.

However, Giffords said from what she is hearing from constituents in her district, both Democrats and Republicans “no one is asking me to get out of Afghanistan,” adding what was started after 9/11 has to be finished.

Green Valley residents packed the house at Tuesday’s town hall on health care reform, peppering U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords with questions and applauding loudly for ideas on both sides of the issue.

An orderly crowd of about 500 rocked the West Social Center with applause for speakers who oppose government expanding its role in health care. There also was solid, though less boisterous, applause for pro-reform calls for universal health coverage and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

About 100 people, many with signs, remained outside listening to the meeting on loudspeakers or radio as the hall filled up a half-hour before the 9 a.m. meeting.

Giffords told the crowd she is not wedded to any one of the reform plans before Congress, but wants to address the 50 million uninsured and 20 million underinsured in the country. She also supports negotiating drug prices and favors a public option that would offer the public the insurance coverage that is now available to federal employees.

“Giffords respectfully not only heard, but listened to the concerns expressed,” said Green Valley retiree Dave Rozanc, who is not a fan of reform.

Rozanc, a former insurance company employee, believes proposed spending on health-care reform will not pay for itself, and the excess spending will cause inflation that will hurt the investment income of senior citizens.

Pro-reformer Anne Marie Lindstrom of Green Valley, who was born with spina bifida and who spoke from a wheelchair, said, “single-payer please… I am absolutely uninsurable.” She said she had not landed some jobs because the insurance provider would not cover her.

Giffords said a single-payer approach, and the complexities it brings, is not on the table now.

Cynthia Rose of Tubac and Tucson, who said her husband is a military consultant, said, “When government takes control of banks, mortgage companies, car makers and, now, health care, we lose our freedoms,” generating big applause and some whoops.

Giffords said the government support of the auto industry is necessary in case we need to build tanks, for example, for a future war. She at various times carefully explained her votes against the initial bank bail-out, cars for clunkers and other government programs.

Giffords’ staff used a lottery system with tickets to determine who would get to ask questions.

“Health care is a human right,” Barbara Laupmanis of Green Valley said, drawing light applause and some boos. She said she has lupus, a chronic illness, is enrolled in Medicare, and recently paid $1,400 to Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

The Green Valley town hall came a day after about 1,300 people gathered at a high school in Sierra Vista to hear Giffords. That crowd was more boisterous, even booing former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who spoke before Giffords answered questions.

Overall, the Green Valley crowd was exemplary, asking probing questions, telling poignant stories and offering important information for the congresswoman to consider as she returns to Washington.

One exchange between Giffords and a Green Valley man summarized the fears of many.

George Grygiel drew loud applause by saying, “for health care reform to bankrupt this country is immoral. Congress refuses to deal with reducing costs.”

Giffords said, “The change will not affect you all; it will affect younger folks. There is a lot of fear, anger and mistrust in the country.”

Grygiel responded, “The people are getting it crammed down our throats. We constituents do not trust government anymore.”

After the town hall, Giffords said the session was informative but acknowledged there is “a disconnect” on the part of numerous speakers who said they want no increased government role in health care but are pleased with their own government-funded coverage, whether Medicare, active military or Tri-Care.

Giffords said fellow Democrats must win her vote and the votes of others in the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition in order to pass a bill.

Laura Leick of Sahuarita, who is semi-retired, did not get to speak but was hoping to ask about banning insurers from using pre-existing conditions from dumping subscribers. Leick said she and her sister each retired before age 65 and are not eligible for Medicare and face either having no insurance, paying huge premiums or, in her case, buying an affordable policy with a $5,000 deductible.

Leick said she supports a public option as well as tort reform and said the event was helpful, though most attendees already have their views fixed, because “she (Giffords) did a good job listening and responding to those who wanted a response. There’s one woman who walked away. There’s passion in these things.”

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) – Hundreds lined up to talk about health insurance reform with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Monday night at Buena High School in Sierra Vista.

“I do disagree with her views, but she’s very accessible, and I do respect that,” said Scott Edelen before he joined the crowd.

“I think her mind’s made up and don’t think we’re going to have anything that’s going to change today,” Dale Cook said from a seat in the auditorium.

The crowd offered plenty of cheers and boos to the representative as she heard comments, took questions, and offered explanations.

“If you want to ask me questions about it, I will do my best to try to discuss it, but really, tonight is about you, your questions, your comments, your concerns, and when we go back to Washington next week, I can bring your perspectives,” she told them.

Giffords said that illegal immigrants would not be covered, there would be no “death panels” that require discussing end of life care with a doctor, and she supports a public option of health insurance offered by the government to those who have no private provider.  However, she also emphasized that there is no final plan before Congress right now.

“My commitment is to listen, my commitment is to understand, my commitment is to bring back good information and to bring your information to Washington,” she said.

“I have been denied coverage of care, I have watched the person I adore be slowly taken away from me because the insurance company was greedy,” Marty Huffman said into the microphone in front of the crowd.  “If we don’t do something about health care and we don’t allow Congress to do the job, we are not going to get anywhere and every one of you standing here denying health care right now could be in my position tomorrow.”

By the end of Monday night’s forum, some who agree that change is needed, still had concerns about whether it will move in the right direction.

“Once this starts, it’s an entitlement,” Cook said.  “You’ll never get rid of it and I think that’s very true.”

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has scheduled three town halls on health insurance reform next week.

The approximately two-hour sessions will take place in Sierra Vista, Green Valley and Tucson. The format for the events was not announced.

The events are open to the public, but Giffords’ office requests those wanting to attend RSVP by phone or e-mail specifying which session they plan to attend.

The town halls are scheduled for:

• Monday, Aug. 31, 6-8 p.m., at the Buena Performing Arts Center, 5225 Buena School Blvd. in Sierra Vista
RSVP: 459-3115 or RSVPGiffords.CochiseCounty@mail.house.gov

• Tuesday, Sept. 1, 9-11 a.m., West Social Center, 1111 Via Arcoiris, Green Valley
RSVP: 881-3588 or RSVPGiffords.GreenValley@mail.house.gov

• Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6-8 p.m., Sahuaro High School, 545 N. Camino Seco, Tucson
RSVP: 881-3588 or RSVPGiffords@mail.house.gov

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