Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a northern Michigan citizen who has been an exemplary leader in business, in his community and in his State. Larry Inman will celebrate his retirement this week after twenty-eight years of service to the Huntington National Bank (formerly Empire National Bank).

Mr. Inman is a northern Michigan original. He obtained his education and spent nearly his entire career in northern Michigan. He earned an Associate of Science degree from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City before graduating from Northern Michigan University in Marquette in 1976. Mr. Inman had a brief internship in the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division before he began his career with the Empire National Bank as a loan adjuster in 1979.

Mr. Inman's career at Huntington National Bank has been characterized by loyalty and dedication. His hard work and tenacity were often recognized and rewarded at Huntington National Bank. During his twenty- eight years there, he was promoted nine times, ultimately landing the position of Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer--Sales Executive Senior.

While Mr. Inman has been a tireless employee for Huntington National Bank, what is most remarkable is how he always took time to be an active member of his local community. In fact, given his track record of success at Huntington National Bank and the amount of time he dedicated to his professional career, it is truly astounding the number of community organizations that he has supported, belonged to or helped to lead. Larry has involved himself in community fundraisers for the local Junior Achievement and the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA. He spent time as a Volunteer Probation Officer for Michigan's 86th District Court. Maintaining his ties to his alma mater, he served on Northwestern Michigan College's Curriculum Advisory Committee.

Mr. Inman also applied his knowledge and professional experience toward the growth and development of the Grand Traverse County area, serving on the Grand Traverse County Economic Development Corporation, the Waste Council, the Northwestern Regional Airport Commission and the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission.

Perhaps most important to the region's planning and development, Mr. Inman was elected in 1993 to the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners and has been successively re-elected every two years.

Beyond the organizations that helped guide the region's economic growth and development, Mr. Inman was active with a number of organizations that assist those in the Grand Traverse community who need the most help. For instance, he spent time on the Funds Distribution Board of the United Way of Northern Michigan and the Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs Board.

Beyond his service to the local Grand Traverse region, Mr. Imnan also served the State of Michigan in a variety of capacities. The Governor appointed him to serve on the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University. Since 1998, he has represented a ten-county region on the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. He serves today on the State of Michigan Community Corrections Board and chaired the Corrections Board from 1999 to 2006.

Given the amount of time that Mr. Inman has dedicated to serving his state and his local community, it is no wonder that his colleagues have, at times, jokingly referred to him as ``Larry Never In Man.'' Yet, despite the demands that community involvement places upon his time, Mr. Inman has led a highly successful career at Huntington National Bank. Some might speculate that his success can be attributed to his effervescent attitude. He is known around the office for responding to the question, ``How are you?'' with his trademark response, ``Simply the best!''

With Larry's well deserved retirement, perhaps he will have more time to indulge his passions of attending Martina McBride concerts and collecting country music memorabilia. However, even while he enjoys these hobbies, I know Mr. Inman will remain an active part of the Grand Traverse Community.

Madam Speaker, all of us struggle to balance our professional lives with involvement in our local communities. As a leader in local business, in his community and in the State of Michigan, Larry Inman exemplifies that balance.

Madam Speaker, I first met Larry Inman when I attended Northwestern Michigan College from 1970-1972. Larry and I, along with Tom Willson, were studying law enforcement, young ladies and the latest night spots. We became good friends in college and better friends in business and politics. I regret that I cannot personally attend his retirement party as my Congressional responsibilities are keeping me in Washington, D.C. Larry knows I am with him in spirit, in friendship and in my heart, because you really do not have that many good friends like Larry Inman!

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in saluting Mr. Larry Inman for his years of dedication and in congratulating him on a well deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, this week the House is conducting the most important debate of this Congress, whether Members will support the President's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. I oppose the President's plan, and during this debate I am hoping that those who support the escalation of the war can answer a couple of questions.

First, if the President is allowed to move forward, how do we guarantee these troops have the protective armor they need? Earlier this month we learned that troop escalation would create logistical hurdles for both the Army and Marines, which are already short thousands of vehicles and armor kits. Members who support the President's plan need to explain how do we provide the troops the equipment they need.

Members who support the plan also need to explain where do we come up with the additional troops that will be needed to support 21,500 combat troops. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates as many as 48,000 troops may be required to implement the plan.

Mr. Speaker, these are questions that supporters of escalating the war in Iraq should ask before they vote to escalate the war in Iraq.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an educator who spent nineteen years working in public schools, including those in my hometown, Menominee, Michigan. This weekend, Mr. James (Jim) Hodge will celebrate his retirement from a career of community commitment. I would like to commend him for his years of service to Menominee public schools and his long standing involvement in the Menominee community.

Jim is a native son of the Upper Peninsula or a ``Yooper'' as we refer to them in our part of the country. Like many Yoopers before him, he worked for some time for the U.S. Forest Service in Ottawa National Forest outside of Ironwood, Michigan. Also like many Yoopers before him, he spent time as a laborer at the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Mine. Jim attended one of the U.P.'s great educational institutions, Northern Michigan University in Marquette, before moving on to the University of Michigan.

Jim's appreciation for the importance of education in a community was fostered early when, through the Mott Foundation, he worked as an Administrative Intern in Flint Public Community Schools. One might say that program was his introduction to the field of education.

Jim returned to the U.P. in 1968 where he began a nineteen year stint in Menominee public schools. His first job in Menominee public schools was Community School Director and, for the next six years, Jim would hold a range of responsibilities in the school system, such as Athletic Director, Department Head of the Physical Education Department and City Recreation Director. During this six year period, Jim was also Principal of the Menominee Area Public Schools.

In 1976, Jim was promoted to Administrative Assistant to the Menominee Area Public Schools Superintendent. In this role, Jim performed a range of duties, supervising a variety of operational aspects of the Menominee school system. In 1985, Jim became Superintendent of Menominee Area Public Schools, a crowning achievement on a lengthy career with the Menominee educational system.

During his tenure in the Menominee public school system, Jim was honored with several awards, including the Jaycee Young Educator of the Year award; the U.P. Community Education Association's Outstanding Educator Award and Lifetime Member Award; and the Menominee Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award.

In 1987, Jim left the Menominee school system, but he did not leave behind his involvement in the community. In 1988, Jim joined State Farm Insurance, establishing his own local business and providing insurance to many of the same people he had served for so many years as a school administrator. Working for State Farm, Jim earned numerous awards with the help of two faithful employees, Jane Yager and Mary Tickler.

Throughout his career, in both the private sector and public education, Jim has remained an active member of his community on many other levels. He served as President of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Council and spent two terms as President of Big Brothers/Big Sister of Menominee. Jim was also a Trustee of the Greater Menominee & Marinette YMCA Board of Directors.

While Jim has enjoyed an active and successful career, he has always set aside time for family. He married Greta Theuerkauf in Menominee in 1970. Together, Jim and Greta raised three children, Wade, Tiffany, and Tarra.

Now that Jim has entered a well-deserved retirement, he will undoubtedly have more time to spend with Greta and his children. Hopefully, he will also be able to further indulge in his life long hobbies of skiing, camping and other outdoor activities, perhaps with his loyal dog and best friend, Reggie, at his side.

Madam Speaker, my father was a public school administrator. Therefore, I am well acquainted with the dedication, commitment and time required for an individual to succeed in that field. Those who choose to pursue a career in public education do so less for personal gain and more to playa constructive role in their community. Jim Hodge clearly fits that description, having dedicated nearly two decades to Menominee's public school system.

As Mr. Hodge and the Menominee community celebrate his career and honor his retirement, I ask that the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in thanking him for his service and in wishing him, Greta, their children, and their newest grand child all the best for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of my constituents who has dedicated more than thirty years of his life to serving our justice system, Marquette County and the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The Honorable Michael Anderegg began his service to the Upper Peninsula in 1972 as a Staff Attorney for Upper Peninsula Legal Services. After a two-year stint with Upper Peninsula Legal Services, Judge Anderegg went on to become Assistant Prosecutor and Chief Assistant Prosecutor of Marquette County. In seeking his first elected office, Michael Anderegg was chosen as Marquette County Probate Judge in 1977.

Twenty years later, Michigan eliminated the Probate Court and Judge Anderegg became the Presiding Judge of the Family Division of the Marquette County Circuit Court. Judge Anderegg has become a national leader in developing new approaches to the closely linked problems of substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and repeat offenders.

In Marquette, Judge Anderegg has been one of the driving forces behind Reclaiming Futures Project WEAVE. WEAVE stands for Willingness to Explore Approaches that Validate and Embrace youth. Reclaiming Futures Project WEAVE is a unique program that is working in Marquette to improve the quality of alcohol and drug treatment services available to youth who are in the justice system. Reclaiming Futures Project WEAVE's cross-disciplinary approach pulls together varied partners from recovery and treatment centers, the Marquette Area Public Schools, law enforcement, the juvenile justice system and other cornerstones of the Marquette community to assist youthful offenders to become a contributing adult in our society. Together, through Project WEAVE, these institutions identify, assist, encourage and reclaim children struggling at home, in schools and in our communities.

Reclaiming Futures Project WEAVE's successes have become a model for other juvenile delinquency systems around the country. As Judge Anderegg and the Project WEAVE staff joke: ``What happens in Alaska stays in Alaska and what happens in San Antonio stays in San Antonio, but what happens in Marquette is disseminated across the nation!''

The Michigan legal community, indeed legal professionals across the country, have benefited immensely from Judge Anderegg's sharp intellect, vast knowledge and wealth of experience. A graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Judge Anderegg has served on Michigan Supreme Court Committees on: Juvenile Court Rules; Family Division Rules; and the Probate Court Academic Advisory Benchbook. He has lectured extensively, addressing the Michigan Supreme Court's Michigan Judicial Institute; the Federal Bar Association's Indian Law Section; and the Colorado Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention Council, to name only a few of the prominent organizations that have benefited from his insights. In 2001, he received the President's Award for meritorious service as a trustee of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Judge Anderegg spends a great deal of personal time traveling across the country in order to share his insights. The Project WEAVE staff estimate that he has easily traveled 150,000 miles in his quest to learn more, share more and improve America's juvenile justice system.

In many pursuits and professions it is often easy to accept the status quo and to resist new thinking. It is rare to find individuals who constantly challenge pre-conceived notions and basic assumptions in order to perfect more effective solutions to long standing problems. An outspoken advocate for bold, new approaches to solving juvenile delinquency, Judge Michael Anderegg is one of those rare individuals who embraces change.

Madam Speaker, Judge Anderegg has accomplished much in his thirty years of service. His parents, Robert and Anita were proud that he was elected a judge at the relatively young age of thirty. During his early years on the

bench, his parents were known to refer to him as ``boy judge.'' Clearly, Madam Speaker, Robert and Anita's ``boy judge'' has come a long way and his parents have given Marquette County, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and, indeed, the nation, a judge who is a national leader in reclaiming young lives.

As Judge Anderegg himself has noted, ``The money we spend now on locating and providing the best possible treatment is money we will not need to spend later on prosecuting and incarcerating adult criminals. The financial and social costs of substance abuse are enormous, but they are avoidable.'' No truer words have ever been spoken.

This weekend, the people of Marquette come together to honor Judge Michael Anderegg. During this momentous occasion, I would ask the entire U.S. House of Representatives to join me in saluting Judge Michael Anderegg and in wishing him, his wife, Cheryl, and their children all the best for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a constituent of mine who has spent the last 50 years serving his community in a local business with deep community roots. W.W. ``Frenchie'' LaJoie began working for Central Savings Bank in 1957 as a teller. Since then, Mr. LaJoie has held just about every position at the bank except for cashier. Today, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Savings Bank, he continues to serve the community as an extraordinary banker and community leader. Like Frenchie, the Central Savings Bank is the oldest independent bank in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

Over the course of this remarkable tenure, Mr. LaJoie has always continued to put his community first, consistently working to see the Sault Ste. Marie (Soo) area grow and thrive economically.

Mr. LaJoie was raised in Barbeau, Michigan, graduating from Pickford High School. It was there that he first received the nickname ``Frenchie,'' which has stuck with him for over five decades. As he puts it, even his teachers never knew his real name.

After attending Lake Superior State University, Mr. LaJoie played a couple of years of professional baseball as a catcher for the Graceville Oilers in the Florida State League.

Leaving baseball behind, Mr. LaJoie returned to the Soo where he began his tenure at Central Savings Bank. Starting as a teller in the then tiny bank, he quickly moved into the collections department, where he would rewrite loans for customers that were experiencing difficulty paying off their loans. Frenchie was then transferred to the loan department.

Mr. LaJoie was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1985 and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in January of 1994. To learn more about banking, Mr. LaJoie went back to college and graduated from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Banking and the University of Chicago National Installment Credit School.

Under Mr. LaJoie's leadership, Central Savings Bank achieved a number of important banking milestones as it grew and expanded with new branch offices in De Tour, Kinross, Pickford, Rudyard, Cedarville, St. Ignace and Mackinac Island. Mr. LaJoie was recognized by his peers and served a 3-year term as a Director of the Federal Reserve Board.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. LaJoie should be commended for his many achievements on behalf of his community. In 2002, LaJoie was named the Elks Lodge #552 Citizen of the Year. In April of 2004, he was appointed to the Lake Superior State University Board of Trustees.

His previous charity involvements include chairing the United Way Campaign, the Department of Social Service and the boards of Le Sault de Sainte Marie Historical Sites and Kiwanis Club. He also was a member of the finance Committee for the Sault Ste. Marie Country Club. Mr. LaJoie has twice chaired Group One of the Michigan Bankers Association. He has also served on the Executive Committee and Legislative Committee for the Michigan Bankers Association. He is currently a Director on the Board for the Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital.

Madam Speaker, Mr. LaJoie's personal and professional record demonstrates how business can be not only profitable, but also strengthen and assist their community. In rural communities, having a local bank with truly local roots in the community can be essential

to the well being of all citizens. Mr. LaJoie has always strived to make Central Savings Bank responsive not only to the pressures and demands of the market, but also the needs of the local community. For these reasons, I ask you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives to join me in saluting Mr. ``Frenchie'' LaJoie for his 50 years of service and in wishing him all the best as he continues to serve the people of Chippewa County, Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, for too long Big Oil has benefited from weak royalty laws, huge tax breaks, and subsidies. Last year, the five biggest oil companies' profits were $97 billion, nearly five times their profit in 2002. These record profits were bolstered by excessive tax breaks, generous subsidies, and being allowed to drill on public land without reimbursing taxpayers.

In the meantime, Americans are being taken at the gas pump as gas prices rose to over $3 per gallon last summer. Rather than helping oil companies' bottom lines, these tax breaks and special subsidies will be reallocated in H.R. 6 to promote and develop clean and renewable energy to end our Nation's addiction to oil.

Under prior Republican leadership, the oil industry enjoyed years of record profits with minimal oversight, resulting in price manipulation and record gas prices. The American people have chosen a new direction, and under Democratic leadership we will end the tax breaks and the subsidies to Big Oil.

America will begin to end our addiction to foreign oil, improve our environment, and promote our economic and national security through clean and renewable energy. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6.

Mr. Speaker, during the past 4 years big oil companies have seen their profits quadruple, while gas prices doubled and America continues to depend on foreign oil to operate our cars and our economy.

Yet, the Republican Congress did not think this was enough. They chose to give Big Oil billions in tax breaks and outrageous royalty incentives, instead of working to protect consumers and promote alternative energy.

Today we are sending $800 million per day to the Middle East and other oil producing countries. America now has record high dependence on foreign oil, and the need is growing.

Mr. Speaker, Congress must support consumers instead of Big Oil. Democrats have put forth a bill to increase our investment in renewable energy and put our Nation on a path to energy independence. The first step is to repeal the billions of dollars in subsidies given to Big Oil so that America can instead invest that money in clean and renewable energy sources.

Beginning the process of curbing our addiction to foreign oil is one of the main priorities of the Democratic Congress during the first 100 hours. I hope Democrats and Republicans will come together and pass this commonsense legislation that will promote our national and economic security.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize January as Birth Defects Prevention and the week of January 8th through January 14th as Folic Acid Awareness Week. As the co-chair of the Congressional Spina Bifida Caucus, I have a long-standing commitment to reducing and preventing suffering from Spina Bifida, the nation's most common, permanently disabling birth defect, and helping to reduce future cases of Spina Bifida through increasing awareness of the need for women of child-bearing age to consume folic acid. More than 70,000 individuals in the United States are affected by Spina Bifida--a serious and life- long condition which occurs when the spinal cord fails to close properly during the early stages of pregnancy. Spina Bifida affects virtually all organ systems and results in myriad health, developmental, psychosocial, educational, and vocational challenges and complications.

Research indicates that consumption of the B vitamin, folic acid, before and during early pregnancy can lower the rate of Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects by up to 70 percent. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for all women of childbearing age. Most over-the-counter daily multi-vitamins have this amount of folic acid. It is recommended that women take multivitamins and consume fortified grains as part of a healthy diet.

Despite this startling impact of folic acid on public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that too many women of child-bearing age still do not consume adequate levels of folic acid. Of particular concern is that statistics show higher prevalence of Latinas in the United States delivering babies with Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects, serious birth defects of the brain and the spine, than non-Hispanic white women. CDC reports that Latinos in the United States consume the least amount of folic acid and have the least knowledge about folic acid among racial or ethnic groups in this country. More must be done to increase consumption of folic acid among all women, particularly Latino populations, so we can continue to decrease the number of pregnancies affected by Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects.

The National Spina Bifida Program at the CDC provides information and initiatives to empower individuals, families, and health care providers with the resources they need to boost folic acid consumption and prevent secondary effects and complications of Spina Bifida. I commend the CDC for its important work and encourage the agency to expand its Spina Bifida quality of life initiatives and its folic acid awareness campaigns. While much has been accomplished by the National Spina Bifida Program thus far, there remains an unmet need due to limited resources. Increased funding would help ensure that the program has the resources necessary to support and expand folic acid education and awareness and quality-of-life efforts. I thank my colleagues for their support of the National Spina Bifida Program in past years and look forward to continuing to support this program so it can sustain and expand its scope of work.

Also, through my co-chairmanship, it has brought to my attention that not all corn products in the United States are enriched with folic acid. Public health officials believe that much of the Hispanic/Latino Spina Bifida health disparity is due to the fact that a significant proportion of the food consumed by Hispanic/Latino women of child- bearing age is imported corn-based products that are not enriched with folic acid. As such, I encourage all producers of corn products to enrich their foods with folic acid.

I encourage all women of child-bearing age to follow the CDC recommendations and take a daily multi-vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. The message of folic acid consumption must be disseminated not only this week and this month--but throughout the year--so that our goal of reducing and preventing suffering from Spina Bifida can be achieved.

I also would like to take this opportunity to commend the Spina Bifida Association for its work to support individuals and families affected by Spina Bifida and to increase awareness of the importance of folic acid consumption.

Finally, Madam Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to help spread the word about the importance of folic acid consumption, and I would be happy to provide any interested Members with information to share with their constituents. Also, I ask that my fellow colleagues join me and my co-chair, Congressman Chris Smith, in the Congressional Spina Bifida Caucus. I thank my colleagues for their attention to this important public health issue and again am pleased to recognize January as Birth Defects Prevention Month and this week, January 8th through January 14th, as Folic Acid Awareness Week.

Mr. Speaker, today Democrats are keeping another promise to the American people as we bring H.R. 4, the Bipartisan Prescription Drug Negotiation authority to the floor.

While Members may not agree on how best to address the health care needs of America, one thing is certain: the United States has the highest drug prices in the world, and those prices keep going up. Today's legislation is a first good step to help lower the costs of prescription drugs for Americans. We can, and Democrats will, do more to lower the cost of prescription drugs in this country.

In America, everyone pays something different for their prescription drugs. If you have private insurance, your health plan negotiates lower drug prices for you. If you are covered by Medicaid, each State Medicaid program determines its own drug acquisition costs, and your State may negotiate additional rebates or discounts from drug manufacturers to further lower the price. If you are a veteran receiving health care at the VA, the Federal Government negotiates drug prices for you.

According to a recent Families USA study, the lowest price charged by the largest part D Medicare insurers for prescription drugs is at least 58 percent higher than the price under the system used by the Veterans' Administration.

It makes no sense for one Federal program to use its purchasing power to leverage lower prices, while another Federal program, Medicare, is forbidden by law, Republican law, from acting on behalf of its beneficiaries. The result is windfall profits to the drug companies.

The current Medicare prescription drug law prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from conducting low cost-reducing negotiations. Today the House will repeal that provision.

I urge the Members to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4, as it is a good step, the first step in lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

This debate is really one of the most fundamental, important debates this body can undertake. Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker: I support stem cell research using adult stem cells, cord blood, and amniotic stem cells. I do not, however, support destroying life in the name of research.

H.R. 3 fails to address the most basic essential ethical question of when does life begin and when should life, including human embryos, be open to experimentation and scientific research.

As elected representatives, we have been cloaked with America's legislative responsibility. With this responsibility we are entrusted to determine the ethical and moral bounds of scientific research and to determine what value America places on human life. I believe our work today must reflect America's belief that all life has value, from the human embryo to those in the twilight of their life. We must not legislate shortcuts for one life over another.

Embryonic stem cell research requires the killing of human embryos, which if left to grow would become children. Where do we as a Nation draw the ethical and moral line on scientific research as to when life begins, and at which stage of human life are we willing to sacrifice one life to promote the life of another?

The good intentions of the proponents of H.R. 3 do not answer these questions. The proponents do not allow us, as America's elected representatives, to draw the ethical and moral line for human life. Under H.R. 3, when do embryos become human life? After 40 hours? After 2 days or 14 days?

H.R. 3 leaves the research guidelines to an administration official. As elected leaders, we should not entrust an unnamed individual to set America's guidelines on the value of human life. Mr. Speaker, I believe that human embryos, as life, should be treated and valued with the same respect as you and me.

While the promise of embryonic stem cells is still questionable, adult stem cells are being used today to save lives. Recognizing this, the National Institutes of Health spent $568 million in fiscal year 2006 on adult stem cell research.

Adult stem cells are being used today in clinical trials and in clinical practice to treat 72 diseases and injuries. As science learns more about the building blocks of life, researchers announced this week that stem cells found in the placenta and the amniotic fluid hold the key stem cells for research. These stem cells can be obtained while protecting life. This research offers science the ability to provide hope to those who suffer from disabling injuries and diseases while protecting all human life.

Let me be clear: I am committed to funding ethical scientific research that will unlock the origins of diseases and develop cures that can help my constituents. We cannot, however, let science leapfrog our ethics. I urge Members to protect life at all stages and vote ``no'' on H.R. 3.

Mr. Speaker, this debate on H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, is really one of the most fundamental, important debates that this body can undertake.

Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker, I support stem cell research using adults stem cells, cord blood, and amniotic stem cells. I do not, however, support destroying life in the name of research.

H.R. 3 fails to address the most basic, essential, ethical question of when does life begin? And when should life, including human embryos, be open to experimentation and scientific research?

As elected representatives of the people, we have been cloaked with America's legislative responsibility. With this responsibility, we are entrusted to determine the ethical and moral boundaries of scientific research and to determine what value America places on human life?

I believe our work today must reflect America's belief that all life has value from the human embryo to those in the twilight of their life. We must not legislate ``short cuts'' for one life over another, which this legislation does. Embryonic stem cell research which requires the killing of human embryos, which if left to grow would become children.

Where do we, as a nation draw the ethical and moral line on scientific research as to when life begins? And at which stage of human life are we willing to sacrifice one life to promote the life of another?

The good intentions of the proponents of H.R. 3 do not answer these questions. The proponents do not allow us, as America's elected representatives, to draw the ethical and moral line for human life.

Under H.R. 3, when do embryos become human life? After 40 hours? After 2 days? H.R. 3 is silent on when embryos become human life--it doesn't specify how long these embryos are allowed to grow before they are killed--2 days, 5 days, 14 days, or more!

Proponents of H.R. 3 will claim that this legislation will leave the research guidelines to an unelected and unnamed administration official within 60 days. A bureaucrat will set the guidelines, for scientific research and experimentation on human life!

As elected leaders we should not entrust an unnamed individual to set America's guidelines on the value of human life.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that human embryos, as life, should be treated and valued with the same respect, as you and me.

While the promise of embryonic stem cells is still questionable, adult stem cells are being used today to save lives. Recognizing this, the National Institutes of Health spent $568 million in Fiscal Year 2006 on adult stem cell research.

Adult stem cells are being used today in clinical trials and in clinical practice to treat 72 diseases including, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, Juvenile Diabetes, brain cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, heart damage, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, stroke, and sickle cell anemia.

As science learns more about the building blocks of life, researchers announced this week that stem cells in human amniotic fluid hold the key stem cells for research. These stem cells can be obtained while protecting human life.

These stem cells are found in the placenta and the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. These stem cells hold the same promise as embryonic stem cells, including an ability to grow into brain, bone, muscle and other tissues that could be used to treat a variety of diseases. This research offers science the ability to provide hope for those who suffer from disabling injuries and diseases while protecting all human life.

Let me be clear, I am committed to funding ethical scientific research that will unlock the origins of diseases and develop cures that can help my constituents.

We cannot, however, let science leap-frog our ethics, our morals, and our responsibility to protect human life at every stage of development. I urge Members to protect human life at each stage of development. Vote ``No'' on H.R. 3.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the new Democratic Congress which will finally address high energy prices.

Many Americans have a hard time understanding what often seems like arbitrary reasons for fluctuations in gas prices. As the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I look forward to bringing transparency to the oil and gas markets to clarify their effect on gas prices.

A recent example of confusing market behavior was in September and October of 2006, just before the November elections. Gas prices dropped an average of 60 cents per gallon. This 60-cent drop in gas prices occurred despite the fact that there were pipeline disruptions in Alaska and indications that OPEC would cut oil production.

While gas prices dropped 60 cents a gallon in September and October, crude prices only dropped 10 cents. For years, the American Petroleum Institute, API, the oil companies' main lobbying group, spent millions of dollars on public relations campaigns convincing the

American people that big oil companies are victims of international crude oil prices and have little to say in the final price of gasoline.

API insists a price of a gallon of gas is directly related to the price of a barrel of crude oil. Yet before the election we have a 60- cent per gallon drop in gas prices and only a 10 percent drop in the price of crude.

Consumer advocates have accused oil companies of purposely reducing gas prices in the months before the election to help Republican candidates. Earlier this month, National Public Radio featured a representative from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights who argued oil companies intentionally reduced the price of gas to influence the November elections.

After the elections, gas prices have increased an average of 15 cents a gallon. Oil companies were able to significantly reduce the price of gas in September-October, then increase the price right after the election, without a corresponding change in the price of crude oil.

This is not the first time oil companies have been accused of manipulating gas prices. Internal memos from several oil companies written in the 1990s have revealed that big oil companies limit refinery capacity in the United States to control the supply, cost, and price of gasoline.

After Hurricane Katrina, the government found that refiners, wholesalers, and retailers charged significantly higher prices that were not the result of either increased costs or market trends. However, because there is no Federal energy price-gouging law in place, the Federal Trade Commission cannot even prosecute this price-gouging practice.

For too long, oil companies have benefited from tax breaks, government subsidies, and lack of oversight. At the same time, oil companies have made record profits at the expense of the American people. Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider legislation to end the tax breaks and special subsidies for Big Oil.

Rather than helping the oil companies' bottom line, these tax breaks and subsidies will be reallocated to promote alternative energy sources to end our Nation's addiction to oil.

Later this year, I look forward to having an open and honest debate on my legislation to create a Federal law against price gouging for gasoline, natural gas, propane, and other fuel. I will continue to work towards greater oversight for oil and gas trading, especially off- market trades, known as OTC trades.

I will be reintroducing my legislation, the Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices Act, to improve oversight of oil trades and strengthen penalties for traders who attempt to illegally manipulate these markets.

Under the Republican leadership, the oil companies enjoyed record profits while Americans suffered with record high gas prices, minimal oversight, and price manipulation. The American people have now chosen a new direction, electing Democrat majorities in both the House and the Senate.

I look forward to being able to address high energy prices, to stop price gouging, market manipulation, and to stand up for the American consumer.

Mr. Speaker, in its final report, the 9/11 Commission concluded, and I quote:

``The inability to communicate was a critical element of the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Somerset County, Pennsylvania, crash sites where multiple agencies and multiple jurisdictions responded. The occurrence of this problem at three very different sites is strong evidence that compatible and adequate communications among public safety organizations at the local, State and Federal levels remains an important problem. Federal funding of such interagency communication units should be given high priority.''

The lack of interoperability among first responders has plagued our Nation for too long. Today Congress is taking an important step to give our first responders the tools they need to do their jobs and keep our Nation safe.

The fact is that, since September 11, the Republican administration and Congress failed to make adequate investments in interoperable communications for our police, firefighters and EMTs. After September 11, President Bush said, ``We want to spend money to make sure equipment is there, strategies are there, communications are there to make sure that you have whatever it takes to respond.'' Yet under President Bush and the Republican-led Congress, the money was not allocated, the equipment was not there, strategies were incomplete and first responders still could not communicate across agencies and jurisdictions.

Today, Congress will consider the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act which will create a stand-alone grant program for interoperable communications. Today, the Democratic Congress starts a new direction for public safety and to keep America safe.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this resolution, paying tribute to one of Michigan's greatest sons, a man who dedicated the best years of his life to public service, President Gerald R. Ford. Those who knew Gerald Ford remember him for his humility, his understanding of the virtue of public service and his dedication to his family. Michigan and America have lost a statesman who truly believed in the honor of public service.

President Ford will be remembered not only for his Presidency but also for his distinguished career representing Michigan in Congress and for his service as minority leader of the United States House of Representatives. He believed deeply in this institution, and he served his State, his party and his Nation skillfully as a Congressman for more than a quarter of a century. President Ford exemplified the values both of this institution and the great State of Michigan with humility, good humor, faith and persistence.

Gerald Ford did not seek power or fame, but he answered the call of our Nation's highest office when our Nation needed him. He was selected to be Vice President because of his high character, bipartisanship and integrity. Eight months later, these qualities were evident when President Ford helped heal a divided nation after the Watergate scandal.

There can be no better demonstration of a tribute to President Gerald R. Ford than the outpouring of gratitude and respect from ordinary citizens when he was laid to rest on January 3. The people of Michigan remember him not only as President or minority leader but as a constant presence in our lives and as a selfless, dedicated public servant who talked about the values that unite us in the most divisive of times.

President Gerald R. Ford represented us with honor and courage, and he will be deeply missed. To Betty and his children, Michael, Jack, Steven and Susan, thank you for sharing the President with us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the new Democratic leadership that will finally allow the U.S. House of Representatives to address high energy prices. Under prior Republican leadership in the House, the oil industry enjoyed years of record profits, record high gas prices and minimal oversight and price manipulation.

Curiously, in September and October of 2006, just before the November elections, gas prices dropped an average of $.60 per gallon compared to the record high prices of last summer. This $.60 drop in gas prices occurred despite the fact that there were pipeline disruptions in Alaska and indications that OPEC would cut oil production. Department of Energy's statistics show us that while gas prices dropped an average of $.60 a gallon in September and October, the crude oil price only dropped 10 cents a gallon.

If you listened to National Public Radio this week, you would have heard that there is evidence that the oil companies intentionally influence gas price fluctuations, and a $.60 drop was done just before the election to influence the November elections.

For years, the American Petroleum Institute, the oil companies' main lobbying group, has spent millions of dollars on public relations campaigns to convince the American people that gas prices are a direct result of crude oil prices, not oil company practices. But yet we have a 60 percent drop in gas prices, but only a 10 percent drop in the price of crude.

Ignoring their own PR, oil companies were able to significantly reduce the gas prices in September and October without a corresponding decrease in their crude oil price. Some consumer advocates, such as the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, have accused oil companies of purposefully reducing gas prices in the months before the election to help Republican candidates.

Since November, gas prices have already increased an average of 15 cents a gallon. This is not the first time the oil companies have been accused of attempting to manipulate markets for their benefit.

Internal memos from several oil companies written in the 1990s have revealed that the big oil companies have worked to limit refinery capacity here in the United States, allowing these companies to control the supply and cost of gasoline.

In May of 2006, the Federal Trade Commission released its report titled Investigation of Gasoline Price Manipulation and Post-Katrina Gasoline Price Increases. In this report, the Federal Trade Commission found that after Hurricane Katrina refiners, wholesalers and retailers charged significantly higher prices that did not result from either increased costs or market friends.

FTC Commissioner John Liebowitz, in a statement on the report, acknowledged that, and I quote, ``that the behavior of many market participants, on balance, leaves much to be desired.''

Democrats have repeatedly urged the House Republican leadership to protect America's pocketbooks and not that of Big Oil. Nonetheless, the Republican leadership refused to take action last fall on high gas prices. The American people have now chosen a new direction with Democrats in charge.

During the first 100 legislative hours of this, the 110th Congress, the House of Representatives will consider legislation to end the tax breaks and special subsidies for oil companies. For too long, oil companies have benefited from weak royalty laws, tax breaks and subsidies, at the same time making record profits at the expense of the American people.

Rather than helping oil companies' bottom lines, these funds that we will recapture will instead be used to promote alternative energy sources to end our Nation's addiction to oil.

Later this year I look forward to having an open and honest debate on my legislation, which I plan to reintroduce soon, to end gas price gouging.

Last year over 120 Members cosponsored my legislation to create a Federal law against price gouging for gasoline, natural gas, and other fuel.

I look forward to continuing to work towards greater oversight of the oil and gas trading, especially off-market trades known as ``over the counter'' trades.

I will be re-introducing my legislation, the Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices Act, to improve oversight of these trades and strengthen the penalties for traders who attempt to illegally manipulate markets.

The Federal Government has a responsibility to protect consumers from high gas prices. I look forward to being able to address high energy prices, to provide our constituents with the protection they need and so desperately deserve.

Mr. Speaker, if I may, I would like to enter into the Record a one- page article from National Public Radio about how ``in other words, in the run-up to the election, oil companies cut gasoline prices 500 percent more than their raw material costs fell. And it wasn't because refining and distribution costs rose. They were relatively stable. Oil companies simply took less profit from their refineries for a short period of time.''

Gas-Price Conspiracy? You Bet!

Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says there IS

evidence that oil companies intentionally influence gas-price

fluctuations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2006 Crystal Falls Forest Park High School Trojans. This high school football team has made the entire Upper Peninsula (U.P.) community proud by once again beating the odds and advancing to the Division 8 State Finals game at Ford Field in Detroit.

This was the third straight year that the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans advanced to the Division 8 state high school football championship game. These players, their coaches and the entire Crystal Falls Forest Park community should be commended for representing the U.P. at Michigan's state football championship.

In many ways, the Trojans' advancement to the state finals again this year was a classic Cinderella story. Some ``inside'' football experts had predicted that 2006 would be a rebuilding year for the Trojans, as this year's roster included only 2 seniors. However, what the Trojans lacked in size and experience, they made up for with dedication, heart and teamwork. These 34 young men brought an unselfish attitude to the game that many college and professional players could learn from.

The team's moment of truth for this year's season came on October 13, when they played Bessemer High School. The shorthanded Trojans suffered a 14-6 loss, dropping their record to 6-2 for the season and jeopardizing their chances at the playoffs. While many teams might allow a dispiriting loss such as this to derail their playoff ambitions, the Trojans came together as a team to overcome this challenge and rally in the face of adversity. The Trojans followed their setback in Bessemer with 5 straight wins, including 4 in the postseason.

Assistant Coach Dave Graff summed up the winning attitude of this year's Trojans when he said, ``We might not be the best team, but we're good enough to get where we're going. They believe in themselves and anything is possible.''

The community of Crystal Falls Forest Park and the U.P. truly united behind the Trojans, giving 110 percent of their support. Some of the supporters of the team traveled a long distance--in a short period--to cheer on their team. Crystal Falls Forest Park fans loaded up three buses at the high school at 10:00 p.m. Thanksgiving night and trekked more than 500 miles, arriving at Ford Field at 7:30 a.m. the Friday morning of the game. That gave the fans just a few hours to stretch before the 10 a.m. kickoff!

Mr. Speaker, each member of this team deserves to be recognized and I want to take a moment to share their names: Fred Hubbard; Jim Freeman; Dustin Basirico; Bob Reid; Zach Sawyer; Kyle Roberts; Justin James; Calix Sholander; John Grandahl; Levi Oleksy; Kyle LaVacque; Tony Grandahl; Andrew Bortolini; Matt Sundquist; Bryan LaChapelle; Erik Peterson; Josh Siler; Tim Wheeler; Ethan Uren; Justin Process; Jim Wheeler; Tony Renner; Marcus Smithson; Kevin Takala; Chris McCarthy; William Bortolini; Bill Fennick; Travis Hoenig; Bill Paige; Ed Zarn; Paige Armstrong; Pat Bredy; Ben Shuck; Jake Jacobson; Jeff Sartori; and Andrew Gussert.

I would be remiss if I did not also salute the Trojans' talented coaching staff. Head Coach Bill Santilli and Assistant Coaches Dave Graff, Gerard Valesano, Gene Giuliani, Jeff Chernach and Dan LaPoint should all be commended for helping lead the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans to a third state championship game. Managers L.J. Burns, Dan Ballo-Shuck and Lee Graff should also be recognized for their contributions, as should their trainer, Mark Nylund. Together, this talented coaching staff shepherded this year's young team to the state finals.

Mr. Speaker, the Crystal Falls Forest Park football team knew what the late, great Green Bay Packers coach, Vince Lombardi always said, ``Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.'' The Trojan team wanted to win more than the so-called ``inside'' football experts predicted!

Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans football team, their classmates, parents and the community on their exceptional season and in wishing the Trojans well when they retake the field for the 2007 season.