Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 586) commemorating the life, achievements, and contributions of Alan Reich, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. The passage of this legislation is fundamental to the security of our citizens and to reducing the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

The number one issue that my constituents contact me about is securing our borders and fighting illegal immigration. This bill does both. Among the bill's provisions are greater cooperation between border sheriffs and Federal law enforcement, increased penalties for human smugglers, elimination of ``catch and release'' policies, and a requirement that employers screen for illegal applicants.

This legislation is the outgrowth of a movement within Congress to address enforcement of our immigration laws prior to looking at any need for temporary worker provisions. I, along with dozens of my colleagues, signed the letter to President George Bush stressing the importance of addressing enforcement first. Today we accomplish that goal.

I want to thank House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King for their hard work in bringing this legislation before the House, but I want to especially thank Chairman Sensenbrenner for incorporating my bill, the Criminal Alien Accountability Act, into the broader bill. Providing a strong disincentive to criminal aliens and human smugglers is integral to protecting our communities, and by strengthening penalties for these groups, the legislation effects such an end.

We have a great deal of work left to do with regard to strengthening our borders and enforcing our workplace immigration laws, but this legislation is a strong start. I look forward to working with my fellow members of the Judiciary Committee and my constituents as we continue to improve our Nation's immigration enforcement policies.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Madam Chairman for the time, but also as the subcommittee chairwoman, you were instrumental in our ability to be able to bring this legislation to the floor quickly.

Mr. Lantos particularly not only aided in bringing this to the floor, but, Mr. Speaker, this was a piece of legislation that was drafted and then aid was given on a bipartisan basis to make it a better, more comprehensive piece of legislation, and I am grateful for that.

Mr. Speaker, it is a difficult task to keep coming to the well and asking for Congress to help in a war of words, a war of diplomacy that now wages in Lebanon and in Syria, but it is a better war to fight than a war with tanks and blood. What we are doing here with this resolution is we are saying to Syria that we want to avoid war; we are saying to Lebanon that we want to avoid war; but with the help of the French, the Germans, the United Nations, the entire world, we will in fact see that the murderers of Rafiq Hariri are brought to justice. But, more importantly, I think we send the message that diplomacy is in fact an alternative to war, but it is not an alternative to war forever.

President Bush should be commended for the years of work that first Secretary Powell and now Secretary Rice have done in order to try to convince and cajole Syria to come in to the world of nations, to abandon its occupation of Lebanon, which it did not do without global pressure, and further to come clean about its support for Hezbollah, to certainly come clean for its support of various groups that have committed at least 12 separate bombings in Lebanon.

I do not believe that Syria will hear this. I believe I am here tonight speaking, Mr. Speaker, to the American people and to the rest of the world in saying that, yes, we are using diplomacy to anyone who would possibly hear it. We are doing it with the United Nations, we are doing it in concert with every nation, every nation that rejects terrorism we are doing it with. But I think it is very clear that on a bipartisan basis, the House of Representatives in voting for this resolution is making it clear that we stand together against the kinds of activities that it is clear Syria has been implicated with.

I have met with Bashar Assad. I met with him in 2001 and 2002 and 2003 and 2004. My hope was that he would embrace the West. He had been educated in the West, he had all that it would take to understand the benefits that would come from that, and he said he wanted them.

But at the same time I met with Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, both here in the United States on his many trips and in Lebanon, and you could see how he was unable to enjoy the fruits of a democracy and a people that were able to bring an economy, even under adverse conditions, to more than twice the GDP of the region, and certainly far greater than Syria has ever had. In fact, Prime Minister Hariri had a model for Syria, but Syria would not follow it, and ultimately that schism between the two cultures led to people who were adverse to what Prime Minister Hariri stood for killing him.

Today we do want to bring them to justice, but today, Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that we are using diplomacy. The Bush administration and this Congress is using diplomacy as an alternative to war, but as someone who recognizes that today, in President Bush's speech at about 11 o'clock today, he talked about there being one democracy in the Arab world.

Mr. Speaker, I do not normally correct the President, but there are two democracies in the Arab world. Clearly Lebanon is a democracy, with a long history of being a democracy. Mr. Speaker, it will not be a functional democracy, it will not be a democracy that people like our President will speak of in those terms, until the outside forces that have dominated their very ability to exercise that democracy are pushed out, by diplomacy, if possible, by greater measures of the UN and the rest of the world if necessary.

Mr. Speaker, I call for all of my fellow Members to vote for this resolution and to stand tall in support of Lebanon's attempt to be a real democracy in the Arab world.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank House Resources committee Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall for allowing this bill to come to the floor today. I would also like to thank the Resources committee staff for all of their hard work on this bill.

The Santa Margarita Conjunctive Use Project, authorized by this bill will provide safe, reliable, drought-and earthquake-proof water supply for more than 35,000 families. It will provide for enhanced recharge and recovery from the underground basin on Camp Pendleton to provide a constant water supply for both Camp Pendleton and the Fallbrook Public Utility District.

While this bill passed the House in the second session of the 108th Congress it ended up running out of time in the other body. I am hopeful that this time around we will see quick movement of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the chairman, the full committee chairman, and my cosponsor of this bill, Congresswoman Watson.

We traveled to Russia earlier this year. We saw firsthand that it is not just about piracy; it is about a complete absence of a willingness to enforce that. On the main streets of Moscow, in fact, within sight of Red Square, one can every day see advertisements for movies, DVDs of movies that have not yet been released, impossible to exist, literally not existing in the United States; and yet they exist in Russia, already translated into Russian and, yes, as the chairman said earlier, into many other languages and exported around the world.

The Russians admit that they have more than four times as many optical disk producers as they could possibly justify. And although we often talk about DVDs and music, we also need to recognize that Microsoft and other major software producers are being robbed of countless billions in this process.

Many talk of the WTO accession and whether or not it is appropriate for Russia to be granted that, and I certainly agree it needs to be withheld until there is a showing of a willingness and a proven track record of enforcing these laws.

But I want to make one other closing remark here. We pay, we the world pay world-class prices for oil no matter where we buy it in the world, and today that is $60 a barrel. Russia is one of the largest exporters of oil to Western Europe; and yet in a time when they are receiving $60 a barrel on what costs them less than $2 a barrel to get out of the ground, they will tell you they cannot afford the intellectual property produced by Neil Diamond, Steven Spielberg or from Bill Gates' company. This is disingenuous.

Mr. Speaker, if they want to be part of a World Trading Organization, they have to recognize that value is not determined by what you are willing to pay; value is determined by what you are willing to pay for the legitimate goods in an arm's length relationship. We pay world- class prices for oil. They should pay world-class prices for intellectual property and not literally steal it from the inventors here in America and in Europe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer H.R. 3507, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2005, for final passage in the House. This bill will transfer approximately 990 acres of land currently being held by the Bureau of Land Management to the United States to be held in trust for the Pechanga tribe as apart of their reservation.

The Pechanga people have called the Temecula Valley, which is located in my district, their home for more than 10,000 years. They like to say that they have governed themselves and cared for their lands since time immemorial.

This bill transfers into trust land that has immense historical, archaeological, and cultural significance for the Pechanga tribe. It also includes a memorandum of understanding that has been agreed upon by the Pechanga Tribe and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This M.O.U. provides restrictions that limit the use of this land to only preservation, protection and maintenance of its historical and cultural artifacts and its resources.

It is widely agreed that the BLM currently has more land in its possession than it can properly care for and maintain. I view the opportunity to return this mostly rocky hillside area to those who are willing and have the resources to provide proper maintenance and care for the land.

Mr. Speaker, the Pechanga have done an exemplary job of integrating and investing in their community, both on their reservation land and beyond. They have been good neighbors to the City of Temecula, and have demonstrated that they can properly care for and maintain Federal land transferred to their care.

I hope that my colleagues will join me today in voting to pass this bill out of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Firefighter Charles W. ``Chuck'' Perkins for his twenty-three years of dedicated service to the North County Fire Protection District and his commitment to serving his community.

Chuck Perkins and his fellow firefighters from the North County Fire Protection District have served the Fallbrook, Bonsall and Rainbow areas with honor since the district was chartered in 1925. Classified an ``all-risk'' fire, rescue and hazard mitigation agency, it serves over 150 square miles in the northern-most portion of San Diego County.

Chuck Perkins' service to his community began in 1982, as a Reserve Firefighter. On July 20, 1987, he was hired as a full-time Fire/EMS Dispatcher. His hard work and dedication were recognized on April 5, 1988, when he was hired as a full-time Firefighter. His contributions to the agency led to his promotion to the rank of Engineer on March 15, 1999.

Engineer Perkins was actively involved in fire, rescue, emergency services and fire prevention programs. He managed the Engine Company's Fire Inspection Program for over ten years. The Fire Inspection Program, along with Engineer Perkins' skilled management resulted in a significant reduction in fire loss to the business community of the greater Fallbrook, Bonsall and Rainbow areas.

Engineer Perkins is regarded as a humble and generous man by his fellow San Diegans. His involvement in the community is not limited to his work as an Engineer in the North County Fire Protection District. For the last fifteen years, Engineer Perkins has volunteered his time as a leader in the district's public education efforts. He demonstrated his passion for fire prevention and safety education by portraying ``Smokey the Bear,'' performing for thousands of school children during his career, promoting Smokey's fire prevention message, ``Only you can prevent forest fires.'' Engineer Perkins continues to share his time as a ``Partner in Prevention,'' by traveling to local schools, teaching kids to ``Stop, Drop and Roll'' as well as the ``Exit Drill in the Home'' (EDITH) exercise. In addition to his portrayal of Smokey the Bear, he also warns school children about the dangers of fire and smoke as ``Evil Mr. Smoke.''

Engineer Chuck Perkins will retire from the North County Fire Protection District on October 28, 2005, after more than 23 years of esteemed service, though he will continue to remain a leader in fire safety education. Chuck Perkins is due our respect and gratitude for his tireless service and genuine commitment to his community now, and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I was present in the Chamber and voted ``yea'' on H. Con. Res. 245. However, due to a malfunction, my vote was not recorded. As the author of the legislation, you can rest assured that I am a ``yea'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a de minimis issue, and those who would say that a constitutional question is ever inappropriate I am afraid do not understand the importance of millions of American children not knowing, depending upon where they live, how they should recite the Pledge of Allegiance. More importantly, it is not about religion. It is about from where our power comes.

Our Founding Fathers rightfully said that our power came from the laws of nature and of nature's God in the Declaration of Independence. I do not know what Thomas Jefferson exactly meant; I was not there. What I do know is that our Founding Fathers believed that the power of the Almighty came to the American people and they loaned to government the right to govern them, rather than the sovereign that they had served in England, the sovereign who said that the powers of God came to him or her and that they then doled it out to the people they chose to.

That difference is profound. It is the difference in American government that we are not the governed of our government but, in fact, the owners of our government.

More importantly, I want the Members on both sides of the aisle to understand that this is not about raising or lowering the importance, it is not about deciding what is appropriate in the Pledge of Allegiance. What it is about is having the indecision between the Ninth and the Fourth Circuit appropriately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Once decided by the Supreme Court, it would then be up to the people of the United States to decide if they wanted to change the Constitution, because the Supreme Court is in fact the final decision point.

It is inappropriate, it is always inappropriate for the Supreme Court to allow an important issue to remain undecided and different in different parts of the United States. Therefore, appropriately, my bill asks the U.S. Supreme

Court on behalf of the House and the Senate to take up this important issue, an appropriate issue, and to decide it. We do not determine how it is to be decided by the vote. Those who vote for this are simply asking the Supreme Court to decide an important issue to end the undecided issue between the Ninth and the Fourth and, for that matter, all the other circuits.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, in the past, over 300, sometimes over 400, Members of Congress have affirmed the Pledge as it is. I do not think this is a question about whether or not God is appropriate to be used at times. I think that has been decided within this body. Certainly ``In God We Trust'' above the Speaker's head says a great deal about the role of God in our deliberation.

This resolution is about asking, albeit with a bent in favor of past votes, asking the Supreme Court to decide an issue. Ultimately, when we ask the Supreme Court to decide an issue, we are not deciding it. We are not binding them to some decision. Just the opposite. This is a free and independent judiciary that will decide the issue as it sees fit. But it is appropriate both for us to ask them to do it and, when appropriate as an amicus, enter into the debate at the Supreme Court. I expect we will do that if and when the Supreme Court takes this issue up.

Mr. Speaker, I move strongly that the Members support the opportunity and the insistence to the extent of our authority that the Supreme Court take this unreconciled difference between two circuits up and decide one way or the other, one time, for the youth of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 245. It is time to settle the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. America's circuit courts are currently split on the issue, and I introduced this resolution to encourage the Supreme Court to resolve this conflict on the side of patriotism.

We come to this juncture because of an attempt by a very few to scour the public space of religious symbols and expression. They have targeted federal, state and local governments in a determined effort to erase every single reference to the existence of a higher power from public life. While they claim to be fighting the establishment of religion, what they are really doing is eliminating the freedom of religious expression. They have forgotten that the inclusion of ``under God'' in the Pledge is no more egregious than Thomas Jefferson including the phrase ``Laws of Nature and of Nature's God'' in the Declaration of Independence.

In 2002, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms is unconstitutional. Far be it for we in Congress to criticize the wisdom of the 9th Circuit. I would rather compliment the 4th Circuit's ruling last month that the Pledge is constitutional. The 4th Circuit noted that the primary reason for the Establishment Clause within the First Amendment was to combat the practice of European nations compelling individuals to support government favored churches. The 4th Circuit stated that the inclusion of the words ``under God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance does not pose a threat to freedom of religion.

We are left with two divergent interpretations of the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. Two weeks ago, a U.S. District Court within the 9th Circuit judge stated that he was bound by precedent of the 9th Circuit and held that the Pledge is unconstitutional in another school district.

The Supreme Court must decide the issue to ensure that our children have the right to express their patriotism through recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The Court had the opportunity to resolve this issue last year but failed to do so. It is time for the Supreme Court to step in and support the Pledge.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 245.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the team of civilian engineers stationed at the Cold Weather Test Detachment, in Ladd, Alaska during World War II. I first became aware of the significant contributions of the engineers at Ladd Field through the first hand accounts of my constituent, Mr. Paul J. Burchett.

From 1942 to 1945, Mr. Burchett and his colleagues served at the Cold Weather Test Detachment in Ladd, Alaska. Civilian employees, Mr. Burchett and his colleagues voluntarily worked alongside our servicemen during the war. They endured extreme weather conditions and worked to ensure the safety of our pilots and our planes in the frigid temperatures of Alaska. The contribution that Mr. Burchett and his colleagues made to support the war effort will not be forgotten. Even today, their innovative work is still used for both commercial and military applications.

While at Ladd Field, Mr. Burchett's commanding officer, Colonel R. Stewart, highly praised Mr. Burchett, and his work. In a report to Mr. Burchett's company, Stewart wrote, ``As a result of his diligence and interest, Mr. Burchett was most helpful in assisting maintenance personnel of this organization. As a result of his efforts, many of the problems which were experienced were readily overcome, thus averting a serious loss of time. Mr. Burchett was keenly interested in his work, and spent many hours over the normal working day in accomplishing his mission.''

After World War II, Mr. Burchett worked as a professor at Pasadena City College for 35 years. While there, he continued to develop after- war designs for experimental aircraft. Mr. Burchett helped develop aircraft for Lockheed from 1937-1959. While working for Lockheed, Mr. Burchett helped develop the first working jet fighter.

Mr. Burchett, now 90 years of age, has led a remarkable life. Until recently his work at Ladd Field was classified. This is why I now wish to recognize that work and commend Mr. Burchett on a lifetime of dedicated service to his nation. He deserves our respect and gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Rancho Buena Vista Little League all star team and their coaches. I want to congratulate them on an outstanding performance at the recent Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

I want to recognize Manager Marty Miller and Coaches Joe Pimentel and Randy Reznicek, whose years of service to the community through Little League Baseball at Rancho Buena Vista have inspired many young athletes throughout our community. It is through the dedication, strength of character, and devotion of men like Marty, Joe and Randy that these young men have flourished, not only in athletic skill but in character.

The Rancho Buena Vista Little League team won 25 of the 26 games they played last season and made it to the United States Championship game. They displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout both the regular season and during the Little League World Series. From the first pitch of the season to the Little League World Series finals, they played the game with dignity and won our respect in the process.

Unquestionably, the players on the Rancho Buena Vista Little League team are not only exceptional athletes but also exceptional young men. They played with resolve and focus in the face of spirited competition and I am proud to be their Representative, and to stand in their honor today, Mr. Speaker. Their accomplishments serve as an example of the positive impact that Little League baseball has on its young participants.

Once again I would like to congratulate the players on the Rancho Buena Vista Little League Team--Royce Copeland, Daniel Gibney, Danny Vivier, Johnny Lee, Josh Gomez, Aaron Kim, Kalen Pimentel, Austin White, Dylan de Meyer, Ryan Gura, Nathan Lewis, Reed Reznicek and their coaches--on their remarkable achievement. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding these young men for their exceptional accomplishments and continued success.

Mr. Chairman, I had submitted an amendment made in order by the rule to strike proposed changes to U.S. economic and military aid to Egypt because of concerns I have that these changes may harm the U.S.-Egypt security relationship. I decided not to offer this amendment.

Egypt is a friend and ally of the United States and their contributions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war on terrorism have made important contributions to our security and that of our military personnel serving abroad. Egypt is also a source of stability and leadership in the Middle East--they played an important role in convincing Syria to withdraw its military from Lebanon and have made important efforts to support peace and security for Israelis and the Palestinians.

Consider Egypt's role in Iraq alone. From the beginning of U.S. operations there, Egypt has provided Suez Canal transits and landing and overflight rights. Egypt permitted emergency transit of the Suez Canal when the 4th Infantry Division was not permitted to stage from Turkey, saving weeks of transit time around the Horn of Africa. Moreover, since the U.S.S. Cole was attacked in 2000 at the entrance to the Red Sea, Egypt has provided the increased security necessary to prevent any attacks on U.S. forces transiting through the Suez Canal or other Egyptian facilities. Egypt sent an ambassador to the new government in Iraq to help support the new and democratic government that has been chosen by the Iraqi people. Sadly, the Egyptian ambassador to Iraq, Ihab ai-Sharif, was kidnapped and murdered by the same insurgents who have claimed 1,775 lives of our troops.

Egyptians, like the people of the United Kingdom, have also been the victims of terrorism committed by Islamic extremists. The recent terrorist bombing in Sharm el-Sheikh against the people and Government of Egypt was a clear strike against a partner in the global war on terrorism. The need for continued security and military cooperation between the U.S. and Egypt could not be clearer.

Because of the contributions Egypt has made as a valued friend and ally, many of my colleagues, the administration, our military leaders at CENTCOM, have expressed deep concerns that the changes to military assistance proposed in section 921 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act could significantly harm the U.S.-Egypt security relationship that has been so critical for our efforts to promote peace between Israel and the Arab world and our ability to stop terrorist attacks. I also have concerns about whether the proposed restructuring of economic aid to Egypt contained in section 921 will actually yield substantive benefits for the Egyptian people.

Mr. Chairman, my district is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The safety of Marines from Camp Pendleton serving in Iraq is significantly increased due to support provided by Egypt. Without the active support of Egypt for U.S. operations in Iraq, transit times for U.S. ships to the theater of operation would be considerably longer and more dangerous. Supplying troops in Iraq would also take longer and cost more. And finally, without Egyptian leadership in the Arab world, the political reconstruction of Iraq would be even more complicated and far-off.

But perhaps most important, Mr. Chairman, is the fact that our Marines from Camp Pendleton will be able to come home, and stay home, in only one way: when Iraqi security forces are finally able to provide stability in their own country. This goal will be achieved more quickly because of efforts being made by Egypt to train Iraqi security personnel.

Maintaining the close working military-to-military relationship developed with Egypt over the past 26 years is important to successfully completing our mission in Iraq and bringing American troops home. Fundamentally altering that relationship seems ill advised to me. We must be certain that the actions we take enhance his ability to fight the war on terrorism whether in Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere else in the region.

Mr. Chairman, despite my concerns I recognize that Chairman Hyde and I share common goals of strengthening America's security relationship with Egypt and helping the people of Egypt build strong democratic institutions and a vibrant free market economy. I would also add that I support his efforts and those of the ranking member, Mr. Lantos, to seek new ways to strengthen U.S.-Egypt relations.

I would, furthermore, like to thank Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for agreeing to continue to work with me and the administration in order to protect our national interests and to help Egypt achieve the economic and political reform it needs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 384, ``Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Sharm el- Sheikh, Egypt, on July 23, 2005.''

I wish to express my condolences to the families of those killed in last week's terrorist attacks, and my sympathy to those injured in the bombings. I would also like to join with Presdient's George W. Bush in expressing the solidarity of the people and government of the United States with the people and government of Egypt. The United States stands ready to support the Egyptian authorities in their efforts to bring to justice those responsible for these cowardly attacks.

These attacks, again, make plain the fact that the Global War on Terrorism is not a way of the West against the Muslim world but a war being fought between those who value freedom and democracy and respect for human rights and those who kill innocent civilians.

Egypt is a friend and ally of the United States. The people of the United States stand by the people of Egypt at this time tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 432, I was chair of a subcommittee and had to complete the Record. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 433, I was chair of a subcommittee and did not reach the vote in time. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, today the President and countless others will be sending their condolences to the people of Egypt. For the second time in less than a week, they have suffered a loss at the hands of terrorists, this time in Sharm el-Sheik, the site of the historic peace conference between Israel and the Palestinians that have led to the quiet period and the hope for a Palestinian state and for two peoples living side by side once and for all in peace.

It is amazing to me that Iraq's first Arab ambassador came from Egypt, and yet this body seems to be always in doubt about whether or not Egypt is our ally, whether or not military support is necessary for this largest Arab nation anywhere in the world. I believe today after the assassination of their ambassador in Iraq, after the attacks in Sharm el-Sheik, after so many times Egypt has been there for us and paid a price, we should reflect on this special relationship and be glad that this Arab nation is there for us in our time of need.