Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our Nation's veterans. The GI bill has provided education to many of our Nation's fine, honorable men and women. Unfortunately, there is a provision which excludes our National Guard and Reserve from receiving their GI bill benefits after they have left the military.

I have introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 1330, which will give the National Guard and Reserve members up to 10 years to take advantage of their GI bill education benefits. This proposal is similar to the benefits extended to active duty members of the military right now.

This bill extends a much-deserved and needed benefit to our troops. Because the National Guard and Reserve are playing an ever-increasing role in combat operations, they are finding it harder to achieve their educational goals while they are enlisted. This bill will better allow troops to serve their country honorably and then reward them with higher education when they return.

The National Guard and Reserve are becoming indistinguishable from the active duty now. They are in need of this benefit. We owe this to our troops and to our military families back home.

I urge all Members of Congress who care about our troops and military families to sign on to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today as a proud veteran in support of this bipartisan resolution which states that Congress and the American people support our men and women in uniform, but do not support deploying over 21,000 additional troops to Iraq.

I fear that President Bush's plan to increase troop levels is a mistake. Sending more troops will not reduce the violence. Indeed, in the past 2 years, we have had three surges to Iraq, only to see dramatic increases in violence. Why would we think a fourth surge will be different?

Mr. Speaker, 21,000 troop is far less than a half measure of what is truly needed to secure Iraq, but the unfortunate reality is that we no longer have the troops available to do the job properly. Indeed, the Army's strategic reserve is used up. They told us so. We are now less able to respond in other trouble spots around the globe because of this failed policy.

Why are we not matching our military surge with a diplomatic surge? Why are we not engaging every nation in the region to end this civil war?

A superpower at war uses all means at its disposal to win, including diplomacy. Diplomacy is the only way for us to succeed now, and I urge the administration to launch a diplomatic offensive in the region.

Our enemies are encouraged and emboldened by the successes that they have enjoyed already. We do not need to send 21,000 troops additional to reinforce this. Instead, we should be changing our focus. Rather than sending more American troops into combat, we should be training Iraqis to handle the job for themselves. For every Iraqi battalion we train, we need to bring an American battalion home.

My district in northeastern and central Pennsylvania has many of its bravest men and women in harm's way. I am very proud of them, so are their families and their communities. Our district, sadly, has lost 22 men in this war, brave troops who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I rise today to honor them and also to stand up for the troops currently in combat.

The stories I hear from soldiers who return home leave me concerned that the administration has not done enough to protect them. One of my own former students, a member of a Pennsylvania National Guard unit, told me how his unit had to scrounge through Iraqi junkyards for scrap metal to weld on to their trucks for more protection.

Junkyards? Scrap metal? Where is the outrage that this administration has not given the troops the protection that they need? Where is the outrage that our fine men and women, whose job it is to protect our Nation, are scrounging through foreign junkyards for that protection?

The troops have won the war, but the administration has failed to secure the peace. We must now pursue policies worthy of our troops and their sacrifices.

Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress to serve and protect my country. That is why I rise in support of this resolution.

In the Navy, when we run a ship aground, we change the course. It is now time to change the course in Iraq, not needlessly send more American troops in harm's way.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 134) recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security for their efforts and contributions to protect and secure the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and insert extraneous material on the bill into the Record.

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

Just over 5 years ago, September 11 redefined our national security needs. With the loss of thousands of innocent lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in my home State of Pennsylvania, national leaders realized that the Federal Government needed the ability to better protect the United States from any and all threats, foreign or domestic, natural or man-made. And while emergency management agencies displayed resilience in the aftermath of 9/11, it was clear we needed an organization that could coordinate their efforts. We needed a single agency with the ability to prevent another 9/11 and to respond, if need be, to natural or man-made disasters.

To answer this call, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act of 2002 creating the Department of Homeland Security. In the largest reorganization of the Federal Government since the formation of the Department of Defense six decades ago, the Department of Homeland Security was tasked with the Herculean responsibility of coordinating with State, local and tribal entities to prevent future terrorist attacks, to secure our borders and to prepare for and respond to events of national significance.

Comprised of 22 different Federal agencies and employing over 208,000 of our finest Federal employees, DHS has become one of the largest Federal departments. Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, employees from the Department of Homeland Security are working to prevent and prepare for any threats to our country. They are patrolling our skies, securing our borders, sailing our coastal waters and screening people and cargo entering our country. They are also working with State and local governments and first responders in all 50 States and our territories to ensure we can respond to any future large-scale events, either man-made or natural.

These dedicated Homeland Security employees are working tirelessly to improve the safety of all Americans and are doing a job that we must commend.

Recently, the Office of Personnel Management released the results of the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey, a review of how Federal employees feel about their work. Many Americans may not have heard about this survey or its findings, but they are significant.

DHS employees expressed frustration over a number of issues, most notably the management of the agency. These rank-and-file workers, on the front lines day after day, feel they are not being managed in the most effective manner possible. This disconnect between management and the line officers of the department is very disturbing to a number of us here in Congress. We must work to resolve these issues.

The last thing we need is for the morale problems of the Department of Homeland Security to hamper the duties of those front-line employees. As a former first responder myself, I know how important it is to have trust and faith in your management. While there was certainly shocking failures at the management levels of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Hurricane Katrina response, there is a good example; that is, the United States Coast Guard which is part of the DHS. It covered itself in glory by performing one of its most vital and successful missions since its creation. Over 20,000 gulf coast residents were rescued by the devoted men and women of the Coast Guard.

Tens of thousands of other line officers under the purview of the DHS have been doing a thankless job for the last 4 years as well. Our Nation must remain vigilant against all threats to the homeland, against acts of terrorism and natural disasters.

Department of Homeland Security employees stand willing, ready and able to respond should catastrophe strike. They work long hours to deter, detect, and prevent acts of terrorism against the homeland. They can be sure that during this Congress and beyond, my colleagues and I will maintain oversight of the management of Homeland Security, but I cannot stress enough how we truly appreciate the work of the DHS employees who are working tirelessly to protect the safety of all Americans.

On January 24, the Department of Homeland Security marked its fourth anniversary. In light of this anniversary, it is fitting and appropriate for the House of Representatives to take a moment to honor the employees.

I would also like to take a moment to note that Mr. Rogers of Alabama, the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, wanted to be here as well. He is currently out of town on a codel, but he stands with me in honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to unanimously adopt House Resolution 134 in honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. Speaker, I would inquire as to whether the gentleman from Florida has any more speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on House Resolution 134.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, our Nation must remain vigilant against all threats to the homeland, including acts of terrorism and natural disasters. Department of Homeland Security employees stand willing, ready, and able to respond should catastrophe strike. They work long hours to deter, detect, and prevent acts of terrorism against the homeland.

As protectors of our Nation's borders, airports, seaports, rail lines, and other transit systems, they are always on call. Together with other agencies and departments of the Federal Government, they work with State, local, and tribal partners to enhance preparedness at all levels of Government.

On January 24th, the Department of Homeland Security marked its fourth anniversary. The Department, which has more than 208,000 employees, plays a vital role in ensuring the Nation's security and preparing the American people for future catastrophes.

In light of this anniversary, it is fitting and appropriate for the House of Representatives to take a moment to honor the employees of the Department for their contributions in protecting the homeland and the sacrifices they make to protect the American people.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security purchases $10 billion worth of goods and services per year. Unfortunately, the Department's procurement process is rife with problems that need to be addressed. Whether buying ice to aid disaster victims or cameras and sensors to secure our borders, the Department has struggled. The bill I am introducing today is a first step toward addressing some of the Department's most pressing needs in this area. It is an outgrowth of the excellent bi-partisan work spearheaded during the last Congress by then-Chairman Mike Rogers of Alabama and then- Ranking Member Kendrick Meek in the Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Specifically, this bill requires regular procurement training for the Department's acquisition employees and the development of courses for both new and experienced employees. To assist the Chief Procurement Officer in developing policies and curriculum for the training, it establishes a ``Council on Procurement Training'' made up of eight component-level chief procurement officers in the Department. In order to ensure that training occurs as required, the Chief Procurement Officer is required annually to submit a report on training activities to the Secretary.

Selection of able and responsible contractors is, of course, crucial to any procurement success. To that end, this bill puts new requirements on the Department to review the past performance of all offerors seeking contracts. And to ensure that all contractors are on an equal playing field, it requires offerors to provide information concerning any role the offeror or its employees played in developing a contract solicitation or similar document. Further, if an offeror is delinquent or in default on any payment of tax, the bill requires offerors to disclose this information.

The bill also directly addresses one area that requires particular attention, the use of purchase cards. A Goverment Accountability Office (GAO) review released this past July revealed a disturbing lack of guidance and controls over their use. It highlighted potential incidents of fraud, waste, and abuse that could run into the millions of dollars. To address this problem, the bill directs the Department to develop and quickly disseminate Department-wide guidance concerning the use of such cards. Finally, the bill directs the GAO to issue a report on the contracting processes of the Department within six months of enactment.

This bill will not solve all of the problems of the Department's procurement operations. It will, however, start the process of reform that is badly needed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of the PA Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. The Federation is one of the oldest and largest conservation organizations in Pennsylvania. Since 1932, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs has been the leading advocate of our outdoor heritage, wildlife habitat and environmental protection in the Commonwealth.

For three-quarters of a century this great organization has worked diligently to defend the rights of individuals under the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, as well as ensure the rights of all citizens to a healthy environment. The Federation was the driving force behind the passage of the Nation's first environmental laws, including PA's Clean Streams Law in 1937.

Throughout its proud history, the Federation has been a strong partner in conservation with our State and Federal natural resource and wildlife management agencies, such as the PA Game Commission, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In cooperation with these public agencies, the Federation has helped to conserve precious wildlife habitat, protect clean water, and provide countless recreational opportunities for millions of American citizens.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the members of the PA Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, past and present, for their 75 years of distinguished service to the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, some of the nation's most dedicated citizens stand at the ready each and every day, working to detect and prevent the next terrorist attack on our soil. They are vital to our security and are to be commended. Often, they fulfill this critical homeland security work with significant help from what we have come to call ``man's best friend.'' Canines trained to detect explosives and other dangerous materials regularly roam our nation's airports, subways, and ports, anywhere else that they are needed to deter, prevent, detect and respond to terrorist threats. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Secret Service, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Protective Service regularly use canine detection teams to secure National Special Security Events and to protect Federal buildings and their occupants.

As a consequence of September 11, demand for trained explosive detection dogs has increased dramatically. Today, there simply are not enough trained dogs to meet the demand. There also are no national standards to certify a dog as a capable bomb-sniffing dog or drug- sniffing dog. In the absence of national training and certification standards, there have been a number of cases of fraudulent operations and the use of inadequatelytrained canines and canine handlers. In one documented case, a Virginia man, Russell Lee Ebersole, was hired to protect several government buildings, including the Federal Reserve Board. In multiple tests his dogs failed to detect 50 pounds of dynamite, 50 pounds of TNT, or 15 pounds of C-4 in the agency's parking facilities.

The ``Canine Detection Team Improvement Act of 2007,'' which Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama is introducing today and on which I am the Democratic original cosponsor, will make the United States more secure by addressing the shortage of trained canine detection teams and establishing standards for canine detection teams and an accreditation process to assure Federal, State, local and tribal authorities that the dog they look rely on to help defend the homeland can get the job done.

Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate all training programs within the Department, including research and development of new canine training methods. The bill also directs the Secretary to consult on the use of canines with other Federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, and private training facilities in order to increase the number oftrained canines available to Federal, State, and local law enforcement. By coordinating all programs within the Department and working with outside resources, section 2001 empowers the Secretary to build upon the synergy of multiple resources to enhance dog training programs.

Section 2002 of the bill addresses canine procurement. It directs the Secretary to make it a priority to increase domestically bred canines used by the Department, and includes a provision encouraging the use of universities and private and non-profit organizations to accomplish this effort. This bill's section also directs the Secretary to consult with other public and private entities to not only encourage the use of domestic bred canines, but also to work with them to consolidate canine procurement wherever possible in the hopes to reduce the cost of purchasing canines across the Federal Government. Section 2003 of the bill is a ``Domestic Canine Breeding Grant Program'' for further encouragement of the development and growth of canine breeds best suited for detection training purposes.

However, perhaps the most significant accomplishment of this law is the establishment of an accreditation board, which will ensure proper certification standards. The board will consist of experts in the field of canine training and explosives detection from Federal and State agencies, universities, other research institutions, and the private sector. It is modeled after the executive board of the Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detectors, or SWGDOG as it is popularly known. This group has already done a tremendous job in bringing together the major stakeholders in canine detection and I applaud them for their work on this issue. This law will build upon the success of SWGDOG in order to ensure the proper standards for voluntary certification are applied and maintained. The board will maintain a public list of accredited entities upon which other agencies, Federal, State, and local can rely for qualified canines. The aim of this board is to reduce misrepresentative, fraudulent or otherwise improper certification of dogs and their training organizations, but ultimately the board will ensure public safety and the safety of law enforcement.

Before closing, I want to personally thank Mike Rogers from Alabama. Under his leadership in the previous Congressional session, the Committee on Homeland Security began to address this issue. He held a hearing in the previous Congress entitled ``Sniffing Out Terrorism: The Use of Dogs in Homeland Security.'' Many of the findings from that hearing were a source of guidance in writing this legislation and I thank him for his stewardship on this issue. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in passing this very critical legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Hodes, and thank you for your leadership in this class. It is going to be a historic class. I think we have already proven that in the last 100 hours.

Mr. Speaker, in the last 2 weeks in the new Congress we have already taken remarkable action to pass this first 100 hours legislation.

Now, as I traveled across my 10th District of Pennsylvania, I heard from so many families who were struggling to make ends meet. Our working families needed an increase to the minimum wage, and we provided that. Our working families needed affordable education. We provided that relief. Our seniors need lower prescription drug prices. We took steps to make sure they can have them. Our children need to know that they are growing up in a country that is safe, and we provided to enhance the security of this Nation.

Two weeks into this new Congress and already I am proud of what this House of Representatives has achieved in a bipartisan and civil manner. We are listening to the concerns of our constituents and passing meaningful legislation on their behalf.

I encourage our colleagues in the Senate to pass our legislation and for the President to sign it into law. Two weeks into the new Congress, and already I have heard from so many of my constituents who are appreciative of our concerns and their concerns being addressed. But they also remind me that we have only just begun. Two weeks in and still so much left to accomplish.

I would like to thank my colleague from California for the time.

Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote for bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing the minimum wage and making an important change for the families of nearly 13 million American workers.

It is unconscionable, Mr. Speaker, that the minimum wage has remained unchanged for nearly 10 years. During the past decade, consumer costs have skyrocketed. Energy, health care and education costs have all risen, while my constituents have seen their real incomes drop.

It is wrong that millions of Americans work full time and year around and still live in poverty. I am voting to give them a raise, a raise that is long overdue.

This bill will increase the minimum wage by $2.10 an hour over 2 years. This will mean an additional $4,400 for a family of three equaling 15 months' worth of groceries or 2 years' worth of health care. Helping them to keep up with the rising costs of these necessities is something that we have the moral obligation to do.

As the father of five, I understand, I keenly understand the impact of rising costs on a tight family budget.

Raising the minimum wage is the first step to a stronger economy for all Americans, not just for the privileged few. Our action today will make a real difference in the lives of America's working families and I am proud to vote for it, and I respectfully urge my colleagues to stand with our working families, as well.