BUDGET: As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I continue to sift through the President's proposal for fiscal year 2009. Early this week, we'll hear from top civilian and military leaders at the Pentagon to review the Defense Department (DoD) budget and the escalating cost of the Iraq War. I have serious concerns about the budget we have received so far, which only covers three months of expenses for Iraq and Afghanistan, rather than the full-year estimate promised to the Congress. I also look forward to asking why the DoD proposed raising out-of-pocket healthcare costs for retired military in the TRICARE system. Mid-week, I'll participate in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the Foreign Affairs Budget. I want to be assured that this administration invests the resources necessary for the United States to regain and maintain a worldwide leadership role in the vital areas of civil rights, human rights, the protection of minority rights and provides adequate funding for election monitoring.

WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING: Senate work on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Bill likely will wrap up this week. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I continue to oppose full retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. I was disappointed that the bipartisan agreement to allow consideration of a few select amendments has not resulted in any significant change to the legislation, including my amendment to change the "sunset provision" in this bill from six years to four years. If the Senate does pass the current version of the FISA bill, I will work with my colleagues to shape a conference bill with the House of Representatives that better reflects the version of the bill we passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

ENVIRONMENT: The health of the Chesapeake Bay is one of my greatest priorities, so I intend to participate in questioning when the Environmental and Public Works Committee hears from the Army Corps of Engineers on its proposed fiscal year 2009 funding and implementation of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The President's budget lacks adequate funding for important projects underway to maintain clear approach channels to the Port of Baltimore and that could hurt the region's economy. My concern for the Chesapeake also is tied to severe cuts to programs important to the health and livelihood of the Bay, including: sewer treatment plant upgrades, environmental restoration projects, oyster replenishment, and wetlands preservation.

JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS: As our economy slips and the housing market continues to tumble, the President is trying once again to force votes in the Senate on controversial judicial nominations. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I find this disappointing, especially when the Democratic-led Senate has worked to approve an overwhelming majority of President Bush's judicial nominations. The argument that the Senate has slow-walked the President's judicial nominations is just wrong. And while the Committee has shown a willingness to continue to consider judicial nominations in this election year, the President has not shown the commitment to send qualified, consensus nominees to the Senate for consideration. Instead, he has chosen to play political games with nominations, sending the Senate controversial nominees who have not had the support of home state senators of either party. The Judiciary Committee is holding confirmation hearings for four District Court nominations this week, and one Circuit Court nomination during next week's President's Day recess.