Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, just days after the 4th of July events that celebrate our freedom, it's ironic that Congress will begin consideration of a health care proposal that threatens the freedom to choose and keep the health care we want and we need.

Health care is not about bureaucrat systems. It's about people. It's about patients. It's about life and death. Quality health care is the foundation for our children to grow and prosper and for our seniors to enjoy comfortable retirements.

We can all agree that our health care system must be transformed, but a $1.6 trillion proposal that puts government bureaucrats between doctors and patients, raises health care costs for families, taxes our health care plans, and reduces choices is not the answer to ensure that our health care system remains focused on people.

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

Mr. Chairman, pursuant to the rule, I send to the desk a modification of amendment No. 4.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer this commonsense, bipartisan amendment with my colleague from Washington (Mr. Smith).

Our amendment directs the Small Business Administration to prioritize giving grants used for outreach to disadvantaged small businesses to be given to similar organizations that can empathize and understand them.

Outreach to underserved areas and disadvantaged small businesses is essential. I have found, in my district and in my State, that many small businesses are completely unaware of the resources available to them and often incur unnecessary costs trying to navigate a complex government system just to apply for assistance.

Outreach and assistance can mean so much more when someone who overcame that same difficulty has an understanding of the needs of these disadvantaged small businesses and reaches out to them with a helping hand. For example, a wounded warrior may come home and start up a new business and go through all the processes, and I've heard many a frustrating story from those men and women who return home trying to get their lives back on track as they come back from serving our country. They really have a grasp as to what's been happening and how they achieved their goals, and so the intent of this legislation is so those people--wounded warriors, women, and those who represent minority-owned businesses--can reach out to those people and help them build their own business, create job opportunities for their families, and also create job opportunities for families across this country.

We all know that small businesses really generate the jobs in this country. Ninety-four percent of the jobs in Washington State are provided by small businesses, so this piece of legislation, Mr. Chairman, is absolutely essential.

I have a young wounded warrior working in my office who did two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan who fully understands what it's like to come back home and go through the process of receiving health care and finding a job here when he returned to his home. Zach is there to help those wounded warriors as they call in to the office, and he can help them because he understands because he has been there, done that.

I would encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan amendment to help those people that we all respect and admire so greatly to find jobs and create businesses in their own communities.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves).

Mr. Chairman, I would just close by saying that I very much appreciate the support on this amendment from the other side of the aisle, my colleagues, especially the chairwoman and Mr. Smith for their support, and also for the support of Mr. Graves.

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

(1) $333,000 for the City of Buckley, WA for an emergency intertie booster station.

Requesting Entity: City of Buckley, PO Box 1960, 933 Main Street, Buckley, WA 98321

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Account: STAG

Funding requested by: Rep. Dave Reichert

The City of Buckley will construct an emergency intertie booster station to allow the City to use water from the City of Tacoma in an emergency. The City of Tacoma water system in this area operates with a hydraulic grade line of 810 feet. The City of Buckley water system operates with a hydraulic grade line of 882 feet. Therefore the booster station is required to overcome a static head of approximately 72 feet. The City's largest water source is the S. Prairie Creek surface water source. The City's water right for this source is 900 gpm. To allow the system to operate effectively with the S. Prairie Creek source out of service, the booster station will have a capacity of 900 gpm. The booster station will be constructed in right-of-way in a location close to existing City of Buckley and City of Tacoma water infrastructure.

Finance Plan:

City of Buckley, Budget Details: This request is for federal funding in the amount of $550,000 to construct an emergency water intertie and booster station between the City of Tacoma's transmission main and the City of Buckley's water system. As illustrated below in the engineering cost estimate, approximately, $121,000 is for administration & engineering; and $485,000 for construction. The City of Buckley is currently working on a major flood damaged repair to our primary transmission water main, but will be able to allocate $57,000 as a match towards this project.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

1) $750,000 for the North Bend Area Residential Flood Mitigation

Requesting Entity: King County, WA

Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Rm 1200, Seattle, WA 98104

Agency: FEMA

Account: Pre-disaster Mitigation

Funding Requested by: Rep. Dave Reichert

Deep and repetitive floods have struck parts of the North Bend area. The Shamrock Park neighborhood, for example, includes several repetitive loss properties as identified by the National Flood Insurance Program. The neighborhood has been repeatedly flooded at different times from different sources including the South Fork Snoqualmie, Ribary Creek, and Clough Creek. The flooding cannot be prevented unless all sources are addressed. A more reliable, cost- effective solution would be to make each home less susceptible to high water.

Although a system of levees protects most homes in the North Bend area from damage during minor floods, the capacity of the levee system is limited. Flows in excess of 20-year highs overtop portions of the levee system and cause damage to neighboring properties. Raising and extending levees is cost-prohibitive, requires demolition of many homes, is incompatible with regulatory protection of floodway conveyance capacity, and fails to address all known flood hazards. Hazards are associated with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and the South Fork Snoqualmie River, as well as several smaller tributary streams. Levees along these river channels cannot prevent flooding from other sources.

The proposed project will protect public safety and private property by reducing flood hazards to residential areas of the City of North Bend. In addition to these benefits, the project will result in reduced flood insurance claims and reduced need for federal disaster assistance.

The project will result in approximately 80 jobs. These jobs would be in the fields of real estate transactions and contracting jobs to demolish or elevate structures.

This office conducted site visits to meet with representatives from King County to examine the need for this funding.

North Bend Residential Flood Mitigation. The estimated total project cost is $5,800,000 in FY 2010, with an immediate need of $1,000,000 to sustain the project by elevating the first 10 homes in the highest risk area. The full project includes elevation of 50 homes, with costs allocated as follows:

Unit Costs for Home Elevations (1):

Estimated Construction Costs $100,000.00

Elevation Certificates $1,250

Elevation Cost Estimates $200.00

Geotechnical Analysis $315

Structural Design $3,200

Septic ``As Built'' $200

Health Dept. Review $300

Building Permits $3,385

Recording fees $100

Project Management $10,000

Madam Speaker, along with 136 of my colleagues, I was unable to return to the House floor in time for an unexpected recorded vote on a motion to rise late in the evening of June 16, 2009. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted ``no'' so that the House would consider an amendment to assess the economic impact of the delay in enacting the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

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

Mr. Chairman, after listening to the discussion back and forth here for the last hour or two, I would hope that my amendment would not be quite so contentious. And it is my great hope that we can come together in agreement on the amendment that I'm about to offer.

I am suggesting that we take $2.5 million from the Department of Commerce salaries and expenses account, which is totaling now $60 million and is receiving a $7 million increase. So to remove $2.5 million from a $7 million increase from a $60 million budget, to Support Teens through Education and Protection program, STEP, which helps high schools collaborate with domestic violence and sexual assault service providers, law enforcement, the courts and other organizations to improve school safety. This vital program was authorized by Congress under the VAWA Act, Violence Against Women Act, but was never funded.

Our schools should be safe havens for our children to learn and grow. Unfortunately, violence in schools has left many kids afraid of the very places we send them to learn and grow. They increasingly find themselves becoming victims of dating violence, bullying, harassment, gang-related violence in the classrooms, in the hallways and in the restrooms. On the buses, in school yards, anywhere in the area of the school, this law would apply. When violence occurs in our schools, our children find themselves in difficult situations. They go to school, where they spend 6 to 8 hours a day with the very people that have perpetrated the crime against them, placing them in very dangerous situations.

For example, a 16-year-old girl breaks up with her 16-year-old boyfriend in Texas at a high school, and during the day she goes to her teacher and she says, I'm afraid. This boyfriend of mine is becoming more and more violent and I'm afraid for my safety. Can you help me? Two hours later, this young lady is found dead in the hallways of her own school.

In 2007, at a high school in Seattle, a young girl was assaulted, was dragged into the boys' restroom and was assaulted even further. The girl pushed herself away from the suspect and ran away and told the teachers. She reported the incident to the teachers. She told the principal of the school. The school did nothing. For 3 weeks, this young lady had to go back to school and had to face these three individuals, these three individuals who assaulted her. They did nothing. They didn't report it to the police. They didn't tell anybody.

Our schools need more effective procedures to address these problems when they occur amongst students. Teachers, coaches and counselors have important roles to play in the lives of our children, as we all know, and they can be key to curbing violence among our youth. Studies show that 25 percent of the teens say they would confide in teachers or in school counselors if they became involved in abusive relationships or were assaulted. Unfortunately, school personnel are not currently trained or equipped with the knowledge or with the resources needed to address these issues effectively in school.

By supporting my amendment, we can help schools address bullying, harassment and sexual violence involving teen victims. The STEP program can train school personnel; it can provide support services for students who are experiencing abuse; it can help schools foster appropriate and safe responses to the affected students.

The National Education Association, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Break the Cycle, the National Center for Victims of Crime, and the Family Violence Prevention Fund have endorsed this amendment. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment to help create a safe learning environment for our children across this country.

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

Mr. Chairman, I want to take a moment just to thank the gentleman for his kind words of support. The majority's support of a minority amendment is a pleasant change in the atmosphere over the last day or so, so we appreciate that.

I yield back.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, halfway across the world today people are rioting in the streets. Violence, gunshots and even death have overtaken Iran's streets as its citizens protest the results of their recent election.

Iran's security affects the entire Middle East, and the riots there show how fragile their government really is. Recently, Iran successfully tested a long-range missile, and their intentions with their nuclear program are still unknown.

The United States must utilize every diplomatic, economic, and political tool at our disposal, including the further use of sanctions. Ultimately, our goal is peace for Iran, peace now and in the future. That's why I encourage Members of this body to join me in the support of the Iran Petroleum Sanctions Act. This legislation would use sanctions on refined petroleum to Iran in order to convince the government to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Our desire, all of us across the world, is to see a secure and peaceful future for the people of Iran, the greater Middle East and the world, but this cannot happen without some changes in Iran's policies, regardless of the outcome of their election.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2487, the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

(1) $500,000 for the Region 43, Pierce County Metropolitan Public Safety Communications Interoperable First Responder Emergency Communication System

Requesting Entity: Pierce County Sheriff Department, 930 Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402

Agency: Department of Justice

Account: COPS Tech

Funding Requested by: Rep. Dave Reichert

Currently, Pierce County has several disparate radio systems which do not allow easy interoperability, or only provide minimal interoperability. There is a drastic need for improved operable communications and interoperable communications in Pierce County which will take advantage of new technology.

Two critical components of this project involve a county-wide radio system and 911 dispatch centers. Pierce County will plan, purchase and build a county-wide interoperable radio communications system and two 911 dispatch centers (one police and one fire communications facilities), co-locating participating PSAPs into physically separate, fully redundant and survivable Fire and Police communications facilities. This project will solve the County's interoperability issues and establish the capacity to use operating funds, staff and equipment more efficiently.

Building a regional interoperable communications system with two consolidated PSAPs will dramatically improve the ability of first responders to respond to natural or manmade disasters within Pierce County and improve day-to-day operational capabilities. This project comes at a critical time due to sun-setting technology and FCC mandates. Additionally, this will enable all first responders to become interoperable. Citizens of Pierce County and the Puget Sound will benefit from first responders rapidly deploying to events and communicating effectively for life safety issues.

Additionally, an estimated 1,080 prevailing wage jobs will be created to construct facilities and communications sites. Further, in-state companies will have the opportunity to participate in supplying building materials, equipment, supplies and services. Local and state governments will benefit from sales tax revenues and permitting fees.

Finance Plan:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Site development:

Backhoe Excavation for Shelter Foundation Designs... 6,000

Shelter Foundation 12 x 32.......................... 18,500

Generator Foundation................................ 12,300

Fuel Tank Foundation................................ 10,200

Shelter, Fuel Tank and Generator Placement.......... 17,000

Utility Locate...................................... 1,100

High voltage electrical installation................ 30,000

Grounding for new shelter, generator, and tower 17,000

components.........................................

Tower Ice Bridge.................................... 5,000

Design Construction Drawings........................ 5,000

As Built Construction Drawings...................... 1,650

Shelter, Generator and Tank and Tower Foundation 5,000

design.............................................

Misc. Civil Construction (Includes extended Utility 21,200

Trenching, Rock/Site Finish, Landscaping, Misc.

Concrete and Bollards, Fuel Tank, install and fuel)

Site Acquisition and Zoning Services (Includes 3,100

Building Permit Processing, Zoning submittal and

Approval Process)..................................

General Testing (Includes Soil Resistivity Test, 8,000

Compact Test, Concrete Test, Grounding Test,

Generator Load Test, and Special Inspections)......

Construction Mgmt Services (includes Subcontractor's 26,100

Construction Management, Project management Project

Coordinator, Mobilization, Temp Facilities,

Transportation of materials to Site and Close out

Preparation).......................................

Tower Foundation.................................... 95,000

Crane Rental........................................ 15,000

Site Topographical Survey........................... 4,100

Standard Geotechnical Investigation................. 20,000

Tower Freight....................................... 18,500

Shelter Freight..................................... 31,000

Tower............................................... 98,000

12 x 32 Shelter w/aggregate ext. & twin A/C units... 94,000

Tower Lighting...................................... 11,000

Self-Supporting Tower Erection...................... 60,000

Fences/Gates........................................ 25,000

Building Permit review.............................. 3,000

Geotech............................................. 6,500

Site Drawings....................................... 2,000

Geotech Follow Up................................... 2,000

Radio base stations (Includes antenna combiners, 165,000

antennas, feedlines and lightning suppression......

Microwave backhaul equipment........................ 140,000

Multiplexers........................................ 20,000

Misc. Parts and Supplies............................ 2,750

Offered By: Mr. Reichert

Amendment No. 113: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Reichert

Amendment No. 114: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, American jobs are being threatened by new proposals to tax the earnings of American employers operating in markets around the world. We cannot forget that we are in a global economy. America cannot just be a participant in this global economy, but they have to lead in this global economy. In the middle of a downturn, it makes no sense to eliminate a tax incentive like deferral that American employers need to compete in a global marketplace and create American jobs at home.

Eliminating tax incentives like deferral would send U.S. jobs overseas and almost make it impossible for us to compete with China, India and Europe. Raising taxes on the earnings of U.S. companies discourages investments at home and increases the cost of employing U.S. workers. One of the largest employers in my districts, Microsoft, said last week that raising these taxes on their foreign earnings would force them to move thousands of employees out of the United States.

Congress must help to protect, promote and create jobs at home by encouraging American employers to invest and engage in new markets.

Mr. ChaIr, as of February 28, 2009 all port workers must have a Transportation worker Identification Credential, TWIC, to be granted port access. However, many longshoremen have not yet received a TWIC due to large backlogs at TSA.

This backlog is causing undue hardship on longshoremen and their families--many are being prevented from doing their jobs and earning a living. In order to get by, many are depleting their savings to support their families. This problem also unduly disrupts the operations of the ports and the flow of commerce.

Today we will consider important legislation to reauthorize the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, and enhance our surface and aviation transportation security.

I commend the committee for including language in the bill which clarifies that those who perform work in secure areas of our ports be allowed escorted access to such areas while their application for a TWIC is pending.

There is a real need to ensure the safety and security of our ports, however, we must balance this with our need to ensure workers, who pose no threat to the U.S., are able to do their job and earn an honest living.

Madam Speaker, I rise today recognizing the outstanding law enforcement officers across our country who received a 2009 TOP COPS award from the National Association of Police Organizations, NAPO. Today, especially, I want to highlight the work of a Sergeant in my home state of Washington and thank him for his exemplary public service.

Sergeant Paul E. Johnson of the Olympia Police Department was recognized as an Honorable Mention TOP COPS award recipient. Johnson, a Sergeant in the Patrol Unit, is a 29-year veteran of the Olympia Police Department and has served in various capacities, including several stints as a detective, as well as serving as Sergeant in the Narcotics Task Force and Detective Bureau. Johnson is known department- and city- wide for his attention to detail, his professionalism working with residents and staff, and the pride with which he wears his uniform: all hallmarks of policing ``the Olympia way'', a policy guided by professional enforcement, prevention, planning and coordination. Johnson's son, Corey, is also an officer with the Olympia Police Department and I wish him the very best throughout his career in law enforcement.

As a 33-year veteran of law enforcement and the co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, this is a topic close to my heart and it is a pleasure to recognize a wonderful public servant such as Sergeant Paul E. Johnson--and the rest of the recipients around the country--for being honored by NAPO with a TOP COPS award. As this House and law enforcement officers continue to serve the people of the United States, I know this House will continue to serve and support our law enforcement officers.

Madam Speaker, today I pause to honor a man who spent more than 40 years using his exceptional journalistic skill, integrity and ethic to promote civic engagement and help educate his readership and many others in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

James F. Vesely retired from The Seattle Times on Friday, May 15, 2009. He oversaw the editorial pages at The Times since 2001 after holding the position of associate editorial page editor for the previous 10 years. During his tenure at the largest newspaper in my home state of Washington, Mr. Vesely consistently pushed The Times editorial pages and its writers to think independently, write accurately and report fairly. And, with an outstanding journalist with a lifetime of experience under his belt in the lead, the editorial page and its writers did just that. During a tremendously difficult time for newspapers throughout our country the editorial pages at The Times spoke consistently, accurately and uncompromisingly.

Before joining The Times in 1991, Mr. Vesely spent much of his career in the Midwest, including ten years in Detroit with The Detroit News. He also worked as a consulting editor for the Anchorage Times and as a visiting editor at The People's Daily in Beijing. In the mid-seventies, he was a Journalism Fellow at Stanford University and was a member of the National Conference of Editorial Writers for the past 15 years.

Mr. Vesely's involvement in civic engagement was the true barometer of his positive effect on citizens looking to ``get involved'' in their communities and government. In 2005, Mr. Vesely took the time to moderate a forum I held in the 8th District on Social Security and he and The Times Editorial Board hosted, moderated and submitted questions at many political debates--races I was involved in and a variety of others. Mr. Vesely also offered his time to CityClub, a non-profit, non-partisan education organization dedicated to informing citizens and building community leadership, in order to facilitate healthy dialogue and educational opportunities for people in the greater Seattle area. He never rested in educating himself and others to make our corner of the country a more informed, vibrant place to live.

With the retirement of James F. Vesely from The Seattle Times, the Pacific Northwest is losing an informed voice of reason and the journalism profession is losing a wealth of experience, wisdom and generosity. I wish Mr.

Vesely the best in retirement. He told The Times on May 13 that he was ``plan(ing) to do a lot of fly-fishing''; that sounds like a great start.

Madam Speaker, as we ate breakfast today, more than 12 million Americans were carefully watching what they ate and how their food was prepared. You may be thinking that they are trying to lose weight, but that's not the reason--it's because they suffer from life- threatening food allergies.

The statistics are frightening--particularly among children. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of children under age five who suffer from food allergies actually doubled.

Scientists have been unable to develop cures for food allergies. We must do more to support NIH medical research and raise awareness about these health problems.

I applaud the creation of the new Food Allergy Initiative Advocacy Steering Committee and I'm excited to hear that my constituent, Ms. Sally Porter, will serve on the committee.

This group seeks to help build a strong nationwide presence for the food allergy community. I urge my colleagues to learn how they can get involved and to work with me to support federal resources for food allergy research.