Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an innovative global business headquartered in Washington State named the best company in the world this year by Business Week magazine, Nintendo.

A company that employs many of my constituents, Nintendo is an electronics maker behind some of the most innovative and breathtaking technological advancements in the world over the past century, and is thriving in a less-than-adequate economic climate while positioning itself to surpass more challenges in the future. Over the past five years, Nintendo's sales have risen by more than 35 percent annually while its overall value averaged 38 percent growth.

Rather than shrinking and simply trying to weather the economic storm it is facing, Nintendo has expanded and used its unique brand of innovation to stay at the top of its game and produce ``must-haves'' such as the Wii console, and we all enjoy the Wii.

Like other global companies reliant on its own unique brand of innovation, Nintendo has invested huge sums of capital into its people and commanded a large share of the market. Nintendo is performing at a higher level than any other company in the world in 2009. I am honored to have worked with Nintendo in the past and plan to do the same moving forward. Technological innovation will continue to move this Nation and this world forward and I thank Nintendo for being a visionary leader in that innovation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a distinguished constituent and, according to Hispanic Business Magazine, a man considered one of the most influential Hispanic Americans in the entire nation.

Dr. Pedro Celis, a celebrated Microsoft engineer and an engaged and informed individual living in my congressional district, was honored earlier this month as one of 100 influential Hispanic Americans. Alongside well known Hispanic Americans such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Dr. Celis is one of the most respected Hispanic American trailblazers in our great nation.

Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Dr. Celis graduated from Monterrey Institute of Technology and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Aside from being a vital and innovative part of Microsoft's SQL Server Group, Dr. Celis served on President George W. Bush's Presidential Information Technology Advisory Committee. Further, Dr. Celis has served on a number of civic-minded organizations such as the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Families Northwest, Hispanic Alliance for Progress and many more. It is no surprise, then, that Dr. Celis has been a trusted advisor on many issues since I was elected to serve in this body.

I want to thank Dr. Celis for his spirit of service and innovation, his commitment to community and family and his outstanding representation of Hispanic Americans. I am so proud Dr. Celis has taken his rightful place among the most influential Hispanic Americans in the nation, I encourage him to continue using his intellect and perspective to drive America in the right direction, and on behalf of the House of Representatives, congratulate him on this prestigious recognition.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues this morning in honoring the members of the Army National Guard 81st Brigade Combat Team and Air National Guard of the State of Washington on the completion of their recent deployment to Iraq.

These soldiers and their families have shown us the sense of duty, the sense of honor, and the sacrifice that we all aspire to and admire. Many of them know the pain of losing someone, a soldier, a fellow warrior, giving everything to defend the freedoms that we cherish in this country each and every day. And all of them know the perils of deployment, time away from their families, their children, their community, and possibly the ultimate sacrifice, their life.

This government comes here and performs its work each and every day. We can debate the issues each day because of the dedication of these soldiers and their families. And today, though it's not enough, we say thank you.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of a brave young girl in my district, Alicia Seidel, and congratulate her for being named an honoree at the 2009 Arthritis Walk happening this Saturday in Bellevue, Washington, and for living her life so bravely while battling her disease.

Alicia, a ten-year-old fifth grader from Sammamish, Washington, was diagnosed in 2007 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Immediately before and for some time following the diagnosis, Alicia struggled to do something as simple as holding a pencil. Thankfully, the wonderful doctors, specialists and staff at Swedish Medical Center and Children's Hospital in Seattle worked to alleviate the pain Alicia was under, which allowed her to act like the vivacious girl she is. My office had the opportunity to meet Alicia and her mom, Cynthia, more than a year ago to discuss Alicia's ailment and a photo from that meeting is proudly displayed in our office; her infectious nature and sweet disposition made a lasting impact.

The Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act, H.R. 1210, of 2009 is legislation I'm proud to have co-sponsored. At this time, the legislation is in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and I encourage the entire House to act on it as quickly as possible because it is an important bill. The bill would, among many other things, focus attention on juvenile arthritis research by creating a juvenile arthritis database and provide financial incentives to encourage more health professionals to enter the field of pediatric rheumatology. Additionally, I will continue to work on behalf of young people like Alicia to urge Congress to make a long-term, sustained investment in medical research through the National Institutes of Health because it represents our greatest hope for finding cures and treatments for debilitating conditions like arthritis and freeing Alicia and her family from the constraints of arthritis.

On behalf of the House of Representatives, I extend our sincerest congratulations to Alicia, for her courageous spirit and the inspiration provided to 300,000 other young people struggling with this disease today, and our best wishes in the 2009 Arthritis Walk.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a fallen soldier from my district, Specialist Joseph White from Bellevue, Washington. Joseph, recently married in 2009, was killed in action in Afghanistan on September 24.

Joe's mom talked about her son's dedication to his country in this way: ``Joe was not happy to be leaving his bride to go to Afghanistan, but he did not complain. Rather, he went with a strong sense of duty and desire to maintain freedom and safety for others.''

This body, this House of Representatives, this government and the people of this country could not exist without the dedication and sacrifice from the soldiers that serve, soldiers like Joe; soldiers who, above all else, want to honor this country and those who have gone before to protect our freedom and the freedom of their families.

There is nothing we can say or do that will take away the pain, the suffering, and the sense of loss that the family feels at the loss of their son Joe. But Joe's family must always remember, the memory of Specialist Joe White will remain, we will never forget, and we will continue to honor his sacrifice each day.

Madam Speaker, today I'd like to recognize Washington State Trooper John Garden for being named the 2008 District One Trooper of the Year in the State of Washington.

As a former law enforcement officer in Washington State, I know the hard work and dedication it takes to earn such an honor, and I thank Trooper Garden for his tireless service and sacrifice for the communities he serves in Pierce and Thurston Counties.

I am confident that Trooper Garden will continue to serve the people of Washington State with great respect and continue his record of strong leadership within the law enforcement community. On behalf of the House of Representatives, I extend my deepest gratitude for his service and sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, I rise to today in recognition of a true hero, Michael Lakin. Michael, a former student at Cascade Christian high school in Puyallup, Washington, and an Eagle Scout, saved his classmate Allen, a quadriplegic, from choking to death last November.

Madam Speaker, because of Allen's condition he was unable to draw attention to himself when he was choking while eating lunch with his mother, Cathy, and his friends at Cascade Christian. Thankfully, Michael noticed something wasn't right and sprang into action. He picked Allen out of his wheelchair and performed the Heimlich maneuver on him successfully, no doubt saving a precious young life.

Michael graduated from Cascade Christian this past summer and is now attending classes at a local community college. I thank him for his courageous actions, I thank him for his service and determination as an Eagle Scout and I wish him the best in the future.

Madam Speaker, today I want to applaud the Coca-Cola facility, located in Bellevue, Washington, for their remarkable efforts and leadership in sustainability and conservation.

In August, I toured this Coca-Cola facility in my district in order to see for myself the extraordinary environmental efforts going on there. In May, the facility was the recipient of the Business Generator Recycler of the Year Award, presented by the Washington State Recycling Association, after finishing 2008 with a recycling rate of 99.7 percent! The tour was impressive, to say the least, and I am so proud to represent such a great example of corporate responsibility and stewardship.

I also understand Coca-Cola is celebrating Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in Action week in Bellevue soon and I hope CEO John Brock and his employees will enjoy their visit to the Eighth District of Washington. I know the Coca-Cola Corporation and their facility in Bellevue will continue to provide sound environmental leadership and I thank them for their earnest investment in sustainability, stewardship and conservation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Microsoft Corporation for receiving an award from the Department of Defense for its unending support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The Microsoft Corporation was presented with the 2009 Employer Support Freedom Award on September 17 along with 14 other employers across the United States. Specifically, Microsoft--among other things-- initiated a Military Reservist Council, acknowledges employee service through different company newsletters and, in 2007, donated $3.7 million to the National Guard Youth Foundation.

Microsoft's support for our service members is a model that other employers should follow, and it is the paramount duty of Congress to do its part to help our service members make a seamless transition back to civilian life from active duty. It is a priority that requires both private and public sector support. I was pleased that the House passed legislation I authored last Congress to improve the government's responsiveness to hiring difficulties our service members face upon their return, and I hope that this body can continue to partner with private sector champions like Microsoft to help provide a smooth transition for our service members and veterans between military life and civilian life.

Again, I applaud the Microsoft Corporation for supporting their National Guard and Reserve employees and congratulate them on receiving the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. I know they will continue to provide outstanding support to Washington's service members in the future, and I pledge to continue doing the same serving in this body. We must do all we can to provide for those who have bravely sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a service organization that has done as much for America's veterans as any other organization or group in our Nation's history, The American Legion.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a resolution rightly honoring this organization, proclaiming September 16, ``The American Legion Day.''

The American Legion was founded in 1919 and has proven a formidable organization in the support of veterans of our Armed Forces. I am a proud member of American Legion Post 161 in Redmond, Washington, and appreciate their steadfast and ongoing support of veterans and their families. At a national level, the Legion has been active in supporting veterans through work such as the crafting of the G.I. Bill of Rights, and across the country the Legion is involved and committed in their communities. ``Legionnaires'' are known for and exemplify the spirit of service and this spirit continues to drive their actions long after they take off their uniforms. They create benevolence funds, host barbeques and involve themselves in civic projects. Legionnaires believe in service. They are the voice of our veterans and advocates for our men and women in uniform. I am grateful for the organization's 90 years of service and sacrifice to our country.

General George Washington said in a letter to the Provincial Congress, ``When we assumed the soldier we did not lay aside the citizen,'' the American Legion exemplifies this attitude. In this body, we must continue supporting The American Legion and I urge Legionnaires to continue to reach out to lawmakers for our support.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of an individual from my district and his efforts to honor the principles of President Abraham Lincoln. Reverend Wayne Perryman from Mercer Island, Washington, and Kasandra Rae Huff, an 18-year-old student from Longview, Washington, created a piece of artwork that was recently accepted into the permanent collection of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

As our Nation confronts challenging times, we must remember and treasure the life and work of President Lincoln as he led this country through an extraordinarily difficult period. I commend Reverend Perryman and Ms. Huff for their artwork and am pleased to submit the text of it on their behalf into the Congressional Record.

This portrait of Lincoln is the fine work of Miss Kasandra

Rae Huff, an eighteen year old high school student from

Longview, Washington.

Kasandra sincerely admired our 16th President, who was

perhaps the most lonely person that ever occupied the White

House. He was a man not known for his good looks, but for his

good heart.

Many scholars criticize Lincoln for his thoughts regarding

what to do with the freed blacks after ending slavery, but

few commend him for what he did for blacks by ending slavery.

During the past thirty-plus years African Americans have

occupied every major cabinet level position in the United

States government; two have sat on the United States Supreme

Court; several others have run our nation's largest cities,

including Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and

Atlanta; one headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and 145 years

after Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, this nation

has elected its first black president.

History reveals that Lincoln's appreciation for blacks was

an evolving process, as it was for most Americans. The more

exposure he had, the more he appreciated and saw African

Americans as equals. By the time he reached Gettysburg on

that cold November afternoon in 1863, he was at peace with

idea of blacks being equal. Using carefully selected words in

a cleverly crafted speech that he had worked on all night, he

told those who gathered at the cemetery in Gettysburg what he

thought about equality when he spoke these words:

``Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth

upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and

dedicated to the proposition that all men are created

equal.''

Even though he wrestled with what to do with the freed

slaves after the war, he had grown to appreciate African

Americans through his relationship with his black advisor,

Frederick Douglass, and his wife's best friend and traveling

companion, Ms. Elizabeth Keckley, a black dress designer.

(Keckley, a freed black woman, designed dresses for Mary Todd

Lincoln and other prominent women of that time.)

Evidence of Lincoln's evolving feelings toward blacks was

clear to everyone when Democrats pressured Lincoln to sit

down with Jefferson Davis to negotiate peace. The president,

who once thought that saving the union ``without freeing any

slave'' was an option, took that option off the table and

stated that ``reunion and the emancipation'' were the only

grounds for peace. Democrats tried to embarrass and discredit

the president by accusing him of prolonging an unnecessary

and unpopular war and by placing cartoons in newspapers

depicting Lincoln as a ``Widow Maker'' and the killer of

young men. Committed to the cause, Lincoln said, ``If at the

end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost

every friend on earth, I shall have at least one friend left,

and that friend shall be down inside of me.''

His renewed commitment to the emancipation of blacks was

also reflected in the portion of the Gettysburg Address where

he said:

``That this nation under God, will have a new birth of

freedom and that the government of the people, by the people

and for the people shall not perish from this earth.''

Unfortunately, many critics are quick to quote from

Lincoln's speeches prior to the Gettysburg Address, but not

as quick to quote from his speeches after the Gettysburg

address. Through Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Keckley and

the black soldiers who so bravely fought for the Union,

Lincoln had gained a greater appreciation than most Americans

for blacks. His struggle was not so much over how he would

accept the new black citizens, but how his fellow white

brothers and sisters who had only a stereotypical view of

blacks would accept them.

With Jefferson Davis leading the nation of the Confederate

States, Lincoln was the only president in our lifetime who

was faced with the possibility of a future where there would

be two separate nations rather than the one that our founding

fathers had established. Winning the war and uniting the

country was a tremendous accomplishment and that alone should

make Lincoln the greatest president of all time. Had he

allowed the South to exist as a separate nation, and had we

remained as two smaller countries instead of one we know

today, becoming a superpower would have been only a dream and

never a reality. As two separate (smaller) nations, we would

not have grown to be a superpower and our defense of

democracies around the world would have never been a

possibility. How different the world be, had he failed.

Had he lost the Civil War, what would have happened to

blacks? What would have happened to the Republican Party, the

Party of Lincoln? Would the defeat of the Union also have

meant the destruction of this new fragile political party?

Without the Party of Lincoln, would there have been the

Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the

Constitution as well as other subsequent Civil Rights

legislation to give blacks freedom, citizenship and the right

to vote--all of which paved the way for America to elect its

first black president?

Even though members of the Party of Lincoln honor Ronald

Reagan as a great president, he was no Abraham Lincoln.

Reagan gave his service to this country, but Lincoln gave his

life for his country. Without Lincoln there is a strong

possibility that there would be no Republican Party today. We

owe it to ourselves to honor this man by keeping the true

Legacy of Lincoln alive. Republicans, African Americans and

the world as a whole owe this lonely log-splitting country

lawyer much more than we will ever know: perhaps even our

lives.

Please help us establish and maintain the Legacy of Lincoln

through the Legacy of Lincoln Foundation so that future

generations will know of his true greatness and his enduring

contribution to the entire world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 623, which requests that the President focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention and coordinate Federal efforts to participate in National Night Out.

Today our suburban communities and neighborhoods throughout the nation are under attack. When our children are no longer free to play outside after school and families no longer feel safe in their suburban communities because gangs, and all the violence and drugs they bring with them, have spread to their communities; and when children are no longer safe in their own homes because thousands of sex offenders are online just waiting for their next prey; when the ``bad guy'' has no face and there are no boundaries thanks to the Internet--our very freedom itself is threatened.

National Night Out is an extraordinary opportunity for citizens, law enforcement, businesses, and local officials to come together to raise awareness about these threats and fight

crime where we live. Last year, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out.

As a former Sheriff, I know how important it is to foster relationships between the community, law enforcement and local businesses and organizations. By coming together we really can create safer places for our children to grow and thrive.

I urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 623 and community policing efforts throughout their communities.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of the members of the Washington National Guard, including the 81st Brigade Combat Team that began returning from serving in Iraq on July 29, and thank them for their tireless and brave service in defense of our nation.

Coming from all communities, backgrounds and professions of Washington State, members of the Army and Air National Guard of Washington continuously serve this country at home and abroad. The 81st, headquartered in Seattle, mobilized on August 18, 2008 and is composed of 2,478 citizen-soldiers from Washington, helped by an additional 843 soldiers from the California Army National Guard, eighty soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard and twelve soldiers from the Montana Army National Guard. While deployed, the 81st served as convoy security, force protection, and conducted provincial reconstruction and base operations missions. Previously, the 81st served in Iraq from March, 2004 to March, 2005.

As the 81st continues its journey home over the next few weeks, I pray for their safety and their transition back to civilian life. The service all the men and women of the Washington Army and Air National Guard provide abroad and at home engenders hope, faith and security in the people of Washington. Therefore, as a representative of the 8th District of Washington and along with the rest of the Washington congressional delegation, I applaud and honor the sacrifice and service of the Washington Army and Air National Guard and wish them Godspeed on their journey back home.

Madam Speaker, as the Representative of the Eighth Congressional District of Washington, it is my privilege to serve a vibrant cross-section of citizens in both rural and urban settings. And in some cases, I represent residents who are making a swift transition between the two. This is especially true of Sammamish, a city of 40,000 that was recently named by Money magazine as the 12th ``best place to live'' in the entire country.

I rise today to congratulate Sammamish on this great and well- deserved achievement. Nestled neatly on the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish and surrounded by a mix of urban, rural and beautiful open spaces, Sammamish is as beautiful as it sounds.

Some of the qualities noted for their newly-awarded distinction include the excellent schools, safe neighborhoods and beautiful natural setting of the city. Of course, since I often have the opportunity to visit Sammamish, I can definitely attest to that truth. Historically a place of timber and agriculture, Sammamish, barely ten years old, has impressed the entire Pacific Northwest region with its rapid, elegant and responsible development. The quality of life, the political leadership and the energy of its residents make Sammamish a very special place.

Perhaps most impressively, Sammamish has invested heavily in infrastructure and an expanding menu of city services without undermining its financial footing. Through careful budgeting and long- term planning, Sammamish is moving ahead without leaving responsible habits behind. As evidence, Sammamish recently received Standard and Poor's highest bond rating--AAA.

I am proud to represent such a city in Congress and look forward to continue working with Sammamish residents and elected leaders to continue to make it one of the best places to live long into the future. Working cooperatively, the residents and leaders of Sammamish have created an exceptional place to live and visit in a short period of time. I congratulate Mayor Don Gerend, the city council and staff and residents of Sammamish for creating such a wonderful place to live for long-time residents and newcomers, alike.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of Newcastle, Washington, which was recently ranked seventeenth by Money Magazine on their list of ``America's Best Small Towns.'' I'm proud to represent Newcastle, a city that affords residents a unique opportunity to live near the ``hustle and bustle'' of everyday life while retreating into a rural small town setting.

It is fitting that Money Magazine released its rankings the same week that Newcastle held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on a multi-year, multi- phase public works project that shows the city's true colors: leadership, patience and encouragement. Although I couldn't be at the celebration personally, I once again congratulate them on the expansion of the Coal Creek Parkway, to help alleviate the flow of traffic for its businesses and citizens.

Newcastle has grown by leaps and bounds, developing and offering new attractions and conveniences for citizens and businesses alike. Officially incorporated in 1994, Newcastle's population at the time was 7,000. 15 years later, Newcastle's population has grown to about 10,000 and the city's amenities continue to grow as well. A new YMCA will open in September, complete with swimming pools, community rooms, and gyms. A new transit center currently under construction will provide new bus shelters and improve the city's main intersection, benefiting commuters, pedestrians and bicyclists.

In true Pacific Northwest tradition, Newcastle also boasts a vast array of accessible natural resources and outdoor activities. Lake Boren Park, the city's best known location in its parks and trails system, offers walking trails, tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment for children and is home to special events: the Fourth of July fireworks celebration and Newcastle's summer series of ``Concerts in the Park.'' Of course, I must mention Newcastle's wonderful golf club; perhaps the city's most marketable asset as well as a terrific place for civic engagement and community fundraising. The course is truly beautiful and attracts attendees from all over the Pacific Northwest.

Newcastle is a beautiful city filled with a great mix of small town charm, big city access and natural, fantastic neighborhoods and open spaces, and is very well-deserving of this award to of one of America's best small towns in the country. I look forward to continuing to support the goals and ideals of Newcastle residents and its elected leaders.