Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, I missed rollcall votes Nos. 478 and 479 and on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, I missed rollcall votes Nos. 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, and 488. I missed these rollcall votes due to having the flu.

Had I been present for rollcall 478, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 135, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 479, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1129, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 480, on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 610 providing for consideration of H.R. 2965, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 481, on motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 1278, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 482, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1945, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 483, on agreeing to the Kosmas Amendment to H.R. 2965, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 484, on agreeing to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 2965, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 488, on motion to adjourn, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the distinguished chairwoman of the subcommittee for yielding.

I would like to thank her and her colleagues on the Agriculture appropriations subcommittee for not only approving this this year but also last year, and I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Chair, I got home from Afghanistan 2 days ago; and while I was there in the Khost province, I was fortunate enough to visit with the Indiana National Guard. And besides their soldiering duties, some of other things they were doing was helping the Afghanistan agriculture farmers to better their practices of farming in Afghanistan. I would guess that if I asked the 14,000 farmers in Indiana in my district and if Mr. Campbell asked the 132 farmers in his district, according to the 2007 agriculture census, and I have 9,000 farms in my district and Mr. Campbell has 72 farms in his district, according to the same document, that if we asked those farmers in our two respective districts, Should we spend money in Afghanistan on their agriculture or spend

it right here in the United States, I'm just going to take a guess that they might say, let's spend some of it here. And that's what this amendment would try to preclude.

I'd like to take this opportunity, as Mr. Campbell said, to defend this program because it was fully funded last year, and I'd ask that it would be funded this year again. This is the Specialty Crops Research, Extension, and Training Center at the Southwest-Purdue Agricultural Center. This project is a collaboration between Purdue University and Vincennes University. It is housed in Vincennes, Indiana. This farmland in Knox County, Indiana, is particularly well suited for growing fresh fruits and vegetables, and the Southwest-Purdue Agricultural Center provides an important resource for farmers to improve crop quality and yields and decrease pesticide use.

The request I submitted to the Appropriations Committee would direct funds, as Mr. Campbell said, to the center for upgrades to their equipment and in personnel. Mr. Chair, they do a lot of great things there. This is critical for conducting research on crops in our area. I also will remind you that where I live in midwest Indiana is within a day's drive of 40 percent of the American population. Indiana is proud. We are proud of our farmers, and we're proud to supply food to the Midwest and across our country. And because approximately 40 percent of the Nation's population live within a day's drive of that area, we think it's extremely important to explore all of the possibilities of that area. And no one does it better than this extension and this agriculture center.

We all know the value of adding fresh fruits and vegetables to our diets, and Americans are struggling right now with obesity and related health issues. Proper diet and nutrition habits are critical components to making this country healthier. New expanded fruit and vegetable production is extremely critical. I think it's important to note that this is not new funding. This is in the USDA's appropriated funds. So who's better to say where this money might be spent, the Congressman who drives the streets and the roads and the highways and on the farms and talks to the farmers and the ranchers in southern Indiana or a bureaucrat sitting in a booth somewhere in Washington, D.C., that says, ``These people get this and these people get that''? I think it's the Congressman and the farmers from Indiana.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Dr. H. Ray Hoops on his outstanding service to the University of Southern Indiana (USI). Dr. Hoops is retiring after 15 years of extraordinary service to USI and the community.

During his tenure as USI's second president, Dr. Hoops has increased university enrollment, forged important partnerships with community leaders, and improved the university's academic record. His leadership has left a lasting mark on USI's physical appearance too, with many new state-of-the-art facilities.

Dr. Hoops is also an influential and visionary leader in the Evansville community. He serves on the Deaconess Hospital Board of Directors, the Evansville Education Roundtable, and the Southwest Indiana Economic Development Task Force. He is a former director and chair of the Indiana Conference of Higher Education.

Dr. Hoops has served as a tireless advocate for the students and faculty of USI. As an alumnus, I appreciate his work to bring additional opportunities and support to this outstanding educational institution. He will be missed, but I'm sure he's ready to spend his days hunting for pheasant instead of hunting for endowments. I wish him all the best.

I would like to thank Sheriff Reichert for yielding me this time.

As we know, we have seen a lot of uniformed police officers. In this House, we talk a lot about the men and women in uniform who protect our great country, and normally we are talking about the Armed Forces, and that is rightfully so. But this week, let's take a moment to think about the men and women in every Member of this Congress' districts who are protecting us and our families 24/7 every day of the year.

If we could honor them with a moment of silence for those who have fallen in the line of duty, I would appreciate that, and I know their families would, too.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

I would like to thank the bill's sponsors, Congressman Chandler, Chairman Miller and the members of the Education and Labor Committee for their hard work to help provide students with modern facilities that will help them succeed.

My amendment seeks to clarify that nothing in the underlying bill shall be construed to prohibit a local educational agency from using sustainable, domestic hardwood lumber for public school modernization, renovation, repairs or construction.

Our Nation's hardwood lumber producers are careful stewards of a valuable resource, and their efforts make domestic hardwood lumber abundant and sustainable.

These producers are small family landowners and business, and their small size has made it difficult to be certified by green building programs.

Because of this, domestic hardwood lumber is not currently listed as a preferred material by programs such as LEED or Green Globes, although hardwood producers are working to correct the situation.

H.R. 2187 wisely offers educational agencies with some flexibility in choosing a green building certification program. And as these programs adopt new provisions and account for new advances in environmentally friendly building, my amendment clarifies for local education officials that domestic hardwood lumber is not prohibited for use in this construction.

It is my hope that green building certification programs will soon recognize the environmental value of sustainable use of domestic hardwood lumber.

In the meantime, I urge my colleagues to make sure this resource remains available to our school facilities.

Again, I'd like to thank Congressman Chandler, Chairman Miller and of all my colleagues for their hard work on this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for giving me this time.

We hear a lot about waste, fraud and abuse in Federal Government, and this bill that I support, H.R. 2101, answers

just that. I think it is critically important legislation to reform the Pentagon's major weapons acquisitions systems.

By now we have all heard the alarming reports from the GAO, the statistics that show that 96 of the Department of Defense's major weapons systems experienced $296 billion in cost growth and an average of 22 months' delay in delivering these weapons to our warfighters. At a time when so much has been asked of the American taxpayer, we can do better, and we must do better. Runaway cost growth for many of these major weapons systems threatens other vital defense priorities at a time when our men and women in uniform are involved in active combat both in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McHugh and my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee recognize the Pentagon's acquisition process is on an unsustainable path. The most important element to this legislation, in my view, is the strict oversight and accountability applied to the early development stage of major weapons acquisitions.

This legislation requires the Department of Defense to track cost growth and schedule changes that happen prior to milestone B, the point in the process when the systems and development start. This is critical because 75 percent of the systems costs are locked in as systems emerge from the development stage.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2101 represents a strong bipartisan approach to reforming major weapons systems acquisition. But it is only a start. As a member of the Armed Services Committee's Defense Acquisition Panel, I will continue to work with Chairman Rob Andrews and Ranking Member Mike Conaway to review where action is needed to ensure greater return on our investment.

So you mean to say, Congressman, that rating agencies would say that this is a AAA product,

when in fact there were a lot of problems with the product. Is that right?

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Princeton Community High School Boys Basketball Team for winning its first 3A State Championship. The victory capped a perfect 29-0 season for the Tigers and earned them their first state title in school history.

The Tigers defeated the Rochester Zebras by a score of 81-79 in a thrilling double overtime victory at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. I was able to attend the game and it was one of the best I've seen, with 16 lead changes and a last second pair of free throws to put Princeton over the top.

As Tigers' coach Tom Weeks said, ``That's what Indiana high school basketball is about. It doesn't get any better than what we saw tonight.''

These young men are shining examples of the idea that success in life comes to those who are willing to set goals and work hard to achieve them. They are an inspiration to me and everyone in the Princeton, Indiana, community who have followed them throughout the years.

Go Tigers!

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Evansville Memorial High School boys and girls soccer teams on their recent historic achievement. On Saturday, November 1, 2008 the teams became the first to win both the boys and girls Indiana soccer championships in the same year.

With their impressive 23-0-2 record, the boys' team--led by Coach Bill Vieth, Jr.--defended their state title by defeating the Zionsville Eagles 3-2, while Angie Lensing coached the girls' team to its second state championship, defeating Fort Wayne Snider 2-0, ending their season with a 22-2 record.

The extraordinary dedication and teamwork shown by these young athletes is something they can be proud of long after they have left Memorial High School. The teams and coaching staff have demonstrated outstanding talent and an unwavering commitment to achieving their goals. They are an inspiration to me and everyone in the Evansville, Indiana community who have followed them throughout the years.

Go Tigers!

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to

the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 358) commending the members of the Nevada Army National Guard and Air National Guard for their service to the State of Nevada and the United States, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I consume.

I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 358 which commends the members of the Nevada Reserve components for their service to the State of Nevada and the United States of America.

More than 1,600 brave members of Nevada's Army and Army Air National Guard have been deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom since May of 2003. In addition, more than 1,500 Nevada residents have been mobilized as members of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve. The courageous servicemen and women of Nevada come closest to embodying the motto of their great State, ``All for our country.''

These heroes risk their lives and make tremendous personal sacrifices to protect our Nation and our freedom. Many have served extended tours of duty in active combat zones or provided invaluable support to our forces abroad. Beyond their military role, these men and women assume a myriad of responsibilities on behalf of our communities. From fighting wildfires to civic support, from drug enforcement, to search and rescue, it is their dedication and professionalism which we honor today.

Take the members of 1st Battalion, 221st Cavalry, operating out of Las Vegas, who added a distinguished new chapter to their unit's rich history--dating back to the early days of the Nevada Territory--with their service in Iraq from May 2006 to July 2007. Or consider the invaluable support of the men and women of the 321st Signal Company, based in Reno, who operated and maintained crucial digital communications equipment during their deployment to Kuwait and Iraq from December of 2003 to March of 2005. We honor them.

Consider the 777th Engineer Company, deployed to Kuwait from May of 2003 to 2004, and the 1864th Transportation Company, deployed to Kuwait from July 2004 to November 2005. We pay tribute to D Company, 113th Aviation, who brought their experience of desert conditions in the Sierra Nevada to their trials in Afghanistan from January of 2005 to June of 2006, and to Detachment 45, Operational Support Airlift, deployed to Kuwait from February to October 2005.

We thank the members of the 593rd Transportation Company out of Stead, Nevada, who braved IEDs and ambushes in Iraq from July 2006 to October 2007. They were joined in Iraq by the men and women of the 140th Military Police Detachment, based in Henderson, Nevada, who deployed from February to April, 2008. Much needed support was provided by the 152nd Airlift Wing and 152nd Intelligence Squadron, deployed to Iraq from September of 2005 to 2006, and again from February 2007 to March 2008. And, finally, the members of the 232nd Operations Squadron, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, who are currently deployed as part of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

These brave men and women have answered the call of their country, their State, and their community with honor, bravery, and great skill. Their sacrifices, through extended and repeated deployments far from families and loved ones, deserve our highest respect and our deepest gratitude.

I therefore trust you shall join me in support of this resolution, a small token of our heartfelt thanks.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend and colleague, a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, who I know is very proud of Nevada's Reserve components, the gentlelady from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time and am prepared to my close after my colleague has yielded back. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 415) honoring Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States Civil War, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

I rise in strong support of House Resolution 415, which honors Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States Civil War.

Despite generations of exclusion and discrimination, Asian Pacific Americans have served in our American forces with loyalty and dedication since the time of our Civil War. Unfortunately, many of their stories too often do not receive the attention, recognition, or credit they fittingly deserve. The stories of Mr. Cohota, Mr. Pierce, and other veterans of Asian Pacific Islander descent who fought in our Civil War are a few of such stories.

Edward Day Cohota, the best-documented Asian veteran of the Civil War, was found as a small child stowed away in a merchant ship bound for Massachusetts from the port of Shanghai, China, in 1854. The captain of the ship, Sergeant S. Day, discovered the half-starved child two days from port and adopted him as his own. Named after the merchant ship, Cohota, Edward Day Cohota spent the next several days sailing with Sergeant Day and Mrs. Day until Sergeant Day and his family retired to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1857.

When the Civil War broke out, Cohota joined the 23rd Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and fought bravely in the Battle of Drury's Bluff near Richmond and at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Mr. Cohota went on to proudly serve in the United States Army for 30 years.

In 1935, he died in Hot Springs, South Dakota, still a foreigner in the only homeland he had ever really known, as he had been denied American citizenship after the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

Joseph Pierce is another Asian Pacific Islander who served in uniform during the American Civil War. At age 21, Pierce enlisted in the 14th Connecticut Infantry in August 1862. Connecticut ship captain Amos Peck found Pierce adrift in the South China Seas and brought him home where he was raised with the rest of the Peck family and the family's children. The 14th Connecticut Infantry unit participated in the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, and he also fought with them at the Battle at Chancellorsville in May 1863. The 14th was also at the Battle of Gettysburg where they helped repel Pickett's Charge that fateful day.

Since the Civil War through today's current conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, Asian and Pacific Islanders continue to honorably and bravely serve our Nation in uniform.

We in Congress recognize and express our sincerest appreciation for the courageous and loyal contributions made by soldiers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent during the Civil War. We honor their distinguished and dedicated service in preserving and maintaining the Union and are proud of the rich diversity of our heritage.

I thank my colleague from California (Mr. Honda) for bringing forward this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Madam Speaker, at this time, I have no further speakers and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1248) recognizing the service of the USS Farenholt and her men who served our Nation with valor and bravery in the South Pacific during World War II, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1248, which honors the crew of the USS Farenholt for their brave service in the South Pacific during the Second World War. I would like to thank my colleague from Colorado, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, who introduced this resolution with me.

A 1,620-ton Benson-class destroyer, the USS Farenholt, affectionately known as ``the Fightin' F,'' was launched from Staten Island, New York, on November 19, 1941. The Farenholt sailed for the Pacific in July of 1942, participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal as the flagship for Destroyer Squadron 12 and escort for the carrier USS Wasp. On September 15, 1942, when the Wasp was surprised and sunk by two Japanese submarines, the Farenholt rescued 143 of the survivors.

The Farenholt's greatest test came the following month in the Battle of Cape Esperance, when the ship helped

intercept a Japanese force of cruisers and destroyers attempting to bombard Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. The Farenholt performed admirably, sinking an enemy destroyer despite taking heavy casualties from three direct hits from enemy fire. The brave crew managed to keep their ship afloat by shifting topside weight to the starboard, thereby lifting the shell holes out of the water. Thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of her crew, the Farenholt lived to fight another day.

In fact, she spent the next 2 years crisscrossing the South Pacific, providing cover for landings, escorting convoys, and rescuing downed pilots.

Her crew once again proved their courage on the night of February 17, 1944, when they launched a daring dash through the St. George Canal in the Solomon Islands to attack the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. They managed to sink two enemy merchant ships in the process, and General Douglas MacArthur wrote that the raids on Rabaul were ``splendid in every way and were conceived and accomplished in the best Farragut manner.''

The sailors of the USS Farenholt were awarded two Navy Crosses, two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, eight Letters of Commendation, and 46 Purple Hearts for their service and sacrifice to our country.

Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge a constituent of mine, Gene Fithian of Newburgh, Indiana. Last year, I met with Gene in my office in Evansville, and he shared stories about the Farenholt and his shipmates. Gene put my staff in touch with other men who served aboard the Farenholt, and this resolution would not have been possible without their valuable input. Thank you, Mr. Fithian.

It is with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that we honor the men of the Farenholt and their loving spouses, widows, and children. They are part of our ``Greatest Generation,'' and I encourage all my colleagues to join me in honoring their sacrifices.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I also reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentlelady from Virginia.

At this time, I have no further requests for time, and I'm prepared to close after my colleague has yielded back.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1316) honoring the service of the Navy and Coast Guard veterans who served on the Landing Ship Tank (LST) amphibious landing craft during World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and global operations through 2002 and recognizing the essential role played by LST amphibious craft during these conflicts.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 1316, which honors the service of the Navy and Coast Guard veterans who served on the Landing Ship Tank (LST) amphibious landing craft.

I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for bringing this important resolution before us. As an original cosponsor of the measure, I'm eager for its swift passage.

At this time, I'd like to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of House Resolution 1316, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First I'd like to thank the gentlelady from Virginia for her leadership on this special legislation. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for introducing this House Resolution honoring the Landing Ship Tank, LST, not only for this resolution and his dedication to our veterans, but also for his dedicated service in bringing LST 325 back to the United States from Greece, which ended up landing in my hometown.

The LST, Madam Speaker, has a rich and shared history with my hometown of Evansville, Indiana. During World War II, a 45-acre shipyard along the Evansville riverfront produced LSTs. The peak years of production saw a workforce of over 19,000 workers, and they completed two LSTs per week. The Evansville Shipyard was the largest inland producer of the LST in the United States. And when all was said and done, 167 LSTs and 35 other vessels were built and then sent down the Ohio River and then out to sea.

Madam Speaker, I would like to briefly recount the heroic and inspiring story of the LST 325. The utility and reliability of LSTs and the strong bond developed by their crews has fostered a vibrant and active veterans' association. These brave men, proud of the service and the craft they served on, secured legislation for the refurbishment of LST 325 and for the ship's retransfer to the United States from Greece, where it had been since the early 1960s.

Having set sail from Greece on November 14, 2000, the LST 325 arrived in Mobile, Alabama, on January 10, 2001--to a great American fanfare I might add. In 2003, during a 10-day stop in Evansville, 35,000 people toured the LST 325. It was with great civic pride that Evansville became the official home port of the LST 325 on October 3, 2005. The LST 325 is now an operational museum and a memorial ship on the beautiful Evansville riverfront.

This effort would not have been possible if not for the efforts of Evansville's Mayor, Jonathan Weinzapfel, and city officials who worked closely with Captain Bob Jornlin and Mike Whicker with the USS LST 325 Memorial. The city and the LST 325 Memorial have formed a great partnership, and I'm proud of their efforts. Evansville will proudly host the LST Week 2008 on September 24 through September 27 of this year, 2008.

Madam Speaker, the Navy decommissioned the last LST, the USS Frederick (LST 1184) in October of 2002, but the heroic service of the LST crews and the brilliant record of their craft will not soon be forgotten.

I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1316.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 today. I would like to thank my colleague Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio for joining me in this effort.

This important legislation seeks to address a growing problem in America: organized retail crime--known as ORC. ORC is a criminal enterprise where thieves obtain retail merchandise through fraud and theft and then sells the goods for profit, often to fund other criminal activities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that organized retail crime currently accounts for $30 billion in retail losses annually. And the criminals who form and operate these organized crime rings are becoming more sophisticated in the ways they sell their stolen goods to an often unsuspecting public. ORC rings have expanded their base of operation from the streets, flea markets, and pawn shops to the online marketplace where they can break the law with anonymity.

Before I came to Congress, I spent a career fighting crime as a member of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff Department. I arrested two thieves who were running a sophisticated criminal enterprise from the trunk of their car. At a hardware retailer that had several Evansville locations, these two thieves would pay cash for one drill, make copies of the receipt using a copier that they had in the trunk of their car, and then boost the same drills in bulk. Using the fraudulent copied receipts, the thieves would then return the stolen merchandise and receive cash back multiple times over. Today, these thieves may be selling the stolen merchandise online.

This is important because not only does ORC result in substantial losses for retailers, it also has significant consequences for consumers. These criminals often boost products like baby formula, diabetic test strips, and over-the-counter drugs from retailers. Needless to say, they are not interested in the proper storage of these sensitive health products, and as a result, the health and safety of consumers, who unknowingly purchase these products, is often jeopardized. ORC rings also negatively impact the bottom line for consumers because leading American retailers are forced to spend millions of dollars each year conducting loss prevention efforts.

The Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 is a sensible bill aimed at making ORC a federal crime while establishing common sense disclosure requirements for high-volume sellers on certain online marketplace sites. The online marketplace is a viable place of commerce, and this legislation establishes necessary guidelines on how to thwart illegal activity and protect online consumers.

It is important to note that this legislation contains a specific and narrow definition of the term ``online marketplace.'' An online marketplace will be subject to the bill's requirements only if the site has a contractual right to supervise the activities of its sellers, or if the online site has a financial interest in the sale of goods on its site.

The Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 requires online auction sites to maintain certain information--name, telephone number, email address, legitimate physical address, and any user identification--of high- volume sellers for three years. The site must also keep records of all transactions conducted by each high-volume seller for this same three year period. A high-volume seller is defined as someone selling more than $12,000 in merchandise annually or more than $5,000 of a specific good. Finally, the high-volume seller is required to conspicuously post its name, telephone number, and legitimate address on the online auction site or instead, may provide this information upon the request of a business that has a reasonable suspicion that goods were acquired through organized retail crime.

These simple and non-intrusive disclosure and recordkeeping requirements make sense. In fact, they are far less intrusive than the information required at pawn shops throughout the country. With over 700,000 people listing online auction sales as their primary or secondary source of income, these basic requirements are critical to ensure that criminals can be brought to justice while preserving the online marketplace for law-abiding citizens.

I look forward to working with Chairman Bobby Scott on this issue, and I commend the Chairman and his colleagues on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security for having the foresight to bring this growing problem to the public's attention through a committee hearing last October.

Madam Speaker, the Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 is a non- intrusive, common sense bill that aims to dry up avenues for organized retail criminals to sell their stolen merchandise at the expense of retailers and consumers. I urge my colleagues to join Congressman Jordan and me in supporting this important legislation as a first step toward cracking down on organized retail crime.

Madam Chairman, during rollcall vote No. 359, on the Lee amendment No. 26 to H.R. 5658, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Braley of Iowa

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel) for helping cosponsor this amendment, which is really a shame that we have to file this amendment. It's a very commonsense, straightforward amendment that, as much as I hate to say it, that we found out about it in a newspaper article.

It requires contracts awarded by the Department of Defense to prohibit contractors from using subsidiaries or subcontractors as a foreign shell company performing the work of the contract of a U.S. citizen. In this amendment, a foreign shell company is an entity incorporated outside the U.S. or Canada that does not manage, direct, or exercise operational control over personnel performing work under contract.

Now, what that means in plain English is that companies that are receiving government contracts and working overseas, Iraq and Afghanistan, are opening post office boxes in the Grand Caymans. A box. No employees, no telephone, no apartments, not an office, not an employee. Yet they claim to be a company out of the Grand Caymans.

What that does, Madam Chairman, is it cheats our government, it cheats our taxpayers at home, and it cheats the folks that work for these companies. This was originally found out by a person going in and filing for a disability claim, and they said, You're not an employee of the United States.

Madam Chairman, this is wrong, and we need to close this loophole. This simple, straightforward amendment that simply closes this is what we want to do here. And I think it's a straightforward amendment.

I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Yes. The gentleman from California is correct. That's the sole intent of this amendment.

That's agreed to, absolutely.

People might be wondering if this is a serious problem. We have had estimates from the Congressional Budget Office that if this tax loophole were closed, CBO estimates the Federal Government will save $846 million over 10 years. I would say that's a pretty big problem. I think the folks in Indiana would say that's a big problem, too.

During a time of tightened budgets and escalating national debt, closing this loophole makes sense. The tax provision was included in the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act which passed the House just this week.

I would urge my colleagues, and like I said, I would like to thank the gentleman from California. I would be honored to work with him to straighten out his concerns, and I would ask all of my colleagues to support this bill.