EMERSON TO VISIT JAPAN

A congressional delegation that includes Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will travel to Japan for the global warming conference in Kyoto, Japan, in December.

Emerson of Cape Girardeau is one of eight Republicans who will serve on the bipartisan delegation that will attend the conference, Dec. 5-12.

She is the only freshman Republican named to the delegation. She also is currently the only Missourian on the travel list.

"I want to make absolutely sure that any binding agreement signed by the president is fair to the United States, based on sound science and workable," Emerson said.

"Anything less could pose serious consequences to every sector of our economy and to the public at large," she said.

Concern about global warming has prompted calls for controls on emissions of certain gasses.

Such controls could effect every thing from agriculture to electric cooperatives, Emerson spokeswoman Michelle Dimarob said.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he put Emerson on the delegation to "lend a balanced and reasonable presence to the observation process."