U.S. Rep.

Phi English, R-3rd, announced Wednesday his resolution calling on United States negotiators to ensure U.S. trade laws are not weakened in any multilateral agreement that emerges during the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Agenda Round.English announced his measure as the WTO's ministerial meeting in Hong Kong nears."The time has come for Congress to draw a line in the sand and take a much tougher stance with our trading partners to ensure they fully abide by the rules-based global trading system, " the congressman said.English, along with two colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Reps. Melissa Hart, R-4th, and Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., introduced the measure last week.———The state Senate this week approved legislation sponsored by Sen.

Mary Jo White, R-21st, that seeks to boost tourism and economic development.White's bill would allow for three-day, special event passes to non-resident snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle riders who have not registered their vehicle in Pennsylvania.The senator noted that in June, Ohio passed legislation that ended its reciprocity agreement with ATV and snowmobile riders from Pennsylvania. As a result, out-of-state riders were required to obtain a Pennsylvania registration every two years at a cost of $20."The added inconvenience and time needed to obtain a registration caused many out-of-state ATV and snowmobile riders to cancel participation in organized events in my district and other areas bordering Ohio," White said.The special event passes, issued by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, would cost $10.———U.S. Rep.

Melissa Hart, R-4th, Monday introduced legislation that would help pregnant women and expectant mothers complete their education by encouraging universities and colleges to offer support services.Specifically, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2005 calls for grants to participating schools that offer affordable on-campus child care, maternity coverage in student health plans and telecommuting options, Hart said.Similar legislation in the U.S. Senate has been introduced by Sen.

Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.———State Sen.

Bob Robbins, R-50th, commended the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency board of directors for its unanimous decision last week to establish a loan forgiveness program for nurses hired at state veterans' homes.Robbins, a Vietnam War veteran, previously introduced a bill that would have created an identical program.The PHEAA program would provide for 50 percent reimbursement, with a maximum of $10,000 loan forgiveness, for recently graduated nurses that agree to work for three years in one of Pennsylvania's six veterans' homes.For program applications and complete eligibility requirements, visit www.pheaa.org or call 1-800-233-0557, ext. 5473.———State Rep.

Mike Turzai, R-28th, praised the House of Representatives for passing Tuesday two key components of the Keystone Manufacturing Initiative economic growth plan.The House approved a bill that was part of the original KMI legislative package and contained one provision improving the use of net operating loss carry forwards, and another provision for a single sales factor in calculating corporate income.———U.S. Reps.

Phil English, R-3rd, and

Melissa Hart, R-4th, last week voted to increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.The two congressional members backed $1 billion in extra funding for LIHEAP as part of the Deficit Reduction Act, which passed the House of Representatives.LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating and air conditioning costs. The Energy Information Administration projects that energy costs for homes heated by natural gas will increase by about $350 or 48 percent compared to last winter.LIHEAP reaches more than 4 million households every year. Nearly three quarters of the households receiving LIHEAP benefits have incomes of less that $8,000.The commonwealth does not have a state program to augment the assistance provided by LIHEAP, English noted, making the program all the more important for needy Pennsylvanians.Hart, meanwhile, also reissued her request to the House Agriculture Committee to pass legislation to give the Commodities Future Trading Commission more authority to investigate unwarranted price fluctuations in natural gas.———Successful hunters are encouraged to share a portion of their venison with those in need, says state Rep.

Brian Ellis, R-11th.Pennsylvania deer hunters are expected to donate thousands of pounds of venison to local food banks and soup kitchens this fall and winter through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program."For those hunters who don't usually keep the meat," Ellis said, "this is a great opportunity to donate it to those who can really use it."Started in 1991, the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program is sponsored by Pennsylvanians for the Responsible Use of Animals and operates with the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and state Department of Agriculture, along with several state sportsmen's organizations.Anyone interested in contributing venison to the program should call 866-474-2141. Information can also be found on the Web site at www.sharedeer.org.