Issa introduces nine bills

By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer | Thursday, January 4, 2007 8:44 PM PST ∞

On the first day of the new Congress, U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, announced that he has introduced a group of nine bills covering a wide range of issues.

The bills address, among other things, illegal immigration, health care and minimum wage. The measures came on a day when Democrats took the leadership of both houses of Congress, which could make it more difficult for Republican members to move their proposals forward.

But Issa said most of the proposals enjoyed bipartisan support last year.

"Many of these bills were approved in the last Congress by the House with broad bipartisan support," he said in a statement Thursday. "I intend to put forth these and other ideas and proposals and stand ready to work on the most pressing issues facing our country and our community."

One of the bills, House Resolution 26, would stiffen penalties for illegal immigrants who violate deportation orders. Another bill, House Resolution 28, would transfer land into federal trust for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians. The land is adjacent to the tribe's reservation near Temecula.

Issa also proposed the Health Care Incentive Act, House Resolution 32, which would credit employers who provide health insurance if Congress increases the federal minimum wage. Another bill, House Resolution 33, would take into account large tip earners, such as waiters in upscale restaurants, in recalculating the minimum wage, said Issa spokesman Frederick Hill.

The five other bills are:

House Resolution 27: The Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone Act would honor the late Republican president by naming in his honor economic zones that he helped established.

House Resolution 29: This bill would authorize the construction of facilities to provide water for irrigation from the Santa Margarita River.

House Resolution 34: This bill would establish a pilot program within federal courts to help adjudicate patent cases more efficiently.

House Resolutions 30 and 31: These bills would help design, plan and build two local recycled water facilities.

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

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