Sen. Jim Webb’s, D-Va., first full week in the U.S. Senate was dominated by the Iraq War, giving the freshman lawmaker a public forum to advocate for the changes to U.S. policy he called for during his campaign.
Webb’s first hearings on Capitol Hill all dealt with the Iraq War. On Wednesday, he attended a Foreign Relations Committee hearing assessing the current situation in Iraq. Following President Bush’s speech on Wednesday night calling for troop increases, Webb questioned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the wisdom of the plan. On Friday, the Armed Services Committee met to question Defense Secretary Bill Gates and Joint Chief of Staff Chairman General Peter Pace.
On each occasion, Webb reiterated his call for a diplomatic solution involving Syria and Iran, a plan he advocated throughout the fall in his campaign to defeat George Allen.
“The president’s plan for a new course in Iraq runs contrary to the well-established recommendations of the nation’s top military leaders. The plan continues a pattern of seeking to resolve Iraq’s security primarily from the inside out rather than from the outside in,” he said in the Foreign Relations Committee Jan. 11. “By that I mean the United States must create a regional diplomatic umbrella before we can guarantee the long-term security and stability of Iraq.”
On Friday, Webb took his first official action not related to the military, announcing he is serving as a cosponsor of a bill that would raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.
In a statement, Webb echoed campaign themes of economic equality and the closing of the gap between the rich and poor.
“Lower income workers continue to get squeezed by stagnant wages and rising cost of living,” he said. “In the age of globalization and outsourcing, the average American worker is seeing a different life and a troubling future. While corporate profits are at an all-time high, wages and salaries, as a percentage of [gross domestic product], are at their lowest level in history. Raising the minimum wage is the first step to changing thisdisparity.”
For more information
» In Virginia:
VA Department of Health: 804-864-8182; www.vdh.virginia.gov/epi/publichealthtoxicology/pdf/Radon.pdf
Fairfax County: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/resourceair.htm
Arlington County: www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/HumanServices/services/health/HumanServicesServicesHealthPublicHealth.aspx
» In Maryland:
Montgomery County: 240-777-7700; www.montgomerycountymd.gov/deptmpl.asp?url=/content/dep/AQ/radon/home.asp
Prince George’s County: www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/AgencyIndex/Health/index.asp
» In the District:
Department of Health: 202-671-5000; doh.dc.gov/doh/site/default.asp
