Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1277, I call up the bill (H.R. 5781) to provide that 8 of the 12 weeks of parental leave made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008, which was introduced by our colleague Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney on April 14, 2008. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, I am proud to serve as an original cosponsor of this bill, along with 21 other Members of Congress.

H.R. 5781 takes an important step in improving the Federal Government's ability to recruit and retain a highly qualified workforce by providing paid parental leave to Federal and congressional employees for the birth, adoption or placement of a child for foster care, which is a benefit that is extended to most employees in the private sector as well as to government employees in other countries.

In considering H.R. 5781, the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia marked up the bill on April 15, 2008, and favorably recommended the measure to the Full Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after adopting an amendment offered by Committee Chairman Henry Waxman that would permit only 4 weeks of paid parental leave instead of the 8 weeks included in the bill as introduced. The full committee then held a markup on H.R. 5781 on April 16, 2008, and ordered the bill to be reported to the floor, as amended, by a roll call vote of 21-10.

During the consideration of H.R. 5781, I had asked that language be included in the bill directing the Government Accountability Office to study the feasibility of providing a disability insurance benefit to Federal employees who had to take time off to care for a spouse, child or parent that has a serious health condition or for a Federal employee that has a serious health condition that renders him or her unable to perform their job functions. While the manager's amendment that we will be discussing later on removes this provision from the bill, I am happy to report that at my request GAO has agreed to perform a study that will analyze disability insurance benefits that are currently being offered by States, local governments and the private sector.

The bill being considered today will allow all Federal and congressional employees to receive 4 weeks of paid leave taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act for the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child. As many of my colleagues are aware, the current FMLA statute provides Federal workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child with an employee.

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us does nothing more than permit Federal employees to receive paid leave for 4 out of the 12 weeks if the leave is connected to the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child, and to use accrued sick or annual leave, if available, for the remaining 8 weeks. Let us be clear: This bill currently being considered does not provide Federal workers any additional time nor expand beyond the 12 weeks given under the current law.

The bill before us has also been strengthened by granting the Director of the Office of Personnel Management the authority to increase paid parental leave from 4 weeks to 8 weeks after considering a thorough cost and benefit analysis.

Parental leave is a pertinent concern around the world, and, unfortunately, America is lagging behind in offering paid leave for parents. The governments of 168 countries offer guaranteed paid leave to their female employees in connection with childbirth. Ninety-eight of these countries offer 14 or more weeks paid leave. Currently the Federal Government as an employer guarantees no paid leave.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I again reiterate my support for H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008, and urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to one who has been fighting, pushing, planning, organizing, struggling and working, the lead on this issue for more than 10 years, and the sponsor of this bill, Representative Carolyn Maloney from New York.

I yield the gentlewoman 30 additional seconds.

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Representative Woolsey.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to

the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the stellar chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Representative Waxman.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to a strong proponent and defender of workers rights, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to another Member who is actively engaged in workers' rights issues, Representative Chris Van Hollen from Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Representative Maloney of New York.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, can I inquire as to how much time we have left.

Mr. Speaker, could I inquire of the gentleman from California if he is prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, so if the gentleman will close.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield myself the rest of our time to close.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a rather spirited discussion and debate, and I'm reminded of the fact that we often compare public employees with private employees. And I know that we have amongst us Members who like the idea of downsizing government, of privatizing operations, of outsourcing activities. I believe that our public employees can in fact be the best that we help and allow them to become.

I believe that we can recruit the best and the brightest. But I also believe that if you want production, then you have to make sure that you are treating your employees fairly. Let's be clear. Federal employees are only able to accumulate a maximum of 30 days of annual leave, not an adequate amount of time for purposes of providing care for a newborn or adopted child.

Early in their careers when they're earning only 13 to 20 days per year, accumulating even 30 days is nearly impossible. Yet the early years of one's career usually coincide with the time that they decide to have children. And so it's the young, new employees who have not accumulated a great deal of time, who, in many instances, are either giving birth or adopting children.

So if we're going to be able to recruit, we have to try and make sure that we can attract.

We also need to be family friendly. Not only do we need this bill, but in reality, we really need childcare centers in all of our agencies. We need daycare programs so that people who have to work can know that there is the adequacy of opportunity to care for their children.

So providing this legislation the opportunity to live, providing individuals who are bearing children or adopting children the time that they need to bond with a newborn or to bond with

an adopted child I think is not only a rational, sensible approach but I also want to extend commendations again to my colleague from New York, Representative Carol Maloney, who has led the fight on this issue for such a long time. And it is as a result of her tremendous efforts and the great work of our staffs that we are here this afternoon preparing to move another step towards making sure that we have the kind of workforce that our Federal Government needs. You can't lead where you don't go. And you can't teach what you don't know.

I urge passage of this legislation and yield back the balance of our time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, while the manager's amendment being offered does not make any substantive legislative changes to the bill's underlying purpose, it does make in order several minor technical changes that are designed to streamline the bill's language so that the House-passed bill will mirror language currently being considered in the Senate.

Most of these changes involve drafting edits and modifications through the bill's layout and structure. All of these changes are technical in nature. However, they are important to ensuring the swift passage of the measure.

The manager's amendment also strikes section 5 of H.R. 5781. This section of the bill entitled ``Study'' originally directed the Government Accountability Office to study and submit to Congress a written report of the feasibility and desirability of offering an insurance benefit to Federal employees not to include parental leave that would provide wage replacement during periods related to a serious health condition.

I am asking that this language be removed from the bill since GAO, at my request, has already agreed to perform a study that will analyze disability insurance benefits that are currently being offered by States, local governments and the private sector. I ask that a copy of the GAO acceptance letter regarding the disability insurance

benefit study be included in the Record.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, the amendment at the desk would apply an effective date to all provisions of the bill. H.R. 5781, as reported out of committee, provided for two provisions of the act to go into effect 6 months from the date of enactment of the act. All we're asking for in the manager's amendment is that the same effective date be applied to the remaining section of the bill, which speaks specifically to extending paid parental leave to those that work at the Library of Congress or the Government Accountability Office.

While the amendment I am offering this afternoon does nothing to change these aspects of the bill, it does strengthen the measure by clarifying and streamlining certain provisions of the bill. Therefore, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this simple amendment.

Government Accountability Office,

Washington, DC, June 10, 2008.

Hon. Danny K. Davis,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Fereral Workforce, Postal Service,

and the District of Columbia, Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform, House of Representatives.

Dear Mr. Chairman: We received your letter dated June 2,

2008, requesting that the Government Accountability Office

review the feasibility and desirability of providing an

insurance benefit to federal employees which would provide

partial or total wage replacement.

GAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope

of its authority. To fully respond to your request, GAO plans

to initiate work on this project in about five months when it

is expected that staff with the required skills will be

available. Your request has been assigned to Ms. Cynthia M.

Fagnoni, Managing Director, Education, Workforce, and Income

Security. Ms. Fagnoni or a member of her team will contact

Ms. Lori Hayman to discuss the request and options for

helping you meet your needs. As applicable, we will also be

in contact with the cognizant Inspector General's office to

ensure that we are not duplicating efforts. If an issue

arises during this coordination, we will consult with you

regarding its resolution.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Fagnoni at

202-512-7202 or Ms. Elizabeth Johnston, Assistant Director,

Congressional Relations, on my staff at 202-512-6345.

Sincerely yours,

Ralph Dawn,

Managing Director, Congressional Relations.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I agree that we routinely ask the Government Accountability Office to make studies, to provide information, to give us the kind of information that we need, sometimes in much time, to make the most rational, logical and adequate decisions.

We simply ask in the legislation or indicate in the legislation that we've already asked them to do that and they have already agreed, and that's why we asked that the letter be included indicating their agreement.

Well, if you would like, I can tell you here is what the response from the GAO is.

``We received your letter dated June 2, 2008, requesting that the Government Accountability Office review the feasibility and desirability of providing an insurance benefit to Federal employees which would provide partial or total wage replacement.''

``GAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope of its authority.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time and urge passage of this amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1275, a resolution which honors the life of the late Timothy John Russert Jr. H. Res. 1275 was sponsored by a member of the Oversight committee, Representative Brian Higgins of New York and introduced yesterday with 89 original cosponsors.

I would like to thank the House Leadership, Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis for their support in bringing this measure to the floor in such a timely manner. I also wish to thank Edward Leong, senior counsel with House Legislative Counsel's office for his efforts in drafting a very fine resolution. Such cooperation, support and dedication to excellence are truly a fitting tribute to Timothy Russert.

I think the Washington Post said it best. In the June 14, 2008 edition, on the front of the Style section, the caption under Tim Russert's photo read, ``The ``Meet the Press'' moderator during a taping of his show last year. He got to do what he most wanted to do, and the news business was better for it.''

I couldn't agree more. He was on top of his game as the NBC News Washington bureau chief and moderator of ``Meet the Press.'' In between ball games, cheering and supporting those Buffalo Bills, going to Mass, writing books about the wisdom of our fathers, hanging out with his son, Luke, and checking in on his father Big Russ, he did what he loved best--being an award wining political analyst.

Madam Speaker, Timothy John Russert, Jr's sudden death, has left a huge void on the political landscape. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

I commend my colleague Representative Higgins for sponsoring this condolence measure and I urge its swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1002) expressing support for designation of April 2008 as ``Public Radio Recognition Month,'' as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, public radio, of course, is one of the things that all of us spend a great deal of time listening to. As a matter of fact, there are many of us, and many people in America, who feel that if they don't get the opportunity to listen, to know what has taken place, to recognize what is going on in our country, then they are seriously deprived.

Whereas the mission of public radio is to create a better informed public that is challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures; and whereas public radio is almost a mainstay in hundreds of thousands and perhaps even millions of Americans' homes. We wake up in the morning, many families go to bed at night, and public radio is the balance that they need to feel that the information they are receiving is not being commercialized, that it is information that is coming straight from wherever the purveyors have gotten it.

They are not necessarily trying to shape ideas in one direction or another, but to simply give information to people that they can use and take advantage of and make it a part of their everyday lives.

So, based upon those facts and based upon that information, it is certainly my pleasure to express support for this legislation. I want to commend the gentleman from Oregon, Mr. Blumenauer, for introducing it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would urge support of this resolution and yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1219) celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present for consideration H. Res. 1219, which celebrates our Nation's flag and the goals of Flag Day, a day honoring the America's most enduring symbol.

H. Res. 1219's lead sponsor, Representative Robert Latta of Ohio, introduced the bill on May 21, 2008, and it was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote. This measure has the support and sponsorship of 62 Members of Congress and expresses our appreciation for and belief in the power of the red, white and blue.

The importance of the American flag as a symbol to our Nation is enormous. Our flag represents the service men and women who proudly wear it, the judges and legislators who serve in honor of it, and the millions of Americans who stand daily and pledge their allegiance to it. It is indeed representative of every American as a symbol of hope and freedom that resonates around the world.

Flag Day is celebrated every June 14, because it was on that day in 1777 that the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, giving our Nation an enduring and identifying emblem. The flag has changed since then, but the ideas it embodies have endured. From the images of the Americans planting the flag in the sands of Iwo Jima, to the flag that was pulled from the rubble of the New York World Trade Center after the attacks of 9/11, Old Glory has become an integral part of our national fabric.

So, Madam Speaker, I urge swift passage of H. Res. 1219, for it will provide due recognition of the importance of the American flag and demonstrate our support of the day which honors it.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

I would continue to reserve, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and I would urge passage of this resolution.

I yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1029) congratulating and recognizing Mr. Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez for his continued success on and off of the golf course, for his generosity and devotion to charity, and for his exemplary dedication to the intellectual and moral growth of thousands of low-income and disadvantaged youth in our country, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Now, Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield as much time as he might consume to the author of this resolution, my good friend from Illinois, Representative Gutierrez.

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

I rise as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to join my colleagues in consideration of H. Res. 1029, which recognizes as well as congratulates Mr. Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez for his continued success on and off the golf course, for his generosity and devotion to charity and for his exemplary dedication to the positive development of thousands of low-income and disadvantaged youth in our country.

H. Res. 1029 was authored by Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and is cosponsored by 52 Members of Congress. The bill before us was first introduced on March 6, 2008 and was taken up by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 12, 2008 where the measure was amended and then passed by a voice vote.

A native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Juan ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez is recognized as one of the greatest golfers of our time, and he is the first Puerto Rican professional golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. With over 37 professional golf wins, including 8 PGA tour wins and 22 Senior PGA tour wins, Mr. Rodriguez rose from sugarcane cutter to world-renowned professional golfer and youth advocate, which is a great indication of one who need not be so concerned about where one comes from but in recognizing where one will be going.

Mr. Rodriguez, obviously, went to the very top. Not only did he stand out as a professional golfer, but as a humanitarian and as an individual who gave back and gave to others, he will always be renowned and remembered.

I commend my colleague for introducing this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, we have no further requests for time, I urge passage of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6150) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, as the ``John P. Gallagher Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

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

Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 6150 which asks that we designate a postal facility in Cleveland after Mr. John Gallagher who served that city faithfully for over 30 years. H.R. 6150, which was introduced by Representative Dennis Kucinich on May 22, 2008, was reported favorably from the Oversight Committee on June 12 by voice vote.

The measure, which will name a post office after a truly humble and dedicated civil servant, has the support and sponsorship of the entire Ohio congressional delegation.

John Gallagher has been described as a man who served his country and the city of Cleveland with dignity for his entire life. At the age of 19, he joined the U.S. Army where he fought bravely in Europe during World War II. After his years of service, he returned to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, where he would work for the city government for over 30 years, rising through the ranks to become Cleveland's Superintendent of Sidewalks.

Mr. Gallagher did not regard his commitment to the city of Cleveland as anything extraordinary, but that he was simply doing his job, that's all. Like many public sector workers in our country, Mr. Gallagher devoted his life to serving and working on behalf of his fellow citizens.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, let us extend a small token of our appreciation for the work of this outstanding gentleman by passing H.R. 6150 which will rename the postal facility on Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, as the John P. Gallagher Post Office Building.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have one additional comment.

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

Madam Speaker, we urge passage of this resolution, and yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute Mr. Cornelius Allen who passed away on May 28, 2008; and an individual whom I learned was my cousin a few years ago.

Madam Speaker, Cornelius Allen was one of the friendiest and most delightful persons I have known. Cornelius was born on October 13, 1928, in Gary, Indiana to the parentage of Mr. Diston and Mrs. Addie P. Allen. Mr. Allen attended high school at Oakwood Academy in Huntsville, Alabama; graduating with the class of 1947. He was then drafted into the United States Army and served as a private first class until honorable discharged in 1952, and remained in the reserve until 1957.

In 1955, Cornelius joined the Chicago Transit Authority and quickly became an Ambassador of Goodwill as he often spoke with passengers and exhibited friendship to school children. After thirty years of loyal service to the Chicago Transit Authority, Mr. Allen retired and spent the rest of his life doing good deeds.

Cornelius Allen was a real proponent of education and encouraged young people to take advantage of every educational opportunity available to them. He was family centered and exhibited great pride in family history, tradition and unity.

To Cornelius's closest relatives, Dell Allen and wife Debbie, his daughters Addie Allen, grandchildren, Marcus Allen, Dell `Rome' Allen, Justus Cornelius Allen Pugh, great grandchildren Cameron Allen, Lyndon Allen and Lucas Allen; his brother Ray Shepherd and Rosenwald (Eunice) Allen Sr. and his sister, Mary Ann Guyton, I say you have been blessed to have such a great soul to be an intimate part of your life.

Cornelius was a good man whose footsteps were ordered by the Lord and just as he brought joy to your lives, he brought joy to countless others.

May he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Captain Charles L. Stuppard, United States Navy for his outstanding tour of duty in the war in the Middle East. As of today, he is completing one full year of military service as the Commander of Task Group 56.6 based in Kuwait. Over the past 12 months, Captain Stuppard supported over 10,000 individual sailors during their deployment in Kuwait, Iraq, or Afghanistan. He supervised in-processing for over 17,000 Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defense civilian personnel as they are deployed to the Middle East. Captain Stuppard visited many forward deployed forces throughout Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.

Captain Stuppard Task Group coordinated the training of over 3,000 sailors in High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles Egress, Tactical Movement, Counter and Close Quarters Marksmanship in order to meet current requirements. Such training ensured that deploying sailors have the most up-to-date information on the current situation, particularly in a desert environment. Captain Stuppard fought tirelessly to acquire up-to-date armored vehicles for use by sailors traveling outside of the protected areas. Such action had a direct and positive impact on the level of protection given to the sailors from improved explosive devices, rocket propelled grenade, mines, and small arms fire. Consequently, he enhanced the sailors' war fighting capabilities and survivability as forward deployed units.

Captain Stuppard graduated from Cornell University in 1982 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. In 1998, Captain Stuppard obtained his master's degree in national security and strategic studies at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He is currently a doctoral student at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI.

Captain Stuppard's accomplishments and achievements are truly outstanding and serve as an example to all citizens throughout our country, the United States of America. Captain Stuppard is a true gentleman and an outstanding American. I congratulate Captain Charles L. Stuppard for a job well done while serving in the Middle East.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the significant contributions of Stephen Barr, noted columnist and journalist that paved the way for today's journalistic generation.

Throughout his career at the Washington Post Stephen Barr has served as an anchor to both the columnist writing community and the avid readers of the newspaper. During his 20 years at the Washington Post he has worked as an editor and reporter serving in the Metro News, Style, National News, and the Column departments of the newspaper.

In May 2000, he was selected as the Federal Diary Columnist after serving 7 years as a national staff writer covering Federal management and personnel issues, ``reinventing government,'' the U.S. Postal Service, veterans'' affairs, the congressional appropriations process, and government technology challenges, including the widely known Year 2000 computer glitch.

Steve Barr was born and raised in Nocona, Texas, a 1967 graduate of Nocona High School and a 1971 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he received his bachelor's degree in journalism. He also served 2 years in the U.S. Army, including one year with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam.

With deep appreciation and admiration for his continued service, I thank Mr. Stephen Barr and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1225, designating June as National Safety Month. After years of decline, the numbers of unintentional injuries and deaths in the United States have risen to unacceptable new heights. Deaths from motor vehicle collisions, poisoning from unintentional overdoses, and falls remain the three leading causes of preventable death in the United States. For example, in 2005, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that accidents, both motor vehicle and other types of accidents, were the leading cause of death for persons ages 1 to 44 in Illinois. According to the 2008 edition of the National Safety Council's Injury Facts publication, the annual cost of unintentional injuries to Americans and their employers now exceeds $650 billion.

To reduce the prevalence and severity of these injuries, Congress annually designates June as National Safety Month. By providing a public service campaign around the theme ``Make A Difference,'' the National Safety Council promotes public awareness by highlighting the most significant causes for unintentional injuries and deaths in the workplace, on the road, and in the home and community. Equally important, the public campaign also stresses what Americans can do to prevent much of the needless suffering and expense associated with these accidents.

Each week of the month-long observance will focus on a unique safety issue. During the first week of June, the campaign focused on Emergency Preparedness. As a country we can make a difference by knowing how to perform CPR and acquiring Automated External Defibrillator training, both of which, if applied within minutes of a cardiac arrest, double the chances of survival. This week the campaign highlights the perils of distracted driving. According to a recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. Next week, the campaign spotlights the escalating co-relation between the rise in the consumption of prescription medication and rise in overdose fatalities. During the last week of June, the campaign centers on the importance of fall prevention, highlighting tips for preventing falls in the workplace, as well as fall prevention tips for aging adults. The campaign will conclude on Monday, June 30th, with tips for Independence Day and summer safety. Summer is a time of increased rates of preventable injuries and death. As a country, we can make a difference by becoming more aware about safe practices. We must recognize our responsibility to implement interventions that make our world a safer place to live. I urge you to join me in supporting H. Res. 1225, designating June as National Safety Month and focusing individuals' and business leaders' attention on injury risks and preventions.

Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) for yielding, and also for the tremendous addition that he has been to the United States House of Representatives, and how much I enjoy serving with him on the Education Committee.

I also want to commend the sponsors of this resolution because I don't think that there is any other day that perhaps should be more important than the concept of Father's Day.

We all recount and remember our own childhood, growing up. I remember my father always trying to encourage us to do things like go to bed early, get up early, study hard, work hard, go to church. My father had all these little pithy sayings that he used to say to us, and he'd say things like, ``Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.''

Then I remember when my brothers and I got to be teenagers, and he would tell us that; and we'd say, Dad, we really thank you for your wisdom. Of course the fellows have a different saying now. They say, ``Early to bed, early to rise and the girls go out with the other guys.''

Nevertheless, the things that he taught continued to be the things that I value. Self-sufficiency, always being able to look out not only for yourself, but for others.

Unfortunately, we have seen a tremendous rise in single-parent families, where we experience much too often the absence of fathers. And there are things that we know about the absence of fathers. We know that children who grow up without the presence of a father are more likely to drop out of school, more likely to experience teen pregnancy, more likely to experience juvenile delinquency, more likely to be incarcerated.

And so I simply want to take this moment to thank the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood, and a group that I work with called Fathers Who Care. On Saturday of this past week, as we do every year before Father's Day, we had a full day of activity at the Malcolm X Community College for 400 men who came and talked about fatherhood. And we encouraged those who had been away from their children to know that they can have father relationships even if they aren't employed, that even if they've been incarcerated and away from their families, they can still come back; that nothing takes the place of the positive interaction between father and child. And not only just your individual child.

I had so many fathers growing up until I just can't name them all. I had father uncles, I had father cousins, I had father neighbors, I had friends of the family, all of whom practiced the art of fatherhood. And I don't believe that I would be standing here today as a Member of Congress had I not had the influence of those men in my life.

Again I commend the sponsors of this resolution, urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 127) recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Alaska in the Union as the 49th State.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Res. 127 which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the State of Alaska, and highlights its contributions to America's economy and heritage.

H. Res. 127 was introduced by our colleague, Congressman Don Young of Alaska, on February 5, 2007. On April 16, 2008, H. Res. 127 was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee by voice vote. This measure has the support and cosponsorship of over 50 Members of Congress, including all of the delegation from the State of Alaska.

On October 18, 1867, the Alaskan peninsula was purchased from Russia and, in 1912, after major development during the Gold Rush era, Alaska was granted territorial status.

Enshrined as the 49th State of the Union on January 3, 1959, Alaska is commonly referred to as the last frontier. And the word Alaska, which is derived from the indigenous Aleut language, means mainland or, literally, the object towards which the action of the sea is directed.

Today, Alaska's economy is strong, with the third highest gross state production out of any State of the Union. And since the issue of gas was such a major point last week for my colleagues, I should also mention that Alaska currently provides over 16 percent of the daily crude oil production in the United States.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for sponsoring this measure. And given the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood, and the enormous contributions Alaska has given to our Nation, and to the world, I urge passage of this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, let me ask, did the gentleman from Indiana yield back all of his time?

Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me thank both the gentleman from Alaska and the gentleman from Indiana not only for their support of the resolution to honor the State of Alaska, but I was also pleased to hear them talk about the tremendous gas crisis that we have in the country. I was pleased to note that the State of Illinois played a role in the purchase of Alaska.

In terms of Secretary of State Seward, after he did not get the Presidency, did in fact become Secretary of State and did in fact make sure that we purchased Alaska. And, of course, that's a lesson for all of us to know that you don't necessarily have to win the nomination for President in order to do significant things afterwards. There is certainly much work to be done.

But let me just mention that recently, Congress overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation to temporarily suspend the oil purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. As a result, the President was forced to suspend shipments and sign the deal which he previously opposed. Continuing to fill the SPR would take 70,000 barrels of oil off the market each day even though the reserve is 97 percent full with enough to meet our national security needs. We passed the farm bill that contains in it biofuels, new methods of creating energy, new sources from which energy can come.

And so there is movement, and I'm confident. Yes, we did become the majority in both the House and the Senate in the last 2 years, and when we get the other office, I have no doubt in my mind that we're going to see great relief from the oil crisis.

I urge passage of this resolution.

I yield back the balance of our time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5683) to make certain reforms with respect to the Government Accountability Office, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, today is a triumphant day for the employees of the Government Accountability Office, known as GAO. When enacted, the Government Accountability Office Act of 2008 will allow GAO to regain its footing as an agency that not only touts that its employees are the best and the brightest but treats them as if they are the best and the brightest.

On April 2, after a 2-year investigation and several subcommittee hearings, I introduced H.R. 5683, which would restore the 2006 and 2007 annual across-the-board increase to GAO employees who met expectations but did not receive the adjustment.

The legislation would also set a floor guarantee that would preserve GAO's performance-based compensation system, while ensuring that GAO employees receive an annual increase in their permanent pay, provided they meet expectations, that is at least equal to the congressionally approved across-the-board increase. The floor guarantee will be comprised of the annual adjustment to the GAO pay schedule, plus the permanent merit pay increase received by an employee under GAO's merit pay system.

Other provisions in the bill include creating a statutory Inspector General for GAO, providing GAO with enhanced recruiting tools, and eliminating the statutorily imposed GS-15 pay cap to allow the Comptroller General the authority to pay employees up to the rate for Executive Level III.

At a hearing the subcommittee held on March 23, 2008, on this legislation and GAO's personnel reforms, the subcommittee learned from the Ivy Planning Group, a consulting firm hired by GAO to conduct an African American Performance Assessment Study at GAO, that there are significant differences between the ratings for African American analysts and Caucasian analysts. Therefore, the personnel reform at GAO had a significant negative impact on African American staffers.

Furthermore, a survey that was administered to GAO employees at my request found that 81 percent of respondents thought morale in general at GAO is worse or much worse than before the reforms, and a majority of the respondents felt that not having an across-the-

board increase for all staff is very or somewhat unreasonable. While the subcommittee recognizes that more work needs to be done at GAO, H.R. 5683 would help improve the morale and remedy the inequities that resulted from the denial of the 2006 and 2007 across-the-board pay adjustments.

The bill before us, H.R. 5683 as amended, makes some technical changes to the bill as reported by the committee. Unfortunately, it also deletes a provision included at the request of Ranking Member Tom Davis due to concerns about the cost as reported by the Congressional Budget Office. The provision would have allowed GAO to include bonuses when calculating an employee's annuity, a position I support in principle and which we will hopefully be able to address as this bill moves forward in the legislative process.

The bill, as amended, also deletes provisions which would have given GAO the ability to administer oaths, and guaranteed GAO's access to certain Medicare and FDA information. In addition, it modifies a provision which would allow GAO to recover the costs of financial statement audits it conducts for other agencies.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I hope that my colleagues will join the Government Accountability Office and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, to close, let me, first of all, thank the gentleman from Indiana, and also I'm pleased to note the level of sensitivity that exists within our committee, and when the other side came up with some issues and concerns, the committee was able to respond to those, and of course, the bill has, in fact, been altered. We're very pleased to know that we have their support.

We also want to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to express appreciation to staffs on both sides of the aisle who worked extremely hard on this legislation and helped us shape it to the point where we think it is going to do an effective job for the employees of the Government Accountability Office.

Especially do I want to thank my staff director in the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and not only do we want to thank her, but we know that she's going to be leaving us for a little bit. And at the end of the week, she is going to spend a little bit of time at home and perhaps in the hospital, not very much, but delivering a new voter for the United States of America. And she tells me that in all likelihood it will be a Democrat, and so we congratulate her and her husband and wish them well, and thank her again for her tremendous work.

We yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5778) to preserve the independence of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'd like to present for consideration H.R. 5778, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Independence Preservation Act, which clarifies the original intent of previously enacted legislation establishing an independent water and wastewater utility agency for the national capital region.

H.R. 5778 was originally introduced by Representatives Chris Van Hollen and Tom Davis April 10, 2008, and was discharged from the Oversight Committee on June 6, 2008. As chair of the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, I convened a hearing to discuss the merits of this legislation before us on April 15, 2008, where we learned that the bill had the support of the various regional localities that are served by the authority.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, also known as D.C. WASA, was created in 1996 through congressional and local government action which was intended to establish an independent regional utility agency that would be responsible for providing drinking water and wastewater treatment services to the District of Columbia and wholesale wastewater treatment services to certain Maryland and Virginia suburban jurisdictions.

Before the enactment of a series of WASA-related statutes, the agency experienced a grave financial and serious operational difficulties. However, I am happy to report that ever since the agency was restructured back in the late 1990s, WASA has made significant progress in carrying out its statutory mandate of providing retail drinking water distribution, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment services to over 2 million Washington metropolitan regional customers, of which the Federal Government is included.

H.R. 5778 clarifies the original intent of the applicable statutes concerning WASA's Board's responsibilities, including the financial management, personnel, procurement, and all other operations of the authority. A recent amendment to the bill will help to ensure that the residents and employees of the applicable jurisdictions are eligible for employment with WASA under the same terms and conditions.

And so, Mr. Speaker, as a regional partner, it is important that we continue to show our commitment to strengthening and assisting WASA in its efforts to upgrade and improve the agency's operations, equipment, and long-term functionality. H.R. 5778 is an important step in that direction. Therefore, I urge its adoption.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time and no further speakers.

I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana for his support and thank the entire committee for its support. I urge passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1245) to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capital Region.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I join my colleagues in the consideration of S. 1245, which will make some minor but much needed changes to the mutual aid agreements authorized by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 for the governments of the National Capital Region.

S. 1249 was received by the House on December 13, 2007 after being passed under unanimous consent by the Senate. The measure is authored by Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland and is supported by the members of the National Capital Region, which includes the District of Columbia and surrounding local jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia that are also part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The legislative changes enacted by this measure are also backed by the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

S. 1249 addresses and authorizes changes to two aspects of the original legislation. For starters, the measure adds a special purpose governmental authority category to be included as part of the area's mutual aid agreement. This newly created category will permit such entities as the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority to participate in the mutual aid agreement during the event of an emergency.

Secondly, S. 1245 grants the regional members of the mutual aid agreement additional flexibility in developing an exhaustive list of employees and authorized volunteers who will be committed to respond to a disaster on behalf of the various independent authorities and State or local governments.

Instead of having to keep a running tally of each individual employee or person participating in the agreement, S. 1245 will allow each of the overarching authorities to keep track of their own participants. This bill authorizes the former inclusion of volunteer entities, such as incorporated volunteer fire companies, to be covered under the mutual aid agreement.

So Mr. Speaker, since it is vitally important that we in the National Capital Region are prepared and ready to respond in the event of a major emergency or disaster, it is incumbent upon us that we pass S. 1245.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Indiana for the opportunity to spend as much time with him as we have spent this afternoon. I also want to commend him for his advocacy, especially the effort to get down the price of gasoline.

I have no lack of confidence in our ability to make that happen, especially when I think of the efforts that have been put forth to produce more energy-efficient automobiles, to make sure that we're not polluting our environment as much. And I think those people that I would come into contact with would say to me, you know, if we start drilling right now all over the place, the prices are going to be the same next week, they're going to be the same next month.

They want some relief that is as immediate--and I don't really have to come to Washington because they stop me in Chicago, where we pay more than anybody else in the country. And so I want to thank the gentleman for his comments and urge passage of this legislation.

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