Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a festival in my district in northern Michigan that honors the history, heritage, culture and contributions of American-Finnish and Canadian-Finnish people. This joint U.S./Canadian Finnish festival to be held on August 10-14, 2005, in Marquette, Michigan gives the Finnish communities in the U.S. as well as Canada the opportunity to experience activities, educational programs, worship opportunities, musical entertainment, cultural displays and a parade based around the theme ``Heritage Powers the Future''.

The Finn Grand Fest 2005 is the second time FinnFest USA and Finnish Canadian Grand Festival will have participated in a joint, international event. The first occasion took place five years ago in Toronto, Canada. Planning committees from both countries have expressed interest in holding a joint festival held every five years as a new tradition. The Canadian festival is considerably older than its U.S. counterpart having first been organized in the 1940's as an influx of Finnish immigrants came to Canada to work. Although Finnish immigrants first came to the U.S. during the decades around 1900, FinnFest USA was not established until 1983 in Minneapolis, MN.

Since 1983, FinnFest USA has been held each year around the country except the 1\1/2\ year gaps before and after February 2004 when accommodations were made for a winter festival in Florida. Locations are determined by places where there is a strong Finnish community to organize the event. A large population of people of Finnish decent live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This will be the second time Marquette, Michigan has hosted the festival in the United States. They also hosted it in 1996. Other Michigan cities to host this event include: Hankcock in 1985 and 1990 and Farmington Hills in the Detroit area in 1987. Other cities throughout the country include: Seattle, Washington (twice), Lake Worth, Florida (twice), Minneapolis, Minnesota (twice), Fitchburg, MA, Newark, DE, Thousand Oaks, CA, Portland, OR, and Portland, ME.

While Canadians have been able to maintain the use of the Finnish language in their current culture, the communities in the U.S. have unfortunately watched as the traditional language has been replaced by English. This happened over the generations as many families spoke Finnish at home but the children learned English in school. As time went on, English was the primary language used to communicate with non- Finns, taught in school and practiced at home. Canadians are facing the beginning phases of this trend that may result in the loss of native Finnish speakers in their country as well. Thankfully, there are still a number of people in Michigan's Upper Peninsula who still speak Finnish. In fact, my district is home to a weekly television program call ``Finland Calling'' hosted by Carl Pellonpaa. ``Finland Calling'' is a weekly show about Finnish heritage that has been on the air for 43 years.

Like the Finnish language, the original organizers of FinnFest are slowly slipping away. A major contributor from among the earliest generations was Dr. Sylvia Kinnunen who recently passed away on July 25, 2005. Despite her admired age of 84, she was an energetic force in the planning and execution as the Co-chair of Cultural Programs for Finn Grand Fest 2005. We appreciate her devotion to preserving Finnish culture and for her contributions to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She will be greatly missed.

Americans and Canadians are proud of their Finnish heritage and the Finnish people. FinnFest organizers have noted that even are non-Finns have taken active roles and in some cases are major contributors to the event. Among those non-Finns is the musical headliner White Water made up of a family of folk music artists from Amasa, Michigan. The Premos began incorporating Finnish influence in their music and even performed at a folk music festival in Finland last year. The premiere performances at the Finn Grand Fest 2005 include a solo by Evan Premo during a double bass concerto on Thursday, August 11 and 100 violinists of all ages performing at the opening ceremony organized by Evan's mother Bette Premo.

The esteem felt for the Premos by the local Finns is an example of the educational sharing

and overall embracing of non-Finns to the culture and heritage of the community. Aside from the encouragement of Finnish people to understand more about their own history and traditions, those involved with this festival hope that all people are able to enjoy and learn more about the Finns' unique ethnicity that has evolved in the American and Canadian societies throughout the years.

Mr. Speaker, it has been due to the incredible insight, dedication, passion and innovation of the planning boards from the U.S. and Canada that have made this four-day joint festival possible. I am pleased Marquette has been chosen for the second time to host the U.S. festival and as the first American location for the joint festival--it is because Marquette is ``Sisu''. I applaud the Finnish communities in both the United States and Canada for preserving their sense of identity into the next generation and, based on the theme ``Heritage Powers the Future'', I applaud them for utilizing their past to power the direction of their culture for years to come. I wish the Finn Grand Fest 2005 the greatest success and look forward to participating in the event this August.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding law enforcement officer who 40 years ago began his dedicated career in St. Ignace, Michigan as a police officer and rose through the ranks to head the Mackinac County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Lawrence ``Lumpy'' Leveille retired this past winter with eight service stars upon his epaulets, each representing five years on the force. Sheriff Leveille's nearly 40 years as a law enforcement officer and leader stand as a shining example to us all.

Sheriff Leveille graduated from LaSalle High School in St. Ignace in 1965 where in the 10th grade he was given the nickname ``Lumpy''. Being native of the first city across the Mackinac Bridge from Michigan's Lower Peninsula, it seemed fitting for Leveille to return to St. Ignace when he began his career as a police officer on May 25th, 1965. That same year on September 11, he married Ara Jean Litzner. Through the years, they have grown their family with five children and eleven grandchildren. After nine years of patrolling and protecting St. Ignace along the shores of the Straights of Mackinac, Leveille was promoted to Sergeant of the local police department.

Among his long list of accomplishments, Sheriff Leveille has decreased the number of drunk driving arrests thanks to new technology and better training for his officers, despite the increase in Mackinac County's population. He has improved safety for residents and his officers because of new cameras installed on patrol cars and in booking rooms which have lead to a reduction in criminal trials. He was also able to achieve fast finger print and background searches to help officers as well as the Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement Team. Sheriff Leveille's staff of 22 and budget of about $1.5 million made his department the largest in the county.

Although Sheriff Leveille's career with the Mackinac County Sheriff's Department has come to an end, he has continued to serve the public as a Mackinac County Commissioner. There he has and will continue to have an influence on local policy with the best interests of County residents in mind. Having worked with many of the people involved in the county's administration, ``Lumpy'' Leveille's transition to the Board has been smooth as he works to bring a better harmony to the system.

On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, as a former State Trooper myself, I have had the pleasure of knowing Sheriff Leveille over the years and can attest to his impeccable reputation of being a fair and honest protector of the people. I know that through his work he has encountered both exciting opportunities to grow with the community but also hard times when tragedy and tough times affected the area. He has given his heart and soul to his work and I have always admired his dedication to the people of Mackinac County and Michigan's First Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in thanking Sheriff Lawrence ``Lumpy'' Leveille for his nearly 40 years of service to the people of St. Ignace, Mackinac County and to the State of Michigan and wish him well in his new position. Lawrence ``Lumpy'' Leveille's commitment to community and to justice has been a model of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Stupak/Brady resolution. Our resolution will commemorate the 22nd annual National Night Out event which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.

I would like to thank my friend Congressman Brady for cosponsoring this legislation with me once again this year. This bipartisan resolution has been supported by dozen of House Members for several years running and I am pleased we have another opportunity to highlight this important event again this year.

National Night Out, a nationwide grassroots crime prevention event, will take place on Tuesday, August 2. The event brings together involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, and civic groups throughout the U.S. to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

This has been a key part of America's community crime prevention success over the past two decades.

Community crime prevention is one of the most proven and effective ways to help law enforcement officials win the battle against crime. Whether it is stopping illegal drug sales, making schools safer, locating missing children, or remaining vigilant against terrorism, local law enforcement officials depend on the support of community networks to succeed.

The active involvement of citizens and the presence of local law enforcement in communities is a winning combination that makes and keeps neighborhoods safe.

Our resolution expresses Congress' support for community crime prevention and asks that the President focus Federal attention on the issue.

With this in mind, we hope that you will show your support for the community crime prevention efforts of citizens and police in your district and across the nation. Vote for the Stupak/Brady National Night Out Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I think what we have before us today is a pretty good energy bill. The conferees worked hard to find a compromise on this legislation, and I think that the majority of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support it today.

I want to give particular congratulations and thanks to the leadership of the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) and the gentleman from Michigan (Ranking Member Dingell), and also to Senator Domenici and Senator Bingaman. By all working together, we do have a bill.

Is it a perfect bill? No. And if we are going to work via compromise, it cannot be a perfect bill. I would have preferred to see fewer corporate tax breaks; and I think in conference, those of us on the main committee, we were blocked out on those tax provisions. So while I have some objections on some of these corporate tax breaks, overall I think they are fair.

In addition, I would have liked to have seen stronger measures for direct relief at the pump for Americans who are suffering right now as we pay record-high gasoline prices. In fact, in Michigan last week, as I noted to the conferees, gas spiked 80 cents in one day, it went up 80 cents, to $3.51. That was based on rumors and everything else. But that is how volatile the situation is out there.

So I actually had a provision that said, stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until a barrel of oil drops below $40 for 2 consecutive weeks. Unfortunately, the language did not make it into the final bill. But we do encourage the Secretary of Energy to look at this, and I would like to take this time to suggest to him that he do something immediately to help out our domestic gasoline market. We just cannot continue to see spikes of 80 cents.

Also, I would have liked to have seen stronger language on the underground storage issue. While we did make some improvements on this issue, I think we can ill-afford to allow our groundwater to continue contaminating our drinking water. In particular, we cannot allow MTBE to continue to contaminate drinking water across this country.

On a positive note, I am very excited and pleased that finally after all of the years of work, we have a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in and under the Great Lakes. Whether it is a State permit or a Federal permit, you will no longer be allowed to do it. I am very pleased with that provision that I have worked for for more than a decade to put the provision in there.

Also there are some provisions on nuclear energy, and I know that is sort of a controversial thing, but I, for one, believe if we are going to start worrying on dependency on foreign oil, that if we are really concerned about global climate change and climate change here in this country, we must revisit the issue of nuclear energy, and I am pleased this bill provides incentives to make the United States once again a leader in this area, and protect our environment, protect our climate and get America less dependent on foreign oil.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, this is not a perfect bill but is one that I can support. After 13 years and seeing so many energy bills come before this floor, none of which I have supported, I am pleased to be able to lend my support for this bill, and once again I would like to thank the leadership for their work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I think what we have before us today is a pretty good energy bill. The conferees worked hard to craft compromise legislation that I think the majority of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support today.

Is this a perfect bill? No. I would have preferred to see some of the corporate tax breaks pared back, but the Energy and Commerce conferees were shut out of discussions regarding tax provisions.

In addition, I would like to have seen stronger measures to give direct relief at the pump for the millions of Americans who are paying record high prices for gasoline right now. I had a measure that would have provided millions of additional barrels of oil for the U.S. market by suspending contributions to the strategic petroleum reserve until the price of oil dips below $40 per barrel for two consecutive weeks. Unfortunately, that was dropped in exchange for language allowing the Secretary of Energy to voluntarily suspend contributions if he sees fit. I would like to take this time to suggest that he do so immediately, allowing more oil into the domestic market.

I also would have liked to have seen stronger wording for secondary containment of underground storage tanks. While we did make some improvements on this issue, we can ill afford to allow our groundwater to become contaminated with gasoline from leaking underground storage tanks. In particular, we cannot allow MTBE to continue to contaminate drinking water across the country.

I am happy that the ``safe harbor'' provisions for manufacturers of MTBE that were in the House bill were dropped. Instead, there is a provision allowing lawsuits to be sent to Federal court if a defendant wants to make a request to do so. During the conference, I asked Chairman Barton about the MTBE provisions in the bill and whether the claims filed after the date of enactment would require a case to be sent to Federal court. The chairman indicated that it did not require a case to be sent to Federal court, but gave defendants in prospective suits the right to ask that the case be sent to Federal courts. I wanted to be sure that we were not conferring any new substantive or subject matter jurisdiction over MTBE cases and I was pleased to hear from Chairman Barton that to his knowledge, the legislation was not doing so.

I am happy to see that there are provisions in the bill to increase incentives for the nuclear power industry. While I know that there are those who oppose nuclear energy, I feel that if we are going to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and climate change we need to explore increased nuclear technologies.

A provision I am particularly proud to say made it into the conference is a ban on any new oil and gas drilling beneath our Great Lakes. This provision will improve public safety and protect the source of drinking water for more than 30 million residents of the Great Lakes. I've worked on this for more than a decade and this will benefit the people of the Great Lakes for generations to come.

Lastly, I am happy to report that this bill does not include drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a perfect bill, but it is one that I can support and I thank Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell for their tireless efforts to come to the compromise before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition of H.R. 5. Despite its name, this bill is a poor attempt to make health care more efficient, accessible, affordable or timely.

It is not even a serious attempt to lower malpractice insurance costs. I agree that Congress needs to comprehensively address medical malpractice issues. I understand and sympathize with doctors facing rising premiums. But this bill is not the answer.

Malpractice premiums are rising as costs in all segments of health care are rising. And doctors, according to this USA Today article, still pay less for malpractice insurance than they do for their rent. And as the headline says here, ``Hype outpaces facts in medical malpractice debates.''

I am opposed to this legislation for many reasons. First, it has never been brought to the floor with any consideration by the Energy and Commerce Committee or the Judiciary Committee. No hearings were ever held. And there were no opportunities to amend this bill, to include provisions that might actually help solve the problem of premium increases.

The majority believes that the answer to lower medical malpractice premiums is to institute an arbitrary $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in malpractice suits. However, large jury awards are not the cause of the problem. Only 1.3 percent of all claims result in a winning verdict. But the noneconomic caps hurt the children and the low-income wage-earners the most.

Do we really want to create a capped system where the makers of Vioxx, Accutane, Celebrex and any other drug are suddenly off the hook because of a weak FDA, and the only thing to keep them remotely honest is the trial system?

In addition, this legislation undermines the foundation of our court system, trial by jury of our peers. If we trust juries to determine whether a person is guilty or innocent and should die in a death penalty case, surely we can trust juries to determine compensation for victims in medical malpractice. The fact is that juries are cautious, and patients only prevail in one of every five cases that ever go to trial.

Let me tell you what the bill fails to do. It fails to address the real driver of medical malpractice insurance costs, the insurance industry itself.

The insurance industry investments tanked in the beginning of this decade because of a weak stock market, and now the industry is squeezing health care providers in an effort to protect their bottom line. Why are we not looking at the insurance industry, including the fact health insurers continue to be exempt from antitrust legislation?

In addition, the bill does not address the rising health insurance costs. The Congressional Budget Office, our own CBO, found that even large reductions in medical malpractice costs will have little effect on health care costs.

Finally, the bill does nothing to address the two root causes of medical lawsuits, medical errors and bad actors in the health care system. It is a tragedy that medical errors account for almost 100,000 patient deaths each year, but Congress has done very little to address this issue.

The bill also does nothing to address the fact that 5 percent of all doctors are responsible for 54 percent of the malpractice claims paid. Why do we allow health care providers to practice if they have a long record of errors?

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Since 2001, I have been an original cosponsor of the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, or NASPER, as we call it; and I rise today in strong support of its passage.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) for their leadership on this issue. I would also like to recognize the valuable input of the stakeholders, including the States and physician groups, including the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

The prescription drug abuse problem is growing at an alarming rate. According to a new report by Columbia University, between 1992 and 2003 the number of people abusing controlled prescription drugs jumped 94 percent. Prescription drugs are now the fourth most abused substance in America, behind only marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco.

``Particularly alarming,'' the authors write, ``is the 212 percent increase in the number of 12 to 17 year olds abusing controlled prescription drugs and the increasing number of teens trying these drugs for the first time.''

Today, Congress has taken an important first step towards addressing this huge and growing problem by ensuring that all schedule II, schedule III and schedule IV controlled substances are prescribed safely.

The NASPER Act builds on efforts already under way in many States, including my home State of Michigan, to create electronic monitoring systems. The Government Accounting Office, GAO, found in 2002 that these systems help health care providers ensure that patients are not overprescribed powerful, potentially addictive prescription drugs.

The NASPER Act also addresses the problem of people going to other States to circumvent one State's tracking system. This loophole was also identified by the GAO. The NASPER Act will strengthen the ability of practitioners in other States to contact each other and make sure they are not overprescribing these drugs.

To conclude, Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. NASPER is more necessary than ever, and now is the time for Congress to pass it and for President Bush to sign it.

Mr. Speaker today to honor the parish of St. Louis the King Roman Catholic Church for 50 years of serving the communities of Marquette, Harvey, Lakewood, Hiawatha Shores, Sand River, Beaver Grove, Mangum, West Branch, Skandia, Dukes and Sands. The parish has provided opportunities for thousands of people to seek faith, conduct outreach, and engage in fellowship and worship.

On June 30, 1954, Most Reverend Thomas L. Noa D.D. announced the formation of the new parish, St. Louis the King. That day, Rev. David Harris was appointed Administrator. Less than a month later on July 18th Father Harris said his first mass in Chocolay Township Hall beginning one of many ``firsts'' to take place for the young congregation.

That first year, St. Louis the King would rejoice in their first baptism of Eileen Marie Williams, daughter of Albert Williams and Frances Casimir; mourn their first death of Larry Wayne Lajeunesse, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lajeunesse; witness their first marriage of Leonard Lemieux, son of Wilfred Lemieux and Lorette Gauthier, and Marion Tousignant, daughter of Alfred and Lucelle Santamore; and celebrate their first Holy Communion of thirteen boys and seven girls.

After a year of memorable firsts, the parish would also celebrate the ground breaking for the new church on July 20th, 1955 on land obtained from Fred Greenleaf, a member of the parish. While the congregation patiently waited for the completion of the new church, St. Louis the King would continue to evolve confirming their first class of fourteen boys, twelve girls and nine adults by Bishop Thomas Noa on November 5th, 1956.

The fruits of their labor and reward of their patience was realized on December 25th, 1959 when members of St. Louis the King heard their first mass in the new church. Solemn High Mass of the Nativity was delivered with a sermon given by Rev. Mr. Allen Mayotte of the parish. He would be ordained six months later becoming the first parish son ordained to the priesthood from the St. Louis the King Parish.

Many improvements have been made to the church through the years, but the most important development has been the learning experience parish members have gained from the past 50 years of growing together. As people who started as individuals and families bound together by their faith, they have now created a larger body of Christ united in their Catholic faith. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the St. Louis the King Roman Catholic Church on their first 50 years as a parish and in wishing them success in the future as they continue to grow, love, and live their faith.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a community in my district that is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a city. On June 1, 2005, the residents of Charleviox, Michigan, honored their history that began as an early settlement for Native American Tribes, and grew into an essential regional shipping port and remains a major center for tourism in northern Michigan.

Michigan State University archeological digs have uncovered evidence that indicated Michigan's early Native American Tribes established seasonal settlements in the Charleviox area dating back to 1500 B.C. The area, then known as Pine River, also became a seasonal home to Beaver Island fishermen during the mid-19th century. This development would begin the long-time fishing trade that would later position Charleviox as the largest exporter of fish of any port on the Great Lakes during the early 1900's.

It was a Mormon family that left Beaver Island in 1854 for more tranquil life that planted the seeds of the city. After starting a farmstead nearby what is now the downtown, many families followed suit by establishing their own farms, fishing businesses and lumbering mills. With the bountiful natural resources, the new community quickly grew.

Upon the channel opening in 1869 that created a connection between Round Lake to

Charleviox Lake allowing navigation to Charleviox from Lake Michigan. This new access ``opened up the entire northwest comer of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan to national and subsequently international commerce,'' according to local historians. The Federal Government was charged with the maintenance of the channel due to the increasing economic importance Charleviox was having on the area as a principal shipping port in the area.

As years went on, travelers to Pine River began referring to this area as the ``town in Charleviox County'' and then simply as Charleviox. In 1879, the village was chartered under the county name of Charleviox.

With a long standing maritime history that included canoes, yachts, passenger liners, lake freighters, pleasure crafts and a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, Charleviox has been considered one of the finest harbors on the Great Lakes. During the late 1800's, the harbor's easy access, beautiful scenery and reputation for a healthy atmosphere made Charleviox an attraction for tourists and resorters from around the country. The establishment of a railroad in 1892 and three of the finest resorts in America made Charleviox a national vacation destination drawing tens of thousands of guests each summer.

As the influx of out-of-towners grew each year, the numbers those who stayed in Charleviox increased. The village of Charleviox was charted as an official city by the State of Michigan in 1905 but maintained its quaint small town feel and the appeal of a major harbor resort area.

Mr. Speaker, due to the influence of Native American settlements, trades that were based on the bountiful natural resources and the beauty of the region, the history of Charleviox is unique. Charleviox, known to its residents as ``Charleviox, The Beautiful'' was able to capitalize on its unique attributes which have drawn visitors from every State in the Union and countries from around the world to its little comer of Michigan. I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Charleviox and its residents on their first 100 years and in wishing them well through the next century.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a community in my district that is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a city. On September 3rd, 2005 the residents of Rose City, Michigan will partake in their annual end-of-summer ox roast and pay tribute to its citizens and their city's history that consists of the All-American boom town tales as well as those more tragic stories.

The first settlers to the area worked their way from Saginaw Bay along the Rifle River to what would become Ogemaw County in the 1870s. Ogemaw County, named after local Chippewa Chief Ogemaw-Ke-Ke-To, was home to several family names including Beck, Rose, Zettle, Rau and many others still residing in the region. Among those original settlers

was William Rose who founded Rose City, then known as Churchill.

Lumber and agriculture brought droves of people to the area where several lumber mills and a flour mill were amongst the more than 30 businesses in the Rose City downtown district. Son of the Churchill founder William Rose, Allen S. Rose partnered with banker M.H. French to establish the French and Rose Land and Lumber Company. According to the local newspaper, in 1893 Rose was instrumental in bringing the first commercial railway, the Mackinaw & Detroit Railroad, to Rose City to service the area's lumber operations. The railroad made its first stop to Rose City that year on Christmas day.

The eventual Mayor of Rose City and Michigan State Senator, H.S. Karcher, worked to incorporate the city on April 13, 1905. The city was named after Allen Rose who was also the local Postmaster at the time. During the peak of the lumber period, Ogemaw County contained 30 post offices. Of the many cities incorporated in the region by the State of Michigan in that same year, only two have survived, Rose City and West Branch. This year on April 13th, Rose City's current mayor, William Schneider, and Rodney Mason, the great-great-grandson of Allen Rose, reenacted the signing of Rose City's charter.

Rose City has not survived the past 100 years unscathed, however. The famous fire that broke out in D.W. Benjamin's grocery store on April 3rd, 1910 would scar the city's economy and morale for years. The fire that began in the grocery store was not discovered until 3:00 a.m. when flames had engulfed the building. The small town ``bucket brigade'' was not able to fight the fierce fire and one hour later the entire business district was destroyed.

That night, 30 of 32 businesses were lost causing an estimated $175,000 worth of damage. The few items salvaged from the businesses were stolen. In his valiant effort to save all the U.S. mail, Postmaster O.F. Honeywell lost all of his personal belongings aside from the clothes on his back and two dollars in his pocket to the fire.

Mr. Speaker, Rose City has experienced an All-American history with tales of the best of times and the worst of times. As the entire city gathers this September to celebrate the end of summer with their annual ox roast, it is quite apparent that they have risen from the ashes of their most tragic event to embrace their best assets--one another. I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Rose City and its residents on their first 100 years and in wishing them well through the next century.

Mr. Speaker, the late Pope John Paul said, ``If globalization is ruled merely by the laws of the market applied to suit the powerful, the consequences cannot be but negative.''

I agree with the late Pope John Paul. Trade is more than just economics. It's about peoples' lives and livelihoods. Our economic policies should create the rising tide that lifts all boats. Each decision we make must take into account the welfare and dignity of all people, but especially the poor and vulnerable who struggle daily to support themselves and their families.

When CAFTA is viewed through this moral framework, it is clear the agreement does not pass muster. That is why Pax Christi, Catholics for Faithful Citizenship and 34 other organizations (attached) of faith oppose CAFTA. If this agreement is enacted, the poor will get poorer and the rich will get richer.

The consequences of CAFTA will be felt by people throughout the Northern hemisphere--from the Michigan sugarbeet farmer trying to put food on the table for his family to the poor Dominican laborer in need of basic medicines.

The developing countries affected by CAFTA have an enormous need for better access to medication. Despite these compelling health needs, CAFTA would undermine their access to affordable medicine and potentially give billions of dollars worth of patent protections to drug companies.

Closer to home, the sugarbeet farmers in Michigan will be forced off their farms as the price of sugar plummets. Hourly workers at sugar refineries will find their jobs outsourced to other countries. These workers' and farmers' livelihoods will be ruined. We're not talking about big Agri-business here--we are talking about small farmers who will no longer be able to support themselves. We're talking about small businesses owners laying off their workforces.

I ask the Bush Administration and the Republican Leadership, ``If enacted, can you imagine what kind of damage CAFTA would inflict on Michigan's sugar industry, which ranks fourth in the country?''

With a state sugar beet economy that spans 2,000 farms, employs thousands of people, and totals over $300 million annually, it doesn't take a genius to predict that flooding our market with sugar imports will strike a blow that may be unrecoverable.

The National Farmers Union, the National Family Farm Coalition, the Institute on Agriculture and Trade Policy, Michigan Sugar Company, and the Monitor Sugar Company--they understand the impact it will have on the sugar industry. Why doesn't the House Leadership pushing this bill get it? Or maybe they just don't care.

This bill is bad for sugar beet growers and bad for Michigan.

As Pope John Paul said, let's not strengthen the powerful at the expense of the less fortunate. That is what CAFTA will do--advance the financial interests of large multinational companies at the expense of the common good.

I cannot support an agreement that fails to protect the livelihood of so many families, in Michigan, the United States, and abroad. That is why I will vote ``NO'' on CAFTA.

Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Investment member

organizations have mission workers and partner institutions

in Central America who believe that DR-CAFTA will harm their

families and communities. IWG members on record as opposing

CAFTA include:

American Friends Service Committee, Center of Concern,

Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, Church

World Service, Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Religious, Columban Mission Center, Columban Office: Justice,

Peace and Integrity of Creation, Congregation Justice

Committee: Sisters of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, IN,

Congregation of St. Joseph, Cleveland, Ohio, Office of

Governmental Affairs (Evangelical Lutheran Church of

America), Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny, New York, Holy

Cross Institute Office, Institute Justice Team: Sisters of

Mercy of the Americas, International Association of the

Presentations, Leadership Conference of Women Religious,

Lutheran World Relief, Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns.

Mennonite Central Committee: Washington Office, Medical

Mission Sisters Alliance for Justice, Missionary Oblates:

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, National Council of

Churches USA, NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice

Lobby, Presbyterian Church (USA Washington Office), Religious

Task Force on Central America and Mexico, SHARE Foundation,

Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine: Social Concerns

Committee, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Sisters of

Humility of Mary, Sisters of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana,

Sisters of Notre Dame, Justice and Peace Office, United

Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries, United

Methodist Church: General Board of Church and Society,

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Witness

for Peace.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, as someone who has worked more than 12 years to protect the Great Lakes, I have serious concerns about this amendment and I would urge my colleagues to oppose it. To be clear, I strongly support the amendment's stated intent. Congress should encourage the Great Lakes Governors to work together to develop a common standard for Great Lakes water withdrawal. But there is little similarity between the gentleman from Michigan's stated intent and the real effect of his amendment.

The Rogers amendment would, for the first time ever, put Congress on record as granting all management authority over the Great Lakes to the eight State Governors and two provincial governments of Canada. In doing so, it would undermine our efforts to protect the lakes from oil and gas drilling, wastewater blending, invasive species, and water diversions. In short, the Rogers amendment would be a recipe for disaster for the Great Lakes.

This amendment is absurd. Would Congress cede control of coastal portions of the Atlantic Ocean to a foreign government? Would we allow Mexico the power to decide whether or not to drill for oil and gas in the Gulf off the coast of Florida, Louisiana or Mississippi? The answer is absolutely not. So why would Congress cede management control over the Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for over 33 million Americans, to Canada or any other foreign power? If you vote for the Rogers amendment, that is exactly what you would be doing, giving away our national sovereignty.

Current law already allows the States a great deal of input into Great Lakes management. It strikes the appropriate balance between the State and the Federal Government. It is the right way to protect the Great Lakes. It ensures that we have one smart policy to protect the Great Lakes, not eight. That is why Annex 2001 requires congressional approval.

Specifically, this amendment uses the phrase ``remain vested'' when referring to the Great Lakes States' management authority. Congress has never provided full management authorities of the Great Lakes to the States. How can the States ``remain vested'' with authority that Congress has never granted?

This language is not a minor detail. In reality, it would mean the Federal Government would be ceding its lead role in protecting the Great Lakes to several States and to Canada. This is not a recipe for a smart, coordinated effort to protect our Great Lakes.

As Members decide how they will vote on the Rogers amendment, I ask them to consider the following: The Federal Government does have a role in the policies regarding the Great Lakes, just as we have a role in policies governing coastal issues along our ocean borders.

If Members support the environment and want to protect our country's largest source of fresh water, vote no on the Rogers amendment. We cannot risk having eight different policies from eight different Great Lakes States.

If Members support the Constitution, vote no on the Rogers amendment. We should never cede control of our natural resources to two Canadian premiers.

This amendment is inconsistent with constitutional interpretation, and could provide States more leverage to negotiate directly with other countries on interests of national concerns regarding the Great Lakes. A simple reading of the Rogers amendment, especially the last paragraph, could only lead to two conclusions: Either the amendment fails to understand law or it is purposely attempting to undermine existing Great Lakes protections. In either case, the amendment should be defeated.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel).

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), who has been a champion on this issue.

(Ms. McCOLLUM asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer this important amendment along with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra). Our amendment directs the Army Corps of Engineers to budget and request appropriations for operation and maintenance harbor dredging based upon criteria used in fiscal year 2004.

Beginning in fiscal year 2005, OMB and the Army Corps began implementing new guidelines and criteria for determining whether a harbor is eligible to be considered to be funded for dredging in the President's budget. According to the Corps, in order for a commercial harbor to be considered high use and therefore eligible to be included in the budget, it must now move at least 1 million tons of cargo annually.

As a result of this tonnage requirement, a number of routine Army Corps operations and maintenance harbor dredging projects will not be carried out this year or in fiscal year 2007. There are 293 harbors in the U.S. classified as low use. Thus, barring exceptional circumstances, these harbors are not eligible to be included in the Corps budget next year simply because of this tonnage requirement.

These highly inadequate guidelines are unfairly biased against rural communities and will have a detrimental effect on 19 communities in my Northern Michigan district, and to 274 other communities across this country. If these harbors are not dredged, small town, rural America will suffer more job losses, businesses will struggle, and infrastructure could be damaged.

Members only need to look at the community of Ontonagon in my district for an example of the devastating effect this policy will have. Ontonagon was taken by surprise when they were not included in the President's budget for the first time in more than 5 years. Just last year, Ontonagon was dredged to approximately 19 feet. Today, it has silted back to 6 feet. In less than a year, two-thirds of this harbor has been silted back in. This happens each and every year because of a silting problem unique to this harbor. While the Army Corps has recognized Ontonagon's unique problem in the past, the new tonnage requirement fails to recognize the unique circumstances around the country some of these harbors face.

If this harbor is not dredged, the future of SmurfitStone Container Corporation, which relies on the harbor for coal and limestone deliveries, and the White Pine Power Company, a revitalized coal plant that depends on the harbor for coal deliveries by ship for its power generation, will be in jeopardy.

Imagine the consequences for small towns like Ontonagon if their largest businesses are unable to receive the goods they need to remain competitive. This is just one example of many harbors that have been or will be shortchanged.

Rural communities already have limited resources available to them, and this will just add an additional hardship. The Army Corps must develop requirements to determine whether a harbor is to be included in the President's budget for a yearly dredge that does not unfairly impact small harbors and rural communities. We need to ensure the Corps is putting forth guidelines and policies that are as fair as possible to all communities across the country. I urge my colleagues to support the Stupak-Delahunt-Hoekstra amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) for his support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a community in my district that is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a village. On Sunday, July 3, 2005, the residents of the village of Curtis, Michigan, will host a parade to honor their history that 100 years ago began with the establishment of a post office. The official Centennial Celebration will take place September 2nd through 4th.

Local historians have documented evidence of human civilization in the area dating back more than 13,000 years. Explanations suggest that native tribes moved with the gradual northern movement of the glaciers that sculpted the region and helped structure the forest and copper rich area, now known as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Excavation sites dating back as early as 3500 B.C., show evidence that seven spots were used to extract copper.

As time went on, Native American Indian tribes visited Curtis as a favorite camping site while early historical references indicate explorers traversed nearby waterways in search of resources and western passages from the 1600s to the late 1800s. However, settlement and population growth began in 1881 when the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad was built bringing lumber workers to the area. A township board was elected in 1887 to locally govern Portage Township with just over 150 people residing in its borders.

In 1905, the Manistique Railroad that ran from Grand Marais to Seney and Germfask was extended to Curtis and a post office was established. The first postmaster facilitating the operation was Mark Howard Miller. A sawmill started by Jesse Sherbrook later that year in Saw-wa-qua-to- beach on South Manistique Lake gave the town the resources they needed to establish itself.

What began as a town of roughly 75 people, Curtis and the surrounding township now make up approximately 1,000 residents. Through the years, this close knit community has thrived as the tourist, fishing and logging industries have flourished in the area. Nestled between the two beautiful, large, pristine Manistique Lakes, the people of Curtis have grown to be nothing short of a family. Many of the names of original settlers can still be found among the rosters of the 13 civic and fraternal organizations including the Lions, Fireworks Committee, Ladies Aid, The Fish Coop, and the Curtis Community Arts Council. Curtis's four churches, library, school, medical clinic, post office, bank and public housing facility make the town completely self- sufficient and an attraction for families and businesses looking to move into an All-American community.

The history of Curtis contains many interesting facts and figures as well as tales of its growth as an area inhabited for over 1,000 years by early mankind. As a small town tucked between waterways and engulfed in thick forests in the middle of Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula, the people of Curtis were able to build their community with their own resources and based on their own value driven standards to create an amazing town. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the village of Curtis and its residents on their first 100 years and in wishing them well through the next century.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a community in my district that is celebrating its 150th anniversary as a city. On Thursday, June 30, 2005 the residents of Tawas City, Michigan celebrate their history that 150 years ago began a rollercoaster of triumphs and tribulations. From fishing to lumber to railroad to a military base, this city has adapted to each new opportunity resulting in a rich history and growth.

In the early days of what is now known as Tawas Bay, the fish rich area was difficult to traverse because of the seafaring dangers. A lighthouse was constructed in 1853 attracting the first of the English settlers including Oakland County Judge Gideon O. Wittmore, founder of Tawas City. Whitmore was drawn to the increasingly valuable endless supply of timber in the area. Timber was in great demand as new settlements were established in the Midwest region. Whitmore constructed the first sawmill, Whitmore and Company, and platted the city in 1855 as Tawas City. The city was named after the local Native American Indian tribe the Ottawas.

Just 15 years after becoming an official village, the rough waters of Tawas Bay had brought sand and sediment unto Tawas Point rendering the lighthouse useless to mariners. Almost immediately, work began on a replacement lighthouse that was completed in 1876 and is still in use today. This lighthouse, the Tawas Point Lighthouse, was recognized in 1984 in the National Register of Historical Places.

Throughout the late 1800's, the lumber boom had become a major facet in the local

economy as the home for sawmills and the historic Detroit and Mackinac Railroad. It also provided many tales of great lumberjacks from the Michigan lumber camps. Some local residents believe that many stories we tell today about the great Paul Bunyan originated from that area. However, by the 1890's the lumbering boom had dwindled from depleted resources and the immense damage to the forests. The land resembled that of a wasteland and farming quickly took over as a top industry alongside fishing. However, with the invention of the automotive assembly line, young sons of farmers headed downstate to make quick money leaving hundreds of family farms vacant.

With its natural resources exhausted, young people left the Tawas area. The once beautiful landside was left naked, polluted and over fished. Tawas thought it had seen the worst but, on July 11, 1911 a fire leveled communities of neighboring Oscoda and AuSable with five dead and 2,000 homeless. Tawas area residents took in survivors and helped the two devastated communities rebuild. In the process of rebuilding the communities, they had the opportunity to establish six hydroelectric dams in the AuSable River that are still in use today.

It was around that time that Tawas City would see nearly 70 years of revitalization and economic opportunity come to the area. In the 1920's the United States Army Air Corps began a flight training program that would evolve into Wurtsmith Air Force Base. From the mid 1920's to the 1950's the Civil Conservation Corps planted nearly 500 million trees to restore much of the area ravaged during the lumber years. In 1937, the Tawas Post of the Michigan State Police became a permanent part of the Tawas community. Even during the war years, Tawas played an important role in protecting America and its soldiers from poisonous attacks with the Tawas plant, staffed by women, producing up to 42,000 gas masks a day. In 1965, Tawas Point State Park was created and provided 175 acres of camping sites, picnic areas, beaches and the lighthouse area which attracts over 250,000 people per year.

In the 1990's Tawas City would see another great challenge with the closure of the Wurtsmith Air Force Base. However, after nearly a century and a half of rising to meet challenges in the past, the local community partnered with State, local and Federal resources to turn the base into a thriving opportunity. The Wurtsmith redevelopment was so successful in turning the economy around they were cited as an example throughout the country on how small towns can overcome the hardships of military base closures.

Mr. Speaker, the history of Tawas City is made up of the tales of brave fishermen, innovative entrepreneurs, legendary lumberjacks, dedicated neighbors, hardworking farmers, courageous soldiers, devoted workers, and All-American families. The values that extend from each industry, every challenge, and every triumph have added to the fabric of this community. I applaud the people of Tawas--past and present--for advancing this city to be the outstanding place it is today. Furthermore, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Tawas City and its residents on their first 150 years and in wishing them well through the next century.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Michigan Congressional Delegation consisting of Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, Congresswomen Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and Candice Miller, and Congressmen Dave Camp, John Conyers, John Dingell, Vernon Ehlers, Peter Hoekstra, Dale Kildee, Joe Knollenberg, Sander Levin, Thaddeus McCotter, Mike Rogers, Joe Schwartz, Fred Upton and me. We pay tribute today to an agency in Michigan that has spent the last 100 years improving the means by which those in the far reaches of our beautiful peninsulas utilize our most well-known state product, the automobile. Today, we in the Michigan Congressional Delegation would like to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Michigan Department of Transportation also known as MDOT.

It all began with the innovative spirit of a bicycle enthusiast and entrepreneur, Horatio ``Good Roads'' Earle, when he became Michigan's first highway commissioner. He began a movement by aligning the professional road builders and engineers to improve road transportation throughout the state. On July 1, 1905, the voters in the State of Michigan overwhelmingly approved state spending for roads making Michigan the 18th state in the Union to establish an agency to oversee transportation. Since that day that the State Highway Department was established, Michigan has not only led the world in automotive advancements but has achieved many firsts in the state, country and world for transportation initiatives.

There were many transportation firsts in Michigan including the construction of the first international underwater railroad tunnel (Port Huron-Sarnia Tunnel) in 1891; the first international underwater automobile tunnel (Detroit-Windsor Tunnel) in 1930; and the first freeway-to-freeway interchange on Jan. 18, 1955 at I-94 (Edsel Ford) and M-10 (John Lodge) in Detroit, permitting motorists to make turns ``simply by moving in the direction they wish to go.'' Both the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit in 1929 and the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 were the world's longest suspension bridges when they were built. The world's largest automobile tire, utilizing the Ferris wheel ride from the World's Fair in New York from 1964, can be found next to eastbound I-94 just east of the M-39 (Southfield Freeway) interchange in Allen Park. MDOT was also the World's first transportation agency to automate management and processing of construction products from the construction site through contractor payment, saving taxpayers more than $20 million per year in 1993.

The national innovations are endless but include some of the most significant to our everyday living like the nation's first mile of concrete highway built by the Wayne County Road Commission on Woodward Avenue between 6 and 7 Mile roads in Detroit in 1909, the first painted centerline in 1911 and the first state trunkline in the nation to sport a centerline from Marquette to Negaunee Road (now US 41/M 28) in 1917. The nation's first highway materials testing lab was at the University of Michigan in 1912 and the nation's first four way red/yellow/green electric traffic light was at the comer of Woodward and Michigan Avenues in Detroit as the invention of Detroit Police Officer William Potts in 1918.

Other national firsts include the first roadside park on US-2 in Iron County, completed in 1919; the first practical highway snowplow was built in Munising in 1922; and the first ``super highway'' was an eight-lane divided highway with a 40-foot median built in 1923 along Woodward Avenue between Detroit and Pontiac. MDOT was the first highway department to use yellow centerlines to designate ``no passing'' zones in 1927. Michigan has the nation's first state operated information center which opened in 1935 near New Buffalo. Michigan was the nation's first state to complete a toll free border-to-border interstate on I-94 running 205 miles from Detroit to New Buffalo in 1960. In 1977 US-31 in Oceana County won the national ``most beautiful highway'' by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The nation's largest concrete segmental bridge opened up in 1988 when the Zilwaukee Bridge opened carrying I-75 over the Saginaw River. Recently, in 2003, Gloria Jeff was named the director of MDOT becoming the first female and African American State Transportation director in the nation.

Mr. Speaker these are only a few of the facts, figures and historical moments that are seemingly infinite examples that mark the significant influence this agency has had on transportation in our country and the world. In fact much of this information and a detailed outline of MDOT's history can be found through the resources of MDOT's centennial website at www.michigan.gov/mdot100. However, the greatness and innovation displayed by MDOT throughout this past 100 years is not limited to our history and evolution as a modern state. The recent state accomplishments and the goals laid out for the future show the numerous advancements this department continues to make on behalf of it residents.

Horatio ``Good Roads'' Earle would be proud of the efforts to make our roads, highways and bridges better each year. According to MDOT, since 1999, they have completed more than 93 percent of the road and bridge preservation programs announced in the fiveyear program making 88 percent of the vehicle miles traveled on Michigan freeways done so on good pavement. In the last three years, the capitol preventative maintenance program increased the life span of 3,710 miles of highway by up to seven years with a special treatment. Additionally, MDOT has made

significant improvements to trunkline bridges through the state due to strategic planning as well as opening almost 80 miles of widened roadways and passing relief lanes to relieve congestion, reduce delays and improve safety. Other program successes have been in overall safety, economic development projects, parking, roadside programs, and environmental quality.

Mr. Speaker, on June 30th, a special ceremony to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Michigan Department of Transportation will be held at the Mackinac Bridge in my district, one of the world's largest suspension bridges that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas with five miles of concrete and steel innovation. Friday, July 1st, the department's employees will also celebrate the anniversary in Lansing, Michigan. Celebrating this milestone year at the Mackinac Bridge is most appropriate because of the symbolism the Mighty Mac shares with that of this accomplished state department. MDOT has connected people from Copper Harbor to Coldwater, has set a number of firsts in national accomplishments, and continues to look ahead at ways to improve transportation for Michigan residents and visitors. Since its inception by Mr. Earle, MDOT has focused on the quality of its services and resources, the effectiveness of their work, the dedication to the needs of their travelers, the integrity to improve transportation the right way the first time, and the pride of being the best as what they do. I ask the United States House of Representatives to join the Michigan Congressional Delegation in congratulating the Michigan Department of Transportation on its first 100 years and even better success through the next century.