Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Leroy Hood, recipient of the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize from the National Academy of Engineering. The Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize is a prestigious engineering award which was established in 1999 in tribute to the contributions of esteemed engineer Fritz Russ and his wife Dolores Russ. The National Academy of Engineering presents this award every two years

to recognize the outstanding achievements made in bioengineering that significantly improve the human condition.

As co-founder of several biotechnology companies in the Puget Sound Region, Dr. Hood advanced research and methods in biology and developed new DNA technologies for biomedicine and forensic science. His groundbreaking work in automation of DNA sequencing earned him this biennium's Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize. Dr. Hood is a leading scientist in the fields of molecular biotechnology and genomics where his approach to biomedicine has been utilized internationally. He has received many of the foremost awards in his field including the 2004 Biotechnology Heritage Award for his significant contributions to biotechnology through discovery, innovation, commercialization, and increasing public understanding of biology.

A pioneer of techniques that initiated the Human Genome Project, Dr. Hood is admired for his scientific innovations, his entrepreneurship, and the quality and volume of his research. Having earned his M.D. at Johns Hopkins University, and his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Hood inspires young people to follow in his footsteps and study science.

The Seattle Community is exceedingly proud to be home to Dr. Leroy Hood and the Institute for Systems Biology, a pioneering research facility that is doing critical work at the very forefront of biological science.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives please join me in honoring Dr. Leroy Hood, recipient of the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize for his achievements in advancing genetic science.

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, February 11, 2011, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 32 (on the motion to recommit with instructions), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 33 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 72), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 34 (on approving the journal).

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, Monday, February 14, 2011, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 35 (on the motion to recommit with instructions), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 36 (on passage of H.R. 514), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 37 (on approving the journal).

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, Monday, January 24, 2011, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 17 (on ordering the previous question), and ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 18 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 43).

Mr. Speaker, yesterday morning, Thursday, January 6, 2011, I was unable to record my presence on the Floor of the House at the quorum call, rollcall No. 7, because I was unavoidably detained in a meeting related to my role on the House Armed Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, December 21 and Wednesday, December 22, 2010, I was unable to be present for recorded votes.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 657 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 1771); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 658 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6540); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 659 (on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 5116); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 660 (on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2142); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 661 (on the motion to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 2751); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 662 (on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3082); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 663 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6547); and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 664 (on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 847).

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to add my congratulations to our chairman, Ike Skelton, for his outstanding service to this Congress and more than anything for his outstanding service to our troops. Anyone who has worked with Ike, anyone who has worked on this committee, knows that that is always his first priority, the men and women who serve in our military, and they could not possibly have had a better advocate through his years on the Armed Services Committee. He will be missed.

Once again, he has done his job and done it well. Every year he has made sure that we get a defense authorization bill passed, and it has not always been easy. Certainly it was not easy this year. But he got it done, I should say with the able assistance of the ranking member, soon to be chairman, Buck McKeon. That is one thing we agree on in a bipartisan way: We get this bill done.

It is always important. It is especially important when we have troops in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq to get the authorizing bill done, to make sure that we give our troops and the militarily the support that it deserves.

Now, I will disagree on the process. It is wrong and just not factual to blame the House leadership for the process that we have today. We got our job done. We did it. We passed the bill. The Senate didn't act on it. The only alternative we had was to put this slimmed down bill up today or have no bill at all, which we all agree is not acceptable. If the Senate had acted, we would have had a much better bill. But as it is, we have a very good bill because of the hard work of both Republicans and the Democrats on the committee.

The one issue that I do want to mention, however, is the bone of contention here, and that is the issue of where terrorists can be held, tried, or dealt with. This bill prohibits them from being brought into the United States.

We are not going to be able to continually offshore bringing these terrorists to justice. There are legal problems that can come down on us and jeopardize our ability to deal with them in the way we need to if we continue to have this blocked. Nobody wants them here, but will we have find a way to deal with them.

I worry that the language in this bill restricts it in a way that could jeopardize our ability to properly deal with these folks that threaten us so greatly. I hope going forward we will figure out a reasonable resolution to that.

But, again, I congratulate Ike Skelton. Also on our side of the aisle, not just Mr. Skelton, but Mr. Spratt, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Snyder and Mr. Abercrombie, who left a little while ago. We lost a lot of folks off the top row of the Armed Services Committee. They have all served our country well, and they have my admiration and the admiration of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Camp Patriot and their tremendous service to veterans in the Greater Seattle Area and throughout the country.

Camp Patriot was founded in 2006 to help provide the 2.3 million disabled U.S. veterans with the opportunity to take outdoor trips. The nonprofit group organizes fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking, and motorcycling trips for our brave veterans. Camp Patriot enables disabled veterans the chance to develop relationships with other fellow veterans through outdoor adventures and team building exercises. The program works with outdoor organizations and financial sponsors that provide equipment, supplies, and clothing, and allow veterans to attend the camp free of cost.

Camp Patriot is a relatively new organization yet has done much in their outreach to veterans and their families. One major goal they are currently working toward is the construction of a lodge on Lake Koocanusa in Montana, which would accommodate 20 disabled veterans a week at no charge to the veterans.

Among Camp Patriot's major activities is the annual hike to the summit of Mount Rainier. The inaugural climb took place in July 2007. Most recently, the Camp Patriot team reached the 14,411-foot summit on July 14, 2010. Each year, before the climb, participants travel to Seattle to dine at Qwest Field and tour the stadium with the Seattle Seahawks. Participants also attend a week-long training sponsored by Iron90 Workplace Wellness. Iron90 prepares the veterans for the grueling hike up

the summit. Founder Micah Clark, a fellow veteran, often accompanies the hikers on the climb and sees first-hand the effect his organization can have on disabled veterans.

The Greater Seattle community has been very supportive of Camp Patriot's mission in the area. Joint Base Lewis-McChord volunteers moved to help put up tents and prepare food for the participants. They also participate in fishing and hunting trips, assisting Camp Patriot veterans on the way. Additionally, Washington State organizations have helped provide services and materials to help the nonprofit and its participating veterans.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives please join me in honoring Camp Patriot for their commitment to provide for disabled veterans who have given so much for our safety.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, and just want to make four quick arguments on that.

First of all to process. This policy was implemented 17 years ago. We have studied it and argued about it ever since, particularly in the last 4 years. Under Mrs. Davis' leadership, we have had hearings and discussions and reports. To argue that we are rushing this and haven't thought about it completely misses the point. Argue against the bill if you want, but don't hide behind process. We have studied this to death. It is time to act. That's number one.

Number two, gays and lesbians serve in the military right now. I doubt you could find a member of the military who doesn't know a gay or lesbian that they have served with, and yet somehow they have functioned and functioned quite well. This is not introducing a brand new concept.

And third, I want you to think about the basic issue that we should always consider in the Armed Services Committee: How do the policies we advance make us safer? How does it make it safer to drive out of the military thousands of people who are serving and serving our country well? It doesn't. It takes away experience, expertise, and talent at a time when we desperately need that.

And lastly, the 55 percent of the people in the survey did not offer no opinion. They offered the opinion that they did not think it would matter one way or the other to repeal that law. So that 55 percent very clearly has no problem with serving with gays and lesbians.

It is way past time to repeal this law, strengthen our military, and allow gays and lesbians to serve our country and serve it with the bravery that they have shown along with all others who have served in our military.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I rise in strong support of S. 2906, a bill introduced by Senator Cantwell that is the companion to H.R. 4401, which I introduced in the House last year.

S. 2906 amends the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act for the benefit of three federally recognized Tribes in the State of Washington: the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, which is in my district.

Specifically, this legislation amends the leasing act to allow the Puyallup Tribe and the Kalispel Tribe to enter into 99 year business leases. Currently, these Tribes are limited to 25 year business leases.

Additionally, S. 2906 eliminates the requirement that the Puyallup Tribe, the Kalispel Tribe, and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community seek the approval of the Secretary of the Interior for every business deal involving tribal lands.

Under S. 2906, the Tribes will adopt leasing regulations, to be approved by the Department of the Interior. Once the Department approves the Tribal regulations, the Department will be relieved of its obligations to approve the Tribes' leases of less than 75 years and the Tribe will then be required to follow its own leasing regulations for leases of its land. The Department will still retain the authority to review and approve leases of Tribal lands for more than 75 years.

This bill is tremendously important to the Puyallup Tribe in my district, as it will enable the Tribe to move forward with its plans to develop a marine terminal on its land in the Port of Tacoma.

The shipping terminal will be the largest economic development and job-creation project the Tribe has undertaken, and when fully constructed, will be the largest international container terminal facility in the Pacific Northwest. This project will provide tremendous benefits both to the Puyallup Tribe as well as the South Puget Sound economy.

Unfortunately, until now, the Tribe has found it difficult to engage and move forward with business partners in furthering the terminal project because of the burdensome and uncertain bureaucratic process of obtaining Interior approval for the deals.

Passage of S. 2906 will ensure that that the Tribe and its business partners will have certainty in moving forward with this and other business opportunities that will enhance the economy of the Puyallup Tribe and the Port of Tacoma, and will help to spur job creation in the South Puget Sound region.

I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for their help in advancing this legislation, and I ask for my colleagues' support for the passage of S. 2906.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Superior Court Judge James Orlando, whom the Washington State Association for Justice has honored as the 2010 Judge of the Year. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Judge Orlando for this commendable recognition.

Superior Court Judge James Orlando was honored as Judge of the Year at the Washington State Association for Justice's annual Law Day Dinner, which was held on May 6, 2010. The Washington State Association for Justice was originally formed in 1953 as the National Association of Claimants Compensation Attorneys and has since also been known as the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. The organization presents the annual award to a judge who promotes our civil justice system to serve the people through the exercise of outstanding judicial ruling and leadership.

Judge Orlando has been praised for his work to reduce the backlog of criminal and civil cases in Pierce County. He is also a respected figure among many of his colleagues. As a graduate of the University of Washington and of the University of Puget Sound School of Law, Judge Orlando began his service with the Pierce County Superior Court as a Commissioner in 1995. In September 2000, then-Governor Gary Locke appointed him as Judge of the Superior Court. Judge Orlando served as the court's Presiding Judge in 2003 and 2004.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Judge Orlando on his remarkable honor and his venerable service to his country and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Seattle Sounders Football Club for their successful season and their back-to-back U.S. Open Cup Championships.

The Seattle Sounders joined Major League Soccer as an expansion team and played their inaugural match on March 19, 2009. The Sounders have since been a successful team having sold out every league match and set Major League Soccer records for average attendance, leading the league in ticket sales. The Seattle Sounders have also made the record books by winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for a second consecutive time, being the first Major League Soccer team and the first team in 27 years to repeat as champions. The Seattle Sounders finished the regular 2010 season with 14 wins and has lost fewer matches in their first two seasons than any club in the league's 15-year existence. A

record crowd of 31,311 filled Qwest Field to witness the Seattle Sounders 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew to win the 2010 Open Cup for the second consecutive time on October 5, 2010.

The Sounders have won the hearts of the Greater Seattle Community through their dedication and passion for the game. The players have been great role models for our community. In their ongoing commitment to the community and fans, minority owner Drew Carey established The Alliance, which is the Seattle Sounders Football Club Members Association. The Alliance is the only United States professional sports members association that allows its fans to vote on the direction and decisions of the team. The Alliance establishes true Democracy in sports.

The Seattle Sounders Football Club earned their championship through hard work, commitment, and support. Coach Sigi Schmid, who now leads Major League Soccer in career victories, leads the team of 28. Team members include Osvaldo Alonso, Terry Boss, David Estrada, Brad Evans, Alvaro Fernandez, Michael Fucito, Leo Gonzalez, Taylor Graham, Alex Horwath, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Nate Jaqua, Kasey Keller, Roger Levesque, Tyrone Marshall, Miguel Montano, Fredy Montero, Blaise Nkufo, Pat Noonan, Sanna Nyassi, Jeff Parke, James Riley, Zach Scott, Mike Seamon, Peter Vagenas, Tyson Wahl, O'Brian White, and Steve Zakuani.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Seattle Sounders Football Club for their successful season and their second consecutive U.S. Open Cup Championship.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza in Tacoma, Washington, for receiving the National Restaurant Association's 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award.

The National Restaurant Association is a nonprofit organization that represents thousands of restaurants across the nation. The Restaurant Neighbor Award was created through a collaboration with the National Restaurant Association and American Express to celebrate the philanthropic spirit of the restaurant industry, to raise awareness about the restaurant industry's contributions to local communities across the country, and to inspire other restaurant operators and owners to make even greater contributions to their communities.

Established in 1995, Farrelli's has grown to five Washington State pizzerias and the Irish-Inspired McNamara's Pub & Eatery. Located near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Farrelli's has become a staple among soldiers and their families. Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza gives back to our troops by sending signs, uniforms, and other Farrelli's memorabilia to soldiers stationed in Iraq, allowing them to transform their overseas break area into a satellite Farrelli's of their own. The restaurant also offers their Washington-based soldiers weekly discounts, farewell events, and welcome back parties.

Farrelli's customers also have a hand in community involvement by voting on which cause the restaurant should take up next. Recently, Farrelli's created a campaign to fight diabetes by joining the Dining for Diabetes fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and incorporated a wholegrain pizza to their menu named after Elliott, a regular customer who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and who was in search of a healthier dining option. The restaurant has also raised more than $150,000 for organizations such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the local Boys and Girls Club.

The National Restaurant Association recognized Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza in Tacoma with the 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award in the mid-size business category. Farrelli's owner Jacque Farrell was flown to Washington, DC, to receive the award and a $5,000 donation during a National Restaurant Association ceremony held in September 2010.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza for receiving the 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Steve Bradway and Dr. Susan Hagel Bradway of Trillium Dental Specialties on winning the 2010 Pierce County Health Care Champions Community Impact Award.

On May 25, 2010, the Health Care Champions program, which is a partnership between the Business Examiner and the Pierce County Medical Society, presented Trillium Dental Specialties with the 2010 Community Impact Award. The annual award recognizes a practice group whose involvement or innovation in health care has served a broad section of the community. Doctors Steve and Susan Bradway of Trillium Dental Specialties have earned this award by showing great dedication to their community, exceptional service, and professionalism in medical practice. The Bradways were presented this honor at the Pierce County Health Care Champions annual awards ceremony held at the Tacoma Museum of Glass in downtown Tacoma, Washington.

The Bradways have proven to be strong advocates for preventative dental care primarily among young children in low-income families. The doctors of Trillium Dental Specialties have not only provided quality dental care to more than 22,000 Tacoma area children on Medicaid, they have also established educational programs for families, provided speech therapy to children, and instructed families on how best to maintain dental health in the home.

The Health Care Champions also recognize the Bradways' successful philanthropic efforts in expanding dental care to low-income families in the Greater Pierce County region. Through their $10,000 donation, the Bradways provided the seed money needed to establish Pierce County's Access to Baby and Child Dentistry Program, which is a nonprofit program dedicated to providing dental care to low-income and Medicaid eligible families. The program has since certified 92 dentists and offers care to underserved communities. Through the nonprofit, the Bradways have successfully allowed dentists to help thousands more children who would otherwise not have a dental health home.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Trillium Dental Specialties on receiving the Pierce County Health Care Champions 2010 Impact Award. The Healthcare Champions program was created to honor dedication, professionalism, and philanthropy in the field of health care and Trillium Dental Specialties has exemplified that goal. The region is truly grateful for their work, and Doctors Steve and Susan Bradway are inspirational models to health care providers everywhere.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ike Skelton, the Congressman who has been serving the Fourth District in the State of Missouri since 1976. I have had the great honor of working with Mr. Skelton on the Armed Services Committee for my 14 years in Congress, and he will be leaving this body at the end of this year. And I think Ike simply embodies the best of Congress and the best of this country.

I remember I was traveling with him one time overseas to visit our troops, as he did relentlessly. And he was talking with someone from a foreign country about what the highest compliment was in America. And the highest compliment in America is, ``You know, he's a good guy.'' And when you think of Ike Skelton, that is the absolute least you think of him. He is absolutely a good guy to so many people.

When most of us get into Congress in the first place, it is a very, very confusing place. Thousands of issues come at you from thousands of directions. And the first thing I noticed about Ike is he always took the time, with every single one of us who came to his Armed Services Committee, to work with us and help us understand the process.

In part, he did that because that's just the kind of person he is. He cares about other people to a degree that is fairly well unprecedented. He takes care of other people and cares about them. But also he cares about the military, and he cares about the Armed Services Committee. He wants to make sure that Members understand how important service on that committee is, and he's worked with all of us.

He has done a fabulous job, certainly, representing the Fourth District of the State of Missouri, but more than that, he has done a fabulous job of representing our troops.

When Ike Skelton talks about this body, that is the first thing that he talks about--our obligation as Members of Congress to make sure that we take care of the men and women who serve in our military and their families. I can honestly say there are a lot of Members of Congress who place that as a high priority. I don't think there is a single Member of Congress who places that as high a priority as Ike Skelton does.

He has cared for our troops from the time he got into Congress, and has been responsible for many, many pieces of legislation, and has made sure they've been taken care of.

More than that, Ike was a mentor and a friend to me, personally. I've served on the committee with him since I got elected to Congress. He always took the time to work with me on issues, to educate me, and also to look after my interests in my district as well. He understood that, as much as he was standing up for the State of Missouri and the Fourth District, his country came first. And the entire country was his priority. And he did a great job for us on that committee.

It is with great sadness that he will be leaving this body, but I know that Ike will continue to be a very, very productive member of our society. The knowledge that he has of our armed services and the knowledge that he has of what is best for our troops will continue to serve this country for a long time to come.

It was a great honor to serve with him, and I am certain he will continue to serve our country in many capacities in a way that makes it better, because that's the kind of guy he is. He cares about other people. He cares about this country. More than anything, he cares about the troops who serve this country, and he will always be a tireless advocate for them.