Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the national Trout Unlimited on the group's Anniversary celebration. Throughout the past 50 years, members of Trout Unlimited have shown continued dedication toward conserving, protecting and restoring North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

In 1955 former auto executive and conservationist George Mason approached George Griffith about starting an organization dedicated to fly-fishing and natural trout reproduction. In September 1959, 16 fishermen and conservationists gathered in Grayling, Michigan at Griffith's Fishing Lodge, ``The Barbless Hook,'' to hold the first Trout Unlimited meeting.

The next year, 300 people attended an organizational meeting for Trout Unlimited at the American Legion Lounge and Lanes in Grayling. Over the past 50 years, membership in Trout Unlimited has grown to 140,000 members with more than 400 chapters around the country. The organization continues to be guided by the principle if we ``take care of the fish, then the fishing will take care of itself.''

Today, the education and conservation efforts of Trout Unlimited span from Southern California steelhead, to sockeye salmon in Alaska's Bristol Bay, to the headwater spring chinook streams of central Idaho, then east to Maine Atlantic salmon and south to Georgia brook trout. Trout Unlimited volunteers have done everything from installing habitat improvement structures, fencing out cattle, replacing stream banks and implementing educational campaigns. This work amounts to 125,000 volunteer hours and $1,500,000 in restoration work each year.

Trout and salmon set the standard for the overall health of an eco- system--a standard that benefits all living creatures and plants that share it, including humans. From birth to death they serve as a critical part of the food chain that sustains us and wildlife far beyond the streams and rivers in which they live. They provide food for animals such as bald eagles, bear, and other fish and their carcasses contribute rich nutrients to the water and nearby trees and plants. Because of their actions, the continual conservation efforts of Trout Unlimited have positive repercussions for critical eco-systems far beyond the salmon and trout themselves.

During its 50-year history Trout Unlimited has carried out hundreds of local stream restoration projects; updated and reformed the use of hatcheries to recover imperiled fish populations; worked with landowners, government agencies, Native American tribes, and other conservation groups to repair damaged fish habitats; protected remaining health habitats; revised harvest practices to support sustainable trout and salmon populations; and, worked through the federal licensing process and negotiated with private landowners to ensure dams cause minimal harm to fish runs.

Madam Speaker, the determined efforts of all members of Trout Unlimited have shown that restoring a river can result in stronger local communities as well as stronger aquatic environments. For their work to preserve and protect not only trout and salmon, but coldwater fisheries and watersheds across North America, I would ask, Madam Speaker, that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in recognizing Trout Unlimited on its 50th Anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a constituent who has distinguished himself both in service to his country and to his community. Mr. William A. LaMarch has been named ``Upper Peninsula Veteran of the Year'' by the U.P. Veterans Committee. It is an honor befitting the dedication and patriotism Mr. LaMarch embodied both in the Armed Forces and in civilian life.

Mr. LaMarch, a resident of Escanaba, Michigan, is a decorated Marine who served his country with honor. In 1961, Mr. LaMarch received the Good Conduct Medal, awarded to enlisted members of the military who complete three consecutive years of honorable and faithful service. Mr. LaMarch also received two Meritorious Mast Awards, first in 1961 and again in 1963.

After being discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. LaMarch continued to build a legacy of service. He is currently serving as commander of American Legion Post #82, and is a life member of AmVets #123 and of Marine Corps League #444. He can be heard calling bingo at the V.A. Hospital in Iron Mountain, a position he has held for eight years. He has also served as the finance officer of Post #82, a member of the Marine Corps League Funeral Honor Guard and the Delta County Veterans Council Funeral Honor Guard.

Mr. LaMarch has also played a vigorous role in the community beyond his extensive activities as a dedicated veteran. He served six years on the City of Escanaba Board of Review and volunteers for the Salvation Army as a bell ringer, food bank, and basket worker. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

William A. LaMarch is one of the driving forces behind the U.P. Whitetails Association and the highly successful Delta County Wildlife Unlimited.

Over the years, Mr. LaMarch's accomplishments and devotion to his community have been recognized with numerous awards and recognitions. He has been named Legionnaire of the Year, twice named Elk of the Year, and received the Elks Grand Exalted Ruler's Commendation for Excellence. He received the Dan Patch Outstanding Volunteer Award and has been recognized by the Red Cross as a 22 gallon donor.

William LaMarch is a man who understands profoundly the value of service and the responsibility we have to help others. He stands as an example of what it means to be a true American hero, both in battle and within our own communities. His character and his generosity are a shining example of the spirit and strength that have defined the Upper Peninsula throughout its history.

Madam Speaker, William A. LaMarch embodies the words bravery, dignity, and service. He is an individual who has been recognized by his community and his fellow veterans as a leader and a model citizen. With that in mind Madam Speaker, I ask that you, and all of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, join me in saluting William A. LaMarch for his lifetime of service and in congratulating him on being awarded U.P. Veteran of the Year.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Manistique Elks Lodge #632 on the 100th Anniversary of the group's landmark building. The Manistique Elks Temple was built in 1909 and continues to be a source of pride for the community and a unique venue for activities including civic events, receptions and patriotic ceremonies. The building has seen both high times and low times, but throughout its 100 years of existence it has touched nearly every person in the Manistique community in some way or another.

Visitors to the Temple step onto a sweeping front porch and through grand pillars to enter the building. Once inside they look up to the ornate ceiling of stamped tin, richly painted with gold filigree and accented in burgundy and hunter green. They walk across hardwood floors that are a testament to the timber industry that has helped sustain the city of Manistique throughout the years. The sun shines through newly restored windows to create a bright atmosphere. It is a place that echoes the natural beauty found throughout Manistique and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

While so many buildings from the beginning of the 20th century have been destroyed or replaced, the Elks Temple continues to stand

proudly in the center of downtown. Throughout the years the Temple has undergone significant renovations. Its first renovation was in 1927 when new lighting fixtures and a new kitchen were added. In 1939 two new bowling alleys were installed. The bowling alleys were updated again in 1962, 1981, and in 2002. The Temple suffered a serious fire in 2005, only three years after extensive renovations were completed. Once again members were determined to restore the building to greatness.

Each time the Temple has been faced with adversity, members of Lodge #632 have banded together to invest in and restore the beauty and functionality of this local gem. The Temple is a symbol of the perseverance and spirit of the residents of Manistique. Whether hosting an annual graduation party, traditional fish and steak dinners, or community functions such as the local Chamber of Commerce banquet, the Manistique Elks Temple is a place that brings members of the community together and strengthens local ties.

Madam Speaker, members of Elks Lodge #632 have shown continued support for the city of Manistique and its residents. Their willingness to open the Manistique Elks Temple for community use and their years of dedication to maintaining and improving this historic building is a testament to the organization's long tradition of community pride. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in congratulating Elks Lodge #632 on the Centennial of the Elks Temple as well as thanking members for their active involvement in preserving this Manistique landmark.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3435.

The CARS program has proven widely successful. Within five days of the program's official start for electronic submission of applications, there is concern that the original $1 billion in funding will soon be depleted.

This means an estimated 250,000 new vehicles were sold since the start of the program. This is a great boost to our auto industry, with reports of dealerships being unable to keep current vehicles in stock due to the strong demand from consumers--a problem my local dealers welcome.

Preliminary statistics on the program point to consumers gaining a 69 percent improvement in fuel efficiency from their trade-in vehicles, with an average annual gasoline savings of $750.

The goals of increasing fuel efficiency, reducing pollution, and providing a needed economic stimulus for our nation's auto industry have all been met by the program. An additional $2 billion, transferred from the economic stimulus bill, should provide enough funding for the program to sell an additional 500,000 vehicles.

Even ineligible consumers are benefiting as more foot traffic from the program will boost automotive sales for dealerships across the country.

A bipartisan group of Members and the White House are in agreement that this successful program must continue. Congress should pass H.R. 3435 to provide $2 billion from economic stimulus funding to support this widely successful program. Consumers should continue to benefit from the program, and we must ensure the financial security of existing deals between consumers and car dealerships.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I, along with Ranking Members Whitfield, Shimkus and Walden, have held 10 hearings over the past 2 years to examine the safety and security of our Nation's food supply.

This investigation takes important steps towards addressing the gaping holes in our Nation's food supply by recognizing that the food industry and the FDA must share responsibility for securing our Nation's food supply. Provisions granting the FDA additional authorities, such as quarantine, recall, subpoena power and access to records, are all addressed in H.R. 2749.

I want to thank my colleagues and friends, Chairman Dingell, Chairman Pallone and Chairman Waxman, for all their hard work on this issue. I also wish to thank their staffs, who have worked diligently to see this bill come before us today. Plus I want to thank the Obama administration for working with us.

All the dedication of all the individuals have paid off with a piece of legislation that will help protect and ensure all Americans have access to safe food. I am proud to be part of such great legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, right now just about 60 percent of Americans receive their health insurance from their employer. But from 2000 to 2007, the annual health insurance premium for employers and employees rose from $6,628 to $12,153. The average worker's share of premiums grew by 116 percent, and the average employer's share rose by 75 percent, while wages only went up 4 percent.

Americans can no longer afford health insurance through the insurance company. In fact, a recent study found that 73 percent of all Americans who seek an individual insurance policy do not end up purchasing one, either because they were turned down due to preexisting conditions or their premiums were unaffordable.

Mr. Speaker, all Americans should be entitled to health insurance. But according to the SEC, Security and Exchange Commission, filings from 2000 to 2007, profits at the top ten publicly traded health insurance companies rose an astonishing 428 percent, from $2.4- to $12.9 billion.

Get the excessive profit out of health care. Provide health care for all Americans.

I thank the gentleman and the coach for yielding me time.

I rise today in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. Madam Speaker, those of us who respect the right of life for the unborn know that when taxpayers fund abortion, more lives are lost to the tragedy of abortion. Out of our conviction for the unborn, 180 Members sent a letter to the Speaker, the chairwoman of the Rules Committee and the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, requesting that existing pro- life riders be included in any legislation reported out of the Appropriations Committee. These provisions include long-standing restrictions, some of which have been there for more than 30 years, on funding for abortion, on the conscience clause and policies respecting human life. These restrictions are important. They are a crucial part of Federal law. But they must be reapproved every year, as they have been by both Democratic and Republican leadership. We asked that those policies remain in legislation out of respect for all Americans who identify themselves as pro-life and out of respect for pro-life Members on both sides of the aisle. But anticipating the possibility that a pro-life appropriations policy will be deleted, a bipartisan group of Members asked for a reasonable accommodation by the Rules Committee. We asked that, at a minimum, the full House be given a reasonable opportunity to debate whether we should use taxpayers money to fund abortions. We asked to just allow us an up-and-down vote on this critical issue. When we saw that the ban on government-funded abortion in the District of Columbia was rendered meaningless, 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, 10 Members, a bipartisan group, went to the Rules Committee and asked for a simple change, an amendment to strike one word on page 143, line 8, the word Federal. Unfortunately our amendment

was flatly denied. We are not even given a chance to debate whether we should use taxpayer money to fund abortion, a very basic issue and question facing this country.

So, unfortunately, I'm going to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and also to vote ``no'' on the underlying bill in its current form and in opposition to the rule, which muzzles the voices of pro- life Members.

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, I could not be present for votes due to a family funeral back in Michigan. I rise today to enter into the Record how I would have voted had I been able to vote.

House rollcall vote No. 424. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 425. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 426. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 427. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 428. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 429. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 430. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 431. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 432. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 433. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 434. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 435. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 436. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 437. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 438. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 439. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 440. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 441. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 442. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 443. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 444. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 445. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 446. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 447. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 448. I would have voted no.

House rollcall vote No. 449. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 450. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 451. I would have voted yes.

House rollcall vote No. 452. I would have voted yes.

Madam Speaker, I rise to support and discuss regulations I included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act to prevent excessive energy speculation, which has played a role in the run away energy prices we saw last year, and are seeing in the first half of 2009.

In January, oil was trading at $35 per barrel. Today, it is trading near $70 per barrel. The price for oil has doubled in the midst of a global recession. Oil supplies are at a 20-year high, and demand is at a 10-year low, yet oil prices have skyrocketed since the beginning of the year. If this is based on supply and demand, what is happening to explain rising oil prices? If supply is up and demand is down during this global recession, why would oil continue to climb?

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Senate, as well as a number of respected oil market traders and analysts, have pointed to excessive speculation in the energy markets as the primary reason we see price spikes and volatility in the marketplace. In May, I introduced the Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices Act, or the PUMP Act of 2009. I worked with Energy and Commerce Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Markey to include the bulk of my bill into the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which is on the floor today.

This legislation is not new; I have been introducing this bill in one form or another since April 2006. But new weaknesses in our regulatory structure, brought to light by the financial crisis and spikes in the price of oil last year, are addressed in the 2009 PUMP Act.

The need for this legislation is two fold: 1. the dramatic rise in prices of oil and natural gas, and 2. the new carbon derivatives trading market created by the ACES bill. Some object to the inclusion of regulations on derivatives in this energy bill. I believe ACES proposed cap-and-trade program is fatally flawed without strong regulations to police this market from run-away price swings on carbon.

Addressing excessive energy speculation should be a key part of any new energy policy pursued, because a dramatic spike in oil prices or carbon prices, would further devastate our already weakened economy. According to NYMEX officials, less than \1/10\ of one percent of futures trades in crude oil ever result in physical delivery. Most futures traders are not interested in delivery of a product, they are interested in profit. When speculators increase their investments, physical hedgers--businesses like airlines, trucking companies, and other industries that actually use the energy being traded--represent a smaller and smaller portion of the market. They are being squeezed out!

As a growing majority of the market is controlled by speculators, crude oil is morphed from a commodity into a financial asset, traded for its financial value instead of its energy value! As a result, this excessive speculation by index speculators is a significant factor in the price Americans are paying for gasoline, diesel and home heating oil, and has similar affects on agricultural prices. For too long, through loopholes, exemptions, and poor enforcement by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, energy speculators have been able to avoid position limits. As a result, excessive speculation has exploded.

My legislation in the 2009 PUMP Act and in ACES is comprehensive, and changes the regulations for the energy markets in fundamental ways. It makes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulate all over-the- counter trades that are currently not regulated; it regulates foreign boards of trades' energy transactions that trade for delivery in the United States or on a computer located in the United States. These boards are subject to the same regulations as current markets, including large trader reporting, recordkeeping, and prohibitions against fraud and market manipulation.

My bill closes the swaps loophole; no longer allowing energy transactions to be excluded from the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act. This would require the CFTC to provide greater oversight over these swap transactions. It bans naked credit default swaps. Naked credit default swaps, or one where the holder has no risk obligation on the swap, which creates a moral hazard by incentivizing economic loss. It sets aggregate position limits for energy speculators across all markets; it includes a CFTC Inspector General provision that makes that office independent and accountable. It also requires all trades be cleared through a designated clearing organization, eliminating the unregulated ``dark markets.''

My bill allows the CFTC to collect fees and create an independent funding stream for oversight and enforcement of commodity markets. Finally, it includes carbon derivatives as a regulated energy commodities under the authority of the CFTC. This incorporates all greenhouse gas emissions, offsets, and financial products derived from carbon credits.

As the House works on the ACES bill, it is important that carbon trading not lead to a speculative bubble like we saw in the 2008 oil markets. Congress needs to pass legislation to set strong position limits, and ensure that excessive speculation does not allow speculators to detach carbon or energy prices from supply and demand fundamentals.

I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in passing legislation for the President to sign that sets strong position limits and improves CFTC enforcement to end this excessive speculation and provide relief to American consumers.

Madam Speaker, as one of the authors of H.R. 2751, I urge support of the Cash for Clunkers program that will provide cash vouchers of up to $4,500 at auto dealerships for consumers who trade in aging, less fuel-efficient automobiles and replace them with modern fuel-efficient models.

The Cash for Clunkers program accomplishes a dual task of reducing emissions and stimulating sales in the auto industry. I applaud Congresswoman Sutton for her leadership on this important issue. And I appreciate the support of Chairman Waxman, Chairman Emeritus Dingell, Chairman Markey, Chairman Inslee, and Majority Leader Hoyer in helping to bring this agreement to the House floor.

The Cash for Clunkers program provides an incentive for Americans to do their part to reduce emissions without imposing new regulations on industry or consumers. This bill results in cleaner cars on the road and an increase in sales for the struggling auto industry.

The value of the voucher and the criteria used to determine eligibility vary based on the type of car you are trading in and the type of car you are buying. The agreement we have reached on Cash for Clunkers ensures that a variety of needs of consumers are covered under the program.

The Cash for Clunkers program encourages consumers to buy 1 million new cars and trucks. This program bolsters the automotive industry at its weakest point in years while revitalizing manufacturing and jump- starting our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the author of H.R. 1280. I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Interior Committee, Mrs. Christensen and Mr. Lamborn, and the committee staff for their assistance in moving forward with this legislation.

H.R. 1280 is a straightforward bill that would allow the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society to implement the new Human Use/Natural Resource Management Plan for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Chippewa County, Michigan.

We have passed identical legislation on suspension out of the House of Representatives in the 109th and 110th sessions of Congress before, but it was not considered by the Senate. I am hopeful, with the House acting early this year in this legislative session, that the legislation we pass today will allow the Senate ample time to consider and approve this legislation.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Since 1992, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has operated the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to educate the public about shipwrecks in the region. The museum provides exhibits on several shipwrecks in the area, including an in-depth exhibit on the Edmund Fitzgerald, which was lost with her entire crew of 29 men near Whitefish Point, Michigan, on November 10, 1975. Among the items on display is the 200-pound bronze bell recovered from the wreckage in 1995, as a memorial to her lost crew.

In 2002, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Michigan Audubon Society, and the local community finalized a new management plan to improve the experience at the museum. The new management plan, which was signed and agreed upon by the interested parties, will allow the historical society to expand the museum's exhibits while addressing concerns about parking and access to surrounding wildlife areas. However, because the original land patent references the previous management plan, legislation to amend the patent is necessary before the new management plan can be implemented.

H.R. 1280 amends the land grant patent to allow the new management plan to be implemented. Congressman Camp of Michigan has joined me in cosponsoring this legislation, and I thank him for his support.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has continuously improved the experience at the museum since it was established in 1992. With the approval of H.R. 1280, Congress will allow the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to further develop this cultural and historical resource.

I encourage my colleagues to support this simple legislation which would improve the opportunities available to visitors of Chippewa County, Michigan, and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I stand today in support of House Resolution 426, a resolution offered by our friend, Mr. McNerney from California. This resolution is to recognize Police Week and all the law enforcement officers across the country that keep us and our communities safe.

As a former city police officer and as a Michigan State police trooper, law enforcement has always been a legislative priority for me. When I was elected to Congress 17 years ago, I was surprised to learn that there was no formal organization within Congress to advocate on behalf of law enforcement. So I founded the Law Enforcement Caucus with the help of then-Democratic caucus chairman Steny Hoyer.

Today, the Law Enforcement Caucus has 110 members and we hold regular briefings throughout the year. I'm proud to be cochair of the caucus, along with my friend Dave Reichert, the gentleman from the State of Washington.

As you know, this is a time of great change for the law enforcement community. During an economic downturn, there's an increase in crime and in the drug trade. Many in Washington have paid a lot of attention to the integral role that law enforcement plays in protecting our country. But the Federal Government has to do more than talk about the problem. We must also provide resources, training, and equipment to ensure that it is there for local law enforcement.

We made a strong commitment to this goal by providing $3 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for law enforcement programs. This effort must continue as we consider fiscal year 2010 appropriation bills. After all, our law enforcement officers are on the front lines every day, keeping us and our communities safe.

I urge my colleagues to not only support this resolution honoring Police Week, but support law enforcement programs by fully funding the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the Community Oriented Policing Services grants, and many Federal programs that have gone underfunded when the need is ever growing.

Mr. Chair, I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act.

In this economic crisis, far too many families have been forced to rely on short-term, high-interest credit card debt to pay for food, housing and other basic necessities.

In Northern Michigan, unemployment is at record highs. This has led many families to fall behind on their payments and fall victim to predatory practices of many credit card companies.

This legislation includes several provisions that would protect consumers from these abusive practices.

The bill would protect cardholders from arbitrary interest rate increases, ban collection of interest on amounts already paid, and would also set specific definitions for ``prime rate,'' ``fixed rate'' and other terms to prevent deceptive use of these terms.

For too long, the credit card industry has preyed upon consumers through omission of honest billing practices, and through loopholes in credit regulation.

I, alongside my colleagues Mr. Price, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Moran among others, have offered an amendment that requires credit card companies to honestly report a customer's balance on their monthly credit card statement.

This includes reporting the monthly payment amount and total cost to the consumer for them to eliminate their outstanding balance in 12, 24 and 36 months.

I urge my colleagues to support our amendment and to support the underlying bill.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Costa, for introducing this resolution. As a former Escanaba City police officer, a Michigan State police trooper and as an attorney, I saw every day the effect of crime on our citizens. Crime leaves its victims feeling unsafe in their own communities and vulnerable to the often complicated judicial system.

As the cochairman of the Law Enforcement Caucus, I know that when a crime is committed, our law enforcement agencies work hard so the criminal is brought to justice. But there is another part to the equation. The victim of crime must be provided with assistance and support to recover from this often traumatic experience.

Our law enforcement agencies work with the court system to ensure that victims of crime are treated fairly and with respect to one's dignity and privacy. We must step up to the plate and show our strong commitment to the criminal justice system by ensuring that victims of crimes feel safe in their own communities.

The creation of the National Crime Victims' Crime Week is a good first step to increase public awareness of the rights and needs of victims of crime. Congress should go even further by ensuring the legal protections are in place to protect victims of crime.

During the National Law Enforcement Week in May, I will introduce an amendment to the United States Constitution to protect the rights of all victims. I hope you will join me in ensuring our Constitution explicitly supports the rights of victims of crime.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of House Resolution 109 to create the National Crime Victims' Rights Week of 2009 and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Weiner for his outstanding work on this bill.

In 1994, the COPS program changed the way we fight crime in this country, by giving local jurisdictions the support needed to put more than 100,000 new officers on the street.

The results were clear: a nationwide drop in crime, and safer streets in our rural and urban areas alike.

The COPS program is needed now more than ever. States, counties, and cities struggling to balance their budgets have made cuts to law enforcement programs even as the threat of terrorism has put new burdens on our first responders, and recent news reports show violent crime in our cities is again on the rise.

This bill will help us face those problems, by putting thousands more officers where they can do the most good: on the streets of our communities.

I am a Co-Chairman of the Law Enforcement Caucus, which was founded to advocate for the law enforcement community, ensure our law enforcement officers are provided the resources they need and build on key programs--such as COPS--to keep our communities safe.

The COPS program is a proven concept that has the full support of the law enforcement community, and this bill will improve the program by expanding the utility of grants and increasing its authorization amount level by nearly $800 million.

I thank the Chairman and the Committee for their work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''