2005 was a year
of major
legislative
successes for
the Republican
Main Street
Partnership.
Through the hard
work of our
House and Senate
Members, we
achieved
numerous
victories on our
policy agenda.
Stem Cell
Research
– With the
dedicated
leadership of
Main Street
President
Congressman Mike
Castle, we were
successful in
passing
legislation in
the House to
expand embryonic
stem cell
research. Our
Senate
supporters
advanced the
issue, and were
able to win the
support of
Senate Majority
Leader Frist to
bring up a stem
cell bill early
in 2006.
Drilling in the
Artic National
Wildlife Refuge
– We were
successful in
killing an
effort to open
up land in the
Artic National
Wildlife Refuge
for oil
drilling. Our
House Members
persuaded their
leadership to
remove ANWR
language from
the budget
reconciliation
bill and our
Senators were
instrumental in
voting to strip
similar
provisions from
an unrelated
defense measure.
Davis-Bacon
Prevailing Wage
Rate
Requirements
– After
hurricane
Katrina,
President Bush
suspended the
Davis-Bacon
prevailing wage
provisions for
federal
construction
projects. Our
House Members
successfully
demonstrated
that this was
not saving the
federal
government any
money and
persuaded the
President to
rescind his
action, thus
restoring
important wage
protections for
workers.
Role of
Women in
Military
– Our House
Members fought
hard to remove
language in a
House defense
bill that would
have reversed
current military
policy of
allowing women
to serve in
combat
positions.
Anti-Torture
Prohibition
– Led by Senator
John McCain,
Main Street
Members of
Congress
successfully
battled
President Bush,
the Pentagon,
and their
colleagues to
establish new
guidelines
prohibiting
torture of
military
detainees.
Central
American Free
Trade Act
– Main Street
Members
overwhelming
supported CAFTA,
and with
significant
Democrat
opposition and
opposition from
many
conservatives
from trade
affected areas,
were essential
to passage of
this measure.
CAFTA will
expand the
market for US
goods among
millions of
consumers in
Central American
countries as
well as the
Dominican
Republic.
Passage of CAFTA
was important
for many US
industries,
particularly
agriculture and
high-tech
companies.
Terrorism
Risk Insurance
– Our Members
pushed for an
extension of the
terrorism risk
insurance
program that was
established
after 9/11. The
new law provides
a government
backstop for
private
insurance in
case of a
large-scale
terrorist
attack.
