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WASHINGTON, D.C.--Rep. Tom Cole voted for the Deficit Reduction Conference Report early this morning which will help lower the rate of growth of government spending and reduce the deficit. This legislation includes savings recommendations from eight authorizing committees to achieve a net savings of about $41.6 billion in mandatory spending programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Early this morning, Congressman Tom Cole voted the Defense Appropriations Conference Report (H.R. 2863) that provides $453.5 billion to fight the global war on terror, enhance our security and improve the lives of our service men and women, as well as providing funding for other national priorities such as hurricane relief and avian flu preparedness. This legislation also included a provision to allow drilling in Artic National Wildlife Refuge to increase our domestic supply of oil.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Congressman Tom Cole voted last night for immigration legislation that will help control America's borders and prevent illegal immigration in our country. Congressman Cole was a co-sponsor of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437), which passed in the House and must now be debated in the Senate.

****NOTE. Because of electronic problems with Congressman Cole's voting card, he was recorded as not voting. He spoke on the floor regarding this problem:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Tom Cole voted today for the Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Conference Report, H.R. 3402, which includes language to give tribal governments the ability to qualify for three different Department of Justice grants. Congressman Cole worked to include this language in the House passed version of the bill earlier this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Congressman Tom Cole voted today for a resolution in the U.S. House that expresses the commitment of the House of Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq.

"I have been to Iraq five times and I have seen the progress our troops are making. They are neutralizing the insurgency, defeating the terrorists and creating a better life for the Iraqi people. They are advancing freedom and they are winning," Congressman Cole said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Cole introduced a resolution in the U.S. House yesterday evening that condemns Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hateful rhetoric directed toward Israel and his cavalier dismissal of the historical reality of the Holocaust.

Washington, D.C.--Rep. Tom Cole voted for H.R. 2830, the Pension Protection Act of 2005, which passed in the House. H.R. 2830 addresses the problem of under-funded pension plans. Congressman Cole used his position on the powerful Rules Committee to help protect a bipartisan compromise that was especially important to GM employees who were recently laid off due to plant closings.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Congressman Tom Cole voted for the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Conference Report (H.R. 3199), which passed in the House today. This legislation reauthorizes the PATRIOT Act, passed in 2001, to help prevent future terrorist acts in our country.

"This legislation ensures that our law enforcement personnel will continue to have the tools they need to fight terrorism and prevent future attacks," Congressman Cole said. "In a post-September 11, 2001 world it is vital that we take every precaution necessary to protect our country."