Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an individual who has been a spiritual guide for the Catholic community in Menominee, Michigan, Father Stephen Patrick Wisneske. On July 1st, ``Father Pat'' will be retiring from Holy Spirit Parish, where he has been pastor for the last 32 years. Throughout that time, his leadership, his generous spirit, and his warm sense of humor have all been important sources of inspiration and comfort. He will be sorely missed.

Father Pat Wisneske was ordained on June 3rd, 1950, embarking on a 54-year journey in the clergy that touched countless lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In 1950 and 1951, he served as an Assistant Pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Ironwood, and St. Thomas Parish in Escanaba, respectively. In 1953, he began a six year tenure as Assistant Pastor at St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish in Iron Mountain, Michigan. During this time, he also served as the Chaplain for the VA hospital in Iron Mountain. From 1959 to 1963, he was the Administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Franklin Mine.

In 1963, Father Pat became the pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Loretto and served there for three years before transferring to St. Jude Parish in White Pine, where he also oversaw the St. Ann mission in Bergland. After the Bergland mission was transferred to a parish in Marenisco in 1967, Father Pat became the temporary administrator of Holy Family Parish in Ontonagon until 1972.

The spring of 1972 was a very tense time for Menominee Catholics as they awaited the final outcome of a two year study that would eventually consolidate their parishes. When the members of the new Holy Spirit Parish learned that Father Pat would be their new pastor, they wondered what kind of pastor he would be. It did not take long to realize that he was a kind and gentle man who was indeed a ``present'' to them. Through the sadness of illness or death, and the joy of baptisms, marriages, first communions and confirmations, Father Pat was always there to offer guidance, leadership, spirit, faith, and friendship.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to his parish assignments, Father Pat was always willing to take on additional duties and leadership roles. Over the years he has served as the director of the deacon program for the diocese, twice as Dean, President of the St. Joseph's Association, and a member of the Priest's Council. He has also given of his time to serve as a chaplain for different organizations including the VA hospital in Iron Mountain, the Knights of Columbus, the Daughters of Isabella, and the Civil Air Patrol.

Another example of Father Pat's leadership has been his unwavering commitment to the youth of the community. He has been steadfast in his support for Menominee Catholic Central Schools, and he has always enjoyed working with young people, recognizing that they are indeed the future.

Those of us who know and love Father Pat have our own special stories of this remarkable individual. On a personal note, when tragedy struck my family, it was Father Pat who consoled us, reassured us, and provided comfort for us in our time of greatest need. Father Pat's kindness, spiritual guidance, and love will never be forgotten and we will always be indebted to him.

Mr. Speaker, 32 years after he came to Menominee and Holy Spirit Parish, it is time to bid a very fond and difficult farewell to Father Pat. He often said that he was energized by his parishioners, but they in turn would say they were energized by Father Pat. He was always present for us, giving us, the members of our Holy Spirit family, our Menominee Community, and our God the best present he could--himself. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in honoring and thanking Father Patrick Wisneske for his dedicated service to his parish and the Catholic faith community throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding educator in my district. Paul Ollila is retiring this year as the Superintendent of the Copper Country Intermediate School District (ISD), closing the final chapter of a career dedicated to the children of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Mr. Ollila's 40 years as a teacher, administrator, and leader serve as a shining example of his profession.

Paul Ollila earned his bachelor's degree in social work/sociology and secondary education from Northern Michigan University in 1964. That same year, he began his career as a special education teacher and teacher consultant with the Adams Township School District. In addition to working with his own students, Mr. Ollila taught special education students throughout the Copper Country ISD.

In 1976, after twelve years as a teacher for both Adams Township Schools and the Copper Country ISD, Mr. Ollila was asked to become the Assistant Superintendent and Director of Special Education for the ISD. He accepted this position, and for the next 16 years, special needs students throughout the Copper Country benefited from his experience, leadership, and compassion.

In 1993, Mr. Ollila became the Superintendent of the Copper Country ISD. In this role, he has been responsible for delivering a range of services to school districts and their students. In addition to special education, the ISD assists school districts with compliance and coordination services, and provides a number of specialized programs for students. These include alternative education, outdoor education, career preparation, vocational education, gifted and talented programs, and health curriculum. The ISD also operates the outstanding Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education.

Throughout his years as an educator, Paul Ollila has recognized the importance of ongoing education both for his own career, and for his ability to better serve his students. In 1966, he earned a Master's degree in special education/educational administration, and in 1989 he earned a Specialist's degree in educational administration, both from Northern Michigan University.

Mr. Speaker, Paul Ollila's service as a teacher and administrator has been outstanding, but it is even more remarkable when you consider the numerous leadership roles he has taken on at the state, Upper Peninsula, and local levels. In addition to taking leadership roles in various professional associations, Mr. Ollila has served on the State Special Education Advisory Committee, the UP Center

for Educational Development, Upper Great Lakes Education Technologies, Inc., the Copper Country Americorps, the Finlandia University Community Advisory Board, and the Copper Country Superintendents' Round Table to name just a few. Finally, there are three school districts in the Copper Country ISD without their own superintendent, and Mr. Ollila has served in this capacity whenever he was needed.

As much as he has given to his career though, Paul Ollila has always had time for his family. He has been happily married to his wife Joyce for 44 years, and together they have six children and 6 grandchildren. He is also an avid golfer and travel enthusiast.

Mr. Speaker, Paul Ollila's commitment to his family, his community, and the students of Michigan's Upper Peninsula serves as an example to all of us. I ask the House to join me in honoring him and thanking him for his service.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very straight forward. It would simply provide $500,000 for the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a thorough study on how these first responder grants have been spent over the past 2 fiscal years.

In particular, we need to know how much of the $4.4 billion allocated for Homeland Security grant programs have been spent on upgrading local and State first responder communication systems.

Why is this necessary? Because after 9/11, the Nation finally realized what those of us in law enforcement have known for years, that there is a huge gap in how we respond to natural and terrorist-related disasters. First responder agencies cannot talk to each other.

Last month, the independent 9/11 Commission held hearings to examine

the communication gaps between public safety agencies during their response to attacks on the World Trade Center. What the commission learned was that fire chiefs in the World Trade Center lobbies new little of the conditions upstairs. They did not hear anything about what the police in helicopters were seeing as they circled the buildings, that the towers may or would collapse.

As we now know, Federal reports on the 9/11 Federal emergency response concluded that the inability of first responders from different agencies to talk to one another was a key factor in the deaths of at least 121 firefighters.

Since then, the Federal Government has called upon the States and local governments to be even more vigilant and prepared for possible attacks of terrorism. Yet our public safety agencies continue to lack the ability to communicate with each other between agencies and between jurisdictions. Firefighters cannot talk to police, local police cannot talk to state police or emergency personnel, and so on and so on.

Despite the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and grant programs for first responders, program funding for modernizing their communications system has fallen far short of the $6.8 billion that is needed to make the Nation's public safety agencies interoperable, in other words, being able to talk to each other.

In fiscal year 2003, only $100 million was devoted to local public safety communications systems, and no funding at all was available in fiscal year 2004.

The bottom line is there is an awful lot of talk here about interoperability, but no real, reliable resources to make that happen so agencies can talk to each other in times of catastrophic disaster or terrorist attacks. All we have are 2 years of grant programs within DHS, but none specifically for interoperability; and we do not know where that money is going.

So far, neither I nor my staff can find any evidence of oversight on where the billions of dollars have gone after these grants have been sent to the States and local governments. No one can tell me how much of that money has gone to interoperable radio communications. I think we need to know how much money is being spent so we have a better idea on what the priorities are for our Nation's first responders.

I know for a fact that upgrading radio equipment is a priority in my district, which is large, rural, and on the Canadian border, and, at times, unfortunately, porous, where those who do not belong can sneak into the United States.

Again, my amendment takes $500,000 out of the office of the Under Secretary of Management, an account that receives a $50 million increase in this bill over fiscal year 2004. It puts that $500,000 for this needed study under the salaries and expenses account under title III, the preparedness and recovery title.

For 30 years, I have been associated with law enforcement, 12 years as a police officer. For 30 years, I have been hearing that we will have radios so we can talk to each other and to first responders. After 30 years and many deaths, it is time we move forward on making interoperability for all first responders available so we can talk to each other, especially in times of peril.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, the chairman is right, we have been trying to address this issue. I know, having been involved in law enforcement and worked with an interagency drug task force, we can bring in radio equipment so everyone can talk to each other no matter what frequency they are on. And I know through the leadership of the chairman and the ranking member and many Members who are concerned about this, as we heard from the Fire Caucus earlier, those Members, there is actually mobile equipment that we can bring in and help out.

We have taken a good step forward. I want to make sure we keep moving in that right direction. That is why I wanted this study, as I continue to work in my own committee to try to set up a fund to get this interoperability realistic throughout this country, because it is going to cost $6.8 billion; and I am concerned about my rural committees as well as the big cities.

Mr. Chairman, the chairman has given me those assurances, and his word is always good with me. So I will withdraw my amendment, with those assurances. I look forward to working with the chairman and ranking member. I appreciate the gentleman's continued support on this issue and thank him for the opportunity of raising it.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Speaker, President Ronald Reagan was an American icon. He's the President who won the Cold War. And he'll always be remembered for his eternal optimism, his strength, great wit and charm.

Even when he disagreed with Democrats, he was respected for the honesty of his beliefs and the dedication he displayed in pursuing them. He taught us the difference between strong beliefs and bitter partisanship. He lived by the noble idea that at the end of the day Democrats and Republicans were simply Americans and friends. I wish we had more of that today.

We should be inspired by this 40th American President's patriotism and devotion to our country. And we should remember his faith, his optimism and his unwavering commitment to his convictions as we do the work of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, as we return from observing Memorial Day in our districts, I rise to pay a tribute to a man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during the Vietnam War. This weekend, I had the honor of presenting Staff Sergeant Adrian J. Anglim's family with the two Bronze Stars he earned during his service in the United States Army, but never received until last year. His story serves as a shining example of courageous service to his country.

Adrian Anglim was born on January 9th, 1934 in Ironwood, Michigan. After attending St. Ambrose High School in Ironwood and Northern Michigan University in Marquette, he joined the Michigan National Guard. He was serving as a Junior ROTC instructor for Bessemer High School when he was called up to active duty and assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas where he joined the First Infantry Division.

Staff Sergeant Anglim arrived in Vietnam in April 1966 and served with distinction as a member of the First Infantry. His courage and leadership in combat earned him two bronze stars which, thanks to the efforts of his platoon leader, his family has finally received.

To illustrate the debt that our country owes Adrian Anglim, I would like to read two passages from the citations for his bronze stars. The first describes then Staff Sergeant Anglim's performance throughout his combat service. It reads:

For meritorious achievement in connection with ground

operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam

during the period 28 April 1966 to 25 August 1966. Through

his untiring efforts and professional ability, Staff Sergeant

Anglim consistently obtained outstanding results. He was

quick to grasp the implications of new problems with which he

was faced as a result of the ever changing situations

inherent in a counterinsurgency operation and to find ways

and means to solve those problems. The energetic application

of his extensive knowledge has materially contributed to the

efforts of the United States Mission to the Republic of

Vietnam to assist that country in ridding itself of the

communist threat to its freedom. Staff Sergeant Anglim's

initiative, zeal, sound judgment, and devotion to duty have

been in the highest tradition of the United States Army.

The second citation accompanied Sergeant Anglim's Bronze Star with a ``V'' device, signifying valor. This medal was awarded for Anglim's heroism the day that he gave his life for his country. It reads:

For heroism on 25 August 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam

while participating in an operation in Binh Duong Province

when called to assist a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol

heavily engaged with the Viet Cong Phu Loi Battalion. As his

company approached the enemy camp it encountered intense

enemy fire. At great personal risk, he moved among the

platoon to establish a defensive position. His leadership

under intense fire enabled his men to occupy defensible

terrain in front of the enemy trench line. By this time,

his element had been reduced to himself and one rifleman.

Using one remaining radio and company mortars, the platoon

leader and Sergeant Anglim devised a plan to suppress

enemy mortars directly to their front. While under

constant enemy fire, Sergeant Anglim was able to provide

directions for the adjustment of company mortars, forcing

the enemy to displace twice. While directing fire on their

third location, he was killed instantly by enemy small

arms fire. His heroic actions enabled other units to

maneuver to engage the enemy and block their escape.

Sergeant Anghm's exemplary courage was in keeping with the

finest traditions of military service and reflects great

credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention Sergeant Anglim's family. After his tragic death, Sergeant Anglim's wife Marilyn raised their three children on her own, which is no small feat. Today, their twins Van and Ann are 46. Van is an employee of the Defense Department working on missile systems. Ann is working as the facilities manager for the Ann Arbor Public Schools in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their son Paul is 42 and a Lieutenant with the Wyoming, Michigan Police Department.

As Adrian Anglim's children grew up and tried to learn more about the father they never really knew, they talked to James Holland, who was their father's platoon leader in Vietnam. They were able to learn what had happened to their father from someone who was there, and who benefited from his heroism.

When Mr. Holland realized that Sergeant Anglim's family had never received the additional medals that he had earned, he took steps to see that those recommendations reached the Army and that Sergeant Anglim was finally recognized for his bravery in battle. I had the honor of presenting those medals to Marilyn Anglim and her children in a ceremony at the American Legion Post #71 in Gladstone, Michigan this past weekend.

Mr. Speaker, Adrian Anglim served his country bravely and deserves our deepest gratitude for his service and his ultimate sacrifice. I ask that the House join me in honoring this fallen American soldier.

Mr. Speaker, as our nation prepares for the dedication of the National World War II Memorial next weekend, I rise to join my constituents in paying solemn tribute to the nearly 200 World War II veterans of Oscoda County, Michigan. Each and every one of these veterans deserves our continued gratitude for their service, for their sacrifice, and for their leadership.

On May 29th, the residents of Oscoda County will celebrate these members of the greatest generation with a parade, ceremony, and luncheon marking Oscoda World War II Veterans Recognition Day. This day has an added significance: together they will also be watching the dedication ceremony in Washington, DC for the National World War II Memorial. I am fortunate that I will have the honor of participating in this event, and will have the chance to thank these veterans in person for the sacrifice they made for our freedom 60 years ago.

I am especially pleased that this event is focused on those veterans that are still with us. On Memorial Day, our nation rightly honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of preserving liberty. But we too often forget to thank those who came home to careers and family and civic leadership. By the grace of God they returned home, but this does not diminish their service and sacrifice. Indeed, their leadership and example since have put us further in their debt.

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the World War II generation, and especially those who fought so bravely in Europe and the Pacific for the freedom we enjoy today, are deserving of our highest honor and deepest gratitude. We must never forget their sacrifice and their courage. I therefore ask that the House join me in paying tribute to that greatest generation, and especially to those who will be at the Oscoda World War II Veterans Recognition events.

Mr. Speaker, this Memorial Day we recognize again not only the soldiers who have died for their country over the generations--but also the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am proud of our soldiers in Iraq who are serving their country with dedication and courage.

Four soldiers from Michigan's First District have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq: Staff Sergeants Thomas W. Christensen and Stephen C. Hattamer who were killed on Christmas Day; Staff Sergeant Paul J. Johnson and Private First Class Jason G. Wright. I'd like to take a few minutes to describe these good men.

Sergeant Christensen, a 42-year-old from Atlantic Mine, was a reservist with the 652nd Engineer Battalion and had been overseas for about a year when he was killed. His brother described him as a quiet person who was handsome and smart. Sergeant Christensen had a passion for hunting and fishing and that is why he called the Upper Peninsula of Michigan his home.

Sergeant Hattamer, a 43-year-old from Gwinn, was a member of the same Battalion as Christensen and enjoyed weight lifting, waterskiing, and was famous for his chocolate cake using his mother's recipe. He is survived by his wife and three children. Sergeant Hattamer's love of country and children will live on through the scholarship the local community established in his honor.

Sergeant Johnson, a 29-year-old from Calumet, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regimen of the famed 82nd Airborne. He was described as the epitome of a paratrooper and he is survived by his wife and son. He was from the ``Copper Country'' in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Private Jason Wright, a 19-year-old from Luzerne, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regimen of the famed 101st Airborne. Private Wright was a good student who played baseball, basketball and football in High School. He was protective of his three younger brothers and was truly devoted to his family. Jason Wright will be greatly missed by his family.

All four of these men served with honor and courage and my prayers are with their families. On this and every Memorial Day hereafter when we pause to honor our fallen soldiers, may God Bless their families and America.

Mr. Speaker, as our Nation prepares for the dedication of the National World War II Memorial next weekend, I rise to join my constituents in paying solemn tribute to the nearly 200 World War II veterans of Oscoda County, Michigan. Each and every one of these veterans deserves our continued gratitude for their service, for their sacrifice, and for their leadership.

On May 29th, the residents of Oscoda County will celebrate these members of the greatest generation with a parade, ceremony, and luncheon marking Oscoda World War II Veterans Recognition Day. This day has an added significance: Together they will also be watching the dedication ceremony in Washington, DC, for the National World War II Memorial. I am fortunate that I will have the honor of participating in this event, and will have the chance to thank these veterans in person for the sacrifice they made for our freedom 60 years ago.

I am especially pleased that this event is focused on those veterans that are still with us. On Memorial Day, our nation rightly honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of preserving liberty. But we too often forget to thank those who came home to careers and family and civic leadership. By the grace of God they returned home, but this does not diminish their service and sacrifice. Indeed, their leadership and example since have put us further in their debt.

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the World War II generation, and especially those who fought so bravely in Europe and the Pacific for the freedom we enjoy today, are deserving of our highest honor and deepest gratitude. We must never forget their sacrifice and their courage. I therefore ask that the House join me in paying tribute to that greatest generation, and especially to those who will be at the Oscoda World War II Veterans Recognition events.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of an extraordinary public servant and community leader, State Representative Dale Sheltrown. Dale is currently serving his third and final term representing the 103rd District of the Michigan House, which includes Roscommon, Missaukee, Iosco and Ogemaw Counties. Dale's record of leadership in public office, business and his community stands as a shining example of a citizen legislator.

Dale Sheltrown was born on Election Day, November 5th, 1940, foretelling a lifelong commitment to public service and political leadership. His father, Ed Sheltrown, served for 35 years as Township Supervisor, and two of his five siblings are also elected officials.

Dale has been a lifelong resident of Ogemaw County, and after earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Agriculture from Michigan State University, he began his successful business career. From 1965 to 1974, Dale owned and operated his own dairy and beef farm. From 1974 to 1976, he was a sales manager at the John Deere dealership in West Branch, Michigan. Since 1976, Dale has been a partner with Century 21 Horizon Realty in West Branch.

Dale recognized long ago the importance of giving back to the community that had been so good to him. He was elected to serve on the Ogemaw County Board of Commissioners from 1974 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1998. From 1986 to 1988, he was the Township Supervisor and Assessor in Edwards Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan. Dale's dedication and leadership has also been recognized by his appointment to the Michigan State Commission on Aging from 1980 to 1990.

On November 3rd, 1998, Dale was elected to his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives. In the years since, he has served with distinction on the Agriculture and Resource Management Committee, the Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Committee, and the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. Dale has spearheaded efforts in the Michigan House to control the Bovine Tuberculosis epidemic that has hurt so many farmers in Northeast Lower Michigan. He has also been a leader in the State's program to award high school diplomas to veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

Dale Sheltrown's exceptional life of public service and community leadership provides ample reason for this recognition, but Dale's commitment to his family is one of the things I respect most about him. Dale and his wife Lori have four grown children and four beautiful grandchildren that he never misses an opportunity to talk about. It is clear to me that whatever else Dale might be doing in his life, his family always comes first.

Mr. Speaker, Dale Sheltrown's commitment to his family, his community and the State of Michigan serves as an example to all of us, and I ask the House to join me in honoring him.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address a couple of issues tonight, but first would like to start with National Law Enforcement Week. This week Congress has paid tribute to our law enforcement officers and first responders who so bravely protect and serve, often putting their own lives at risk. On September 11, 2001, many in this Nation and this Congress have come to recognize the importance of the sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers. As a former police officer and a Michigan State Police trooper as well as founder of the Law Enforcement Caucus and cochair of this caucus, this week has significant meaning to me. The focus of this important week will take place tonight at 8 o'clock, actually right about now, when this Nation pauses to add the names of the officers who have been killed in the line of duty. The addition of the officers' names to the memorial is one way our Nation can commemorate its fallen heroes who have died in the line of duty. This week allows peace officers and their families to gather together in one place and to honor those who have lost their lives.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, more than 16,000 Federal, State and local law enforcement men and women in the United States have been killed in the line of duty. In 2003, this past year, there have been 145 fallen officers and unfortunately in 2004, 53 officers have already died. The kind of sacrifice made by our law enforcement officers was all too clearly demonstrated in Detroit, Michigan, this year. Jennifer Fettig, a 26-year-old Detroit police officer, and her 21-year-old partner, Matthew Bowens, were killed during a routine traffic stop. For me, this terrible tragedy came close to home. Jennifer grew up in my district, in the Petosky area, and I have met with her family. This tragic killing illustrates the dangers our law enforcement officers face, not only during crisis situations but while performing routine duties.

That is why it is especially important this special week that we not only recognize the dedication of those officers but also commit to providing our law enforcement officers the resources they need to meet the daily challenges of their jobs, particularly at a time when we place greater demands upon them to fight and prevent terrorism here and in America.

As a Nation we can provide these resources only by fully funding important law enforcement programs that allow our local agencies to buy essential protective gear, hire the officers they need and obtain the resources they need to make themselves and our communities safe.

Congress can provide these resources through grants, especially the Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, and its universal hiring program. This program was so successful that it helped put 100,000 police officers on the street under President Clinton. It is critical that Congress continue to fully fund this program. Unfortunately, President Bush's budget devastates the COPS program, providing only $97 million, a $659 million cut below last year's level. That is a more than 75 percent cut in this amount.

The President's budget also zeroes out the Edward Byrne Memorial State grant program. This program provides funding for 19 different programs, from counterdrug initiatives in rural communities to providing jailers for the local jail inmates.

The budget also eliminates local law enforcement block grants which provide direct grants to local agencies for hiring and training of new officers and vital crime fighting initiatives.

The President's budget cuts are simply unacceptable. It is my hope that Congress restores the cuts that the President has proposed in these valuable law enforcement programs.

Congress also needs to provide assistance to help regional law enforcement and first responders talk to each other in times of emergency. Police officers right now with their radios cannot talk to each other. They do not have what we call interoperability. My bill, H.R. 3370, the Public Safety Interoperability Act, would provide grants to local law enforcement agencies to modernize their communication systems and become interoperable. Interoperability of an officer's communications system would allow different public safety agencies in different jurisdictions to communicate with each other in times of crisis.

Currently, firefighters and law enforcement officials may not be able to communicate with each other even if they work in the same jurisdiction. The tragic events of September 11 illustrate why it is so important that our law enforcement officers are fully interoperable. Three hundred forty-three firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the World Trade Center on September 11. When our first responders are confronted with an emergency situation, it is absolutely necessary that they are

able to communicate with one another so they can fully assess the situation and determine how best to handle it. These are the kind of resources and tools our responders need.

Unfortunately on September 11 as one of the World Trade Centers collapsed, firefighters were stuck in the other World Trade Center and they had no way to tell them to exit the building because it was collapsing. Many of these firefighters did not have to die if they only would have had equipment, radios, that they could talk to each other. We need to do everything possible to ensure that our law enforcement officers that play an integral role in our Nation's antiterrorism efforts are fully interoperable.

I am also very concerned about the homeland security funding needs of our local agencies. The question I am often asked back home in northern Michigan is where is the funding? On January 22 of this year, the Conference of Mayors corroborated this sentiment when it released its second homeland security monitoring survey. According to this survey, 76 percent of the cities have not received any money from the largest homeland security program designated to assist first responders such as firefighters and police officers. Changes are obviously needed in the capital outlay process so homeland security money can get to our first responders in an efficient and timely manner. We need also to make sure that our first responders are informed about this process so they can receive this crucial funding in a timely manner.

Moreover, the State must have the ability to directly release funds to the locals instead of reimbursing them only after they have already spent the money. It really does not make sense that cities are required to pay up front for the costs of updating their emergency service and funding their homeland security needs and then hope to be reimbursed at a later date.

Not only do we need to get money out to our first responders but we need to fully fund these programs. The State homeland security grant program was funded at $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2004 but unfortunately, once again, the President's budget request slashes the program to $700 million. That is more than a 50 percent cut. Overall, the President's budget would reduce first responder assistance by more than 14.5 percent from the original $4.18 billion that Congress appropriated in fiscal year 2004 to $3.75 billion in fiscal year 2005.

We also need to ensure that programs like Thin Blue Line of Michigan are fully funded. The Thin Blue Line is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that assists and supports families of injured or deceased officers. The Thin Blue Line began in Michigan and is now beginning to expand throughout the Nation. Thin Blue Line volunteers assist families when applying for benefits, counseling, and answer their questions during the most difficult of circumstances. These officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and their families deserve to be honored, respected, and supported in any way we can.

I am hopeful that we can continue to show our commitment to law enforcement by supporting their important funding needs, including showing our full support for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. It is the least we can do for those who put their lives on the line for us each and every day.

The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) could not be here tonight because unfortunately he is at a memorial service for a State trooper who was just killed in Maryland. The gentleman from Maryland asked me to read his statement into the Record. At this time I will do so.

``The 958,000 Americans who make up the Nation's Federal, State and local police forces live the true meaning of duty, sacrifice and honor each day. They routinely put their lives on the line to enforce the laws that govern our society. Officers keep the streets safe, they pursue those who would steal from our homes and businesses and protect us from those who would prey on our children and our elderly.

``Tonight we especially remember Maryland State Trooper Anthony Jones who was killed this week while on duty assisting another trooper. Trooper First Class Jones every day exemplified the service and sacrifice that we honor this week. As the recipient of awards for his valor and bravery and as the anticipated recipient of the ``Top Cop'' award from the College Park Barracks this month, Trooper Jones demonstrated a commitment to public service and a sincere desire to protecting and serving our community.

``Trooper First Class Jones joined the State police after retiring from the United States Air Force in 1998. He spent his entire police career working as a road patrol trooper. He was on patrol duty early Sunday morning when he stopped shortly after 2 a.m. to assist another trooper working at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Prince George's County.

``Investigators said Jones crossed the four-lane highway on foot to remove a tire that was part of the accident debris and was making his way back across the road, using a flashlight to warn oncoming traffic, when he was struck and killed.

``Every day, law enforcement officers like Trooper Jones risk their lives in dangerous situations on our highways and roads to protect the citizens who travel along our roadways. This week we join together in commemorating Trooper Jones and all of the law enforcement officers whose brave deeds led them to make the ultimate sacrifice, or left them disabled.

``Trooper Jones is the 39th Maryland trooper to die in the line of duty. This week we say a special prayer for the 145 Federal, State and local law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty just last year. The Joneses and all of the families and loved ones of fallen officers must know that a grateful Nation mourns their loss and shares their pain.

``As we pay tribute to law enforcement officials who have fallen in the line of duty, we especially honor Trooper First Class Jones. His service to our country and to his community will long be remembered with the utmost gratitude and respect.

``Although we do not often thank them for it, officers like Trooper Jones help protect our most cherished rights as laid out by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence: The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We owe these fine and hardworking people a great deal for their contribution to our freedom and security.

``The words of John F. Kennedy strike a cord this week,'' when he said, `` `a Nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors and the men it remembers.' As these valiant men and women died because they made it their duty to protect and serve, it is our duty to honor and remember them for their selfless contribution to our communities.''

That concludes the gentleman from Maryland's (Mr. Hoyer) statement.

Mr. Speaker, while I have a little more time left, I want to talk about law enforcement. But this week, as was alluded to earlier by some other Special Orders and statements tonight, we had the prison abuse in Iraq, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), majority leader, when asked if we could do some investigation, he responded by saying `` . . . a full-fledged congressional investigation, that's like saying we need an investigation every time there's police brutality on the street.'' So is the majority actually trying to imply that police brutality is common practice in our country and that reports of such abuse should not be investigated?

I have a big problem with such an inference like that. As I said, I am a former police officer of 12 years, and I am highly offended by such an assault on our country's peace officers.

Let me tell my colleagues what is going on here. The Republican leadership appear to have zero interest in getting to the bottom of this matter to determine the extent of the prison abuse in Iraq and who was involved, including contractors, military intelligence, military police, and higher-ups at the Pentagon who still refuse to take responsibility.

Just today, the Washington Post reported there is an estimated tens of thousands of contractors in Iraq, which amounts to 10 percent of the total personnel there.

As I said last week, once again I call on the House Committee on Government Reform to hold hearings into the

government-paid contractors in Iraq who may have played a role in the actions at Abu Ghraib prison. We have a crisis on our hands that needs accountability and leadership to fix it.

The first thing President Bush should do is admit they made a mistake at the beginning of this war and apologize to the American people and the international community. This was simply a war of choice, not of necessity. Second, I believe the President needs to fully reach out to the international community to get them involved in the peacekeeping and rebuilding of Iraq and its new leadership so we can quickly bring our troops home. Third, we need to do more to protect our troops, provide them with the equipment they need and proper training and leadership.

Instead, all we have seen has been finger-pointing and denial that anything is wrong, from the systemic prison abuse to the false information on the weapons of mass destruction that was used to declare war in the first place.

I think the American people and our troops deserve better than that. They deserve the truth and, as I said, real leadership to get the job done and bring our men and women safely home.

Some may accuse me or my Democratic colleagues of being unpatriotic and saying that we are using the war as a political tool. My patriotism to this country and the American troops means it is my responsibility to ask the tough questions of the military and of the Bush administration on their actions in general regarding this war. If we do not ask the tough questions, who will?

We need to hold our government officials accountable, and that is going to have to mean more than court-martialing a handful of military police officers. The President needs to fire the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld.

It seems very clear that these are not isolated incidents of abuse by a handful of military soldiers, but actually a systemic pattern of behavior and treatment that I believe was encouraged from the top on down.

We need to get to the bottom of the situation and show the American citizens and, just as important, the international community that such actions will not be tolerated and that these actions are not the values of the America that I know and her people. The abuse and torture that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison has undermined America's credibility and the U.S. effort to bring peace, stability, and freedom to Iraq.

The damage inflicted upon the United States' reputation will take years, if not decades, to repair. Today the Secretary of Defense acknowledged that much, as he was quoted in the Associated Press article today saying that these incidents ``sullied the reputation of our country.'' Yet despite this acknowledgement, he still refuses to take responsibility and to step down. So I once again call on President Bush to immediately take action to help restore our credibility and he should start by firing the Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Speaker, just one more thing I would like to discuss before I leave the floor tonight. Twice this week my Republican colleagues had the opportunity to ensure overtime protection for millions of hardworking Americans, including first responders, emergency medical personnel, police and fire agencies and officers. And twice this week they chose to deny workers the overtime they deserve. The other body already did their part and passed legislation to block the new overtime regulations the Bush administration is planning to implement that robs millions of workers of their hard-earned overtime pay. The regulation is antiworker, it is antifamily, and it is bad economic policy.

I hope that before the Memorial Day recess, which will be in the next week or 2, that the House will pass similar legislation to block these proposed cuts in overtime to hardworking Americans throughout this country.

Mr. Speaker, I misspoke when on May 5, 2004, I identified perchlorate as the contaminant found at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The contaminants identified in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune were trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.

Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives will overwhelmingly support H. Res. 622, a resolution that pays tribute to Peace Officers Memorial Day, which takes place on May 15th, and honors those law enforcement officers who have died or become disabled in the line of duty. As a former officer with the Michigan State Police and Escanaba City Police Department as well as founder and co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus, I am a proud co-sponsor of this Resolution and want to thank my colleague Mr. Hefley for cosponsoring it again this year.

Since September 11, 2001, many in this Nation and this Congress have come to recognize the importance of the sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers. Every day these men and women protect and serve, often putting their own lives at risk.

Peace Officers Memorial Day brings us together in honoring the sacrifice our Nation's law enforcement and public safety officers make to our communities and our Nation every day.

This sacrifice was all too clearly demonstrated in Detroit, Michigan this year. Jennifer Fettig, a 26-year-old Detroit Police Officer and her 21-year-old partner, were killed in February during a traffic stop. This tragic killing illustrates the danger our law enforcement officers face daily not only during crisis situations, but while performing routine duties.

I think it is important as we discuss and pass this resolution that we must also resolve to provide our public safety officers the resources they need to meet the daily challenges of their jobs-- especially at a time when we have placed greater demands on them to fight and prevent terrorist threats. We can do that by fully funding important grant programs such as COPS, Byrne, and LLEBG.

That also includes providing assistance to help regional law enforcement and first responders talk to each other in times of emergency. My bill, H.R. 3370, The Public Safety interoperability Act, would provide grants to local law enforcement agencies to modernize their communication systems and become interoperable. These are the kinds of resources and tools I'm talking about. We need to do everything possible to ensure that our law enforcement officers are fully interoperable.

I am hopeful that my colleagues will follow up on their support of this resolution, and continue our commitment to law enforcement by supporting these important funding needs. It is the least we can do for those who put their lives on the line for us every day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my special order at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for two reasons: to call for President Bush to fire Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for failing to act upon reports of the disgusting photographs and inhumane treatment of Iraqi prisoners, and I also call upon the U.S. House of Representatives to hold hearings into the role private contractors may have played in these incidents.

Mr. Speaker, President Bush has repeatedly allowed the United States' reputation with the international community to be tarnished and has not held his appointees accountable for this damage. Whether it was going to war based upon inaccurate intelligence information, or White House officials exposing the identity of one of our own CIA operatives, or the most recent revelation about the inhumane treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq, President Bush refuses to hold his people accountable.

According to recent media reports, administration officials, including Secretary Rumsfeld, have known about these abuses for months, yet they failed to act on repeated recommendations to improve conditions for thousands of Iraqi detainees. In response,

Mr. Rumsfeld only received a private scolding from the President.

This is not a minor problem that can be fixed with just a slap on the wrist or by buying million-dollar ads to redefine history. The international community is appalled and upset at the cowboy arrogance and actions of this administration. Wild west tactics do not work anywhere, especially in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I call upon the House Committee on Government Reform to hold hearings into the government-paid contractors in Iraq who may have played a role in the actions in Abu Ghraib Prison. In addition, in a letter sent to the Department of Justice earlier this week, I and 27 other Members asked the Attorney General to investigate those contractors.

We need to get to the bottom of this situation right now and show American citizens and the international community that such actions will not be tolerated. The damage inflicted upon the United States' reputation will take years, if not decades, to repair. We need to hold our government officials accountable for their actions, just as we hold other governments accountable, and it needs to start with Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's termination.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to submit to the Record today's Washington Post editorial on the leadership decisions made by Secretary Rumsfeld since the beginning of this administration. The Secretary announced that the United States would no longer be bound by the Geneva Convention, that Army regulations on interrogation of prisoners would not be observed, and that many detainees would be held incommunicado and without any independent mechanism for review.

As the Post stated, ``Abuses will take place in any prison system, but Mr. Rumsfeld's decision helped create a lawless regime in which prisoners in both Iraq and Afghanistan have been humiliated, beaten, tortured and murdered, and which until recently, no one has been held accountable.''

It was only when photographs of these incidents made it into the press that Secretary Rumsfeld paid much attention. According to media reports, he had not even read the reports on these abuses that was completed in March.

I find it very troubling that our own Secretary of Defense was so dismissive of the abuses that may have taken place under U.S. oversight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Again, I call upon the President to fire Mr. Rumsfeld, and I call upon the House of Representatives to hold hearings about the role private contractors and the intelligence community may have played in these incidents.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me on this bill.

This bill, H.R. 2771, is a bill to reauthorize the New York City watershed protection program.

We passed this bill out of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials last month. This legislation addresses a grant for one State, New York. It was the first markup the subcommittee took up in the entire 108th Congress.

I do not mean to belittle the significance of this bill. I am pleased to help out my New York colleagues, but what about the consideration of the 13 other important provisions of the Safe Water Drinking Act whose authorizations have expired in 2003? The New York demonstration project's annual authorization of $15 million represents roughly 1 percent of the over $1.2 billion in total authorizations the Safe Drinking Water Act provides.

By giving priority to only one provision for special treatment, we are failing to address important core provisions of the act, such as the State revolving loan fund that helps all States and assures safe and healthy drinking water for all citizens. The revolving loan fund also expired in 2003 and is seriously short-changed in the administration's budget request at $850 million. That is $150 million less than the authorized level. This fund is critical in helping public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with the Federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health.

The EPA itself says we need $102.3 billion in additional funding for water utilities just to maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. That figure does not take into account the large and the huge costs of replacing critical water infrastructure.

It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that public health issues are not a priority for the Republican House leadership.

Far too many environmental and public health issues continue to be ignored. Let me name another issue that has continually been brushed aside.

The importance of Canadian trash into Michigan and the interstate movement of trash in general to neighboring States, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, has been a problem for more than a decade. Although a hearing was held last July in the subcommittee, there has been no effort to pass out any of the three bills that have been introduced to address this issue by members of our committee of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

One of those bills, of which I am a cosponsor, would direct the EPA to enforce an earlier agreement with Canada to stop the importation of municipal solid waste. I would be interested to know if the Republican leadership and the committee leadership are going to consider any of these bills this year.

This is just one of a long list of important environmental issues that the majority has failed to address. Other issues include lead contamination in Washington, D.C.'s drinking water and the need for Federal drinking water standards for perchlorate to ensure that the Department of Defense cleans up widespread contamination at its facilities, like Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

We should give the same amount of attention to the funding needs of all our environmental and public health programs. Instead, the President's budget cuts these programs by $2.3 billion, slashing EPA's budget by 7.2 percent below the fiscal year 2004 enacted level.

Again, as the majority, the Republican leadership, here refuses to address these serious issues, it is America's environment and public health that are continually put at risk.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the chairman, I agree we have had some hearings.

The perchlorate that I mentioned at Camp Lejeune has been going on for 20 years. We have to get that resolved. We had testimony from Mr. Ensminger and others last week about his daughter who died of leukemia from the contaminant in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, and no one has taken responsibility or accepted responsibility for doing anything about it.

The point I want to make, and see, with the trash issue, some 13 years we have had a number of hearings in committee. We had one last July, which I am thankful for.

Mr. Speaker, can we just report them out like we did this bill? This is the only bill we have reported out. Would my colleagues please report out the Canadian trash bills?

We look forward to working with my colleague in a bipartisan manner to move those Canadian trash bills.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary service and commitment of Bay County's Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department. On May 1st, the Department will celebrate 25 years of serving their Northern Michigan community. The efforts of the men and women of the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department stand as an example to all of us, and I join the township residents in thanking them for all they do.

Before their volunteer fire department was formed, the residents of Garfield Township had to rely on firefighters from nearby Kawkawlin. This meant that under the best of circumstances, it took at least 20 minutes for help to arrive on the scene of a fire. Not content with this dangerous situation, Township Treasurer Ray Monison and Township resident Gary Fritz began organizing what would become the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Before long the Township approved a millage for training, equipment, and a pole barn. Volunteers rebuilt a pumper truck donated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the community came together to donate paint for the truck. By May 1979, the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department was up and running.

Over the years, Garfield Township residents have supported their Department by approving additional millages, holding fundraisers, and donating their time. The Department has not only made Garfield Township safer, but brought the community closer together.

Since 1979, over 100 Township residents have joined the Department, maintaining a steady roster of about 20. Today, the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department has 22 proud members, nine of which have been with the Department from the very beginning.

Mr. Speaker, each of these people deserves individual recognition. The nine founding members of the Department still serving are: Wayne DeHate, Jerald DeLano, Terald DeLano, Ben Luptowski, Ronald Monison, Rodney

Richmond, Gerald Rivard, Paul Smith, and Robert Umphrey. More recent additions to the Department are: James Gotfryd (21 years), James Dubay (20 years), Donald Cielinski and Terrel Wackerle (13 years), James Warren (12 years), Clarence Pelton (8 years), Steve Eddy (7 years), Nicholas Smith and Stephen Smith (6 years), Dan Beyersdorf and Kelly Dearing (5 years), Scott Drake (4 years), and Ami Stender (2 years).

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, the efforts of the men and women of the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department should stand as an example to all of us, and I ask the House to join me in honoring them.