Upton visits Niles

Published 8:29 am Wednesday, July 6, 2005

By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Great news for Michigan is coming from Washington, D.C.
While home for the Fourth of July holiday, Michigan Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, made a stop at Leader Publications in Niles, to talk about issues and bills being proposed in Washington, D.C.
During the weekend, Upton was able to enjoy the local celebrations with his wife Amey, daughter Meg, 17 and son Stephen, 13, as well as his parents, three brothers who came in from California, Arizona and Florida, and many cousins.
Upton also discussed the fact 2005 has been a busy year for Congress.
Another topic of conversation with Congressman Upton, was the war in Iraq. Since United States troops have been deployed to the region, Upton has visited the country twice, the last being in the fall of 2004.
Upton added, "It's time for the United States to pass the baton onto the Iraqis. We don't need to set an artificial date as to when our troops should be pulled from the country.
A topic somewhat close to the war in Iraq is the capturing of Osama bin Laden.
Upton also discussed a bill that will be talked about next week in the Energy and Commerce Committee.
The bill will bring more money to Michigan to improve its roads, which are heavily traveled on by trucks and have havoc reeked on them with the changing of our seasons.
The new bill would take the amount the state receives up to 92 cents per dollar spent over the next five years and would help to complete US-31, as well as add an extra two lanes of traffic on to I-94, between US-131 and I-69.
And finally with all the talk about professional athletes and steroids, Upton had this to say.
Congress sent a message to the professional sports leagues as well as the NCAA to clean up their athletes. Many of them did just that, but there were those who still haven't.