Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to see that we're finally seeing this very important and long overdue port security legislation on the House floor.

There are 14 major ports in my home state of Florida, with the Port of Jacksonville in my hometown. And we have failed so far in devoting the money they need to protect their facility.

Unfortunately, we're still failing to protect the 25 million passengers who ride Amtrak each year. 69,000 passengers ride Amtrak every day, and yet they don't qualify for any of the money being authorized in this bill and are offered no more protections than they have today. That is shameful.

I can't believe that anyone in this House, following the bombings in Madrid and in London, doesn't believe that terrorists would attack an Amtrak train on the Northeast corridor that connects Washington, DC, New York, and Boston.

This Republican Congress deserves an F for what they have done to protect transit and passenger rail in this country. They wasted an opportunity to protect the citizens who take public transit and passenger rail to work every day.

Mr. Speaker, working families are feeling the financial squeeze now more than ever. At a time when gas prices, tuition bills, and housing costs are skyrocketing, real wages for full-time workers are declining.

Low-income families are suffering even more, with the lowest inflation adjustment minimum wage in 50 years. The Bush economy has made it difficult for the income of all working Americans to keep up with the rising costs. Democrats have a plan to reserve these misguided tax cuts and redirect them to the middle class and working people who need them most.

Mr. Speaker, since the Republicans in this body have refused to raise the minimum wage for the past 9 years, and since they seem intent on adjourning this body before taking up a straight up-or-down vote on raising it, I now ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 2429, Congressman George Miller's Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Cannot be entertained under the Republican leadership.

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

I want to thank Chairman Young and Chairman LaTourette and Ranking Member Oberstar for their work in bringing this important bill to the House floor for a vote.

It has been nearly 20 years since we have passed a bill to help out our Nation's rail workers who were injured on the job and unable to continue working in the railroad industry. I am pleased to see that everyone has agreed to support an increase in their allowed monthly earnings limit so that these hardworking men and women can work freely in jobs that are not as physically demanding as those in the railroad industry.

H.R. 5483 will increase the outside earnings limits for disabled workers from $400 to $700 per month, which will then increase yearly based on the Social Security index.

We all know that the cost of living in this country is skyrocketing. Whether it is the cost of needed medicines, increased insurance premiums, or the high price of gasoline, this small increase will make a major impact on the ability of these individuals to provide for their families.

I stand in strong support of this legislation, and I am happy to see everyone has come together today and that the views of all interested groups, not just a select few, were included in this legislation.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, which reauthorizes and amends the National Dam Safety program. The program's goal is to reduce the risks to life and property by establishing an effective national dam safety maintenance program that utilizes the resources and expertise of the Federal and non-Federal communities to achieve the reduction of dam safety hazards. In other words, one of the primary purposes of the National Dam Safety program is to provide financial assistance to the States for strengthening their dam safety program.

Since the passage of the National Dam Safety Program Act in 1996, the program has improved the Nation's dam safety. Dam safety inspections have increased; State training programs have been enhanced; and research in the area of improving dam safety has increased.

Additionally, in light of our Nation's need to protect our infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks, the National Dam Safety Review Board has established the Dam Safety Security Task Force to facilitate dialogue and offer technical assistance and support on security-related policy and guidance, and there has been an increase in the development of dam safety and security emergency action plans.

H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, seeks to build upon these achievements made over the past several years and enhance them. The bill strengthens the act by improving the national dam inventory, and encourages States to improve State dam safety programs and increase reauthorization levels of the various components of the act.

Mr. Speaker, many people are not aware that there are approximately 80,000 dams in the United States. Of these, approximately 10,000 dams are considered to have high hazard potential, meaning their failure could result in loss of life or severe property damage. It is critical that we help to ensure the safety and security of these dams.

H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, is a good bill, has bipartisan support, and I urge its passage.

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

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

H.R. 5546, as amended, is a bill to designate the United States courthouse located in Greenville, South Carolina, as the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr., United States Courthouse. This bill, introduced by Mr. Inglis, has bipartisan support from the South Carolina delegation.

Mr. Campbell was born in 1940 in Greenville, South Carolina. He attended public school in Greenville and graduated from the University of South Carolina. From 1970 to 1974, he served in the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1975, he was appointed as Executive Assistant to Governor Jim Edwards. In 1976, he was elected to the State Senate; and in 1978 he was elected to the 96th Congress as a Republican from South Carolina. He served for three terms in Congress, and in 1987 he ran for Governor of South Carolina and served from 1987 to 1995. Carroll Campbell died in December, 2005, from the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

Mr. Campbell was known as the man who built the Republican Party in South Carolina to a dominant political force. In 1978, when Mr. Campbell headed to Congress, he won assignment on the Appropriations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee. In 1980, he joined forces with Lee Atwater to engineer the primary victory of Ronald Reagan in South Carolina.

As Governor, Mr. Campbell realized that South Carolina had to become a modern State to compete in the world economy; and he revamped the State's tax code to make it more business friendly, which resulted in record economic growth. He was personally involved in bringing the BMW plant to upstate South Carolina. Campbell was continually active in the international arena trying to bring business to South Carolina.

Campbell's greatest challenge was dealing with Hurricane Hugo in 1989. He joined forces with South Carolina Mayor Joe Riley and planned how to deal with the storm. He was a decision leader, and his decisions to prepare and evacuate saved many lives.

Congressman Campbell served the citizens of South Carolina with devotion and energy. It is fitting and proper to honor his civic contributions with this designation.

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

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

H.R. 5606 is a bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 221 West Ferguson Street in Tyler, Texas, as the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Judge William Steger was born on August 22, 1920, in Dallas, Texas. He attended local schools and Baylor University. In 1941, the war interrupted his studies; and in 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army. After training as a pilot, he served in North Africa and flew 56 missions over North Africa and Italy in Spitfires, the famous British fighter plane.

Upon his return to Texas, he enrolled in South Methodist University as a pre-law student. In 1950, he graduated with honors from law school. Shortly after Eisenhower was elected, he appointed him to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. He served until 1959 and then entered private practice. He was the Republican nominee in the Texas Governor's race in 1960. President Nixon appointed him to the Federal bench in 1970, beginning his long and distinguished Federal judicial career.

He died in June of this year at age 85 and was known for his effective and judicial integrity and carried a heavy caseload even when he entered senior status. He was routinely described as an honest, ethical man and was a role model to teachers, his law clerks, lawyers, and fellow judges. It is both fitting and proper to honor the long public service of Judge Steger with this designation.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5026 is a bill to designate the Food and Drug Building located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the Andres Toro Building.

Andres Toro was an extremely knowledgeable public servant. As a Federal employee highly regarded by both his coworkers and members of the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico, he directed the Office of Investigations for the Food and Drug Administration in the Puerto Rico district.

Working with local government agencies, he demonstrated his commitment to preserving and enhancing public health by playing a major role in FDA actions in regulatory matters. He was widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable members in the regulatory environment and made valuable and significant contributions to the FDA office in San Juan.

During his Federal career, he received numerous awards and honors, including the Commissioner's Special Citation for the Tylenol tampering case, the FDA Commendable Service Award for outstanding performance and dedication during Hurricane David, and in 1993 for his participation in the criminal investigation called ``operation golden pill.''

Mr. Toro was a veteran of the Vietnam War and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

After attending Catholic University in Puerto Rico, he joined the FDA in San Juan in 1977. Over the course of his Federal a career he rose to the rank of Director of Investigations for the Puerto Rico district of the Food and Drug Administration. He was beloved by his fellow workers, who relied on his expertise, knowledge and guidance.

It is both fitting and proper to honor this extraordinary public servant with this designation. I support H.R. 5026, and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6051, as amended, is a bill to designate the Federal building located at 2 South Main Street in Akron, Ohio, as the John F. Seiberling Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Congressman Seiberling was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1918. He attended public school in Akron and Staunton Military Academy in Virginia. After graduating from military academy, he attended Harvard and received his law degree from Columbia Law School, New York, in 1949.

Serving in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946, he was admitted to the New York bar in 1950 and engaged in private practice from 1949 to 1954. During this time, he volunteered with the New York Legal Aid Society.

He was elected to the 92nd Congress and served for seven consecutive Congresses, from January, 1971, through January, 1987.

He had a deep and weighty impact on the course of conservation in our Nation's history. Although he was raised in a family of committed conservationists, it was through his public service as a Congressman from the 14th District of Ohio that he made his most significant contributions to conservation.

Congressman Seiberling authored legislation to establish the American Conservation Corps. Although the legislation was vetoed by President Reagan, the ideals and concepts outlined in the bill were later adopted in legislation signed by President Clinton to establish the AmeriCorps.

Also, under his leadership, more than 100 million acres of public land in Alaska were designated in 1980 as national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas. He led the effort on over 33 bills to create 250 wildlife areas or refuges. He was also an expert on historical preservation and authored legislation that created the Historic Preservation Fund.

He was recognized by his colleagues as a gentleman and a man of honor who worked diligently and tirelessly for his constituents. We all benefited from his boundless energy and determination. It is certainly fitting and proper that we take this opportunity to honor his civic career with this designation.

I thank Congressman Tim Ryan for introducing this bill, and urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Once again, I want to thank Congressman Ryan for bringing this bill to the floor, and I want to thank the chairman.

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

H.R. 1556 is a bill to designate the land located in the site of the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri as the Clyde S. Cahill Memorial Park. This parcel of land is bounded by South Tenth St., Clark Avenue, South Ninth Street, and Walnut Avenue in St. Louis.

Judge Cahill was the first African American Federal district judge to serve in the eighth circuit. A native Missourian, he was born in 1923. He attended local elementary and high schools. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in World War II from 1942 until 1946.

When he returned from the war, he continued his education at the University of St. Louis. He graduated from St. Louis University Law School in 1951 and began private practice. In 1954 he joined the Office of the Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis. In 1972, he became the executive director and general counsel for the Legal Aid Society of St. Louis. From 1975 until 1980, he served as circuit court judge of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri in St. Louis.

He was appointed by President Carter on May 23, 1980 to the Federal court. Judge Cahill became the first African American to be appointed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

He was known for being both compassionate and courteous. However, he frequently challenged the flaws in the judiciary system and was critical of Federal sentencing guidelines which he believed were sometimes inappropriately severe. He served as a role model for many young lawyers and civil servants.

Judge Cahill died in 2004. Due to his lifetime of judicial excellence, it is both fitting and just that the park area located in the Thomas Eagleton U.S. Courthouse be designated in his honor.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Clay.

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

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

H.R. 2322 is a bill to designate the Federal building located at 320 North Main Street in McAllen, Texas as the Kika de la Garza Federal Building. This bill has bipartisan support, and I commend Mr. Doggett for his constant and dogged support of this bill.

Kika, as he is known by everyone, came to the United States Congress in 1964 and served the people of Texas for over 30 years. He was the first Hispanic American to become chairman of a standing committee and served as chairman of the Agricultural Committee from 1981 to 1994. He was an outspoken advocate for U.S. agriculture and for programs to protect and improve the farm and rural economy.

Chairman de la Garza led the effort to enact landmark legislation such as the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, which established a federally fund catastrophic risk coverage policy for crop losses.

In 1990, he helped pass the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, which reformed export assistance programs and established new initiatives to strengthen environmental protection of agricultural lands.

He is a World War II veteran and received his law degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.

It is fitting and proper to honor the long and distinguished career of Congressman de la Garza by designating the Federal building located in McAllen, Texas, in his honor. I support H.R. 2322, and urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), the bill's sponsor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am the person from Florida where in the 2000 election, 27,000 votes was thrown out in my precincts, 7, 8, 9 and 10, that are 95 percent Democratic. And they say that President Bush won by 527 votes. But the unique thing is in the primary recently, in every single African American precinct, they sent thousands of Republican ballots, and only hundreds of Democratic ballots.

That is unheard of. In every single precinct they sent thousands of Republican ballots and not sufficient Democratic ballots. Now, that is the stupid, incompetent right trying to disenfranchise those same voters. Let me just say that in the supervisor's office, they carried the equipment home the night before the election.

Where our men and women are dying in Iraq for the right for them to vote, we do not have the right right here in the United States of America. It is a crying shame. Shame on them. Vote down this terrible bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong support of the outstanding contributions that our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities have given us over the years.

There are four HBCU's in the state of Florida: Florida Memorial in Miami, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, my alma mater, and Edward College in my district in Jacksonville, and Bethune Cookman, a great institution in Daytona Beach, a school I work very closely with.

The importance and outstanding work HBCU's do around the country is most noteworthy. In addition to educating African American students nationwide, they provide resources for our communities, such as mentoring and tutoring programs for our youth.

Around the country, HBCU's enroll 14 percent of all African American students in higher education, even though they make up just 3 percent of our nation's 4,000 institutions of higher education. HBCU's have awarded masters degrees and first-professional degrees to about 1 in 6 African American men and women, and awarded 24 percent of all baccalaureate degrees earned by African Americans nationwide.

I would also like to add that my Alma Mater, Florida A&M University, currently tops the list for black students and was recognized in this month's edition of Black Enterprise Magazine for being the #1 university in the country for black students. It is also the #1 producer of blacks earning bachelors degrees in the United States!

FAMU alone has produced many of society's leaders in various fields, including myself, Alcee Hastings, Kendrick Meek, other Members of Congress past and present, the current mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, tennis great Althea Gibson, and football legend Bullet Bob Hayes. Most recently, FAMU has produced young leaders such as Mr. Andrew Gillum, the youngest City Councilman ever to be elected in Tallahassee, Florida, Miss Black Universe 2006, Ms. Kimberlee Borland, and an emerging leader on my staff, Mr. Joseph Bastian.

As you can see, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a staple in our community and are vital to the success of the students striving to achieve the American dream. These colleges and universities are preparing a new generation of leaders, business people, teachers, entrepreneurs and scholars. I urge your continued support of these historic institutions as we recognize them and spotlight their achievements.

Mr. Speaker, as the city of Winter Garden, Florida's first female and first African-American elected to the city commission in 1985, Mildred L. Dixon, 83, dedicated her life to serving her community.

Commissioner Dixon first took office after filing a lawsuit denouncing Winter Garden's at-large elections as violating the 1965 Voting Rights Act. She was the first black commissioner elected in the city's 77-year history. In seven terms, she ran unopposed three times and soundly defeated her opponents in four races.

In 1983, 2 years before running for office, she was successful in initiating single member voting districts for commissioners in Winter Garden. Most recently, she initiated the city's current charter review. As an advocate for youth and senior programs, as well as affordable housing in the east Orange County community, she tirelessly pursued potential funding sources for area community centers, and possible joint ventures for low income and affordable housing developments.

A retired nurse, she was a member of the 9th Street Church of Christ in Winter Garden since 1939. As a testament to her tenacity, and tireless love for her community, in 1992 the city named a street in the Horizons Oaks neighborhood in her honor. In 1999, the Mildred Dixon Activities Center, home of the West Orange Boys and Girls Clubs on West Crown Point Road was renamed in her honor.

She was an officer in the West Orange Citizen Action Coalition; Orange County Community and Faith-based Coalition; West Orange Community Development Corporation; and the West Orange Community Housing Development Corporation. In addition, she was a member of the Orange County Community Action Board; West Orange Neighborhood Center for Families; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; National League of Cities Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; and the Tri-County, Florida and National League of Cities organizations.

Mildred Dixon was a determined advocate for Winter Garden and its citizens. She will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of raising the minimum wage. Less than a month ago in this body I voted against raising the minimum wage. Now why would I vote against raising the minimum wage? There is no Member in this House that supports raising the minimum wage more than I do. I clearly understand that a person cannot live on $10,700 a year. But it was a poison pill. As we said in the Florida House, it was the kiss of death because it was tied to an estate tax that would have taken trillions of dollars out of the budget and we would have had to cut education, health care and so many other programs that we care about.

The Bible says the poor will always be with us, but our job is to help raise the standard. Give us a clean bill on this floor and let's vote to help the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this bill and the hard work put in by Chairman Brown and Ranking Member Michaud.

I am especially pleased that the committee has chosen to authorize the construction of a new medical center facility in Orlando, Florida, for $377.7 million and to require the facility to be located at the site in Lake Nona known as site selection C.

It has been documented for 25 years, let me repeat, 25 years, that a VA hospital is badly needed in central Florida. As a 14-year member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have been working to obtain a hospital in this area, something that has always been one of my top committee priorities. When the Naval Training Center was closed, I was excited to work with former Secretary Jesse Brown to open the clinic that was badly needed for central Florida veterans. It is time for a full medical center.

It is important that the veterans of the central Florida region have a VA medical center that will serve all the needs to provide the type of health care that the VA is known for.

I am especially pleased that the VA medical center will be co-located with the new Florida State medical school near an urban medical complex, in an area where doctors and research professors can work collaboratively on the needs of our area veterans. As many studies have shown, teaching hospitals give the best care and for the veterans to have access to this care and the veterans to have the same access is invaluable. It is the ultimate urban model, one that needs to be followed at all levels of medical treatment from Florida and throughout the Nation.

The many hearings we have held to discuss the benefits of working together have shown the benefits, and the path has been set for success in other institutions. This is a win-win for everyone in the VA system in the central Florida area, and the veterans are truly deserving of this facility.

Again, this is a great day and long overdue day for the central Florida community and for central Florida veterans. It is also a great day for all veterans from all over the Nation who will come to central Florida.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member.