© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

Brown addresses Rotarians
Congressman emphasizes energy crises

AUG. 26, 2003 — Congressman Henry E. Brown spoke to Rotarians on August 26 about some of his recent political activities on behalf of his constituents and some of the pressing issues facing our country, including alternative energy sources.

First elected to the United States House of Representatives on November 7, 2000, Brown was reelected to the 108th Congress during 2002. He told Rotarians that thus far, serving in Congress has been a “great experience.” Brown represents the First District of South Carolina, which includes all, or portions of, Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Georgetown and Horry Counties. He currently sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Veteran’s Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits, which oversees $24 billion in veteran benefit programs.

Brown spoke of how the world has changed in many ways during his time in Congress, due in large part to the terrorist attacks on September 11 two years ago. Those attacks, said Brown, made us realize we are “at risk.” As a result of those attacks, which resulted in over 3000 lives lost in this nation, the United States has been forced to tackle terrorist aggression with a new vigor, including war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Brown discussed the negative impact that these terror-related events, and resulting war on terror, have had on our economy. However, he believes that the economy is making a comeback.

Brown mentioned that a major issue facing Americans, like people of other nations, is the current energy crises. Many Americans got an unpleasant dose of the crisis in recent weeks when an electricity blackout impacted people throughout the Northeast and Canada. Brown stressed that we must, as a nation, find alternative sources of energy. For example, we need to work harder to use coal to produce electricity. He suggested that we also should be more willing to utilize atomic energy. According to Brown, we need to “broaden our base.” He suggested that our current unwillingness to drill for oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge is a huge mistake, and that many Americans’ opposition to such drilling is based on “misrepresentations.”

Brown has an “open door policy” and welcomes comments from constituents.

-- Amy Jenkins

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