Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Cooper for yielding this time to me.

I just returned from my fourth visit to Iraq with Speaker Hastert and two other Members of Congress, and after this recent trip, I am more convinced than ever that the time has come to change U.S. strategy in Iraq.

The ultimate goal is to establish a free, open and democratic Iraqi government and bring our men and women in uniform home.

I believe the best way to do this is to have the Iraqi security forces, specifically the Iraqi Army and military, take on responsibility of patrolling and securing their own country. I believe we must move American and coalition troops to the perimeter of the urban areas and let the Iraqi military patrol the streets of their cities.

Since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, more than 2,400 American troops have been killed and more than 20,000 injured. The insurgents and al Qaeda are using IEDs, which are roadside bombs, and suicide bombers. We, at this point, have not been able to defend our military as we should because of these tactics.

I believe a change in strategy in Iraq is now necessary. By moving our troops to the perimeter, it will accomplish numerous things. Number one, it will allow the Iraqi military to be less dependent on the American military and our other coalition forces. It will send a message to the Iraqi people that now they have a new government that has been formed, it will give them the message that this is their country, this is their government, and this is also their Iraqi citizens providing their security.

By moving to the perimeter, it will also allow us to change strategy, to show the Iraqi people and the American people and the world that there is a change in strategy, that we are moving ahead and that the Iraqi people and the Iraqi military will now have less dependence on us.

In order for the Iraqi military to be able to provide the security necessary, we must cut the apron strings. By going to the perimeter, we will be able to do that.

Now, how will we be able to do that? Number one, this is the beginning step to bringing our troops home. We will also continue to backup the Iraqi military when they need help. If they are being overrun, they can contact us. You can be anywhere, and many of us who have been to Iraq know, in a Black Hawk helicopter in Baghdad, as an example, within 10 to 15 minutes.

We have the best special operations forces in the world. Our SEAL teams, our rangers, our marines, we have the best in the world. They have the ability to backup the Iraqi military when they are in need.

But this will also allow our American forces to start using our technology, our air power, our abilities that have made us the strongest country in the world to backup the Iraqi military, but it will also, by doing this, going to the perimeter, it will allow us to be able to focus on high-value targets and let us again start bringing our men and women home.

It will not be necessary anymore for our military to patrol the Iraqi urban areas and get blown up or injured by suicide bombers or roadside bombs because the Iraqi military will now be in those same streets.

This is a very important plan. It is something we should consider very strongly.

Now, it is important that we get our information from our military to make sure that we move forward with this type of plan. I was in Iraq about 2 months ago, and I talked to four of the generals who are really in charge of running everyday operations in Iraq, starting with General Casey, and I asked them, is the Iraqi military ready to start taking on the responsibility of patrolling the urban areas. Their comments to me 2 months ago was that they feel that they are getting close, that they are not ready yet.

When I just came back a week ago, when I went to Iraq with the Speaker, I asked the same generals, how are we doing now, is the Iraqi military, who we have trained for two-and-a-half years, is the Iraqi military ready to take on responsibility of patrolling the urban areas. They said to me, basically, they feel that the Iraqi military could take on responsibility of patrolling at least 70 percent of the urban areas. If this is the case, then it is extremely important and urgent almost that we let the Iraqi military start doing the job, and we will then back them up.

Now, after I came back from Iraq, we were asked by President Bush to come and to brief him about the issues and what our observations were. I explained to the President a month-and-a-half ago about my strategy of moving to the perimeter. He said he would consider that.

When I brought up the issue this time about a week ago, his comment was it could be a good idea but he has to rely on his military, on the strategy of his military commanders, and I understand that. And I told him that my conversation with the military commanders in the presence of other Members of Congress was basically they felt they could start the process of letting the Iraqi military starting to patrol the streets, starting to implement this perimeter plan, which will, again, allow the Iraqi military to start providing the security in their country. It will allow us to start bringing troops home, because if we go to the perimeter, we will not need all of the men and women, our military, to patrol the urban areas. Yet, we will still be there in the perimeter, it would be the green zone, to backup the Iraqi military when in need.

I think this strategy should be considered. I hope it will be considered, and by considering this strategy, it will change our mission. It will be a new strategy. It will say to the American people, it is not the same old-same old, and we know that the American people are getting pretty frustrated when they see in the media every day that men and women are being injured, our men and women are being injured or being killed.

This will then allow us to fight the war on our terms, using our air power, our intelligence to be able to go after the high-value targets like Zarqawi and also to fight the war on terror, because we are in a war against terror, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan but throughout the world, and we must focus and use our specialty and our expertise to fight this war on terror.

Remember, our ultimate goal is to turn this government over to the Iraqi people. Let them start creating job. Let us help them create jobs. Let us start helping them deal with the issue of infrastructure. If you do not have a job, you are not going to have a community, and we have to show to the Iraqi people that their quality of life is better under a democracy than it was under Saddam Hussein, but in order to do this, they must have security. They

must have jobs, and I think we can help them do this.

Our ultimate goal is to bring our men and women in uniform home. This perimeter plan is the first step. I respect Congressman Murtha. I think Congressman Murtha put this issue on the table so that we in this country and in Congress could start debating the issue about what is the appropriate strategy. My only issue with respect to Congressman Murtha's issue about a time certain is that I do not believe that we should give any enemy a time certain on when we are going to leave Iraq or Afghanistan, but I do believe that this perimeter strategy is first step to bringing the troops home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Curtis A. Springer, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Maryland, since June 2003. As Commander, Captain Springer has worn many important hats. He is Captain of the Port for the Port of Baltimore, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, and Federal Maritime Security Coordinator for all Coast Guard operational missions performed in the Upper Chesapeake Bay and Washington, DC.

Despite this overwhelming portfolio of responsibilities, Captain Springer has served the citizens of Maryland and this Nation quietly, honorably, and exceptionally. Embodying all that the United States Coast Guard is, Captain Springer has accepted his many roles and worked with his team regardless of the resources provided. This is a man who has earned respect the old fashioned way, through hard work and a sense of duty.

Captain Springer and I have been through much together: from dealing with the impact of the storm surge to Hurricane Isabel, to the water taxi disaster in Baltimore's Inner Harbor to homeland security issues facing the Port of Baltimore. Through it all, Captain Springer has always ensured that the task at hand be completed at highest of standards.

Captain Springer is a unique leader with an innate sense of what needs to be done. As Captain of the Port, he is required to keep trouble away from our waterways before it arrives. It is critical to balance the economic realities of commerce and the impact on the private sector with the safety of the port. He has kept these often competing interests in delicate balance. Beyond his military and maritime duties, Captain Springer understands Baltimore is a working port. His wise decisions have positively affected the State of Maryland and the people who do business at the port.

Captain Springer received his commission from Officer Candidate School in 1982 after graduating from Methodist College in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where in 1980 he received a bachelors of arts degree in education. He received a master of public administration from Michigan State University and a master of business administration from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Throughout his Coast Guard career, Captain Springer's assignments have included staff officer at Reserve Training Programs Division Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC; Deck Watch Officer and Operations Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Mallow in Honolulu, HI; Operations Officer aboard the Coast

Guard Cutter Citrus in Coos Bay, OR; Chief of the Maritime Law Enforcement School at the Coast Guard's Training Center in Petaluma, CA; Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa in Petersburg, Alaska; Program Reviewer in the Programs Division of the Office of the Chief of Staff, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC; Commander of Coast Guard Group Ohio Valley in Louisville, Kentucky; and Executive Assistant to the Atlantic Area Commander in Portsmouth, VA. His most recent assignment was as Deputy Chief, Office of Programs and Chief, Programs Review Division in the Office of the Chief of Staff at Coast Guard Headquarters.

Captain Springer's military decorations include three Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and a Commandant's Letter of Commendation.

Beyond it all, I have always been struck by Captain Springer's down- to-earth ``just the facts'' approach. He is simply a good guy who wants to get it right; and I, for one, am grateful for that.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me in thanking Captain Curtis A. Springer for all he has accomplished in Sector Baltimore, and to wish him the best of luck in his next assignment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Captain Brian D. Kelly, chief of the Office of Command and Control in the Operations Directorate at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. Over the years, Captain Kelly has served his country to the best of his ability and deserves recognition for his leadership.

Captain Kelly started his career with a solid foundation. He attended two fine institutions, which provided him with the proper education, training, and skills he would later need to succeed in the United States Coast Guard. With a B.S. in government, he graduated in 1982 from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Several years later, he attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School where he earned an M.S. in management. The formal training he received certainly played an integral role in Captain Kelly's success.

In his current role in the Office of Command and Control, Captain Kelly was charged with the task of running the Coast Guard's Command Center, as well as the National Response Center. His contributions to this department have been exceptional. Everyday he works with his team to protect and serve the citizens of the United States.

The post 9-11 world we live in has changed the way our servicemen and women work to protect America. A top priority has been to ensure our Coast Guard has the proper training they need to protect this great Nation. In 2002-2003 Captain Kelly served as a Federal Executive Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Through this program, Captain Kelly worked on a number of initiatives which included Iraqi post-conflict reconstruction; national security simulation exercises; Smart Border North; and the CSIS Military Strategy. The knowledge he gained through these programs greatly impacted the way he executed future directives.

The Coast Guard is an extremely well run and managed Federal agency. These are the people who ensure our ports and waterways are secure. They also spearhead any water emergency efforts. In addition, the Coast Guard was instrumental in the Katrina relief effort; lives were saved because of their professionalism, perseverance and courage. It is such a great agency because of leaders like CPT Brian D. Kelly.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor CPT Brian D. Kelly. He is a remarkable leader and has served his country well. I look forward to working with him in the future. Welcome to Sector Baltimore, Captain.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in appreciation of an outstanding leader in the education field. I am pleased to acknowledge the dedication of Ms. Amy Woolf, an educator at Edgewood High School in Harford County.

Ms. Woolf attended SUNY Geneseo where she earned her degree in Biology and Secondary Education Certification in Biology and General Science. She went on to further her education at Towson University earning a Master's Degree in Health in 1998 and an Administrative Certificate in 2003.

She has been very active in Edgewood High School. She is the advisor to the Honor Society; a tennis coach; a member of the School Improvement Team; a member of both the Honors and Eligibility Committees; a student teacher supervisor; a presenter at staff developments; and a member of the Faculty Advisory Council.

Ms. Woolf wears many hats while teaching at Edgewood High School. She plays a vital role in the education her students receive by her involvement in the General Curriculum Committee, the Forensic Science Curriculum and the Curriculum Committee for Math-Science Magnet. She is also a Biology Curriculum writer.

James Garfield said, ``Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.'' I believe that education is the key to success in life. We need teachers who love their jobs and encourage their students to thrive in a competitive environment. Ms. Woolf is one of those teachers.

The best thing teachers can do is give their students something to think about outside of

the classroom, and that doesn't mean homework. A successful teacher will place a thought in the minds of their students and after a while the student will be able to pull something great out of that thought. Ms. Woolf achieves this greatness with her students. Her involvement in the school is proof of how much she cares about the quality of education the Edgewood High School students receive. She is a great leader in her field and deserves acknowledgement of her achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me today in thanking Ms. Amy Woolf for providing her students, and the future of our Nation with the best possible gift she can, education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in appreciation of a fine educator from Joppatowne High School. Mathematics Department Chair, Kerrie Bauer is worthy of great recognition. She is an inspiration

to her students and her peers. Her continued faith in students has made a tremendous impact on a countless number of lives.

Ms. Bauer began the foundation of her higher education at Elizabethtown College. She later earned her Master's degree from McDaniel College and has since been certified as a cognitive tutor for the countywide algebra curriculum.

She is able to take a complex subject like mathematics and break it down into pieces so students have a better understanding of formulas. She encourages students through a positive learning environment. Ms. Bauer introduces students to creativity in the classroom; students learn the Quadratic formula to the tune of ``Pop Goes the Weasel,'' and practice math problems through group activities.

Ms. Bauer has made it a point to actively participate in school activities. She is a co-advisor to the National Honor Society; a member of the school Improvement Team; the Mariner Varsity Softball Coach; a member of the school Advisory Committee; and she volunteers at various athletic events. In addition to these contributions, she also organized a students vs. faculty basketball game to raise funds for the Johns Hopkins Research Hospital for Kidney Research after sisters, and former Joppatowne students, Amanda and Abby Gilland, died within a year of each other from a rare kidney disease.

Her hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, Ms. Bauer was named Teacher of the Month twice. She was nominated seven times to the list of ``Who's Who Among High School Students,'' and she was voted as the school's ``Most Spirited Teacher'' for four years.

Ms. Bauer sets high expectations, but attainable goals for her students. She provides them with academic and social guidance. She is convinced all students can be successful in life if only someone believes in them. This is a woman with one goal in mind: to equip young people with the skills and knowledge they require to be productive, successful members of society.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me in thanking Ms. Kerrie Bauer for providing her students with the support, confidence, courage and knowledge they need in today's society.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise before you today in appreciation of an educator who has devoted 39 years of her life to bettering the lives of our children. Ms. Cathy Sayre is truly worthy of recognition for her dedication to Solley Elementary in Anne Arundel County.

Ms. Sayre is a graduate of Western Maryland College. Shortly after earning her degree she informed her parents she did not want to be a lab technician as planned, rather she would pursue a career in education; we are certainly glad she did. Ms. Sayre has been an instrumental part of the developmental process of many children.

As an elementary teacher, Ms. Sayre taught first, second, third, and fourth grades as well as a combination of second and third grades. She has educated over 1,200 students in her career. She is admired by peers and adored by her students.

Teachers are often the unsung heroes of the education field. They play a critical role in

the life of a child. Educators instill wisdom in the minds of children; they lead our nation's youth into the journey of adulthood. John F. Kennedy said, ``Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.''

Ms. Sayre has touched the lives of her students. Elementary teachers have a special gift. They leave a lasting impression on our children, which is just the beginning of their educational careers. At a very early age, they learn what skills are necessary to grow and progress in the future. Teachers like Ms. Sayre leave a lasting legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me in thanking Ms. Cathy Sayre for the outstanding work she has done as an educator. The students of Solley Elementary are very lucky to have such a kind and compassionate person who is dedicated to bettering their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise before you today in appreciation of a woman who has dedicated her life to educating young people. For eighteen and a half years, Ms. Roxanne Dodson has taught the beauty of art to Aberdeen Middle School students in Harford County. She has gained support and admiration from her peers and the school's administrators for her gift of education.

Art is a subject which is unlike any other. It is not a matter of right or wrong; instead it is a test of one's inner self. Some students simply do not have a natural gift in the arts; however, Ms. Dodson teaches personal growth and self acceptance. Students are rewarded for their courage to experiment and ``think outside the box.'' They are taught much more than basic lines, curves and colors: they are taught how to try something new and accept the talents they possess.

Ms. Dodson is devoted to the students of Aberdeen Middle School. She uses her honed skills to assist with the school plays, concerts, and other special events. She says, ``When a student knows a teacher cares, the emotional walls, no matter how thick, start to disintegrate.''

I believe a successful learning environment is a safe environment. When students feel safe, they give more of themselves to the classroom, which results in learning. This is critical for the arts. An artist, no matter what level, must tear down their defensive walls to produce good, honest work.

Ms. Dodson received a Maryland Art Education award for outstanding service in 2001. Using her Masters degree in at-risk students, she developed a program to engage students who lack connection to other extra-curricular activities. This group created a garden entrance in their courtyard.

Ms. Dodson allows students to believe in themselves. She shows them the potential they have and encourages them to see their strengths. Her humorous and down-to-earth personality makes her approachable by students. She is among the elite in educators.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you please join me in thanking Ms. Roxanne Dodson for awakening the expectations of her students and stimulating the creativity they will need for the

rest of their lives. She is an inspiration to all educators.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 181 I was unavoidably detained in a meeting with some of my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the life of a fallen Maryland soldier, Staff Sergeant Robert Hernandez, a veteran reservist of 24 years who died on the 28th day of March 2006.

Sergeant Hernandez was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 318th Regiment Military Police, 80th Division, U.S. Army Reserve, Fort Meade. He was killed when a makeshift bomb detonated near his military vehicle during combat operations in Al Taquaddurn, Iraq.

The 47-year-old soldier was a former member of the Baltimore and Washington Police Departments. He was praised by colleagues for his hard work and jovial personality. He easily earned respect from those who knew him and worked with him daily.

As a member of the Prince George's County force, Sergeant Hernandez offered his expertise in a division that lacked Spanish-speaking

officers. He served as a field training officer assisting officers who graduated from the police academy. He also served as a mentor at a local elementary school. Sergeant Hernandez is remembered for his leadership skills and ability to help others.

Sergeant Hernandez is survived by his fiancee and three children of Silver Spring. He is also survived by his parents in Puerto Rico. He will forever be remembered as a dependable, trustworthy and captivating person with a passion for life, children, family, and country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today in honoring the life and memory of a Maryland hero. Staff Sergeant Robert Hernandez was loyal to the citizens of the United States and deserves our recognition and appreciation.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honor to rise before you today in celebration of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Ms. Karen Wolford.

As Property Management Specialist, Ms. Wolford is a widely recognized expert in her field of asset forfeiture. She joined the USMS Asset Forfeiture Unit in the District of Maryland in 1968. According to her justification for the award, ``she may very well be the longest serving current employee of the USMS.'' She has been a tremendous asset to the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Justice. Over the years, Ms. Wolford has acquired a wealth of knowledge. Her outstanding leadership and professionalism have led her to achieve great things in her field.

Ms. Wolford is the supervisor of one USMS employee and five asset forfeiture employees. In her role as supervisor, she oversees all activities in the District of Maryland, Delaware, Western Michigan, Western Missouri and West Virginia.

She is a past member of the US Marshals, Leadership Council and the AFO Process Mapping Team. She is also a current member of the LECC Asset Forfeiture Committee.

During her employment, she has received awards from Dundalk Community College, the Federal Bar Association, the Maryland State Police, and the Asset Forfeiture Office. Ms. Wolford has received many letters of commendation, clean audit reports and outstanding performance awards.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to represent such a hard working and dedicated person in the Second Congressional District of Maryland. Ms. Karen Wolford is truly deserving of all the awards and acknowledgements she has received. Please join with me in honoring her for the continuous contributions she has made to the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand before you in recognition of the outstanding community outreach efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Strouse. Recently, the American Red Cross issued the Strouses with the Hometown Hero Education Award.

Several years ago, the Strouse family suffered a great loss. Their daughter, Kristin Rita, like many young girls, battled depression. Unfortunately, her illness overwhelmed her and she took her own life.

Dealing with the loss of a child is the ultimate challenge any parent can attempt to overcome. Although the loss was extremely difficult for them, the Strouses were able to triumph by using their pain as motivation. The couple developed the Kristin Rita Strouse Foundation (KRSF) which raises awareness of the illness, develops methods of prevention, and provides high schools and universities with educational resources.

Many of today's youth struggle with their private pain; they often need some type of intervention but are unable to find it. Kristin was a talented girl with a passion for art. Her natural-born gift led her to the Parson School of Design. Shortly before her death, she created a work which is the inspiration of the annual ``Yellow Dress Golf Classic Dinner and Live Auction,'' which raises money for depression awareness and provides funding for the foundation. Doug and Sharon Strouse have made a conscious effort to guarantee others will not suffer in silence. As a tribute to their daughter, they have devoted their energy to saving the lives of those who still have a fighting chance.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me in honoring Douglas and Sharon Strouse as well as the memory of their daughter, Kristin Rita Strouse. It took an incredible amount of strength to build this successful organization and they must be commended for the assistance and education they are providing to this nation's youth.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I commend Chairman King, Ranking Member Thompson, Congressman Lungren, and Congresswoman Harman for their hard work on this legislation. Their work has brought this very important issue to the forefront here in Congress.

This amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a study and to provide recommendations to make sure that the National Targeting Center is doing all it can to protect our country. I am a co-chair of the Congressional Port Security Caucus and represent the Second District of Maryland that includes the Port of Baltimore. The Baltimore Port is one of the biggest economic engines in the State of Maryland. It employs more than 30,000 and generates more than $1.5 billion in revenue each year.

There are 539 ports in this country, and I believe Congress must work to keep our Nation's ports safe while keeping commerce flowing.

In November, 2001, Congress created the National Targeting Center. The NTC has been operating around the clock collecting and analyzing intelligence information, everything from Customs logs to crew manifests to preventing a terrorist attack. The NTC conducts counterterrorism, it collects targets and identifies potentially dangerous cargo at the ports of embarkation. The Center flags high- threat cargo for further examination and physical inspection.

The NTC is also working on a demonstration project that will analyze scanned images of cargo like the non-invasive screening that is under way at the Port of Hong Kong.

I believe actually analyzing these images is an important step in preventing a terrorist attack. Identifying potentially dangerous cargo when it is loaded on a ship at the foreign port is one of the best ways to protect our families and our communities.

The NTC is working well right now, but we live in a world where threats change every day. This amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a study and provide recommendations to make sure that the NTC is using all of its resources and manpower in the most effective way to catch terrorists before they strike. We must ensure that the NTC is using the latest in technology and employing the best and brightest in the field.

The NTC goes a long way to protect our country and our Nation's ports, but we could always do better. We must always keep improving our security operations to be prepared for the future. I believe this study and its recommendations will help us do that. I ask that my colleagues support this amendment, and let us make sure the National Targeting Center is ready for the threats of today as well as the threats of tomorrow.

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

Mr. Chairman, I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

This bill is a good start that will help America in securing their ports. This amendment will strengthen the bill and make our seaports safer.

The legislation before us today instructs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to create maritime security centers. These centers will bring together the Coast Guard, Customs, and Border Patrol and, in many cases, the Navy, National Guard, and State and local law enforcement. These centers integrate the technologies and personnel of these agencies into one system.

This amendment directs the Secretary to consult with Federal, State, and local officials on where these centers should be placed and what should be the appropriate level of coordination. This provides a critical link and an open dialogue with DHS.

Historically, there has been a lack of communication not only between government agencies and the private sector but between various levels of government. We can't let the lack of communication stop us from securing our ports.

My concern is that this bill allows the Secretary of DHS to solely determine where and to what level coordination must occur. He alone will decide where the command centers will be located and who should be a part of that team. My fear is that DHS will treat our 539 ports the same.

The Port of Baltimore, which has not had a naval presence, does not need the same amount of coordination with the Navy as the Port of L.A.- Long Beach, with their large military deployments. DHS must gather input from Navy, Coast Guard, Customs, Border Patrol, National Guard, and local and State law enforcement. This amendment provides for and requires this coordination.

Mr. Chairman, these maritime security centers should be created, but they should be organized in a way that makes sense. A blanket policy or a one-size-fits-all approach is not the best solution. This amendment will bring all of the critical players to the table to determine where these centers should be placed and how integrated they should be. All ports do not need the same level of integration.

Mr. Chairman, we should be asking the Coast Guard, the Navy, Customs, Border Patrol, the FBI, and every other group with a hand in port security how they currently interact with other agencies and how we can make improvements for the future. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Debbie Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of an amendment that requires the Secretary of DHS to consult with State and local agencies to create a system to reopen the port. Congress should do everything possible to prevent an incident from occurring at our seaports.

A major event would endanger countless Americans and stop commerce for weeks. An attack on a U.S. port would result in economic damages ranging from $58 billion to $1 trillion. The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that for every month just one American port is closed, $60 billion in revenue could be lost. We must do everything in our power to prevent accidents and attacks on our ports.

This amendment brings all of the parties involved, the State and local governments, the U.S. Coast Guard and the maritime industry, to the table to create a plan for how to get our ports up and running again in the case there is a terrorist attack or at any time commerce is stopped at our ports.

Historically, there has been a lack of communication between government agencies and the private sector, and also between various levels of government. The security of our ports is too important to allow that kind of limited information sharing. Congress needs to ensure that all critical players, those players who know their ports best, have a say in how to get the ports back in operation.

The bill currently allows for protocols to be established to determine how Federal, State, and local agencies should work together. But DHS is the only agency in the room making those decisions. There is no representation from any other Federal agency other than DHS, no State or local input, no input from the Coast Guard or those whose livelihoods depend upon this maritime industry.

Currently, all the agencies and organizations and industries will be under the sole direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security. They will have to rely on the Secretary and hope that he will know their agencies and industries well enough to know how and when they should work together.

Mr. Chairman, I do not want to leave port security up to just the DHS Secretary. It makes sense that all the partners who have a vested interest in getting the ports up and running sit down and determine how they should work together before a crisis occurs.

This amendment plays a critical role in ensuring that the Secretary of Homeland Security works together as a team with the appropriate Federal, State, and local officials. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, first, I want to acknowledge and thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) for his involvement as the co-chair of the Port Security Caucus. I again urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the 2007 Intelligence Authorization Act. I believe that good intelligence is the best defense against terrorism. As we continue to fight this war on terror, I believe we must give the intelligence community the resources it needs to

keep our families and communities safe.

As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I support this legislation because I believe that it provides intelligence officials with key resources as they work to protect our country.

The bill improves the U.S. human intelligence activities, boosts U.S. counterintelligence programs and personnel, and increases funding for counterterrorism programs by 22 percent to achieve full funding, something the President's budget did not do.

But I do have some reservations about this bill as well. This legislation, supported by the Bush administration, moves a large number of intelligence agents and analysts from the FBI's new national security branch, currently under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence, to the Department of Justice. I do not believe this move is good for our country's security.

The agents in this new FBI branch specialize in collecting and analyzing domestic intelligence. They work to penetrate terrorist cells currently operating in the United States to thwart another attack on our soil.

After the horrific attacks of 9/11, Congress created the Director of National Intelligence, known as the DNI, to ensure better coordination and communication between the 15 intelligence agencies. The DNI was created to connect the dots, something that did not happen before 9/11.

It is the Department of Justice's job to investigate and indict criminals for breaking our laws.

I fear that shifting a large number of agents and analysts from the DNI to the Department of Justice will keep the status quo. If we want to change the culture, change the system that failed us before 9/11, and effectively break up terrorist cells in our country, the FBI's new security branch must stay under the DNI, the Director of National Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of an educator in Baltimore County. Ms. Kelly Smith, chair of the English Department at Dulaney High School in Timonium, MD, is the recipient of the prestigious 2005-06 Milken Educator Award.

The Milken National Educator Award was established by Lowell and Michael Milken. They created the award to celebrate and reward people in the education system showing exemplary work.

This award, acknowledged in Teacher Magazine as the ``Oscars of Teaching'' was designed to recognize people in the education system who have exceptional talent. Recipients play an instrumental role in developing new and inventive programs of study. These educators help to develop not just the curriculum, but also the students' confidence and self worth.

Dulaney's Kelly Smith has made great strides in the school's English Department. Her tremendous contributions have aided in the school's academic success. She developed ``One Book, One Dulaney,'' a book club, in which students, teachers and parents participate. Throughout the year the club chooses a book to read and later discusses it, opening the lines of communication on all levels.

Ms. Smith also developed and co-chaired Students Organized for Academic Success. SOAR gives assistance to challenged students showing potential for scholastic achievement. She holds study sessions on Saturdays to prepare aspiring college students for the college entrance exam, the SATs.

Under Ms. Smith's leadership, test scores have greatly increased. She implements critical reading, thinking and vocabulary in her classroom. She also incorporates a ``Readers' Theatre Project'' giving students an opportunity to learn about literature through performance, writing and acting. This creates a new dimension of learning for students. They become a part of the process, which is both fun and educational.

I believe education is the key to success. Today's youth are the future of this country. People like Ms. Smith are shaping the leaders of tomorrow. I applaud all of those who devote their lives to the betterment of the education system.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to commend Ms. Kelly Smith for winning the 2005-06 Milken Educator Award. She is truly an inspiration.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise before you today to recognize a sixth grade boy in the Second Congressional District of Maryland, Master Sam Hyatt. He was named as a finalist in the Box Tops for Education Kids' Caucus Essay contest. Sam

wrote an essay for the General Mills sponsored organization on parental involvement in schools. His school, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Day School in Lutherville, MD, was awarded a grant of one thousand dollars because of his achievement.

By using the topic provided, Sam carefully crafted an essay to explain how he would improve parental involvement in schools if he were principal for a day. He recommends parents volunteer their time by speaking to the students about their area of expertise. For example, he mentions how someone in the health profession came to the school and taught the students a lesson in that subject. He also suggests parents come into the classroom to relate their personal experiences to whatever subject is being taught that day.

Sam's essay is extremely motivational. It proves that school-aged children are interested in their families, and would like more opportunities to learn from them. He suggests teachers assign activities that involve parents, making learning fun for both the student and the parent. Sam provides an example of the previous year when he was given an assignment to learn about rocks. He was only able to find a small variety of rocks in his neighborhood so, as a result, his parents needed to take him to other locations to complete the task. I believe that education is one of the most important gifts we can give our children and it must begin in the home.

It is critical to arm our children with the best skills possible to ensure their success in life. They acquire these skills through practice both in the home and at school. It is very important to keep the lines of communication open between parents and school officials. Sam offers an idea of ``Principal Coffees'' where parents and administrators are given the opportunity to discuss what is happening in the school. He also recommends administrator and parent meetings via chat room discussions.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to recognize the achievement of essay winner Master Sam Hyatt. He should be commended for his outstanding efforts.