Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, there is so much wrong with this legislation that I do not know where to begin.

This ``deficit reduction act'' is a tool for the majority party to justify their tax cuts that are poorly timed and do not benefit the American citizens who need help the most. It is irresponsible to cut funding for vital programs in order to make up for lost revenues due to tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. If we do not fix this deficit, we are forcing future generations to pay for Congress's fiscal irresponsibility. There are no useful deficit reduction measures in this bill.

This budget reconciliation bill cuts essential government programs that serve the most vulnerable members of our society. Society and government are judged by how we take care of those in need and we must do better. All totaled, the bill cuts spending by $53.9 billion dollars which includes cuts to Medicaid, Food Stamps, student loans, and child support.

The cuts to the Medicaid program total $11.9 billion or 22 percent of all of the cuts in this legislation. These cuts will result in premium increases for all participants and a reduction in benefits that will cause millions of children to lose some preventative and treatment services. At a time when health concerns are at the forefront of many people's minds, we should not be making cuts to Medicaid that will make it harder for people to afford the care they need.

The cuts to the Food Stamp Program total $844 million dollars. These cuts would be the result of new limitations on who is qualified to receive food stamps. Under this legislation, some families receiving other types of federal assistance would be ineligible to receive food stamps. It is outrageous that we are cutting this and other programs that have been proven to help those who are the most in need.

The reductions in funding to child support programs total $4.9 billion or 9 percent of all of the cuts in this legislation. This is just plain wrong. States rely on this funding to aid their efforts in establishing and enforcing child support orders; orders that are necessary if families and children are ever going to receive the support owed to them.

According to the Census Bureau for the most recent year that data is available (2001), only 45 percent of custodial parents have received the full amount of child support owed to them. There are an estimated 13.4 million parents with custody of 21.5 million children under age 21 whose other parent lives elsewhere. About 5-in-6 of those 13.4 million parents are mothers.

Twenty-five percent of single mothers with children in the United States are below the poverty level. We must do all that we can to

help mothers and their children receive the child support that is owed to them. Cutting funding to States for child support enforcement is obviously moving in the wrong direction.

As Members of Congress we cannot continue to allow ill-timed and badly targeted tax cuts for the wealthy while at the same time cutting government programs that help people improve the quality of their lives and their wellbeing.

If we continue along this path we will be shortchanging our children, our grandchildren and their children to come. They will inherit a government and a country that turned its back on the people who needed them most and they will be forced to pick up the pieces.

We cannot let this happen. I am committed to serving the people of the Second District of Maryland and I will not support legislation such as this that will negatively impact my constituents or the United States as a whole.

This legislation is just plain wrong and I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize a woman who changed a nation and sent a clear message to America that her people would not be moved. Rosa Parks, who is better known as the ``mother of the civil rights movement'' changed the course of American history by refusing in 1955 to give up her seat on a bus for a white passenger.

Born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, she married Raymond Parks in 1932. By the early 1950s, Rosa Parks and her now deceased husband were long-time activists in Montgomery, Alabama's chapter of the NAACP.

It is important to know the history of Parks, who worked as a seamstress at a local department store, and on her way home from work one day, she engaged in a simple gesture of defiance that galvanized the civil rights movement. On December 1, 1955, Parks challenged the South's Jim Crow laws--and Montgomery's segregated bus seating policy-- by refusing to give her seat up. The bus driver had her arrested. She was tried and convicted of violating a local ordinance.

Her act sparked a citywide boycott of the bus system by African Americans that lasted more than a year. The boycott raised an unknown clergyman named Martin Luther King, Jr., to national prominence and resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation on city buses.

Over the next four decades, she made her fellow Americans aware of the history of the civil rights struggle.

This pioneer in the struggle for racial equality was planted firm in her faith of it one day being a place where all Americans could one day sit on the bus and have the same right as everyone else to enjoy their ride after a long days work.

Her example of what she stood for remains an inspiration to not only me but to freedom-loving people everywhere.

Parks was undoubtedly one of the most important citizens of the 20th century. Every American owes their gratitude of freedom to her. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you rise with me today to honor and pay respects to an African American woman who broke down boundaries and knocked down doors.

Mr. Speaker, I support the Administration's plans for combating an Influenza Pandemic, including measures to increase the capacity of the vaccine industry so that we have enough influenza vaccine to protect all Americans within 6 months of an outbreak.

However, you can't drink the Influenza vaccine, it has to be delivered with a syringe or other delivery technology, but the Administration's plan does not include any strategies for acquiring sufficient numbers of appropriate injection devices to deliver the vaccine.

The influenza vaccine will probably require 2 shots, which means that we will need 600 million syringes to vaccinate every American.

Without advance planning and stockpiling of injection devices, hospitals and public health agencies will not have sufficient numbers of injection devices to deliver the pandemic influenza vaccine. In fact, without planning and utilizing devices that are designed to ensure the vaccine is used to its full potential, we may waste the very vaccine we are working so hard to acquire.

The Administration has worked diligently with vaccine manufacturers to ensure there is additional capacity to produce pandemic influenza vaccines. The same planning and cooperation must happen with the domestic device industry. I urge the Administration to sit-down with the medical device industry to discuss potential medical device needs and capacity constraints and develop a plan to ensure we are acquiring the appropriate amount and type of syringes necessary to keep all Americans safe. It would be a tragedy to waste life saving vaccine because of a lack of foresight.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to instruct. Let me say up front that I think the PATRIOT Act provided essential tools that were not available before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These tools are essential to identifying and tracking terrorists inside the United States, and that is the way it should be. It has to be national security first. But the PATRIOT Act was passed just 7 weeks after 9/11. When it was passed, there were concerns that some of the authorities were too broad or too susceptible to abuse. The proposal emerged to sunset 16 of the most controversial provisions. That was a sensible idea. The sunsets would allow the Justice Department and the public to evaluate the effectiveness of these provisions and decide whether there was a continuing need for them or a need to modify them.

The House bill includes important refinements to the PATRIOT Act passed 4 years ago. Honest people can disagree about whether these provisions were too broad or just right; but the point is, the sunset provisions worked. They compelled Congress to take a second look at key provisions in the PATRIOT Act and improve them. The sunsets forced us to have accountability as we expanded law enforcement authorities. That is a game plan that we should stick with. We should continue to scrutinize these authorities from time to time. That is why I offered an amendment to extend the PATRIOT Act sunsets during the Intelligence Committee markup of H.R. 3199.

Like my amendment, this instruction to conferees to accept the Senate sunsets would not alter the original PATRIOT Act authorities. After all, national security has to be our number one priority, but accepting the Senate sunsets would also force us to reevaluate again 4 years from now whether they are truly effective in fighting terrorism. Oversight and accountability is an essential element of the PATRIOT Act.

I would also like to respond to the chairman's point that there were not any abuses. The issue is not whether there were abuses. The issue is setting a system that we need to have in effect.

Mr. Speaker, I humbly rise before you today to mourn the loss and to honor the life of a devoted United States Marine from Parkton, Maryland.

Lance Corporal Norman Wallace Anderson, III, died during active duty on the nineteenth day of October in the year 2005 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karabilah, Iraq. Anderson was killed by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

Anderson, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, 2 Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, joined his division in June 2003 as a rifleman.

He returned to the States November of last year, and wed high school sweetheart, Victoria Worthing Anderson in August before continuing to active duty.

The Lance Corporal had aspirations of military life since he was a young boy. He dreamt of following in the footsteps of his father, Norman Wallace Anderson, Junior, a retired Army Ranger.

Anderson is remembered as a soldier who wished to serve his country so that his parents, his friends, and all of their families could keep their freedom.

A ceremony was held at Anderson's alma mater, Hereford High School, during a football game on Friday, the twenty-first of October 2005 to honor the fallen soldier. Players wore Anderson's initials on their helmets and the school retired his number thirty-three jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor a man who proudly devoted his life to serving his country for the safety of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to pay tribute to Ms. Nancy Doran who was awarded the 2005 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the Second Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Group.

It is with great pleasure that I bring before you a woman who has selflessly committed herself to helping lift the spirits of United States Veterans.

On Tuesday evenings for the past 3\1/2\ years, Ms. Doran and her dog Duffy perform voluntary pet therapy services at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center.

Ms. Doran and her dog have made approximately one hundred eighty- eight visits so far, and stay for about 90 minutes each time; which is a tremendous act of kindness.

As a result of Duffy's presence, typically non-verbal veterans speak to Duffy while petting him and giving him treats. Duffy allows them to reminisce about their own dogs and gives them an opportunity to experience a pleasant evening of memories, friendship, and fellowship.

I believe this country should honor the service and sacrifices of those who place themselves in harms-way to protect the freedoms of the American citizens. The Veterans Advisory Group provides an excellent opportunity for me to share pending legislation with people who have done just that, as well as, gain their perspective on specialized issues.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me, and the Veterans Advisory Group to commend Ms. Nancy Doran for her efforts to visit with and care for the United States Veterans. She has gone above and beyond to aid those who have dedicated their lives to service our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to pay tribute to Mr. Clifford L. Stoffel who was awarded the 2005 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the Second Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Group.

It is with great pleasure that I bring before you a man who has selflessly committed himself as a volunteer driver and as the Coordinator for the Transportation Section at the Glen Burnie Clinic for Veterans.

In the past six years, Mr. Stoffel has driven 41,986 miles to take patients to and from scheduled and emergency doctor appointments. The veterans have come to rely on him when other drivers cancel or when they forget to request a driver. He is always willing to assist them, ensuring that those in need of a ride to the nearest veteran facility, will have transportation.

Because of Mr. Stoffel's generosity, approximately 2,258 patients have had reliable transportation when necessary. His generosity is recognized as an example of dedication amongst veteran volunteers.

I believe this country should honor the service and sacrifices of those who place themselves in harm's way to protect the freedoms of the American citizens. The Veterans Advisory Group provides an excellent opportunity for me to share pending legislation with people who have done just that, as well as, gain their perspective on specialized issues.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me, and the Veterans Advisory Group to commend the efforts of Mr. Clifford L. Stoffel in his kindheartedness and willingness to help others. He has gone above and beyond to aid those who have dedicated their lives to serve our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to pay tribute to Mr. Flutka who was awarded the 2005 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the Second Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Group.

I am pleased to bring before you a man who has generously taken time to assist the Occupational Therapy Department of the Baltimore Veterans Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center.

Mr. Flutka, a veteran himself, updates forms used to evaluate and treat patients, resulting in better quality of care. He also organizes supply closets, making for quick and easy access to indispensable materials. By utilizing his diligence, staff members can swiftly remedy the veteran's vulnerabilities.

I believe this country should honor the service and sacrifices of those who place themselves in harm's way to protect the freedoms of the American citizens. The Veterans Advisory Group provides an excellent opportunity for me to share pending legislation with people who have done just that, as well as gain their perspective on specialized issues.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me and the Veterans Advisory Group to commend Mr. John Flutka for his efforts in assisting the Occupational Therapy Department. He has gone above and beyond to aid those who have dedicated their lives to service our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Specialist Kendell K. Frederick who died the 19th of October 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Frederick, a mechanic working on power generators, was killed outside of Tikrit, Iraq. He died of serious injuries when a roadside-improvised explosive device detonated near the military vehicle which he was driving.

Frederick, a native of Randallstown, Maryland was an Army Reservist assigned to Headquarters Company, 983rd Engineer Battalion in Monclova,

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor and remember a man who devoted his life to keeping the citizens of the United States safe.

Sergeant Brian R. Conner of Baltimore, MD died on the 14th of October in the year 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Conner's death in Al Taji, Iraq occurred when a tractor trailer rear-ended the vehicle in which he and two other Maryland Guardsmen were riding. The weapons they carried as part of convoy operations were detonated upon impact.

Conner's unit in the Maryland National Guard's 243d Engineer Company was activated for duty in June and they left for Kuwait in August.

Not only did Conner serve his country through the Armed Forces, but he also served as a Lieutenant with the Baltimore City Fire Department.

His colleagues there remember him as a well-respected firefighter and a good friend. Conner was the proud father of three daughters and a devoted and loving brother and son.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join with me today to honor Sergeant Brian R. Conner for the dedication he has shown to his family, friends and the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to commend the significant contributions of Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) located in Aberdeen, MD, for their outstanding efforts to protect American troops.

In August of 2003, the M1 tanks moving toward Baghdad were assailed by Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG). This situation highlighted a potential vulnerability to the Abram M1 fleet of tanks.

Based on this concern, ATC was requested to provide modifications to the tanks to remedy the potential vulnerability. ATC employees developed the Slat Armor System designed to address the issue. Because of their diligence and motivation, the modifications were completed in only three days. The efficiency demonstrated by ATC enabled the vulnerability to be rectified in less than ten days.

As the initial Stryker brigade prepared to enter combat in Iraq, ATC was again contacted requesting similar modifications to the Strykers, addressing a potential vulnerability to RPGs. These modifications were designed, prototyped and tested in under 10 days for mass production and fielding. Each Stryker was outfitted with this slat armor solution prior to entering combat in Iraq.

In the course of one year the Stryker Brigade Commander reported one hundred fifteen incidents of RPG attacks on Stryker vehicles. Because of the modification to the Slat Armor System, there have been no fatalities as a result of these RPG attacks.

Mr. Speaker, please join with me to acknowledge the exceptional work Aberdeen Test Center has done on the Abram M1s and Strykers. The elite attention and enthusiasm shown in this matter has saved the lives of many soldiers fighting the War on Terror.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill, H.R. 4128.

What we witnessed as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling in Kelo vs. City of New London was unfortunate.

I know that all across the country local governments are looking for ways to revitalize their communities. I believe these efforts are important and necessary to help their neighborhoods and families thrive, however, I believe that the City of New London acted inappropriately.

The Supreme Court's ruling in the case went too far and made governments' eminent domain powers too broad.

I am extremely concerned with the apparent disregard by a majority of the Supreme Court regarding the purpose of the Takings Clause under the Fifth Amendment. The Kelo ruling would allow the taking of private property for the benefit of another private entity.

When I was County Executive I put forward a plan to use eminent domain for the purpose of public safety although there were private entities that would have benefited. My goal was to revitalize a deteriorating community and I felt that eminent domain was a tool I needed to address revitalization of an area with high levels of poverty and a high crime rate.

As a consequence of the public debate on that experience, I have come to better appreciate the severity of the government intervening to benefit one private entity to the detriment of another private entity. I believe that using eminent domain to take private property should only be used in situations where there is an overwhelming public benefit such as roads, schools, hospitals, and public safety needs. I understand this legislation as preventing the use of eminent domain for economic development and that any use of eminent domain for the purposes of public safety is still permitted.

By prohibiting the Federal Government from using strictly economic development as a justification for condemnation of private property;

and by prohibiting States and local governments that receive Federal economic development funds from taking private property for strictly economic development purposes, the supporters of this legislation hope to prevent another New London.

This legislation would not prevent the Federal, State or local governments from exercising eminent domain for public facilities or other uses defined as public use.

It is vital that we protect the property rights of all Americans from arbitrary application of eminent domain by passing this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise before you today to recognize the dedication of one individual who continues to play a vital role in the prevention and development of innovative programs which address and combat Federal crime.

Dr. James P. McGee, the retired Director of Psychology and Director of Law Enforcement and Forensic Services at Sheppard Pratt Hospital located in Baltimore, Maryland, has served the law enforcement community in a variety of ways while remaining dedicated to improving and expanding existing crime prevention programs.

Most recently, Dr. McGee spent 30 days in the Gulf region to assist Hurricane Katrina's victims, spending the majority of his time counseling officers of the New Orleans Police Department. There, he spearheaded ``Operation: Call a Cop,'' a program in which sports figures both current and retired, politicians, and celebrities call one of the police officers with encouraging words to express their belief of what a remarkable job the officers have done, and are continuing to do in Louisiana. This project has raised the spirits of the people we rely on most to rebuild communities, to reestablish a safe environment, and to restore hope to those affected by Katrina.

During my years as County Executive of Baltimore County, I worked closely with Dr. McGee. He provided over 15 years of service as Chief Psychologist of the Baltimore County Police Department. He also directed psychological service programs for Maryland and Delaware State Police.

He is known for being one of the country's leading sports psychologists having counseled amateur athletes, including Olympic Gold Medal winners. He was the team psychologist for the Baltimore Orioles for 8 years, receiving a World Series ring for his special contribution to the Orioles last World Series Championship season.

Dr. McGee's recent publication of ``The Classroom Avenger,'' an article describing a hypothetical person, who potentially possesses tendencies of violence in a school setting, received national recognition. In addition to this acknowledgment, segments of the work he did on a UNABOMBER Profile submitted to the FBI were used in search warrants relating to that case.

Dr. McGee has stamped the law enforcement community with his commitment to Federal crime prevention. His passion for psychological counseling and his honed skills in this field have enabled him to thwart corruption and administer to the prevention of mayhem.

I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives please join with me today to recognize Dr. James McGee for the tremendous contributions he has made to not only the Federal law enforcement community, but also to the people of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to acknowledge the act of

heroism displayed by Master Nicholas A. Kulikowski on August 30, 2004. The Weblos Scout of Cub Scout Pack 303 demonstrated both skill and heroism by saving the life of his four-year-old cousin, Dylan, at minimum risk to himself.

During a party at the Kulikowski home, Nicholas noticed that Dylan, who was not wearing proper swim protection jumped into the family's pool. After resurfacing from the jump he quickly began to sink as there was no flotation device in reach. Nicholas, showing true Boy Scout instincts, dove into the water and pulled Dylan to the surface.

Master Kulikowski's alertness and quick-reaction time prevented Dylan from any serious injury. The Boy Scouts of America upon recommendation of the National Court of Honor presented Nicholas with a Heroism Award.

Mr. Speaker, the Core Values of Cub Scouting include Compassion, Courage, and Perseverance. I ask that you join with me today in commending Nicholas A. Kulikoski for adhering to these values, a true testament to the principles of the Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to acknowledge the act of heroism displayed by Master John Bachkosky on August 18, 2004. John, a Weblos Scout of Cub Scout Pack 688, demonstrated both determination and heroism by saving the lives of his sister Robin, and friend, Morgan at minimum risk to himself.

The 6-year-old girls were playing in the waves of Ocean City, Maryland, when they became caught in a riptide. John was nearby and had an opportunity to swim to shallow water. However, as a genuine Scout would, he acted courageously by swimming to where the girls were. He then held them up until help arrived.

John's vigilance and instincts prevented the girls from any serious injury. The Boy Scouts of America upon recommendation of the National Court of Honor presented John with a Heroism Award.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today in commending Master John Bachkosky for adhering to the Core Values of Cub Scouting, displayed through his Courage, Perseverance, and Responsibility. His actions are evidence of the principles of the Boy Scouts of America.