Honoring local and state first responders, and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest in facing the severe winter storm of December 2 and 3, 2007.

I thank the gentlelady.

Mr. Speaker, between December 1 and December 3, the States of Oregon and Washington were battered by an exceptionally severe storm. One wind measurement instrument clocked at 129 miles an hour before it blew over, and I am told by a helicopter pilot that the U.S. Coast Guard measured winds up to 150 miles an hour. This is the first time that the National Weather Service used the term ``hurricane'' in connection with a storm outside of the tropics or subtropics, certainly as far north as latitude 45 where we are. We set an unfortunate record.

We have frequent storms in the Pacific Northwest, but what set this one apart is that while the typical winter storm may bring winds of 70 or 100 miles an hour for a few hours to coastal Oregon, this storm brought sustained winds of 85 to 100 miles per hour for 24 hours and gusts up to 130, 150 miles an hour. Entire swaths of trees were uprooted or snapped off. Homes were flooded. Twelve to 14 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period in some parts of the coast range, and both Interstate 5 and the main Amtrak line on the west coast were closed for a period of time.

The folks who live in the coast range and on the coast were especially hard hit. But we are a hardy people who live in this paradise, and people took care of themselves. They immediately reached out to their neighbors. They helped each other, pulled together as a community, and we got through this together.

Unfortunately, several people perished, many people were injured. And many people went without heat or electricity or telephone service, were cut off from the world and were cut off by landslides on the roads, also, in addition to the loss of communication. But people got through this together in the great tradition of America and the great tradition of the Northwest and of Oregon.

I would like to especially commend the local and State first responders, the Oregon National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, the Oregon Red Cross, and the good works of the State of Oregon in facing this very, very severe storm. Even during the torrential rain and the winds, the good citizens of Oregon and Washington came to one another's assistance. There are people who told me that they knew that someone was trapped in a home, and they went in to get them even though there were shingles and pieces of glass flying through the air hard enough to stick into the side of homes. And one person went into a home where a piece of sheet metal was flapping in the wind, knowing that if that sheet metal came off that it would become a dangerous projectile, but he went in to get the resident out.

City Councilor Mark Kujala of Warrenton stayed by the phones for 24 hours to take calls and answer calls so that people would not feel isolated and cut off, so that they could get some information. KMUN in Astoria, Oregon, because there was a severe storm a year ago, prepared for this by putting up a propane tank. And even though a tree fell on its roof and damaged the structure severely, KMUN stayed on the air all through the storm and gave the people of the north Oregon coast a sense of connection to what was happening in the outside world. And I want to commend the amateur radio operators, the folks who kept parts of the

local telephone system operating, and others, for keeping our communities together through the darkness, the cold, and the isolation when most of the phone lines went down.

The immediate efforts of first responders as well as local and State officials are to be applauded. And I want to express a special thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard lost all of their communication. They lost their Internet. They lost their telephones. They lost their cell phones. They were down to VHF radio, 1950s technology, to communicate with other first responders and themselves, and yet, they went out and picked people off the roofs, went into homes. One of the rescuers went into a home that was flooded up to chest level and the lights were still on in the room where this disabled individual was located, and yet this rescue swimmer went in there with the electricity on and got the person out and into a rescue helicopter.

The National Guard performed heroic efforts. Camp Rilea became a safety shelter, kind of a dry safe harbor for the people of the north coast. They distributed generator fuel to so many people who were trying to run their own generators when the power went down, and at one point they were down to their last 30, 60, 90 minutes of fuel. But then they got resupplied and were able to help continue to keep other folks' generators working. And the radio station in Seaside had their antenna blown down, but they got right back up the next day when it was safe to get the antenna back up and get a generator going and kept folks informed.

I have tried to work closely with Governor Kulongoski, and he has been terrific through this entire episode. It was a Sunday-Monday storm, and I couldn't get a phone call through to folk in the area until Wednesday night, but Governor Kulongoski toured the area Tuesday afternoon and was on the phone with me Tuesday afternoon to tell me some of the things that were needed. The Governor and I work hard to make sure that both the State and the Federal components of recovery and prevention for the future, that we do our jobs, that we have not too much government but all the government that we need to keep Americans safe, to enable us to pull together in times of crisis and need.

Life is uncertain in the paradise that we call the Pacific Northwest. It has sometimes been referred to as the land of fire and ice. We have regular storms, periodic fires, and rare huge earthquakes and tsunami. To paraphrase an author of the region: We are always searching for hardy people to match this challenging land. And I think that we do have those people.

Life in the paradise we call home may be uncertain, but we know that we are a match for it and we shall meet the challenges together. A long road of recovery lies ahead, but like the pioneers of old, we will bring everyone to the finish line together. No one will be left behind. No one will be forgotten. I want to salute the citizens of the Pacific Northwest, the first responders, and everyone else who came from the region to help out in our time of need. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to travel to Washington, DC, for votes during the week of December 17, 2007.

However, I would have recorded the following votes on the rollcall votes which I missed. They included:

December 17, 2007

(1) H. Res. 856--Rollcall No. 1163--Expressing the heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007--``yes.''

(2) H. Res. 851--Rollcall No. 1164--Honoring local and state first responders, and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest in facing the severe winter storm of December 2 and 3, 2007--``yes.''

(3) Previous Question--Rollcall No. 1165--On ordering the previous question to H. Res. 873--``yes.''

(4) H. Res. 873--Rollcall No. 1166--Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules--``yes.''

(5) H. Con. Res. 271--Rollcall No. 1167--Providing for the sine die adjournment of the first session of the One Hundred Tenth Congress-- ``no.''

(6) Previous Question--Rollcall No. 1168--On ordering the previous question to H. Res. 878--``yes.''

(7) H. Res. 878--Rollcall No. 1169--Providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes-- ``yes.''

(8) H.R. 4286--Rollcall No. 1170--To award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma--``yes.''

(9) 1st Senate Amendment to H.R. 2764--Rollcall No. 1171--On motion to agree to the Senate amendment with the 1st House amendment--``yes.''

(10) 2nd Senate Amendment to H.R. 2764--Rollcall No. 1172--On motion to agree to the Senate amendment with the 2nd House amendment--``yes.''

(11) H. Con. Res. 254--Rollcall No. 1173--Recognizing and celebrating the centennial of Oklahoma statehood--``yes.''

december 18, 2007

(1) Previous Question--Rollcall No. 1174--On ordering the previous question to H.R. 877--``yes.''

(2) H. Res. 877--Rollcall No. 1175--Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 6) to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(3) H.R. 3793--Rollcall No. 1176--To amend title 37, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to continue to pay to a member of the Armed Forces who is retired or separated from the Armed Forces due to a combat-related injury certain bonuses that the member was entitled to before the retirement or separation and would continue to be entitled to if the member was not retired or separated--``yes.''

(4) H.R. 6--Rollcall No. 1177--To reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(5) H.R. 2761--Rollcall No. 1178--To extend the Terrorism Insurance Program of the Department of the Treasury, and for other purposes-- ``yes.''

(6) S. 2271--Rollcall No. 1179--To authorize State and local governments to divest assets in companies that conduct business operations in Sudan, to prohibit United States Government contracts with such companies, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(7) H. Res. 542--Rollcall No. 1180--Expressing the unconditional support of the House of Representatives for the members of the National Guard--``yes.''

(8) H. Res. 884--Rollcall No. 1181--Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendments to H.R. 3997, with an amendment-- ``yes.''

(9) H.R. 3690--Rollcall No. 1182--To provide for the transfer of the Library of Congress police to the United States Capitol Police, and for other purposes--``yes.''

december 19, 2007

(1) H.R. 3996--Rollcall No. 1183--To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes-- ``no.''

(2) S. 2499--Rollcall No. 1184--To amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend provisions under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP programs, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(3) H.R. 4040--Rollcall No. 1185--To establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children's products and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission--``yes.''

(4) H.R. 2764--Rollcall No. 1186--Making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--``no.''

Madam Speaker, I was unable to make the following rollcall votes on December 17, 2007:

H. Res. 856, Resolution expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of the

shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007. On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (rollcall No. 1163), I would have voted ``aye.''

H. Res. 851, Resolution honoring local and State first responders, and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest in facing the severe winter storm of December 2 and 3, 2007. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (rollcall No. 1164), I would have voted ``aye.''

H. Res. 873, Resolution waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. On Ordering the Previous Question (rollcall No. 1165), I would have voted ``no.''

H. Res. 873, Resolution waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. On Agreeing to the Resolution (rollcall No. 1166), I would have voted ``no.''

H. Con. Res. 271, Sine Die Adjournment resolution of the 1st Session of the 110th Congress. On Agreeing to the Resolution (rollcall No. 1167), I would have voted ``no.''

H. Res. 878, Resolution providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2764, State, foreign operations appropriations, FY 2008. On Ordering the Previous Question (rollcall No. 1168), I would have voted ``no.''

H. Res. 878, Resolution providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2764, State, foreign operations appropriations, FY 2008. On Agreeing to the Resolution (rollcall No. 1169), I would have voted ``no.''

H.R. 4286, To award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (rollcall No. 1170), I would have voted ``aye.''

H.R. 2764, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for FY 2008. On agreeing to Senate amendment with 1st House amendment (rollcall No. 1171), I would have voted ``no.''

H.R. 2764, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for FY 2008. On agreeing to Senate amendment with 2nd House amendment (rollcall No. 1172), I would have voted ``no.''

H. Con. Res. 254, Resolution recognizing and celebrating the centennial of Oklahoma statehood. On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (rollcall No. 1173), I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows:

December 17, 2007: Rollcall vote 1163, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution--H. Res. 856, expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007--I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 1164, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution--H. Res. 851, honoring local and state first responders, and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest in facing the severe winter storm of December 2 and 3, 2007--I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 1165, on ordering the previous question--H. Res. 873, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 1166, on agreeing to the resolution--H. Res. 873, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 1167, on agreeing to the resolution--H. Con. Res. 271, providing for the sine die adjournment of the first session of the 110th Congress--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 1168, on ordering the previous question--H. Res. 878, providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 1169, on agreeing to the resolution--H. Res. 878, providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 1170, on motion to suspend the rules and pass--H.R. 4286, to award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma--I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, on December 2 and 3, a severe winter storm swept across Oregon and Washington State. Countless first responders came to the aid of those in need and worked tirelessly to restore order in the aftermath of the storm. I strongly support H. Res. 851 in recognition of the dedication, service, and courage shown by these men and women.

The winter storm affected dozens of communities and many thousands of people in Washington and Oregon, including my constituents in the Nineth District of Washington. It struck the Pacific Northwest with a ferocity that is rarely seen in the region. The storm brought winds that exceeded 100 miles per hour, saturated the region with 10 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, and led to the loss of human lives. Homes and businesses were flooded, roads and thoroughfares were damaged or swept away, and thousands of citizens were left without electricity, heat, water, transportation, or adequate shelter.

Throughout and following the storm, the men and women of local and state police agencies, fire and rescue groups, local and state emergency first-response organizations, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Oregon and Washington National Guard were ready to respond to the extraordinary circumstances. They rescued those trapped by the rising waters, provided aid to those in need of critical assistance, and helped to limit the ill effects of this tragic weather event.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I want to call particular attention to the service of the Washington National Guard. Some 400 Washington National Guard Members, 70 vehicles, and 11 teams supported response and recovery operations, conducted house-to-house searches, and provided needed food, water, and other emergency provisions. In cooperation with many other local, State, and Federal first responders, the men and women of the Washington State National Guard performed their duty admirably, and I am very grateful to them.

Please join me in honoring the Washington State National Guard and recognizing the many other first responders for their contributions during the winter storm of early December. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 851.