Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6; text as passed Senate: CR S6; text of measure as introduced: CR S188)
January 4, 2007
Introduced in Senate
January 4, 2007
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6; text as passed Senate: CR S6; text of measure as introduced: CR S188)
January 4, 2007
What members said about S.Res. 4 on the floor
Madam Speaker, earlier today I introduced, along with my colleague Chris Shays, the Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act, a bill to extend key tax cuts that are critical to middle class families…
Madam Speaker, earlier today I introduced, along with my colleague Chris Shays, the Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act, a bill to extend key tax cuts that are critical to middle class families in my district and across the country.
If enacted, the Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act would preserve the lower tax on capital gains as well as the reduced estate tax which are both set to expire in 2011.
Several years ago, these tax cuts were championed by President Bush and a Republican Congress. Clearly the political winds have changed. But in the race to distance ourselves from the former congressional leadership, I implore my colleagues to give careful consideration to these tax cuts before dismissing them.
They are sensible. They help millions of middle class Americans. They encourage investment and make our tax code more fair and more predictable.
After careful consideration, I believe they should be made permanent and bipartisan.
They affect small businesses. They affect the stock holders. They affect anyone who owns a home.
While, a generation ago, these may have sounded like the lofty concerns of the wealthy elite, today, these are mainstream, middle- class experiences.
In 1983, less than 20 percent of Americans owned stock. Now, between IRAs, 401(k)s, and education savings accounts, more than half of Americans do.
And after a decade and a half of low interest rates, more than two- thirds of Americans are now homeowners. By 2011, the year that these tax cuts expire, economists predict that number will reach 70 percent.
When it comes time to sell your home or trade your stock, capital gains taxes prevent you from making optimal financial decisions. This is bad for sellers, bad for buyers, and bad for our economy.
Decisions like these should be based on personal and financial needs, such as paying for college or planning for retirement, not the needs of the IRS.
While it would be impractical for us to eliminate the tax on capital gains, I believe we can take steps to minimize its harmful effects. Most notably, we can make the temporary cut from 20 percent to 15 percent permanent.
The estate tax is equally troublesome. Before the temporary tax cuts went into effect, anyone with assets of more than $675,000 at the time of his or her death was subject to the estate tax. In calculating this amount, the government didn't just count the amount of money in your bank account. It also counted the value of your home and the value of your investments. And if you owned a small business, the government counted the value of that business as well.
As home values began to rise and the number of small businesses continued to grow, more and more middle-class tax payers began exceeding this exemption.
This was a particular problem in Arizona, where home prices have increased by more than 150 percent in the past decade. But there are many States where the growth of real estate has outpaced Arizona's.
In other words, if a taxpayer purchased a $250,000 home in the 1990s and this home increased in value to $625,000, the owner was only allowed $50,000 in additional assets before the Federal Government started taking away 55 percent of everything else that person owned upon his or her death. If that taxpayer was self-employed, owned a small business, or had money saved in a retirement account, it is easy to see how quickly his or her estate could exceed $675,000.
Home ownership and small businesses are things we want to promote. Over the past decade, small businesses have created more than 60 percent of new jobs in the United States. In Arizona, small businesses account for 97 percent of employer businesses.
But home ownership and small business development are precisely the things that are hurt by the estate tax. It makes it harder for family businesses to transfer their assets down from one generation to another. When combined with capital gains, it makes it harder for parents to realize the benefit of the recent housing boom and share that benefit with their children.
I believe we need an estate tax that takes inflation into account, so the value of your property today will be the same as what you would like to pass onto your children. H.R. 3170 would permanently reduce the estate tax by establishing a system for future increases in the estate tax exemption based on inflation.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the combined costs of making these tax cuts permanent to be $332 billion over 10 years. To put this in perspective, we are currently spending $124 billion a year on the war in Iraq. If we can find that much to help Iraqis with their economy, I believe we can find $332 billion to help our own.
In March, I voted against the Budget Resolution, H. Con. Res. 99, in part, because it failed to extend cuts to the estate and capital gains taxes. At the time, I expressed frustration with both Democrats and Republicans for failing to work together to create a budget that incorporates good ideas from both sides of the aisle.
When I ran for Congress last year, the one thing I heard over and over again from voters was how sick and tired they were of partisan bickering in Washington that was getting nothing done.
I believe we can do better. So today I challenge my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to do the right thing. Consider this legislation, not through a caustic, partisan lens, but on its merits. The middle class wants Congress to make these key tax cuts permanent, and working together, I know we can make that happen.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to three remarkable women in my Congressional District in California. These women are distinguished recipients of the prestigious Jefferson Award for…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to three remarkable women in my Congressional District in California. These women are distinguished recipients of the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2006. I would like to express my own personal gratitude to these women and share their stories with my colleagues.
Katy Rhoades is an extraordinary volunteer who has devoted herself to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. She became an advocate for the disabled when her son, Kit, was first diagnosed with spina bifida. Katy left a career in the insurance industry to care full-time for her son. While she worked tirelessly with Kit, she also managed to find the time and energy to work with others with disabilities in San Mateo County. I am happy to announce that her son, now 21, has become a successful, independent young man and is currently enrolled at Canada College in Redwood City. Katy has continually given of herself, tirelessly advocating for people with disabilities.
Her work on behalf of disabled people includes serving on the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities, the Health Plan of San Mateo, the Meals on Wheels Coalition, New Beginning Coalition and the Second Harvest Food Bank. Katy has also worked with the California Children Services and the Far-West Wheelchair Sports Association. Katy developed the ``Transition to Independence Fair'' to help children with disabilities as they grow into adulthood. This unique fair now takes place every other year and is growing in importance. Katy Rhoades is an incredible ally and friend to people with disabilities. She has made her community in the Bay Area a better place for everyone.
Madam Speaker, Elizabeth Gheleta is another recent winner of the Jefferson Award. She has helped rebuild the lives of thousands of San Mateo County jail inmates and former inmates, and has also provided support and assistance to their children and families.
A long, distinguished career with the San Mateo County Service League has made Elizabeth Gheleta an invaluable and integral part of the agency's history. When Proposition 13 closed down the Service League in 1978, Elizabeth took on a leadership role that salvaged it. She built the Service League into a well-established, non-profit community organization with 25 staff members and over 500 dedicated volunteers.
This tireless and visionary woman expanded local in-jail resources to include educational programs, religious services, substance abuse counseling, and life skills to aid in the transition back into society. Elizabeth's success with the Service League has resulted in similar programs that have given hundreds of former inmates and their families a second chance in life.
Elizabeth Gheleta has spent 38 years with the Service League, and her recent retirement will leave a large void in the agency, but we can all take comfort in the knowledge that she leaves behind a strong and essential pillar of our community. She refused to give up on prison inmates and has given countless men and women the skills and support they need in order to return to productive lives in our society.
Madam Speaker, the third, and certainly not last, extraordinary woman I want to tell you about is Patricia Brown, who has retired from the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center after 20 years of service. She has been the Executive Director of PCRC since 1992, guiding the non-profit organization in its mission to provide conflict management and resolution services in San Mateo County. This remarkable organization has grown under Patricia's leadership and today trains people to communicate and solve problems together, through constructive means. Through her vision and commitment, conflict resolution today not only involves adults, but children in school as well.
Patricia is also an active community volunteer, involving herself in the creation and development of a number of partnerships, including development of the Multi-Option Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. She has served on the California Judicial Council's Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee and was involved in an innovative alliance of San Mateo County non-profits known as Thrive. A founding member of the California Dispute Resolution Council and its non-profit partner, the California Dispute Resolution Institute, Patricia can point to countless success stories relating to successful conflict resolution.
Madam Speaker, let me recognize with great pride Katy Rhoades, Elizabeth Gheleta and Patricia Brown, three women who have devoted their lives to making our community a stronger, safer and more vibrant place to live. These women are gems in San Mateo County and an inspiration to all of us. I am honored to be able to highlight their accomplishments.
Madam Speaker, I stand once again before this House with yet another Sunset Memorial. It is June 23, 2008, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and before the sun set today in America,…
Madam Speaker, I stand once again before this House with yet another Sunset Memorial.
It is June 23, 2008, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and before the sun set today in America, almost 4,000 more defenseless unborn children were killed by abortion on demand. That's just today, Madam Speaker. That's more than the number of innocent lives lost on September 11 in this country, only it happens every day.
It has now been exactly 12,936 days since the tragedy called Roe v. Wade was first handed down. Since then, the very foundation of this Nation has been stained by the blood of almost 50 million of its own children. Some of them, Madam Speaker, cried and screamed as they died, but because it was amniotic fluid passing over the vocal cords instead of air, we couldn't hear them.
All of them had at least four things in common. First, they were each just little babies who had done nothing wrong to anyone, and each one of them died a nameless and lonely death. And each one of their mothers, whether she realizes it or not, will never be quite the same. And all the gifts that these children might have brought to humanity are now lost forever. Yet even in the glare of such tragedy, this generation still clings to a blind, invincible ignorance while history repeats itself and our own silent genocide mercilessly annihilates the most helpless of all victims, those yet unborn.
Madam Speaker, perhaps it's time for those of us in this Chamber to remind ourselves of why we are really all here. Thomas Jefferson said, ``The care of human life and its happiness and not its destruction is the chief and only object of good government.'' The phrase in the 14th amendment capsulizes our entire Constitution. It says, ``No State shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.'' Madam Speaker, protecting the lives of our innocent citizens and their constitutional rights is why we are all here.
The bedrock foundation of this Republic is the clarion declaration of the self-evident truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every conflict and battle our Nation has ever faced can be traced to our commitment to this core, self-evident truth.
It has made us the beacon of hope for the entire world. Madam Speaker, it is who we are.
And yet today another day has passed, and we in this body have failed again to honor that foundational commitment. We have failed our sworn oath and our God-given responsibility as we broke faith with nearly 4,000 more innocent American babies who died today without the protection we should have given them. And it seems so sad to me, Madam Speaker, that this Sunset Memorial may be the only acknowledgement or remembrance these children who died today will ever have in this Chamber.
So as a small gesture, I would ask those in the Chamber who are inclined to join me for a moment of silent memorial to these lost little Americans.
So Madam Speaker, let me conclude this Sunset Memorial in the hope that perhaps someone new who heard it tonight will finally embrace the truth that abortion really does kill little babies; that it hurts mothers in ways that we can never express; and that 12,936 days spent killing nearly 50 million unborn children in America is enough; and that it is time that we stood up together again, and remembered that we are the same America that rejected human slavery and marched into Europe to arrest the Nazi Holocaust; and we are still courageous and compassionate enough to find a better way for mothers and their unborn babies than abortion on demand.
Madam Speaker, as we consider the plight of unborn America tonight, may we each remind ourselves that our own days in this sunshine of life are also numbered and that all too soon each one of us will walk from these Chambers for the very last time.
And if it should be that this Congress is allowed to convene on yet another day to come, may that be the day when we finally hear the cries of innocent unborn children. May that be the day when we find the humanity, the courage, and the will to embrace together our human and our constitutional duty to protect these, the least of our tiny, little American brothers and sisters from this murderous, scourge upon our Nation called abortion on demand.
It is June 23, 2008, 12,936 days since Roe versus Wade first stained the foundation of this Nation with the blood of its own children; this in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I stand before you today to honor one of northwest Indiana's most distinguished and honorable citizens. I have known the Honorable Richard…
Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I stand before you today to honor one of northwest Indiana's most distinguished and honorable citizens. I have known the Honorable Richard Hatcher for many years, and he is one of the most influential citizens I have ever known, especially when it comes to the progress he made for residents of northwest Indiana and the entire United States. Forty years ago, Richard was elected mayor of Gary, Indiana, and in doing so, he, along with the late Carl Stokes of Cleveland, Ohio, became the first African American individuals elected to serve as mayors of major metropolitan areas. Since this time, Richard has been a constant fixture in not only Gary, but throughout northwest Indiana. Today, as we celebrate this significant event in our Nation's history, we reflect on the magnitude of his election and the progress that has been achieved since that time. In Mayor Hatcher's honor, as well as in honor of Carl Stokes, a celebration will be taking place on Saturday, February 23, 2008, at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Indiana.
Richard Gordon Hatcher was born on July 10, 1933, in Michigan City, Indiana. Following his graduation from high school, Richard went on to complete his bachelor of science degree in business and government at Indiana University. Subsequently, he also earned his bachelor of law and juris doctorate degrees from Valparaiso University. After completing law school, Richard relocated to Gary and began practicing law in East Chicago, Indiana. This was the beginning of his remarkable legal career, which included service as a deputy prosecutor for Lake County, Indiana. From there, his political career began when he was elected to the Gary City Council. Then, in 1967, he was elected mayor of Gary, the office he would hold for an astonishing 20 years.
Throughout his political career, Richard was always involved with various commissions and councils, including: the United States Conference of Mayors, for which he served as a member of the executive board and as vice president and president of the conference, the National League of Cities, the National Conference of Black Mayors, for which he was elected its first president, the National Urban Coalition, and the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, for which he served 4 years as president. He also received Presidential appointments to serve on two commissions: the United States Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and the United States Commission on Education. Richard has also had a great impact on American society through his involvement with several civil rights organizations, both locally and nationally, including: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, TransAfrica, the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame, the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, and the Operation PUSH/Rainbow Coalition.
Throughout his illustrious career, Richard has been honored time and time again for his dedication and steadfast efforts in improving the quality of life for all people. To name a few of his accolades, Richard was honored in 1974, by Time magazine as one of the ``200 Outstanding Young Leaders in the United States,'' as well as one of the ``100 Most Influential Black Americans'' by Ebony magazine. He was also awarded the ``President's Award'' by the National League of Cities in 1987, the ``Adam Clayton Powell Award'' by the Congressional Black Caucus in 1977, the Operation PUSH ``Award of Excellence'' in 1980, and the Roy Wilkens Award from the NAACP in 1989. In addition, he has been honored with the ``Urban Leadership Award'' by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, the ``Distinguished Mayor Award'' by the National Urban Coalition, and the ``Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom Award'' from the National Conference of Black Mayors.
Madam Speaker, through his election as mayor of Gary in 1967, Richard Hatcher has been a cornerstone in the building of a better America. He has continued his efforts toward progress through the many ways he has selflessly given his time and efforts to the people of Gary, northwest Indiana, and beyond. At this time, I ask that you and all of my distinguished colleagues join me in commending him, as well as the late Carl Stokes, on their 40th anniversary of this significant event in our Nation's history, as well as for his lifetime of service and dedication to his community.
Madam Speaker, I stand once again before this House with yet other Sunset Memorial. It is July 14, 2008, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and before the sun set today in America,…
Madam Speaker, I stand once again before this House with yet other Sunset Memorial.
It is July 14, 2008, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and before the sun set today in America, almost 4,000 more defenseless unborn children were killed by abortion on demand. That's just today, Madam Speaker. That's more than the number of innocent lives lost on September 11 in this country, only it happens every day.
It has now been exactly 12,957 days since the tragedy called Roe v. Wade was first handed down. Since then, the very foundation of this Nation has been stained by the blood of almost 50 million of its own children. Some of them, Madam Speaker, cried and screamed as they died, but because it was amniotic fluid passing over the vocal cords instead of air, we couldn't hear them.
All of them had at least four things in common. First, they were each just little babies who had done nothing wrong to anyone, and each one of them died a nameless and lonely death. And each one of their mothers, whether she realizes it or not, will never be quite the same. And all the gifts that these children might have brought to humanity are now lost forever. Yet even in the glare of such tragedy, this generation still clings to a blind, invincible ignorance while history repeats itself and our own silent genocide mercilessly annihilates the most helpless of all victims, those yet unborn.
Madam Speaker, perhaps it's time for those of us in this Chamber to remind ourselves of why we are really all here. Thomas Jefferson said, ``The care of human life and its happiness and not its destruction is the chief and only object of good government.'' The phrase in the 14th Amendment capsulizes our entire Constitution. It says, ``No State shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.'' Madam Speaker, protecting the lives of our innocent citizens and their constitutional rights is why we are all here.
The bedrock foundation of this Republic is the clarion declaration of the self-evident truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every conflict and battle our Nation has ever faced can be traced to our commitment to this core, self-evident truth.
It has made us the beacon of hope for the entire world. Madam Speaker, it is who we are.
And yet today another day has passed, and we in this body have failed again to honor that foundational commitment. We have failed our sworn oath and our God-given responsibility as we broke faith with nearly 4,000 more innocent American babies who died today without the protection we should have given them.
So Madam Speaker, let me conclude this Sunset Memorial in the hope that perhaps someone new who heard it tonight will finally embrace the truth that abortion really does kill little babies; that it hurts mothers in ways that we can never express; and that 12,957 days spent killing nearly 50 million unborn children in America is enough; and that it is time that we stood up together again, and remembered that we are the same America that rejected human slavery and marched into Europe to arrest the Nazi Holocaust; and we are still courageous and compassionate enough to find a better way for mothers and their unborn babies than abortion on demand.
Madam Speaker, as we consider the plight of unborn America tonight, may we each remind ourselves that our own days in this sunshine of life are also numbered and that all too soon each one of us will walk from these Chambers for the very last time.
And if it should be that this Congress is allowed to convene on yet another day to come, may that be the day when we finally hear the cries of innocent unborn children. May that be the day when we find the humanity, the courage, and the will to embrace together our human and our constitutional duty to protect these, the least of our tiny, little American brothers and sisters from this murderous scourge upon our Nation called ``abortion on demand.''
It is July 14, 2008, 12,957 days since Roe versus Wade first stained the foundation of this Nation with the blood of its own children; this in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Madam Speaker, I stand once again before this House with yet another Sunset Memorial. It is July 23, 2008, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and before the sun set today in America,…
Madam Speaker, I stand once again before this House with yet another Sunset Memorial.
It is July 23, 2008, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and before the sun set today in America, almost 4,000 more defenseless unborn children were killed by abortion on demand. That's just today, Madam Speaker. That's more than the number of innocent lives lost on September 11 in this country, only it happens every day.
It has now been exactly 12,966 days since the tragedy called Roe v. Wade was first handed down. Since then, the very foundation
of this Nation heen stained by the blood of almost 50 million of its own children. Some of them, Madam Speaker, cried and screamed as they died, but because it was amniotic fluid passing over the vocal cords instead of air, we couldn't hear them.
All of them had at least four things in common. First, they were each just little babies who had done nothing wrong to anyone, and each one of them died a nameless and lonely death. And each one of their mothers, whether she realizes it or not, will never be quite the same. And all the gifts that these children might have brought to humanity are now lost forever. Yet even in the glare of such tragedy, this generation still clings to a blind, invincible ignorance while history repeats itself and our own silent genocide mercilessly annihilates the most helpless of all victims, those yet unborn.
Madam Speaker, perhaps it's time for those of us in this Chamber to remind ourselves of why we are really all here. Thomas Jefferson said, ``The care of human life and its happiness and not its destruction is the chief and only object of good government.'' The phrase in the 14th amendment capsulizes our entire Constitution. It says, ``No State shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.'' Madam Speaker, protecting the lives of our innocent citizens and their constitutional rights is why we are all here.
The bedrock foundation of this Republic is the clarion declaration of the self-evident truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every conflict and battle our Nation has ever faced can be traced to our commitment to this core, self-evident truth.
It has made us the beacon of hope for the entire world. Madam Speaker, it is who we are.
And yet today another day has passed, and we in this body have failed again to honor that foundational commitment. We have failed our sworn oath and our God-given responsibility as we broke faith with nearly 4,000 more innocent American babies who died today without the protection we should have given them.
So Madam Speaker, let me conclude this Sunset Memorial in the hope that perhaps someone new who heard it tonight will finally embrace the truth that abortion really does kill little babies; that it hurts mothers in ways that we can never express; and that 12,966 days spent killing nearly 50 million unborn children in America is enough; and that it is time that we stood up together again, and remembered that we are the same America that rejected human slavery and marched into Europe to arrest the Nazi Holocaust; and we are still courageous and compassionate enough to find a better way for mothers and their unborn babies than abortion on demand.
Madam Speaker, as we consider the plight of unborn America tonight, may we each remind ourselves that our own days in this sunshine of life are also numbered and that all too soon each one of us will walk from these Chambers for the very last time.
And if it should be that this Congress is allowed to convene on yet another day to come, may that be the day when we finally hear the cries of innocent unborn children. May that be the day when we find the humanity, the courage, and the will to embrace together our human and our constitutional duty to protect these, the least of our tiny, little American brothers and sisters from this murderous scourge upon our Nation called abortion on demand.
It is July 23, 2008, 12,966 days since Roe versus Wade first stained the foundation of this Nation with the blood of its own children; this in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend two extraordinary athletes who are members of the United States Women's Water Polo Team competing in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing,…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend two extraordinary athletes who are members of the United States Women's Water Polo Team competing in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China. In addition to being first-generation Mexican American Latina trailblazers in the world of competitive water polo, both of these exceptional women call the City of Commerce, in the 34th Congressional District, their home.
As children, Brenda Villa and Patty Cardenas learned to play water polo and hone their skills at the local swimming club, Commerce Aquatics. Looking back on their introduction to the sport, Brenda, now 28, and Patty, 23, credit the City of Commerce and the club's dedicated coaches for encouraging and developing their interest in water polo.
Today, in a $20 million facility built to Olympic specifications, the city continues to encourage young people--the future Brendas and Pattys--to participate and excel in water polo. In addition to employing two full-time and three part-time youth water polo coaches and allocating more than $250,000 a year on its programs, the City of Commerce also covers participants' competition-related expenses. These expenses might otherwise prevent the community's economically disadvantaged youth from participating in tournaments.
After Commerce Aquatics, Brenda and Patty continued to play water polo at Bell Gardens High School.
When Brenda entered high school in the fall of 1994, the school did not have a girls water polo team. With Brenda competing alongside and against the male players, the Bell Gardens Boys Water Polo Team won four consecutive league championships and back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division III championships.
In the fall of 1998, following Brenda's graduation, the younger Patty entered Bell Gardens High School just in time to join the school's newly-formed Girls Water Polo Team. At that point, CIF rules prohibited Patty from playing on the Boys Water Polo Team. With Patty as part of the high school's first girls team, the female players went on to win four consecutive CIF Championships.
Following high school, both women would go on to realize their dreams of playing competitive women's water polo in college and in the Olympics.
At Stanford University, Brenda took a leave of absence to train with the Olympic Women's National Team for the 2000 Olympic debut of the women's water polo competition in Sydney, Australia. The team won the Silver Medal. Two years later, Brenda was awarded the Peter J. Cutino Award, an honor given annually to the top female collegiate water polo player in the nation. In 2004, as a member of the U.S. Women's National Water Polo Team at the Athens Olympics, Brenda and her teammates took home the Bronze Medal.
Between Olympic Games, Brenda achieved another victory. In 2003, when she graduated from Stanford with a degree in Political Science, she became the first member of her family to earn a college degree.
Patty stayed closer to home after high school. She enrolled at Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach, California. There, Patty helped her team win the 2002 California State Championship. In 2005, Patty transferred to the University of Southern California where, for the past couple of years, she has trained on the U.S. National Women's Polo Team.
The Summer Olympics in Beijing will be Patty's first Olympic competition and Brenda's third. This time, with both Commerce athletes on the same team, they hope to work together with their other teammates to bring home the Gold.
Madam Speaker, on behalf of the 34th Congressional District and the state of California, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Brenda and Patty on their incredible achievements and extending to them and their teammates our best wishes for a victorious trip to the Beijing Summer Olympics. I can assure you, regardless of how the team places, these two remarkable athletes will always be champions to their many devoted fans in the City of Commerce. They are among our hometown heroes, and we are very proud of them--in and out of the pool.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3062, the South Pacific Economic and Educational Development Act of 2007, and take this opportunity to highlight its value for the strengthening of United…
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3062, the South Pacific Economic and Educational Development Act of 2007, and take this opportunity to highlight its value for the strengthening of United States diplomacy in Oceania.
I have the distinct privilege and honor of representing the people of Guam in this House. My constituents remain keenly aware and are especially appreciative of the United States foreign policy programs most relevant and important to our neighboring islands in the greater Pacific Basin. Indeed, the provision of United States technical and financial assistance to Pacific Island states is cause for associated growth and development in, and international recognition of, the neighboring Pacific Island territories of the United States.
Our island territories, including Guam, the Northern Marianas, an American Samoa, together with the State of Hawaii, serve as logical bridges and links to our friends and allies in the greater Pacific Basin. Commerce, trade, communication, and transportation flow between and through our Pacific Island territories and the Pacific Island nation-states. Heads of state and government officials frequently convene in the Pacific Island territories for meetings and summits on issues of relevance and interest to the region and to the United States. H.R. 3062 is predicated in the historic relationship and responsibility the United States has developed with the Pacific Island nation-states.
The introduction and consideration of H.R. 3062 is timely in that it follows the eighth meeting of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, an organization that was founded in 1980 with the support of the East-West Center. The eighth meeting convened in Washington, D.C., this past May, and marked the first high-level gathering of Pacific Island political leaders in the Nation's capital in the Conference's history. Twenty separate heads of states and leaders from Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, participated in that meeting, at which partnerships between the islands and the United States were renewed. A commitment to re-engage in the shared needs and interests of our countries was forged at this recent meeting.
H.R. 3062 would help fulfill a part of the United States commitment to re-engage in the Pacific Region. The bill would authorize the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide technical and other assistance to Pacific Island nation-states. The bill would also require the Department of State to take certain steps to ensure the participation of students from the Pacific Island nation- states in the distinguished and highly-recognized J. Fulbright Educational Exchange Program.
I am confident that the provision of such assistance and the participation of Pacific Island students in the Fulbright Program will serve to strengthen United States-Pacific Island relations. H.R. 3062 would also serve to support the advancement of efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, tourism, the environment, education, and defense and security.
I commend our colleague from American Samoa, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, for sponsoring this legislation and for his leadership in buttressing United States assistance in the greater Pacific Basin. I urge my colleagues' support for H.R. 3062.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important legislation to strengthen our nation's laws against counterfeiting and intellectual property violations which passed the House yesterday.…
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important legislation to strengthen our nation's laws against counterfeiting and intellectual property violations which passed the House yesterday.
Article I Section 8 of our Constitution lays the framework for our nation's copyright and patent laws. It grants Congress the power to award inventors and creators, for limited periods of time, exclusive rights to their inventions and works. The founding fathers realized that this type of incentive was crucial to ensure that America would become the world's leader in innovation and creativity. As we continue our journey into the digital age, we must be sure to continue to reward our innovators with the exclusive rights to their works for limited periods of time. This incentive is still necessary to maintain America's position as the world leader in innovation.
Because the United States has been the pioneer for intellectual property protections, it is no surprise that the copyright industries are so successful and play such an increasingly crucial role in our national economy. The U.S. copyright industries have created millions of high-skilled, high-paying U.S. jobs and have contributed billions to our economy. However, the proliferation of copyright piracy and counterfeiting in America is growing and is threatening to undermine the very copyright protections our founding fathers envisioned.
In 1999, I introduced legislation with my friend, Representative Zoe Lofgren, to prohibit the alteration or removal of product identification codes on goods or packaging, prohibit the manufacture and distribution of devices primarily used to alter or remove product identification codes, and allow the seizure of decoded goods and decoding devices.
In addition, for the better part of the past six years I have been pleased to work with retailers and law enforcement agencies to attempt to solve the growing problem of organized retail crime, which has resulted in billions of dollars of loss to retailers, has often resulted in counterfeit, diverted products being placed back on store shelves, has threatened the safety of such products as baby formula and medicine, and has been linked to major organized crime rings.
I am equally pleased to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 4279. This legislation builds on current laws in many ways, including increasing penalties for both civil violations of copyright laws and repeat offenders, allowing treble damages in certain counterfeiting cases, and increasing the maximum penalties for trafficking in counterfeit goods when those offenses endanger public health and safety. The bill also raises the profile of intellectual property within the Administrative Branch by creating an Office of U.S. IP Enforcement Representative within the Executive Office of the President to coordinate all the various agencies and departments that work on IP enforcement issues, and to serve as the President's principal advisor for IP matters. In addition, it increases the number of IP liaisons from the PTO in U.S. embassies around the world and enhances DOJ's computer crime units to make sure they are equipped and being used to prosecute IP violations.
I believe this legislation is a major step in the right direction, and I look forward to continuing to work on this bill as it progresses through the legislative process.
Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Eleonor Velasquez, an intelligent and hard-working woman who has been on my staff from June 2003 until August 2007. During her tenure in my office, Eleonor…
Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Eleonor Velasquez, an intelligent and hard-working woman who has been on my staff from June 2003 until August 2007. During her tenure in my office, Eleonor was an asset to me and the constituents of the 32nd District of California. Eleonor's hard work, dedication, and skills are the reasons why I promoted her twice during her time in the office: from staff assistant to legislative correspondent in 2004 and from legislative correspondent to legislative assistant in March 2005.
Eleonor immigrated to the United States from Peru when she was just 13 years old. Her experience as a young woman assimilating to the United States provided her an invaluable perspective on issues such as immigration, education, trade, and Latino issues. Eleonor's fluency in Spanish has been of great service to my office since over half of my constituents do not speak English as their first language at home.
Eleonor has demonstrated a keen grasp of the complex issues involved in the ongoing immigration debate in the House of Representatives. Eleonor coordinated a number of sign-on letters and drafted Dear Colleague letters about immigration, trade, and education. Recently, Eleonor drafted a letter to President Bush expressing deep disappointment regarding the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) increased fee structure for naturalization and asking him to work with Congress to create a fairer system.
During her time in my office, Eleonor spearheaded two pieces of legislation: H. Res. 721 (109th Congress), a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno); and H.R. 5161 (109th Congress), a bill to establish a commission to study the removal of Mexican-Americans to Mexico during 1929-1941. H. Res. 721 recognized all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States, and was co-sponsored by 55 Members of Congress. The resolution was passed by the House of Representatives on July 18, 2006. H.R. 5161 was not considered in the 109th Congress, but its introduction was very important to the families of the 2 million individuals of Mexican ancestry who were forcibly removed to Mexico during the Depression, as many as 1.2 million of whom were United States citizens.
As the liaison in my office to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Eleonor has gained a wealth of institutional knowledge about issues important to the Caucus over the past 4 years. Eleonor began her tenure on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) fellow in the office of Congressman Jose Serrano. She has been an active member of the CHCI alumni association and mentored other Latino young men and women who came through the program to work on Capitol Hill and in the private sector on public policy issues.
While I am sad to see Eleonor leave, I am confident that the future will bring her much success. I wish Eleonor and her family good health and best wishes. I join my staff in my Washington, DC, El Monte, and East Los Angeles offices in wishing Eleonor the best of luck in all of her future endeavors. Buena suerte, Eleonor!
Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of the Sacramento International Airport and their 40 year anniversary. In 1967, the first flight was flown out of the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport and since that…
Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of the Sacramento International Airport and their 40 year anniversary. In 1967, the first flight was flown out of the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport and since that time the Airport has become a gateway to Northern California destinations and major cities across the United States. I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in saluting the 40 years of service provided by the Sacramento International Airport.
Located just northwest of downtown Sacramento, the Sacramento International Airport is situated on 6,000 acres of former farmland. The Airport was constructed when the region's aviation needs outgrew the Sacramento Executive Airport. The $17.8 million dollar project was completed in 1967 and in the following year the nearly a million people flew on the airport's five initial carriers; Delta, Pacific, United, West Coast and Western. Since that time airlines have come and gone at the airport, but the high level of customer satisfaction remains.
Over the last 40 years the Sacramento International Airport has made great strides to improve its facilities. Nine years ago, the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport was officially renamed the Sacramento International Airport when it started hosting nonstop flights to Mexico and Canada. These international flights were made possible by the completion of an International Terminal and Terminal A, which represented a stark contrast to the older and outdated Terminal B.
In 2006, Airport officials announced they would be replacing the aging Terminal B with a brand new terminal. Under the leadership of Sacramento County Airport System Director Hardy Acree and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, this modernization of the Airport will be complete in 2012. The state-of-the-art facility will be equipped with 23 new gates, a two-level access roadway designed to reduce traffic congestion and additional taxiways that will allow aircrafts to reach terminals more promptly. All of these features will improve the overall efficiency and enjoyment of the traveling experience.
Forty years after being built, the Airport welcomes more than 10 million passengers each year and has two fully operational runways. It is estimated that by 2020, the Airport will serve over 17.7 million passengers as a growing regional hub and international transit point. With flights to New York City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Vancouver, Ontario, Honolulu, all of California's major cities and many more, the airport is an attractive option for all Northern California travelers. Thanks to the construction of a new six-story parking garage three years ago, the Airport now accommodates over 16,000 cars, making the traveling experience more enjoyable.
Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 40 years of growth and prosperity at the Sacramento International Airport. In the coming years the Sacramento International Airport will continue to expand as an international airport and gateway for our region. As the Airport's supporters gather to celebrate their 40 anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their storied past and vision for the future.
Madam Speaker, the most successful and profitable television show in this country is ``American Idol'', produced by FremantleMedia North America. ``American Idol'' and other FremantleMedia…
Madam Speaker, the most successful and profitable television show in this country is ``American Idol'', produced by FremantleMedia North America. ``American Idol'' and other FremantleMedia productions entertain many millions worldwide with the promise of providing an opportunity for young talented people to display their abilities and be rewarded for their hard work.
That is why it is such a shame that FremantleMedia refuses to offer the same basic opportunity to its writers and other employees. The California Labor Commissioner has recorded claims from ``American Idol'' and other FremantleMedia employees totaling more than $300,000 in unpaid wages and unsafe working conditions. The State Labor Commissioner has conducted serious investigations into FremantleMedia productions and has even been forced to cite the company for failure to pay overtime to their employees.
Madam Speaker, I have watched ``American Idol'' with my teenage daughter on many occasions. I am well aware of its impact on society and the enormous profits it generates for Fox Television and its producers and advertisers. In 2007, the show allegedly generated over $200 million in profits for the Fox network, while FremantleMedia's worldwide profits exceeded $1.8 billion.
Why then, are they unable to pay a fair and equitable wage to its employees who provide the written content or other services that make these shows so successful? In an April 2008 filing with the California Department of Labor Standards, ``American Idol'' employees reported working 15-20 hour days, 7 days a week and FremantleMedia avoided paying any overtime by declaring that a substantial majority of their employees are ``exempt.'' In addition to failing to abide by California's wage and hour statutes, Fremantle refuses to offer most of their employees access to health coverage. For such a popular and profitable show, I find this behavior reprehensible.
American reality show fans should not be confused. The reality is, ``reality'' shows are written. The plot lines, the banter between personalities, the contests that are at the heart of the shows; all are created by talented members of the creative community. These individuals should be paid fairly and like other American workers, allowed to join a guild to collectively bargain on their behalf.
Madam Speaker, no one wants to shut ``American Idol'' down. All I am asking, all the American people are demanding, is that those talented Americans who create content for these vastly profitable enterprises be paid fairly with industry-standard benefits and in accordance with federal and state laws. We are asking that one of the country's most popular and profitable shows treats its employees with the respect and dignity they deserve. You can bet that the on-air personalities who read the words are paid dearly. It's time that Fremantle allow those who put the words in their mouths simply be allowed to be represented at the bargaining table.
Madam Speaker, it is my privilege today to rise in recognition of a good friend of mine, the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, Governor Bill Anoatubby. On October 26, 2007, East Central University…
Madam Speaker, it is my privilege today to rise in recognition of a good friend of mine, the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, Governor Bill Anoatubby. On October 26, 2007, East Central University will induct Governor Anoatubby into its Hall of Governors; he is only the fourth individual to receive such a prestigious recognition. He joins former U.S. Senator and former Governor Robert S. Kerr; former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice, former U.S. Senator, and former Governor Ernest McFarland; and former Governor George Nigh. Reflecting upon the caliber of these individuals who have contributed so much to the State of Oklahoma, I know Governor Anoatubby truly appreciates the honor he is being given and that he so richly deserves.
Madam Speaker, graduating from East Central University in 1972 was merely the beginning, because from that day forward Governor Anoatubby has worked tirelessly to make Oklahoma a better State and the Chickasaws of Oklahoma a more prosperous people. His passion to this end is reflected in the litany of civic and community activities, affiliations, leadership roles, awards and honors contained in his biography.
But Madam Speaker, the Governor's impressive resume aside, I am honored today to recognize this award on the floor of the United States House of Representatives because I am a member of the Chickasaw Nation and I have witnessed the Governor achieve amazing things for our tribe, for the State of Oklahoma, and for tribes across the country. The Governor has presided over the Renaissance of the Chickasaw Nation by focusing on increasing economic development, expanding health coverage, improving education, and preserving and reviving the tribe's cultural and historical heritage so important for our future vitality and self- identity.
But Governor Anoatubby's accomplishments do not stop there, Madam Speaker. He not only fulfills his duties as the leader of the Chickasaw Nation, but has become one of the most respected Native American leaders in the country. He understands the unique status of tribes, and as such, he recognizes the unique opportunities available not only at a state level, but nationally and internationally for tribal development and prosperity. He has an unequaled willingness to reach out and make partnerships between tribes and businesses, institutions, organizations, and other governments.
Madam Speaker, Governor Anoatubby profoundly understands that neither the Chickasaw Nation nor the State of Oklahoma can thrive independently of one another. He has demonstrated time and time again that working together, the two can bring remarkable benefits to all Oklahomans, native and non-native alike. Simply put, Madam Speaker, Governor Anoatubby has changed the way people live in the State of Oklahoma for the better, and I congratulate him on being inducted into East Central University's Hall of Governors.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Jones and my other colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, in calling for a comprehensive revaluation of our strategies in Iraq. I consider the…
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Jones and my other colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, in calling for a comprehensive revaluation of our strategies in Iraq. I consider the situation in Iraq to be one of Congress' highest priorities and there is an urgent need to establish a comprehensive and realistic exit strategy. We need to offer hope to the families anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones and the men and women who risk their lives everyday.
Next month will be the 40th anniversary of one of the largest protests against the Vietnam War. Over a hundred thousand people marched on Washington that day, and it worries me that the current Administration seems to have learned little from history. A similar discontent can be seen on the streets of America today, as more and more polls demonstrate dwindling public support for this war.
I have always maintained the stance that an adequate case for war was never made and that military intervention should only have been used if all other routes failed. From the beginning, I offered an alternative resolution to war. Although we can never know what the outcome of alternatives may have been, we have the chance now to change strategy and make decisive steps to developing a lasting solution.
Mr. Speaker, an increase in troop numbers is not the answer. This war, commenced in haste and founded on deception, will never provide the solutions Iraq needs to establish a strong and lasting democracy. We can't secure victory through a war of attrition, and neither can we protect our sons and daughters who stand in harm's way in a war that was never necessary.
It is true that we cannot abandon the Iraqi people. But more productive ways to help them can be found. In the current international climate, we cannot engage in meaningful dialogue on the Iraqi situation while the occupation continues. I believe we must allow the U.N. to play a greater role in the reconstruction of Iraq, advancing human rights and justice within the framework of international law. In my work in this great body, I consistently seek to protect the United States and its people above all else. However, currently there is no absolute proof of an imminent threat. In fact our vulnerability to international terrorism only rises every day our troops stay in Iraq.
Mr. Speaker, I am dedicated to providing funding to protect our troops, but I refuse to support the failed foreign policies of the Bush administration, nor any legislation that will lead to more unnecessary deaths. The greatest thing we can do for our brave men and women in the Armed Forces is to take them out of harm's way by developing a clear, decisive exit strategy.
Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3877, the Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act, which was introduced by our colleague from Utah, Mr. Matheson. Mining is an…
Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3877, the Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act, which was introduced by our colleague from Utah, Mr. Matheson.
Mining is an important part of our history and it will be critical to our future as well, but we have seen too many mining accidents that have ended in tragedy. Too often, these tragedies have been related to difficulties with communication. The unfortunate deaths of six miners and three rescuers at the Crandall Canyon Mine this year has highlighted the severe communication challenges that miners face when deep underground.
While mines generally use reliable communications systems, some mines--specifically, deep underground mines--present a number of unique challenges that make communications and tracking more difficult. For example, the open air pathway required for radio signals and WiFi often do not exist in underground mines and less than ten percent of the radio spectrum that is used above ground can be used underground. Additionally, in the event of a catastrophic event, existing communications systems are often compromised.
This bill would help improve tracking and communications systems for two-way communication between the miners and people above ground. Specifically, H.R. 3877 would accelerate the research and development of innovative mine tracking and communications technologies. Since the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) addresses oversight of immediately available technologies, this legislation is targeted R&D for new technologies to advance our ability to communicate underground. Under this legislation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would establish an initiative to promote the research, development, and demonstration of miner tracking and communications systems and to promote the establishment of standards and other measurement services regarding underground miners.
Not only will this legislation help miners, but it will draw upon the expertise of Colorado researchers. NIST's Boulder labs have already begun similar work for communications in collapsed buildings and are well positioned to support this new effort with its experience in developing technical standards, best practices and conformance testing.
This bill will ensure that our miners have the state-of-the-art equipment they need to communicate with people above ground, especially in times of emergency. I urge the House to support this important legislation that will help us save lives in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 726, to prevent and respond to acts of rape and sexual violence in the Darfur conflict region. This resolution calls on the President and the…
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 726, to prevent and respond to acts of rape and sexual violence in the Darfur conflict region. This resolution calls on the President and the international community to recognize and respond to the horrific acts of sexual violence that are being committed by the Sudanese armed forces, the associated Janjaweed militia, and other armed combatants with alarming regularity. Women and girls in the crisis-affected region currently lack the medical and psychological services necessary to survive and recover from these personal atrocities. Today, Congress seeks to provide them with these basic services, and states our belief that the U.S. and the international community must continue applying pressure to the government in Khartoum to stop the use of rape and sexual violence as a tool of war.
The United Nations has recognized that rape is being used as a systematic weapon of war and that combatants are encouraged to employ it as yet another way to brutally terrorize a population. The impact on the individual, however, must not be forgotten. Rape not only brutalizes the woman, it can also rob her of her dignity and privacy, often leading to her being shunned by her family and community. The international community has thus far been unable to prevent sexual violence from becoming an almost daily event in many conflicts, including the one in Darfur. So when Congress has an opportunity to protect and aid the victims of these attacks, we must do so.
This bill calls on the President and international community to develop the Women and Girls of Darfur Initiative that would provide health care services, medical supplies, and psychological counseling to women in the conflict-affected region. The resolution also calls for preventative measures such as ensuring that a hybrid United Nations- African Union peacekeeping force is deployed to protect women and girls from acts of rape and sexual violence. Since the Sudanese Government refuses to provide its own women this protection, the hybrid peacekeeping force must be accorded all the necessary resources, including the $724 million that the U.S. has pledged to fund the U.N.'s mission in Darfur.
I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me and over 100 other cosponsors of this bill in fulfilling our moral obligation to protect the basic human rights of the women and girls in Darfur and the surrounding region.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a spiritual leader whose commitment to his congregation and to his church spans half of a century. Bishop Edward Smith, dedicated pastor of the…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a spiritual leader whose commitment to his congregation and to his church spans half of a century. Bishop Edward Smith, dedicated pastor of the Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, celebrates his 50th anniversary in the ministry this year. A beacon for hope in times of sorrow and an inspiring figure in times of celebration, Bishop Smith has faithfully and prayerfully served the Denmark community. I congratulate Bishop Smith on this significant milestone in his ministry.
In the Book of Micah we find the question, ``What does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?'' Bishop Smith has certainly answered with an adherence to that biblical admonition. He began his service in 1957. Bishop Joseph Williams appointed the then Elder Smith as the new pastor of Progressive Church following the resignation of Elder Collins. In accepting this challenge, Bishop Smith said, ``The Lord saved me for service and if this is where I am to serve, here am I Lord use me.'' And so, with the Apostle Peter as his example, Bishop Smith sold his home in Columbia, South Carolina and went to Denmark to build a house for the Lord.
By fall 1959, Bishop Smith moved his church from Blackville, South Carolina to a storefront in Denmark, South Carolina, increasing his congregation from six to fifteen. With the power of faith, the force of hammers, and Bishop Smith as their guide, seven months of construction later, February 1963, there stood a new church on East Haynes Street.
Over the course of the 46 years that followed, he presided over an expansion that included a Progressive Child Development Center established in 1986, and the purchase of a sixteen acre track of land on Progressive Way, where Bishop Smith envisions a new K-12 school and efficiency apartments for the elderly. Today, the Progressive Church in Denmark attracts congregants from five neighboring counties.
Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Bishop Edward Smith on his 50th Anniversary. Like his spiritual guide, Saint Peter, he has established a strong house for God. In addition, this vibrant and devoted civic leader has enriched the lives of many in Denmark, South Carolina. I commend his steadfastness on behalf of ``the least of these'' and I applaud Bishop Edward Smith for his half century of public service.
Madam Speaker, today I have introduced, together with my colleagues from the Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Thompson of Mississippi and Mr. Rogers of Alabama, legislation that will prevent…
Madam Speaker, today I have introduced, together with my colleagues from the Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Thompson of Mississippi and Mr. Rogers of Alabama, legislation that will prevent terrorists or others with bad intent from posing as Homeland Security officials or officers. This common sense bill will require the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that sensitive material--badges, identification cards, uniforms, and protective gear-- is made in the United States. As these items would be vulnerable to theft in transit, it just makes sense to make sure they start and stay in America.
When the Department of Homeland Security buys identification cards overseas, there is no system in place to ensure that they are not stolen and misappropriated by terrorists, who could then pass into restricted areas with fraudulent credentials. In countries with less robust ethical and management standards for business, manufacturers might even be willing to sell uniforms or badges to the highest bidder. The men and women who serve in positions that protect our security are put at risk by a policy that does not secure these materials, and the practice of purchasing them overseas without appropriate safeguards must end.
It is certainly not uncommon for cargo to be hijacked or lost, particularly in the staging areas at our Nation's ports of entry. The potential theft of uniforms, badges, or ID cards by the truckload pose a clear threat. These items are meant to serve as validation that those charged with securing our country are who they say they are; misappropriation is unacceptable.
This legislation will not slow down the Department at all with regard to purchases; it merely ensures that sensitive materials are kept securely inside the United States when appropriate. The bill contains a waiver for small purchases and for material that will be used outside of the United States. It gives the Department the flexibility to procure materials outside of the United States if necessary and as long as steps are taken to prevent misappropriation.
This legislation is focused and targeted at the area of greatest risk in procurement. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to support it.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional service of a most distinguished constituent, William Murdock. Mr. Murdock serves as Executive Director of the Eblen Charities and Eblen Center…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional service of a most distinguished constituent, William Murdock. Mr. Murdock serves as Executive Director of the Eblen Charities and Eblen Center for Social Enterprise, an Asheville-based non-profit organization that assists low-income children, adults, and families battling illnesses and disabilities.
Mr. Murdock is a graduate of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, Mars Hill College, Duke University, and the Harvard Business School. Along with his work at Eblen Charities, Mr. Murdock lectures at Duke University and has been named an outstanding scholar in social enterprise by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England.
Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina, Mr. Murdock developed a passion for wrestling which he pursued as a student-athlete and then as a high school coach. He is widely regarded as one of wrestling's preeminent historians and was most recently honored as the first recipient of the Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award. The award recognizes an individual connected with wrestling who has ``taken the skills, courage and mental toughness that are the essentials of the sport and has applied those characteristics to the realm of public service.'' In nearly two decades of service at the Eblen Charities, Mr. Murdock has done that and more.
Under his leadership, Eblen Charities has grown from a two-person partnership that assisted 300 families in 1991 to a world-class organization that served 65,000 in 2006. Mr. Murdock currently oversees roughly 60 programs designed to help families in western North Carolina secure health care coverage, low-cost prescription drugs, heating and cooling for their homes, and other life essentials. In so doing, Mr. Murdock delivers hope in trying times and the wherewithal to meet whatever challenges might lie ahead.
His example serves to remind us that a single individual, armed with compassion, ingenuity, and resolve, can do extraordinary things. I am honored to represent Mr. Murdock in the United States Congress, and I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding his outstanding work.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Joseph Health System, which has received a prestigious 2007 Great Workplace Award from the Gallup Organization recognizing the company as one of the…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Joseph Health System, which has received a prestigious 2007 Great Workplace Award from the Gallup Organization recognizing the company as one of the twelve best places to work worldwide. St. Joseph Health System operates hospitals and clinics throughout California and is an important healthcare provider for residents of California's First District.
The First District is home to three of St. Joseph's hospitals: Redwood Regional Hospital in Fortuna, St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, and Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa. I have had a long and productive working relationship with these hospitals--as has my wife, Jan, who fondly recalls her days working in Queen of the Valley with Sister Ann.
These hospitals have been fixtures in the North Coast health care delivery system for decades. St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka opened in 1920 in response to the influenza epidemic. It was the first full- service hospital in that area, staffed by 18 Sisters and one lay nurse. Today, St. Joseph Health System is the second largest employer in Humboldt County.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa is recognized as one of the region's premier treatment centers. Founded over 40 years ago, today it specializes in cardiovascular medicine and a full range of cancer prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services.
St. Joseph Health System is one of the ministries of the St. Joseph Sisters of Orange, a religious order dedicated to social justice, education, and healthcare. In addition to the order's work at St. Joseph Health System, they are a sponsoring religious order of Loyola Marymount University and provide funding for Taller San Jose, a center for the empowerment and education of Latino young adults living in poverty.
Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we congratulate St. Joseph Health System for receiving a 2007 Great Workplace Award, and acknowledge the contributions they have made to the health of citizens throughout California and the other states in which they serve.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Orange County Chamber of Commerce in Montgomery, New York as it celebrates two significant events in the history of its organization. The Chamber is marking…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Orange County Chamber of Commerce in Montgomery, New York as it celebrates two significant events in the history of its organization. The Chamber is marking the 10th Anniversary of the merger of Orange County's two major chamber organizations, which united to form the current Chamber of Commerce on this day in 1997. Additionally, the Chamber is commemorating the 125th anniversary of the formation of one of the predecessor chambers in 1882.
In recent years, Orange County has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing counties in New York State. As this growth has occurred, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce has provided critical leadership in creating and supporting an environment in which business will succeed while also working to enhance the quality of life throughout Orange County's communities. The Chamber continues to serve as a consistent and effective advocate for businesses throughout Orange County and the Hudson Valley region.
Through their committed efforts and diligence, the Board of Directors and staff at the Chamber have expanded its membership to nearly 2,400 businesses and individuals, making it one of the ten largest in the State of New York and the largest between Long Island and Albany. This strong network of community and business leaders coupled with the technical support, expertise and promotional services provided by the Chamber has contributed to the ongoing expansion of business opportunities in Orange County.
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to salute the Orange County Chamber of Commerce on the anniversary of these important milestones. I'd like to congratulate Chamber President John A. D'Ambrosio, outgoing Board President Kunwar Nagpal, and incoming Board President Jim Smith for their leadership and hard work. I'd also like to recognize the Board of Directors, staff, and members of the Chamber for their dedicated efforts to make Orange County, New York a better place to live, work and visit.
Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of Margaret Lois Pryor Queen. Born 86 years ago in Henderson County, North Carolina, Lois Queen was a tireless advocate throughout…
Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of Margaret Lois Pryor Queen. Born 86 years ago in Henderson County, North Carolina, Lois Queen was a tireless advocate throughout her life for children in western North Carolina.
In 1942, Lois Queen graduated from Western Carolina Teachers College as the first female majoring in physical education. Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, she worked as a schoolteacher and an elementary school principal in North Carolina and Fairfax County, Virginia. She earned a master's degree in education from American University in 1969, while serving as a school principal.
In 1972, Queen was instrumental in the creation of the Southwestern Child Development Commission, a nonprofit agency designed to coordinate and generate community resources to support high quality child care services, including developmental day care, in the westernmost seven counties of North Carolina. Queen became the director of the Southwestern Child Development Commission in 1972. The organization now has a staff of over 300, and serves more than 2,000 children per month.
In the 1980's, Lois Queen continued to advocate for children as the chair of the North Carolina Day Care Commission. Even during her retirement, she served on the boards of the Southwestern Child Development Commission and REACH of Haywood County.
Lois Queen leaves behind 5 children and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. I offer my sincere condolences to them. They are in my thoughts and prayers. I would also like to offer my gratitude to those who follow the legacy of Lois Queen, and work with the Southwestern Child Development Commission to advocate each day on behalf of the children of western North Carolina.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse at to the passing of Lois Queen. Her life was an example of service and advocacy for all of us to follow.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger…
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act through 2012, and in support of H.R. 465, the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act. These conservation funds have a tremendous impact on the survival of threatened species.
The ivory and bushmeat trades, as well as competition from humans for space and resources, continue to threaten the survival of the African Elephant. Rhinos and tigers similarly fall victim to these black market trades. In addition, deforestation and overworking have had devastating impacts on Asian Elephant populations. The grants awarded through the MSCF have proven to be effective in creating nature reserves, enhancing wildlife and ecosystem management, and developing antipoaching campaigns, helping to combat the practices that endanger these species the most.
As of January, the Department of Interior had approved 280 conservation grants in 23 African countries to assist African elephants, 321 grants for rhinos and tigers, and 171 grants for Asian elephants. By using $17 million in federal funding, the African elephant program has leveraged $72 million in private matching funds, and the rhino and tiger program has generated nearly $20 million in private funds to match its federally allocated $7.8 million. The Asian elephant program has been almost as successful, leveraging $10 million in private matching funds from $7.8 million in federal funding.
H.R. 50 and H.R. 465 would reauthorize the Multinational Species Conservation Fund to support three important international conservation laws and help to protect these animals on a federal level. I strongly urge their support.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Boulder City Fire Chief Dean Molburg and congratulate him upon his retirement. Chief Molburg dutifully served the city of Boulder City as a dedicated member and…
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Boulder City Fire Chief Dean Molburg and congratulate him upon his retirement. Chief Molburg dutifully served the city of Boulder City as a dedicated member and leader of the department for almost 17 years.
Chief Molburg and his wife of 31 years, Elizabeth have been residents of Boulder City for 25 years since moving to Nevada in 1982 from Illinois. Chief Molburg has been a member of the Boulder City Fire Department since 1985. Prior to his appointment as Fire Chief, he served as Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Boulder City. He earned a degree in Fire Service Management and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program.
During his tenure as Fire Chief, the department achieved numerous accomplishments and accolades under his direction and leadership. The increase in the level of emergency medical care with the implementation of a Paramedic Program is one of his most significant accomplishments. Chief Molburg also oversaw two building additions to the existing fire station, the purchase of two new fire engines, new ambulances and rescue units. Under the leadership of Chief Molburg, the Boulder City Fire Department achieved an ISO 2 rating, one of the few ISO 2 rated departments in the country.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Chief Molburg for his dedication and service to the City of Boulder City. He has served the citizens of Boulder City for so many years with dedication, vision, and valor. I am proud of his accomplishments with the Boulder City Fire Department and thank him for his service to his community. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Latest available legislative text
Full legislative text is easier to read from the official PDF on a phone-sized screen. You can still view the full bill text below if you prefer.
III
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 4
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 4, 2007
Mr. Reid (for himself and Mr. McConnell) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Notifying the President of the United States of the election of a President pro tempore.
That the President of the United States be notified of the election of the Honorable Robert C. Byrd as President of the Senate pro tempore.
