Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I would like to voice my support for H.R. 3773, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. There is no more important responsibility that Congress is charged with than protecting the American people. H.R. 3773 seeks to find that most critical balance between protecting our security and protecting our liberty.

Without the proposed amendments, FISA Act creates a new ``blanket'' warrant program that would allow the government to conduct surveillance on groups of foreign targets who may contact U.S. persons, including surveillance of communications to and by such U.S. persons. The new blanket surveillance program authorized in H.R. 3773 allows the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to apply for authority to conduct surveillance of foreign targets, or groups of foreign targets for up to 1 year or longer if necessary.

Additionally, the FISA Act allows the DNI and the Attorney General to begin surveillance activities without a warrant if they jointly believe that there is an emergency situation requiring surveillance to commence before a warrant could be issued.

This legislation allows our intelligence agencies to do their job effectively without trampling on the civil liberties that are the bedrock of our great society. I hold the principles outlined in our Constitution dear and I will not give up those freedoms easily for a false sense of security. It is time for Congress to stand up for the morals and values that have made this country great, instead of rubber- stamping the policies of the current Administration, which have already cost this country enormously.

I urge all of my colleagues to end the political posturing and join me in support of H.R. 3773 so we can ensure that our national security and our civil liberties are protected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for H.R. 3058, the Public Lands Communities Transition Act. This legislation will provide crucial funding to school districts located in Federal forest counties. Without these funds, these school districts will have to make large cuts to their educational services and programs.

It is imperative to address the fact that these counties have little to no local tax base to levy for their school districts. Therefore, any assistance from the Federal Government is essential.

Mr. Speaker, with the passage of this bill, we will ensure that the education of our children will not fall victim to devastating cuts in these areas. Adequate education should be provided to all of our children, regardless of where they live. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill with bipartisan support.

Mr. DeFazio. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise the contributions of the Caribbean-American community to this Nation's history and development. Since before the 1770's when Jean Baptist Pointe DuSable moved to what is now my hometown of Chicago this community has played a vital and positive role in the development of this country.

With over 4.6 million Caribbean-Americans in this country the contributions of this community should not be overlooked. This Caribbean-American community has brought to us such notables as Alexander Hamilton, Sydney Poitier, W.E.B. Dubois, Malcolm X, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Madam Speaker, without the contributions of these individuals the United States would not be the country we see today. Without Hamilton, would we have been the Constitutional Republic that allows us to be here today? Without Dubois when might we have realized that ``The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.'' Without Malcolm X would our youth understand that ``The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.''

Madam Speaker, in preparing for that future I believe it is fundamental that we remember our roots. I thank the Caribbean-American community for their contributions to society and look forward to what is yet to come.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately I have been out on medical leave. I have been unable to cast votes; however, I would like the Record to reflect my intentions had I been present to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 366, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 365, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 364, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 363, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 362, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 361, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 360, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 359, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 358, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 357, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 356, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 355, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 354, I would have voted ``aye''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 353, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 352, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 351, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 350, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 349, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 348, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rolleall No. 347, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 346, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 345, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 344, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 343, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 342, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 341, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 340, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 339, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 338, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 337, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 336, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 335, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 334, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 333, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 332, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 331, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 330, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 329, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 328, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 327, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 326, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 325, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 324, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 322, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 321, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 320, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 319, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 316, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 315, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 313, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 312, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 308, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 307, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 306, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 305, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 304, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 303, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 302, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 301, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 300, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 299, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 297, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 295, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 294, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 293, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 289, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 283, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 277, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 274, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 269, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 265, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 263, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 258, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 256, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 253, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 251, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 249, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 247, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 242, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 240, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 239, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 238, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 237, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 236, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 235, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 234, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 233, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 231, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 230, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 229, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 228, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 226, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 225, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 224, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 223, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 222, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 221, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 220, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 219, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 218, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 217, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 216, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 215, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 214, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 213, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 212, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 211, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 210, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 209, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 207, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 206, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 205, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 204, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 203, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 202, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 199, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 197, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 196, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 195, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 193, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 191, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 190, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 188, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 187, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 185, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 184, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 183, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 182, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 181, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 180, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 179, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 177, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 176, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 175, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 174, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 173, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 172, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 171, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 169, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 168, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 167, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 166, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 165, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 164, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 163, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 162, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 161, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express the astonishment and indignation I felt upon learning of the actions of Dr. Norma Perez, staff psychologist at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center in Temple,

Madam Speaker, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. Yesterday, in Oakland, California, two men were shot and killed in separate incidents. My heart goes out to the family of 35-year-old Curtis Holden. My heart also goes out to the other victim, whose name was not immediately released. There have been 55 homicides so far this year in the city of Oakland.

How do we explain these senseless killings to our children? We must replace the culture of violence with a culture of peace.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States and, sometimes, no matter how long it takes, some families do manage to gain a measure of justice.

Last week, on May 13, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the grieving family of 16-year-old murder victim Ryan Sampson breathed a small sigh of relief after determined police work led to the indictment of two suspected shooters, Samuel Fancher and Jerry Emerson. After nine months, since the July, 2007 gunshot to Ryan's head and torso in an abandoned building a few blocks from his home, his mother and grieving siblings are thankful for a measure of justice. Despite the survival of Ryan's friend, Leroy Moorman, who was also shot in the same incident, reluctant witnesses hampered the investigation.

In this case, unlike other unresolved murders that have afflicted Ryan's family, a brave informant finally came forward with credible evidence.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, every day, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. Last Saturday, May 17, Brandon Bethea, a 15-year-old Jamaica girl was fatally shot on a Far Rockaway, New York street corner. She was shot while standing with a crowd near the Redfern Housing Projects.

Then, 2 days later and a half-mile away, while police investigated Brandon's killing, 17-year-old Tyrese Jones was gunned down in front of a local restaurant.

Two more young people, gone before they could even graduate from high school. And on both of these days, 44 other people were shot. Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, every day, somewhere in America, an average of 45 people are shot and killed at the hands of a gun-wielding assailant. This senseless loss of life comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and zip codes. And, far too often, death comes at the hands of a loved one.

According to law enforcement authorities, on May 10th in Houston, Texas, death came at the hands of a Salvadoran immigrant husband and father of three young children. Neighbors describe, the father, Salvador, as friendly and hard-working. For reasons we'll never know, Salvador took a rifle and shot his wife, Lupe, and their three children, all under the age of 10. Before he shot himself, Salvador left a Snoopy doll and other plush animals along with a note that read, ``May God Have Mercy.'' So many dreams cut short in an instant of despair.

We must stop the senseless murders of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``Enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, every day, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. From coast to coast, the stories ring familiar.

In Los Angeles, police said this morning that they are investigating two separate shootings in Pacoima that left two men dead. One man, whose name has not been released, suffered gunshot wounds to his head and body. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. In a separate incident, in the same area, another man was fatally wounded in an apparent drive-by shooting around 3 p.m. Tuesday. These daily shootings must end.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``Enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Mr. Speaker, on December 19, 2007, the last day of the session before the holiday season, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act. The vote was 407-0. Today, with this Motion to Instruct Conferees, we are taking yet another step towards fulfilling our pledge to the American people to protect their children from dangerous products and overhaul the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I am confident that in the coming weeks, we can resolve all of the differences between the House and Senate versions of their respective bills and send a strong piece of legislation to the President that he will sign into law.

We have much to be proud of in the House version of consumer product safety reform legislation. H.R. 4040 was introduced by Chairman Dingell, Ranking Member Barton, Ranking Member Steams, and me. This historic bill, of which I am the lead sponsor, authorizes desperately needed resources to the Commission and dramatically rewrites the Consumer Product Safety Act, as well as the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, both of which are administered by the CPSC. After decades of neglect, the House bill restores the CPSC to its rightful place of prominence and gives it the necessary tools to grapple with the global marketplace and protect American consumers, particularly children, from dangerous and defective products.

The House bill is the culmination of a deliberative, bipartisan process that entailed countless meetings with consumer groups, industry, and staff of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, we held five hearings before our subcommittee markup. The full-committee reported H.R. 4040 as amended with a vote of 51-0. As Chairman of the Subcommittee, I am extremely proud of our collective efforts during this process.

H.R. 4040 has two titles. Title I specifically addresses children's products by establishing the strictest lead standard in the world for children's products and requiring certification and testing. Title II overhauls the CPSC itself, giving the beleaguered agency much needed resources and strengthening its underlying organic statutes. At both the Subcommittee and Full Committee mark-ups, the bill underwent significant changes: We strengthened the lead standard, raised the age requirement for mandatory testing to 12, required CPSC to appropriately tailor their corrective action plans to fit consumer needs, granted emergency recall authority to CPSC, bestowed enforcement authority to state Attorneys General, banned corporate-sponsored travel for Commission employees, and preserved state common law rights of action.

All of these excellent changes were made at the behest of members of the Energy and Commerce Committee who offered their valuable input on how to make the underlying bill better. The House bill is much stronger than the Senate bill in numerous ways, and it is my hope that our friends on the other side of the Capitol will agree to adopt those provisions in the final version that becomes law. Of course, likewise, the Senate bill has provisions absent in the House bill that are worthy of consideration and adoption. Indeed, the final product of a good conference should reflect the very best work of both bodies of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot emphasize enough that ours is a bipartisan bill that, from the very beginning, we drafted in consultation with Democratic and Republican members, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, consumer groups, and industry. I want to sincerely thank the distinguished Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, my dear friend, John Dingell, for his unparalleled leadership. This bill simply would not be possible without his guidance. Of course, I also want to thank my friends, the distinguished Ranking Member of the Committee, Joe Barton, and the former Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Cliff Stearns, for their leadership and unwavering cooperation.

I hope H.R. 4040 returns to the floor in a few weeks in the form of a conference report that the House can pass in unanimous fashion, just as we did on the last day of session last year. If we continue our deliberative approach of bipartisan cooperation, I am confident that we can do so and will eventually send to the President's desk a bill that will become law. I am confident that all of us will be able to go home to our constituents and tell them that we have done our job to protect American consumers and their families from dangerous and defective products.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Motion to Instruct Conferees.

Madam Speaker, every day, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. We have become too numb to the continued violence that plays out daily. On April 26, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 19-year-old Helder Tomar was shot and killed in Jenks Park in Central Falls. Unfortunately, this set off a cycle of teenage violence in Pawtucket and Central Falls.

According to a local newspaper, a young man said the obvious: ``Death is part of life, but it's supposed to be natural, not by violence, not by strife.''

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say, ``Enough is enough, stop the killing.''

Madam Speaker, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. The recent news of the death of an aspiring journalism student at Loyola University who was killed, May 4, when someone fired shots into her car on Chicago's South Side is tragic and sad. Twenty-year-old Ishma Stewart, a 2005 graduate of Oak Park-River Forest High School, was an intelligent

young lady who completed her studies in only three years. She was expected to graduate from Loyola in December.

Another promising life cut short. Another life ended by gun violence. Another family forced to ask why their loved one, who was not involved in guns, drugs or gangs, had to leave tragically and so soon.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.''

When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killings!''

Madam Speaker, every day, somewhere in America, an average of 45 people are shot and killed at the hands of a gun-wielding assailant. This senseless loss of life comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and zip codes.

On March 12, 2008, 23-year-old Anthony Maddox, of Washington, DC, was killed on the steps outside Truesdell Elementary School when small children were still inside. Fortunately, no children were harmed but they were surely traumatized by the fact that a man from their neighborhood, casually socializing with neighbors on a balmy spring night, suddenly lost his life at the hands of a gun.

In the words of the late revolutionary patriot, Thomas Paine, ``these are the times that try men's souls.'' These times require action, right now, from men and women like me who are determined to stop the carnage.

We must stop the senseless murders of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. And while needless gun-related deaths continue to take place at a savage pace on Chicago's streets, including my district, we're not the only community in crisis.

The 45 people who die somewhere in America come in all shapes, sizes, colors and zip codes. In February of this year, in suburban Cockeysville, Maryland, 16-year-old Nicholas Browning confessed to taking his father's 9 mm Smith and Wesson and walking through his home and taking the lives of both his parents and his two younger brothers. According to his attorney, young Nicholas, an avid Sunday school student, apparently snapped for reasons unknown. One can only imagine what might have been if whatever demons he was confronting did not lead him to grab a gun.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''