Last week, the House of Representatives addressed several issues of great importance to Georgia and our nation. Topping the agenda were tax relief, drug control, and education.

The Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, voted to send to the full House a plan to give middle-income working families, farmers, senior citizens, and small businesses much needed tax relief. The "90-10 Plan" provides 10 percent of the budgetary surplus, or $80 billion, for tax relief, while setting aside 90 percent of the surplus to protect and save Social Security.

For 48 million married taxpayers, an increase in the standard deduction so that it is double the amount of single taxpayers will result in an average tax cut of $243 per return.

For 32 million married couples and single filers, up to $400 and $250 respectively in interest and dividends earned on personal savings will be excludable from taxable income.

For 3.3 million self-employed taxpayers, acceleration in the current law phase-in of the 100 percent deduction for health insurance premiums to Jan. 1, 1999, will provide an average benefit of $382 in 1999.

For farmers, permanent income averaging will provide for a lower tax bill in less profitable years with compensation paid in more profitable years.

Acceleration in the current law phase-in of the $1 million death tax limit to Jan. 1, 1999, will reduce the number of taxable estates by about 50 percent.

I strongly support such tax relief. Americans citizens, and not the government, should be the ones to determine how their hard-earned money is spent.

Anti-drug legislation was also at the forefront of House business last week. The "Speed Trafficking Life in Prison Act" (H.R. 3898) increases the penalties for manufacturing, trafficking, or importing methamphetamines, making them equal to corresponding penalties for crack cocaine.

The "Drug Demand Reduction Act" (H.R. 4550) authorizes numerous drug prevention and treatment programs. The bill establishes programs for states to offer drug tests to teenagers applying for their driver's licenses. The Drug-Free Schools provision of the bill promotes the establishment of programs, which include parental and community involvement to combat drugs on school campuses.

The House also passed the "Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act" (H.R. 4300) last week. The bill authorizes $3 billion for drug interdiction at our borders and for drug eradication at its source. It also funds the operation and maintenance of critical technology in the war on drugs.

In our continued work to ensure that our children are the prime beneficiaries of federal education funding, the House passed the "Dollars to the Classroom Act" (H.R. 3248) which consolidates 31 federal education programs into a single, flexible grant program sending $2.7 billion to the states, including $27 million to Georgia. The bill requires that 95 percent of the funds are used for classroom activities and services, while currently only 65 percent of federal education funds make it to the classroom. As a cosponsor of the bill, I strongly support sending more dollars to the classroom while giving states and local educators more funding options.

Visiting our office from Georgia last week were representatives from the Georgia Restaurant Association, Independent Freight Forwarders and Custom Home Brokers of Georgia, the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, Emory University, Millenium Technologies, the Georgia Air Force Association, Georgia Pork Producers, the Georgia Society of Health System Pharmacists, the Georgia Child Care Association, the Columbus Housing Authority, and the Georgia Association of Civilian Technicians.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Colonel Glenn Weidner, the Commandant of the United States Army School of the Americas at Fort Benning. We discussed the school's future and the challenges faced by the school on Capitol Hill. Another victory in the fight to keep the school open was won last week when Rep. Joe Kennedy again failed to eliminate funding for the School. I will continue to work to educate members of Congress on the importance of the school in providing counter-drug support and pro-democracy programs.