WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, issued the following Capitol Report column: The United States is the greatest country on the face of the earth because we join the brilliance of liberty with the incentive of opportunity. However, this combination of prosperity is not a guarantee. It was President Reagan who reminded us that, "freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected,   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., has introduced legislation (S. 2818) to "require the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to ban the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations in the U.S." The bill was introduced on Nov. 7. It was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. For more information, Sen. Edward J. Markey, 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510; 202/224-2742; or in the state at 975 President J  more