Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, it is appropriate that we live under the rules of the House that we have voted in the 108th and the 109th Congress. But I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this important matter.

I appreciate that had the Ways and Means Committee addressed this issue in a timely fashion to make a stronger statement heard to Russia for their misconduct, for the billions of dollars lost to U.S. companies, including the music and television industry and software industries, all of which are very important to California, we would not be here today.

Additionally, it is with regret that I remind the Appropriations Committee that had they simply chosen not to fund this, this amendment would not be necessary, but the not funding by the Appropriations Committee is in order.

So although I don't approve of this rule, in hindsight, I recognize that the time to object to it was at the beginning of the Congress. Before yielding

back, I will, therefore, attempt to have this rule modified in the next Congress so as to allow people to determine where their funds will be spent. Because this rule effectively made it impossible to not fund something simply because in previous Congresses decisions had been made on tariff.

I do appreciate, though, that we will live under the rules of the House; and Congresswoman Watson and myself will continue to work to make sure that Russia lives up to the standards before entering the

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor, not because it is good enough. It is not. Not because it pleases the Democrats. It does not. But because it is the best we can do.

I just came from speaking with the very small business people that you just heard somehow they were going to protect in another way. I just finished hearing that 300 million people is what it was all about, which is a rounding error up, and 7,500 that would pay the tax that die, but, of course, we are using two different figures, as we often do.

It is not about 300 million, because 300 million people will not die next year, but it is about the businesses that will die if we do not do something, and this is not good enough. It is a down payment.

I rise in support of this bill, not because it is good enough. It is not. It does not keep the promise I made to the people of my district to end once and for all the double taxation of the dead, but I do rise in support of this because it is the best we can do. I promise today to vote for this bill, and then I promise to come back until, in fact, we once and for all eliminate the unreasonable and unfair double taxation.

So please support this piece of important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5638, the Permanent Estate Tax Relief Act of 2006. Thank you for bringing this important issue to the floor.

I cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 8, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2005, which overwhelmingly passed in the House last year. I still believe in the permanent repeal of the estate tax, because without permanent repeal businesses will die. This bill simply isn't good enough. It doesn't keep the promise that I made to the people in my district to end, once and for all, the double taxation of the dead.

I will vote for this bill today because it is the best we can do at this time. In my mind this is only a downpayment, and I will work with the Congress to permanently eliminate this unreasonable and unfair double taxation.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly think it is important that this debate go back and forth as it has between the defeatist attitude of my colleagues and what I believe is the appropriate stay the course of this side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, we are often alleged of only doing two things in the Congress, either nothing or overreacting. Today, by a measured response of saying stay the course, we are doing exactly what we need to do. This is not meaningless.

Just in the last week a declassified document taken from the safehouse in which Zarqawi met his appropriate punishment, and I will read just short excerpts, our time is short, but they are meaningful and I think many Members listening throughout their offices and here on the floor probably have not yet read this.

Zarqawi says, however, here in Iraq, speaking of why time is on the side of al Qaeda, however, here in Iraq, time is now beginning to be of service to the American forces and harmful to the resistance for the following reasons.

He goes on to talk about the formation of the National Guard. He goes on to talk about the impact on the resistance of various improvements there. He goes on to talk about how we the Americans and the Iraqis have undertaken a media campaign against the resistance and it is working.

He goes on to say, the resistance has had its financial outlets cut off and restricted. He talks about how, in fact, we have been effective in creating big divisions among the ranks of what he called the resistance.

He then plots to find a way to get America embroiled in yet another conflict with another enemy. And he is speaking of Iran. He then plots on how he might convince us that Iran was further along in its weapons of mass destruction. He then plots no more.

Mr. Speaker, we have done, for once, the even, middle-road thing we have to do. We did not go into this war the way we went into, as Congressman Murtha said, Beirut, only a little bit, only not enough, and only for a little while.

We have gone into the war on terrorism with commitment from this Congress, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in the South of the Philippines, wherever the terrorists may be; and we said we will stay the long haul in each of these places.

My time is short. I just want to do two things. One is, to say that, unlike Congressman Murtha, I did not serve in combat. But I entered the Army in

1970, and I entered as a grandson of Lebanese immigrants.

And throughout the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s, I visited Lebanon, and I visited the region, and I got to know my fellow Arabs of the world. And I knew there was a problem and they knew there was a problem and we were not addressing it. We are now addressing it.

So we will be punished by the opposition any time we either do nothing or do something. But I would rather do something in the interests of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about the effects that this bill or the absence of this bill might have on my own region of California where we are, I believe in many cases at our major centers, to be at about 80 percent staffing, meaning that we have overtime because of shortages.

What will be the effect of either having or not having this bill on the staffing levels that we need to have to get to full staffing in California?

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that House Resolution 517 be amended as follows: in the first Resolved clause, strike ``61 years'' and insert in lieu thereof ``51 years''.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 422) supporting the goals and ideals of the Vigil for Lost Promise day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 422, offered by the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the committee chairman. This resolution would support the goals and ideals of the Vigil for Lost Promise Day.

Mr. Speaker, drug use and abuse is a national crisis that affects the health of many of our citizens and affects all our communities. Drugs affect people from all walks of life, and addiction does not discriminate. Millions of families and friends have experienced the loss of a loved one to drug use. Addiction has many dimensions and disrupts multiple aspects in an individual's life. Drugs rob users, their families and their friends of dreams, promises and their ambition, their talents and their vitality.

This resolution honors those family members and friends who feel the pain and tragedy each day from the loss of life to drugs. The Vigil for Lost Promise is a national event which brings together parents and friends who have lost someone to drugs and for those who are dedicated to the promise and potential of our Nation's youths.

The stigma attached to drug use causes many friends and families to feel ashamed to acknowledge the death of their loved ones. However, this event offers an opportunity for families to remember those and is dedicated to the education of others on the importance of keeping our youth drug free.

I ask that all Members join with me in supporting H. Con. Res. 422 in the hope that we can offer support to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones to the perils of addiction.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Con. Res. 422, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 763) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families Day, in order to encourage adults in the United States to support and listen to children and to help children throughout the Nation achieve their hopes and dreams, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 763, which will support the goals and ideals of National Children and Families Day. H. Res. 763, which currently has 54 bipartisan cosponsors, passed the full Government Reform Committee with unanimous consent on May 4, 2006.

Too often we overlook the importance of a strong family in our everyday lives and most importantly its impact on our children. Our children are our country's most vital resource, and we should strive to do everything possible to prepare them to lead healthy, productive lives as they mature into adulthood.

There is nothing more important to any of us, whether we are adult or child, than to have a sense of family and tradition, but most important, to have a feeling of belonging. Too often here in this great country, we hear about the breakdown of the family. A nationally proclaimed family and children's day will be a bridge to our future and will help us restore the Nation's greatness.

Mr. Speaker, this day can serve to be a reminder to all of us to encourage children everywhere to achieve their hopes and dreams.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I urge passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 753) commending American craft brewers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert).

Mr. Speaker, I will close in two important ways. One is to, first, urge all of my colleagues here and already at home tonight to vote for this resolution. I think it sets the right balance on an important segment of our craft industry. Much more than an alcohol industry, this is about the right of the small operation to do something that is a time-honored tradition.

Secondly, I would like to reiterate in the best possible terms why this time we spend here in the evening is different. Most of our colleagues have gone home for the evening or gone to their dinners, but, in fact, Members will choose to come here and take time that otherwise these Chambers would be dark to talk about issues that don't affect all of America but affect some part of America or their district, and I believe that this is the right balance.

I continue to support the idea that we should bring resolutions on suspensions to the floor when they are not controversial but important to segments of our economy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 399) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the victory of United States winemakers at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I appreciate that this resolution is being taken out of order, but one might say it is being taken in the correct order. One might even say that it is being taken one after its correct order.

As a Member from California, with my colleague from California on the other side of the aisle, it is important to note that California wines are, in fact, the finest in the world; that they enjoy a special place and a personal honor around the world. So although we came after beer tonight, I would certainly say not far after beer this evening.

Mr. Speaker, until 1976, France was generally regarded as having an unchallenged reputation as the foremost producer of the world's best wines. In that year, a wine merchant in Paris, Steven Spurrier, organized a prestigious wine tasting, now known as the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976.

The blind tasting contest was judged by eight of France's top wine tasting experts. In the white wine as well as red wine consumption, California wines took first place, ending the French wine domination of that industry.

Mr. Speaker, I will include the rest of my statement for the Record. I respect so much the co-chairman of the Wine Caucus that I do not want to take the thunder that likely belongs to him and all of the good work my colleague from California has done.

Time Magazine's Paris correspondent was on hand for the tasting and broke the news to the world. Less might have been made of the contest had the renowned French tasters been less disdainful toward the California selections as they tasted. The French tasters were stunned when the names of the wines were revealed. The impact of the tasting for California wines was immediate, showing people everywhere that exceptional wines could come from somewhere other than France. The 1976 Paris tasting has been duplicated over the years with many times the same result. Today, California wines continue to demand respect and admiration of wine experts all over the world.

I urge all members to come together to support adoption of this resolution on the 30th anniversary of that historic tasting.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I might remind the gentleman from Illinois that wine tasting is a full- participation sport available to all over the age of 21.

Mr. Speaker, I would just close by noting that many, many times California's superiority as the grape wine capital of the world has been repeated in Paris. With that, I close by saying I eat French fries and drink California wine.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 729) supporting National Tourism Week.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 729, offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley). I am also a cosponsor of this resolution, and cosponsor of it for a good reason. The $1.3 trillion industry in travel and tourism is one that both Florida and California enjoy, and people from all over the world also enjoy it. The United States receives nearly 50 million international visitors, spending over $100 billion a year while touring within our country.

In fact, the United States is the number one tourist destination in the world. The Travel Industry Association says if not for the taxes generated by the travel and tourism, every household in America would pay over $900 more in taxes each year to make up for the shortfall, much of that coming from foreign visitors.

In addition, travel and tourism generate $100 billion in tax revenue for local, State and Federal governments. For this reason, it is important that we encourage and recognize the travel industry for its dedication to not only the accommodation of our vacation needs, but also in providing much-needed jobs and revenue for our country each year. I urge all Members to come together to support the vitally important travel and tourism industry by adopting H. Res. 729.

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

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois is quite right. On Monday I left several tourist dollars on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building at that lovely, beautiful restaurant. Chicago is in fact a major tourist destination, and I have been to more trade shows than I care to, well, I care to remember them all. They were all quite good. Chicago hosts some wonderful McCormick-based facilities, and has some of the finest hotels. I have not stayed in all of the finest hotels, but you have some of the finest hotels.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this resolution to thank the travel and tourism industry for what they contribute to our economy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5245) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the ``Matthew Lyon Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, born in County Wicklow, Ireland, Matthew Lyon was a printer, farmer, soldier and politician who came to America as an indentured servant at the age of 14 in 1764. During the Revolution, Matthew Lyon fought with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys to capture Fort Ticonderoga. He later resigned from the Army in 1778, and became a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1779 to 1783.

During this time he built and operated various kinds of mills, including one to manufacture paper. He also established a printing office in 1793 and published the Farmers' Library. In addition, he created the Fair Haven Gazette, a weekly newspaper, and served as publisher and editor while using the paper to express his political opinions in the early years of our Republic.

Lyon was elected as a Republican to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1800. He then went on to relocate to the State of Kentucky in 1801, and settled in Caldwell County, now Lyon County, and became a member of the House of Representatives of Kentucky in 1802.

He was then elected to the Eighth Congress and to three successive Congresses until he was unsuccessful in seeking reelection in 1810. He is certainly one of our Founding Fathers, and it is long overdue for him to be recognized with this post office.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption and yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 626) congratulating Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the national pastime, obviously, is baseball and to honor the most valuable player of the 2005 season seems to be only appropriate. Certainly, there can be no more appropriate thing as we go into the heart of baseball season than to consider a resolution recognizing this amazingly great accomplishment and an amazing season in 2005. And so I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further speakers on this side, Mr. Speaker, so I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption and yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 327) supporting the goals and ideals of National Passport Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, today in the United States, fewer than 23 percent of Americans have an issued passport, meaning that millions of our citizens are unable to take advantage of the culturally enriching opportunities presented by international travel. International travel can help promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect for other

cultures and traditions around the world.

National Passport Month would support the goal of encouraging and inspiring Americans to participate in the educational opportunities that having a passport can provide.

By opening the doors to the rewards of traveling beyond the boarders and the equally important potential that we have to build bridges connecting cultures throughout the world, makes it extremely pertinent that we encourage especially the young and old to apply for past ports.

Mr. Speaker, recently it became necessary to have a passport to go into Mexico. Most Americans are not yet aware of that. I would particularly remind people listening tonight throughout the world and those who will read the official record of our proceedings here today that having a passport takes time. I would encourage people to have them before they intend to travel so that they are prepared for the quick trip from San Diego to Tijuana or the trip from here to Abu Dhabi.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge passage and thank the gentleman from Illinois. It is a pleasure working on the Committee on Government Reform. It is also a privilege serving on the International Relations Committee, in which public diplomacy has been a major initiative that Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos have been reaching out and trying to have done.

There is no better public diplomacy than for Americans to reach out to people, perhaps from their ancestry or simply from an area of interest, by visiting. So I too encourage all the Members to vote for this, to travel themselves and to be the diplomats in public diplomacy that we need so badly in this time of strife throughout the world.

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

Mr. Speaker, I know you join with Mr. Hunter and myself in recognizing the importance of California, and particularly San Diego as the golf club production and design capital of America. But a club is just what it sounds like unless you put it in the hands of somebody like Billy Casper, somebody who can do what Duncan Hunter cannot do, and I guarantee I cannot do with a club and that is make it send a ball straight and true or hook it if you need to hook it to make that special shot. Billy Casper had that talent, used that talent and was a great ambassador for our country here and around the world. I think it is very appropriate that we honor him here on the floor of the House tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleague from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, to recognize that it is now the 61st year to remember Normandy, to remember that special time when the world waited and hoped that the allies, led by the United States, dominated by the United States, would free Europe, the European mainland, from the effects of fascism, the effects of allowing a petty dictator to build an Army and begin expanding his borders.

Mr. Speaker, I find it particularly appropriate that just a week ago at the Memorial Day commemoration at Mt. Soledad in San Diego where Congressman Hunter and I both live, we were faced with the exact same situation that we see in Normandy: crosses. We were faced looking at a memorial that remembers all of our fallen heroes from previous wars that was put there because of our fallen heroes of the Korean War and now is in jeopardy of being taken away because somebody says that if it is in the shape of a cross, it must by definition be a religious statement.

My colleague and I, I believe, are here tonight to remember Normandy and remember those many crosses that we have seen across the land and above the cliffs of Normandy and remember that those crosses do not stand for Jesus Christ or for religion. Those crosses stand for the men and women buried below.

With that, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), my colleague, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and I thank the Speaker for the opportunity to remind the world that the only land we ever covet are the small plots around the world in which we bury our dead.