U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson wants to make the federal tax cuts passed last year permanent, strengthen the state National Guard, curb federal credit card spending and improve education.

The Second Congressional District Republican announced his agenda for the upcoming session of Congress on Friday during a speech outside his Beaufort district office.

Wilson, whose district includes Beaufort County, touted the "unprecedented" economic growth since Congress passed President Bush's tax cuts last year. But the cuts are slated to expire in 2010, Wilson said, and they need to be made permanent.

"The Republican tax relief plan has led to an explosion of our nation's economy, and I plan to fight to make sure the president's tax cuts are made permanent," Wilson said in a statement handed out at the news conference. "Our families are overtaxed, and they should not fear a tax increase when these provisions expire in 2010."

Wilson said he will work this year toward strengthening the military to fight the war on terrorism. Though the war is concentrated now in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, "it's a war that's going on all over the world, and we've got to be prepared."

The congressman said he will push for a bill he co-sponsored that strengthens state National Guards, which are volunteer defense forces, by allowing them to train with the Department of Defense and help with homeland security.

Wilson also vowed to help local governments protect the three military installations in Beaufort County and throughout his district as the 2005 round of base closures nears.

"We've been working to prepare for the Base Realignment and Closure for months, but I can tell you now it's next year," he said.

Another priority this year for Wilson is eliminating personal charges made by government employees on federal credit cards. He has co-sponsored legislation that would target such abuse, which he said is costing taxpayers $20 billion a year.

On Wilson's education agenda for the year is a bill he sponsored forgiving student loans up to $17,500 for teachers who teach math, science and special education in Title I schools or schools with a high number of poor students. The bill passed the House of Representatives last year, and Wilson said he now will push for the Senate's approval.

Wilson also said he wants to "build upon the success of the president's No Child Left Behind legislation," but he did not offer specifics on how he would improve it.

The second session of the 108th Congress begins Jan. 20.