U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, on Sunday returned from the 45th meeting of the U.S.-Mexican Inter-Parliamentary Group in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, followed by a tour of the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona.The conference, which discussed bilateral issues including trade and border security, was held from March 3 to 5.English joined a bipartisan group of members from the U.S. Congress to meet with lawmakers from all three major parties represented in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. The legislators discussed a range of bilateral topics including migration, security, trade, and the future of U.S.-Mexico relations.English, who has previously called for the renegotiation of NAFTA, focused his discussions on working to create a balanced trade policy between the U.S. and Mexico."My meetings with the Mexican parliamentarians reassured me that they have become more flexible in improving trade and border security policies than previously," said English, a member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee.On March 4, the group conducted on-site reviews of immigration issues at the Arizona-Sonora border. The members met with officials, social service providers and residents to get their perspective.English toured the border in a helicopter and participated in a night time ground patrol. In addition to witnessing several border fences being breached, members visited the border patrol facilities where illegal individuals are detained.———U.S. Rep.

Melissa Hart, R-4th, on Wednesday voiced opposition to the proposed cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development 2007 budget.Specifically, Hart noted the cuts to the budget of the Community Development Block Grant Fund are too steep for her to support. The president's proposed budget for 2007 calls for a net $1.502 billion, or 36 percent, reduction over the current year's funding level.In a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle and ranking member John Spratt, Hart said the grant program is a vital program to many communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania."We are very concerned about the impact the proposed cut will have on the communities that have benefited from this program. The CDBG program funds homeownership, housing rehabilitation, public improvements, public services, and economic development projects in communities across the nation," Hart wrote in the letter."CDBG also supports community based organizations and the vital work they do to deliver human services and rebuild neighborhoods."