Seeking to eradicate global human trafficking, U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, last week introduced a resolution urging the Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.English has been a vocal critic of human trafficking and has brought attention to this issue at global forums, including at the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum in January."The trafficking of persons, especially women and children is a ghastly crime that unfortunately pervades much of the world." English said."Now, we have an opportunity to join a global effort to put an end to human trafficking and slavery, and uphold the human rights of vulnerable men, women and children."He said the U.N. convention proposal, if ratified, would heighten, streamline and automate monitoring of standards, establish more severe punishments for those guilty of trafficking or enslaving persons, and provide a safe-haven for the victims of trafficking or enslavement.English noted about 700,000 to 2 million people, mostly women and children, are trafficked worldwide each year.To view the resolution, visit: www.house.gov/english. For more information on this issue, go to: www.state.gov/g/tip/.State Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, announced Tuesday he is co-sponsoring legislation that would provide automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments for retired state and public school employees."This legislation would provide greater financial certainty for many of Pennsylvania's retirees," LaGrotta said. "State and public school retirees shouldn't have to pin their hopes for cost-of-living adjustments on the political winds; they should be able to rely on it every year."The bill would allow the boards of directors for the State Employees' Retirement System and the Public School Employees' Retirement System to determine annual COLA increases.The legislation has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees.The annual cost-of-living supplement would be available to SERS and PSERS members who have been receiving payment from the fund for at least two years.Republican legislative candidateMarci Mustelloon Tuesday officially opened her campaign headquarters at 133 South Main St.The office is run by volunteers and will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. through Election Day, April 27.Mustello of Butler Township, a congressional aide for U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, is running for the GOP nomination in the 11th District.English on Tuesday offered his support to Mustello."With Marci, the 11th District will not only gain one of the most dedicated public servants I have ever come across, but a representative who has an incredible work ethic and true sense of community," English said.Mustello, a driver for the Meals on Wheels program since 1996, offered the use of her campaign headquarters as a convenient place to drop off baked goods, tin foil, plastic wrap and paper towels for the program.Food items for Meals on Wheels can be dropped off during the campaign headquarters' normal hours or at Meals-on-Wheels, 218 E. Jefferson St.U.S. Sen.

Rick Santorum, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, last week announced his support of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Coin Act that tells the U.S. Treasury to mint coins honoring King's life and work.If legislation is passed, the coin will be minted in 2009, marking King's 80th birthday.The measure was developed in consultation with the King family, the Library of Congress, Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and the U.S. Mint.State Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, said this week's House of Representatives' budget hearing with the state Department of Labor and Industry underscored concerns about the dwindling of federal funds for unemployment compensation benefits."The (President) Bush administration has allowed job outsourcing to go on wholly unobstructed, even though the nation's unemployment figures have skyrocketed," LaGrotta said."This business trend has been particularly detrimental to Pennsylvania's manufacturing sector, leaving many of the state's laborers unemployed and searching for jobs that no longer exist in this country."LaGrotta said the outsourcing of jobs by American companies has magnified the need for unemployment compensation.Since many of Pennsylvania's laborers have worked at their jobs for decades and are not trained in other fields, residents are finding themselves without work for longer periods of time."Without assistance from the federal government, in terms of more money for unemployment compensation, hundreds and hundreds of Pennsylvania's unemployed workers – those working people who are most vulnerable to this economy and the downturn in the economy – are going to be left without any unemployment compensation benefits," LaGrotta said.He said he supports therestoration of the federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation program, and urged the Pennsylvania congressional delegation to make an immediate extension a top priority.State Rep.

Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, will host a legislative breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Evans City Borough Building, 220 Wahl Ave.Those interested in attending should call Metcalfe's office at 724-772-3110 for information and to make reservations.High school students from Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District interested in experiencing the federal government firsthand can apply to become pages, U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, announced Tuesday.English's office is accepting applications for the summer 2004 Republican Page Program.Pages assist members of Congress in their daily activities, working out of the Republican Cloakroom.Pages live in a dormitory with other pages and must attend classes.To qualify to serve as a page, students must be 16 years old at the time they come to Washington to participate in the program and have at least a B grade point average in five major subjects. Pages may only serve before or after their junior year.Applicants must be sponsored by a member of the House. The first summer session will be June 6 to 26 and the second summer session from July 4 to 24.To apply, calling English's Erie District Office at 814-456-2038. Applications must be returned by March 26.