Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Dr. Gretchen Schuette for her distinguished service as the eighth president of Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. The name Chemeketa is a Kalapuya word meaning ``place of peace.'' Willamette Valley Native Americans would gather at a place they called Chemeketa, today known as Salem. There, they conducted their councils, renewed friendships, and shared old ideas and cultivated new ones.

Dr. Schuette embodies the spirit of Chemeketa and throughout her tenure has brought the institution to new levels of academic achievement and excellence in technical training, workforce development, and business support.

Dr. Schuette has overseen an enterprise that is one of the largest-- public or private--in Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley. Last year more than 57,000 students attended classes at the college that has campuses and centers in Salem, Woodburn, McMinnville, Dallas and the Santiam Canyon. After serving the college as one of its deans until 1992, Gretchen returned as president in July 2001, and she steered Chemeketa through difficult financial times as state resources fell and student populations continued their increase of 31 percent in the last 10 years.

Dr. Schuette has been an education leader at all levels in Oregon, having served as superintendent of the Gresham-Barlow School District and dean of distance education for Oregon State University in addition to her work for three Oregon community colleges.

She has earned degrees in English literature, botany and geological oceanography from Smith College, Central Michigan University and Oregon State University. She remains a dedicated Beaver fan.

In addition to receiving awards from the Oregon Diversity Institute and the American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Dr. Schuette has served on the Marion County Families and Children Commission, the Public Commission of the Oregon Legislature, and the Oregon State Board of Higher Education.

I hope Members will join me in extending my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Schuette for her leadership of Chemeketa Community College and offer our well wishes as she retires to pursue her next great adventures.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the sacrifice and honor the loss of SGT Michael Vaughan. Answering the call of service, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Army while still completing studies at Taft High School. Unlike his peers, he spent his post- graduation summer learning the profession of arms. After boot camp and advanced training, Michael Vaughan worked hard to live up to the standards of the paratroopers.

Just a few weeks ago, Sergeant Vaughan and eight other paratroopers with the famed 82nd Airborne were killed when a suicide bomber attacked their compound in Sadah, Iraq. These brave paratroopers were preparing for another patrol to keep the civilians in that small town safe from the emerging violence.

Today, the community of Otis and all of Lincoln County, Oregon mourns the passing of Michael. He was a good-natured young man that people knew and loved, the kind of son parents looked to as an example of sincerity, earnestness, and mostly--of service. Though he longed for the days when his uniform would hang in the closet, Sergeant Vaughan wanted to serve his country before beginning the rest of his life. Like his father and grandfather before him, he knew that freedom is fragile and that someone, somewhere, must stand the post on the frontier. Sergeant Michael Vaughan is an example for us all. In his all too brief twenty years upon this planet, he established a legacy that cannot--and must not--be forgotten.

As Memorial Day nears, I ask each of us to remember the life and purpose of those that have given their last full measure so that we could bask in the warmth of life and liberty. I ask each of us to look inside ourselves and to ask if we are doing everything we can do to help these brave men and women. And I ask each of us to personally commit to seeking the best answers for the problems we face and to approach these challenges with the same dedication to duty, the same selflessness that Michael Vaughan and his comrades in arms exemplified. Let us begin anew.

I would like to thank Chairman Baird for yielding me time to speak on this important piece of legislation and your incredible leadership on this issue.

The bill we have before us today will strengthen the National Science Foundation and allow it to better serve the needs of this country both today and well into the future.

The Foundation is unique among the Federal Government's scientific research agencies in that it supports science and engineering across all disciplines. Each year the National Science Foundation supports an average of 200,000 scientists, engineers, educators and students at universities,

laboratories and field sites all over the United States and throughout the world.

The NSF plays a critical role in helping the United States maintain its position at the forefront of global innovation and technology. The NSF provides funding and support for research at the Nation's leading universities and laboratories to develop products and materials to further our economy.

Examples of recent discoveries by NSF-funded research include new materials to make solar panels more effective, technologies to make airport screening more efficient, and the world's strongest superglue based on water-loving bacteria.

By supporting students at each phase in the educational system, the NSF helps our future scientists and engineers turn ideas into innovation.

I am particularly pleased that the committee has agreed to include language in the reauthorization that directly ties funding for the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program to funding levels at the NSF. One of the few NSF programs devoted specifically to undergraduates, this program has suffered from a declining budget for the past 3 years. By tying the funding for the program to the overall funding of NSF, we will allow students access to the resources they need to further their research at their own schools and at institutions across the country.

This legislation is not only good for students, teachers, scientists and engineers, but it is good for the United States in our leading the world on our innovation which drives our economy.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. And again, I thank my colleague Representative Baird for all of his hard work on this piece of legislation.

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Madam Speaker, rise today to honor and recognize the 70 Oregonian workers who died on the job in 2006. In addition, I would also like to pay tribute to the 19 brave Oregonians who died last year while wearing the uniform and defending our freedoms.

On this 19th anniversary of Workers Memorial Day, let us acknowledge the steps that have been taken to address workplace safety but let us never overlook the obstacles and challenges that remain.

We have an obligation in this Chamber to do everything in our power to ensure that hardworking Americans are protected from unsafe workplaces. These men and women have worked to make our Nation great and now we must recommit ourselves to ensuring their safety.

Andrew Acevedo, Kenneth Babcock, Leslie Bealer, Terry Berkey, PVl Joseph R. Blake, Dwight Boris, Carlos Bravo, PFC Dean R. Bright, Donald Brown, Debra Chapman, Abel Cinto, James Clark, Roland Couch, Iven Cox, Scott Cox, SPC Douglas C. Desjardins, Randall Dillon, Burl Eastman, James Edson, Ronald Engelsman, SSG Jason M. Evey, CPL Billy B. Farris, Kevin Fink, Carol Forest, Sgt. Brennan C. Gibson, Kenneth Graves, Trona Griffin, Floyd Grisham, CPL Chase A. Haag, Kenneth Harper, Lori Hayes- Kotter, SFC Richard J. Henkes II, Terry Hughes, Daryl Jepson, LCpl Derek W. Jones, SPC Robert L. Jones, Pedro Juarez de la Cruz, Michael Kallis, Jeffrey King, Aaron Lambert, Craig Larsen, PO2 Marc A. Lee, James Lester, Kenneth Lewis, Howard Lichtig, SSG Nathaniel B. (Brad) Lindsey, Michael Lilburn, Louis Lobo, SPC Jeremy M. Loveless, Kyle Lowe, David Mac Donald, Devin Malmore, P03 Marques J. Nettles, LCpl. Randy L. Newman, Sean Mc Quillan, Eric Metzler, Pablo Montecinos, Douglas Mullen, Donald Mustoe, James Naillon, Brad Niemeyer, Ezequiel Osoria-Oliver, Captain Christopher T. Pate, SSG Robert J. Paul, Gary Percell, Henry Ploeg, Franklin, Pugh, Lewis Purcell, Leta Ramerman, Jose Ramirez, Anthony Rizzo, Douglas Sauter, Dale Seiders, Peter Simpson, Leland Smith, Quin Stone, Robert Thomas, Eddie Tol, PFC Thomas L. Tucker, Mark Wagner, SPC Ryan Doran Walker, Shane Watson, Lynn Webb, Jeffery Wilson, Louis Wofford, Robert Wolfe, Richard Woodworth, Howard Workman, and Ston Yackamouih.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mayor Sharon Branstiter of Toledo, Oregon. A dedicated public servant and one who committed her entire life to enriching the Toledo community, Mayor Branstiter lost her life this past Sunday at her home due to complications associated with a double bypass surgery.

Sharon moved to Toledo from Nebraska when she was 7 years old. She attended Toledo High School and earned a degree in education from Oregon State University. Before serving as Mayor, she earned her master's degree and worked as a guidance counselor.

What is most remarkable is the passion Sharon had for serving her community. From a young age, she was active in city government and served on a multitude of committees and clubs. Her friends and family will attest that she never forwent an opportunity to voice her concerns or stand up for what she saw as just.

Sharon worked hard to increase the aesthetic landscape of Toledo. As her colleagues recall, Sharon always included flowers and trees in city projects and spent countless hours gardening and weeding public places. The streets of Toledo are lined with beautiful hanging flower baskets that Sharon secured with donations from the community. As a memory to Sharon, let us always think of her contributions to Toledo when we see and enjoy the flower baskets.

I was reminded of the closeness of communities like Toledo when I recently attended the funeral for one of our young men who lost his life in Iraq. The young Marine grew up in Toledo. At the service, Sharon shared her heartfelt memories of this young man and emotionally explained that the entire community of Toledo was losing a son. I have no doubt that the community is now grieving the loss of a

woman who was not only their mayor, but was their sister, their mother, their daughter and their friend.

I join Oregonians from across the state in mourning the passing of Mayor Sharon Branstiter.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable student athlete from Lake Oswego, Oregon. Kevin Love was recently named the 2006-07 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Often perceived as the most prestigious high school athletic award, Kevin was selected from among a group of more than 547,000 student boy basketball players. Kevin averaged 33.6 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks per game as center for the Lake Oswego Lakers.

In addition to his distinguished record on the court, Kevin received this honor for the many contributions he has made in the classroom and in our community. As an active volunteer, Kevin has mentored countless youth and is an inspiration to all.

It is truly an honor and privilege to extend my sincere congratulations to Kevin Love. I wish Kevin continued success as a future UCLA Bruin.

Madam Speaker, last month the Democratic Congress showed the commitment to expanding health care coverage to millions of children who are currently uninsured. In our budget for the upcoming fiscal year, we included a $50 billion funding increase for the SCHIP program so that we can provide health to millions of additional children.

After SCHIP was created 10 years ago, the number of uninsured children began to fall every year. But last year, for the first time since 1998, the number of uninsured actually went up.

As we recognize Cover the Uninsured Week, it is important to highlight the growing number of families without access to affordable health insurance and the need for this Congress to strengthen SCHIP now. For 6 long years, this problem of the growing number of uninsured has been ignored. This new Democratic Congress will not ignore the problem. We are committed to expanding health insurance to millions of children who need insurance, and our budget gives us the opportunity to achieve this worthy goal this year.

Thank you, Chairman Gordon, for giving me time to speak on this important and crucial piece of legislation.

I also want to applaud you for your leadership on this issue, and the expediency that you moved this through committee, along with Ranking Member Hall.

This initiative was identified by the Academies as being the most important step to increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K- 12 science and mathematics education.

Among the findings of the National Academies' ``Gathering Storm'' report, was a statistic that in 2000 more than 85 percent of students in grades 5-9 were taught physical science by a teacher lacking a major or certification in the physical sciences.

As a former teacher, I can appreciate how difficult it is to teach a subject when you are not comfortable with it, and this discomfort translates in discomfort for the subject to the students.

The key to the United States maintaining its position at the forefront of global innovation and technology is to get more students interested in the science and math fields. Our Nation's economic vitality is derived in large part from the productivity of well-trained people and the steady stream of scientific and technical innovations they produce.

After years of inattention and neglect, this legislation is an important first step towards a reinvestment in our Nation's science and math education. It will, in turn, positively benefit the American Competitive Initiative.

Once again, I applaud Chairman Gordon for his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Chairman, on rollcall 210, on House Concurrent Resolution 99, on the budget for the fiscal year 2008, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, April 18, 2007.

Calendar Wednesday. Unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, April 18.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on the legislative day of Thursday, March 29, 2007, or Friday, March 30, 2007, on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on the third constitutional day thereafter, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 103, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Madam Speaker, I ask this chamber to pause today and reflect upon the life of Sergeant Nicholas J. Lightner, United States Army.

Nicholas served proudly with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the famed 1st Cavalry Division.

Sergeant Lightner was known by his peers as a tough soldier; to his men he was known as the kind of leader that people followed. He set an example of courage and valor that will stand the strains of memory and time.

For much of his twenty-nine years, Nicholas Lightner wore the uniform of our country because he believed there was no higher calling.

He took his profession seriously, and Sergeant Lightner reflected great credit upon himself, the Army, and the State of Oregon.

Sadly, Sergeant Lightner died just a few days ago, just a few miles from the Capitol at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Most of his patrol perished in the attack on March 15, 2007. Nicholas Lightner survived Baghdad, and fought for his life with the same bravery he showed in the field. But the wounds were too severe; his devotion to duty ultimately was paid in full with his last measure.

I am here today to ask us all to remember. Remember the sacrifice of those we send onto foreign soil for our benefit; to pledge to ourselves and to the families forever altered by this sacrifice that they will not have perished in vain.

America is a great nation: great, because it is defended by volunteers that answer the call of service and stand in our stead; great, because our values are important enough to the men and women of our Armed Forces that they willingly sacrifice their sweat, their labor, and sometimes their lives.

Nicholas Lightner died because he took upon himself the burden of protecting the Nation, State, and community he loved. Newport, Toledo, in fact all of Oregon, are now forever less than we would have been had Nicholas survived.

Let us begin anew to dedicate ourselves to a cause that Nicholas Lightner believed in; let us begin today.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, with four in 10 members of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan serving in the Reserve component, it is clear that our National Guard is no longer a strategic reserve, but an operational reserve. And as such, we must change the way we treat the Guard if we want to maintain recruitment and retention because it is the right and fair thing to do.

After 5 years of mobilization, both involuntary and voluntary, our National Guardsmen are still navigating the system that was intended for use by the active duty rather than our current nearly even blend of Reserve and active components.

My amendment to H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warriors Act, is simple. It allows members of the National Guard and Reserve who are returning from theater with minor injuries or other outpatient care needs the option to seek treatment at the military medical treatment facility closest to the member's home rather than closest to the base from which the member was deployed.

When an active duty soldier with certain injuries comes back to the United States, he gets treated at the medical facility closest at his home base where his family lives. But for Oregon Guardsmen and Reservists and soldiers from about a dozen other States that have no bases, our troops must remain for weeks at the base they deployed from for follow-up care. These can be hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home and family.

In 2004, I spoke with Monica Davey of the New York Times about the problem as she covered the issues in a series of front-page news stories. She quoted one spouse as saying, ``Having him in Iraq was hard enough. When he got hurt, I said, `Well, at least he can come home now and get better here with us.' But it is a strange thing. He came home, but he is not home at all.''

This problem is old news and no longer on the front page, but it still goes on. Here are a couple examples of what happens when these Guard troops request treatment upon demobilization:

An Oregon Guardsman who returned months ago is still on the east coast base with medical issues. He and his wife have several young children; and, as can happen with lengthy deployments, the separation has strained their relationship to the breaking point. He has seen his family only once in the last 3 months. That soldier should have the option of seeking treatment at Fort Lewis in Washington State, much closer to his home.

Another story involves an enlisted man with a wife and young children who has seen his young family stateside only three times in the last 3 months, once because the Army sent him home for convalescent leave, and the other two times over the holidays because his wife drove their children out to the east coast military treatment facility where he was awaiting care because they couldn't afford to fly.

These stories are heartbreaking; and, despite years of work on trying to get the problem fixed, little progress has been made. Since the start of the Iraq war in 2003, tens of thousands of Reservists and Guardsmen have been placed on medical hold.

As the New York Times reporter Ms. Davey aptly put it 3 years ago, ``Unlike the most gravely injured soldiers receiving around-the-clock treatment at the finest military hospitals, these are ordinary soldiers with more ordinary wounds. The loneliest and the impatient can elect to go home even if they still need medical attention, but that could be a very expensive trade-off. Military rules dictate that they lose their active duty salaries, even though they may still be too injured or ill to return to their civilian jobs.''

Today, four out of 10 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are Guard or Reserve, and it is long past time for the DOD to adjust their policies and make improvements to the demobilization process for Guard members in States like mine that have no military treatment facilities. I ask for your support of this amendment so we can finally give soldiers from the Reserve component the flexibility to be treated for certain injuries at military medical treatment facilities nearest their homes and families just like the active component.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

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

I thank my friend from Texas for yielding, and I thank the chairman of the Budget Committee for the fabulous job he did.

I rise today to speak on the budget, a budget I am very proud of. This budget keeps our promise to our veterans, gives us the tools to defend our country, grows our economy, provides American children health care, and much more. All of it is done in a fiscally responsible way, ensuring a balanced budget by 2012, and all the while not raising taxes.

This budget before us sets priorities and ensures that a promise made to our brave veterans will truly be a promise kept. Too often over the last 6 years we failed to meet our basic obligation to our veterans. American veterans who served with honor and distinction deserve better. This budget is a step towards making sure our veterans get what they have earned.

We also have to remember that today's soldiers are tomorrow's veterans. At a time when we are asking our men and women in uniform to sacrifice so much, it is inexcusable not to honor their service by providing the benefits and health care our veterans were promised.

This budget, Mr. Chairman, puts us back on track. I am proud to say that the $5.4 billion increase in funding for veterans is a record 18 percent increase.

We are sending a strong statement to our veterans and service men and women of today that we as a Nation will not forget their sacrifices. I have three letters that I would like to submit for the Record, and I would like to quote from them.

First of all, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gary Kurpius, Commander-in- Chief, says: ``We have long argued that the price of health care and benefits for this Nation's veterans are the ongoing costs of war. The $3.5 billion increase above the President's request is a strong acknowledgment that you agree and that this Nation must do more to live up to its sacred obligation to those who have defended her. The costs of war are not just about buying bombs or tanks, but about providing for our sick and disabled when they return and helping those heroes care for families and independents. The members of the VFW stand firmly behind you.''

From the Disabled American Veterans, National Commander Bradley Barton says: ``The budget recommendations that came out of the House and Senate Budget Committee will make a real difference in the lives of America's sick and disabled veterans. This is especially important as our Nation is at war.''

And finally, from Steve Robertson, director, National Legislative Commission of the American Legion says: ``The American Legion and its 2.8 million members applaud the Budget Committee. As a Nation at war, this funding will help cover the ongoing cost of war to care for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families.''

I support this budget. I support our veterans. This is a good budget. Again, I want to remind people, it does not raise taxes. But if you want to support our veterans, you should vote for this budget.

March 21, 2007.

Hon. John Spratt,

Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Spratt: On behalf of the 2.4 million men and

women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), and

our Auxiliaries, I would like to offer our gratitude for the

leadership you have demonstrated on veterans' issues through

your dramatic increase above and beyond the President's

request for fiscal year 2008 funding for the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA).

We have long argued at the price of health care and

benefits for this Nation's veterans are the ongoing costs of

war. The $3.5 billion increase above the President's request

is a strong acknowledgement that you agree and that this

Nation must do more to live up to its sacred obligations to

those who have defended her. The costs of war are not just

about buying bombs or tanks, but about providing for our sick

and disabled when they return, and helping these heroes care

for their families and dependents.

The dramatic increase in this budget recommendation will

help to ensure that all veterans--those from Operations

Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and those from all our previous

conflicts--have access to the high-quality health care VA

provides, and quicker resolution to their veterans'

disability compensation decisions.

The members of the VFW stand firmly behind you, in support

of your strong advocacy for this Nation's veterans. We thank

you for your strong leadership on veterans' health care and

benefits, and we look forward to working with you to ensure

the success of this budget.

Sincerely,

Gary Kurpius,

Commander-in-Chief.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding and for all the work that he has done on this. I also thank Ms. Baldwin and Mrs. Myrick for all of their hard work and their commitment to this.

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is vital to help promote the well-being of low-income and uninsured women throughout the country. The 5.8 million screening examinations provided under the program have saved lives. More than 22,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and over 1,500 with cervical cancer through the program's screening.

Early detection of breast and cervical cancer can mean the difference between life or death. For breast cancer, the 5-year survival rate is 95 percent when caught early. Given what we know about the importance of early detection, I believe it is critical to provide this screening assistance to low-income or uninsured women.

I am also pleased that this reauthorization gives more flexibility to rural communities as they try to use these funds. The situation is so different in rural communities. Their outreach has to be different, and the fact that this bill acknowledges that, I am very pleased about it.

This is an important, life-saving measure. It needs all of our support, and I thank the gentleman for the time.