Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, While I am pleased that the House has once again renewed Andean trade preferences, I think this bill highlights more than ever the need to pass pending free trade agreements that have languished for far too long without consideration. We must continue to open markets to encourage American companies to innovate and compete with their global counterparts. This grows our economy and creates jobs.

I am proud to represent a district in Washington State that integrates our nation's leading technology innovators with a vibrant and highly productive small business community. Opening new global markets gives them incentives to improve their products, produce more goods, and employ more American workers. I have seen these job-creating effects first-hand, with trade accounting for 1 out of every 3 jobs in my state.

In this time of economic uncertainty, Congress must act now to advance America's broader trade agenda. We cannot allow important agreements with Panama and Korea to remain on hold while Europe and China continue to knock down trade barriers and improve their competitiveness in the global economy. And surely recent provocative comments by the leader of Venezuela helps put into perspective the urgent need to use the power of trade in Colombia. I urge my colleagues in the Majority to stop the delays and pass these free trade agreements. Let's advance the trade measures needed to grow our economy, create jobs, and not only improve our relations with global partners, but also to foster global peace and freedom.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise and congratulate Northwest Kidney Centers for the recent completion of their SeaTac facility. Located near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the new facility provides additional medical surge capacity at a moment's notice to communities facing a major public health emergency.

With ever-increasing numbers of obese and diabetic Americans, organizations such as Northwest Kidney Centers offer an unparalleled number of services to patients in need of critical, advanced care. Hundreds of dialysis staff and nephrologists are equipped and prepared for any emergency, and the new facility's innovative design allows additional dialysis stations to be activated at any time. The new facility will no doubt play an integral role in the lives of countless Northwest residents who depend on kidney therapy to live quality lives--and to enable them to spend more time with their families and friends.

The new Northwest Kidney Centers' SeaTac Facility is a perfect example of a successful State and Federal partnership, and it will be a significant asset to our communities. All of us

in the Northwest can take pride in knowing that the SeaTac facility is a model for the rest of the country to follow.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the State of Washington, and I rise in strong opposition to this closed rule. This rule gives the House no opportunity to engage in meaningful debate about this important issue.

I am disappointed that the majority did not make in order a substitute amendment I cosponsored to consider the bipartisan legislation that was unanimously approved by the Senate last year.

Let me be clear: I strongly support mental health parity. That is precisely why I am so concerned that the bill before us today could derail our efforts to pass mental health parity legislation altogether.

While the House bill could reduce access to care for the mentally ill, decrease the affordability for health care coverage, and even close a hospital in my State, the Senate measure represents some of the very best that can come from bipartisan collaboration and compromise. It reflects the interests of mental health advocates and providers while also respecting the rights of States like Washington to enact mental health laws that go beyond the Federal standard.

Mr. Speaker, I came to this House, this body, a little over 3 years ago. My previous profession was in law enforcement for 33 years, so I came here in a little bit different way than most Members of the House of Representatives. So today I make the statement not as a Republican but as a citizen of the United States of America. I am standing here today as an American saying that we need to stop the partisan bickering and we need to come together as Democrats and Republicans and we need to address this issue of not having opportunity, not having a voice, to share in the decisions that are being made in this House. It is time that we come together.

The Senate bill that passed unanimously needs to be considered on the House floor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. On February 1, 2008, two young women with developmental disabilities walked into a Baghdad market, most likely unaware that they were being used as walking bombs, about to be remotely detonated.

In a horrific and coordinated attack, these vulnerable women lost their lives, along with more than 70 other innocent bystanders.

As the godfather of a young boy who has developmental disabilities and as a strong advocate for that community, it is my hope that we continue to fight against the exploitation of these heroic people anywhere in the world.

This horrific attack is the latest demonstration of the kind of uncivilized evil that we are confronting in the war on terror. We have even heard rumors this week that young children are being used by these terrorists. What kind of human being would stoop to this level to achieve their aims?

Madam Speaker, this event should serve as an example why our Nation must continue to protect the rights of the innocent and to continue to preserve freedom for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to stand with our State delegation to recognize an important new program begun in Washington to support our soldiers and veterans.

We must never forget that we enjoy our freedom today because of the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of generations of men and women in uniform. From the beaches of Normandy to the jungles of Vietnam, our troops have willingly and repeatedly stood in harm's way to preserve the values and liberties we cherish.

I know my colleagues who stand here with me today share my commitment to keeping our promises to America's veterans. But we must also keep our promise to veterans in our communities, and the Veterans Family Fund Certificate of Deposit is a perfect example of just such an effort. It is a straightforward way of raising additional funds to meet the needs of Washington veterans and their families, and to assist our returning troops in making a seamless transition home.

This program represents some of the very best that can come from public-private partnerships. I commend the many participating banks and credit unions for joining with the State VA to make this initiative possible, and I hope that other States will soon follow Washington's lead.

No matter how big or small the effort, we must continue to pursue every available means of supporting our troops. We are the United States of America today, and we are free, because of the sacrifices of these men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line--for us, for their country.

Mr. Chairman, in today's global, highly competitive economy it is imperative that we create new opportunities for our children and ensure that all students, no matter their age, income, or race, have access to quality, affordable education. I am pleased to rise in support of this important legislation and I'd like to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon for bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor so that we may finally make the dream of college a reality for all children.

Last year, an overwhelming majority of my colleagues joined me in supporting the College Cost Reduction Act, which the President signed into law. This was a good first step to addressing the rising cost of college but today we have an opportunity to do so much more.

Education is the lifeblood of a free and democratic society. We have a responsibility to the future prosperity of this great Nation and the rest of the world to ensure that our children have access to the very best education possible--which means controlling costs, strengthening our standards, promoting excellence, and creating new opportunities for previously disadvantaged children. Increasing the maximum Pell Grants and making them available year-round will go a long way towards accomplishing this goal.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, if we are to remain a global economic leader we must continue to invest in science and math education. The foundation of innovation lies in a motivated and well-educated workforce equipped with science, technology, engineering, and math skills. While the U.S. is supporting math and science, the rest of the world is not standing still and many countries are working hard to build their own innovation capacity.

Our inability to provide our students with a premiere or even a basic education in math

and science is a threat not only to our economic security, but also to our national security. The Hart-Rudman Commission was convened in 1998 to take a look at threats facing our country's national security over a 25-year period. The final report, released in early 2001, received national attention after 9/11 because it stated that the number one threat facing our country was terrorism, and it predicted that an attack was likely to take place on U.S. soil. But what is not as well known is that the report stated the second biggest threat to our national security was our Nation's inability to educate our own children in math and science. It called for a ``recapitalization'' effort. Our Nation has benefited and has been living on the intellectual capital that was driven to our shores by Nazism, Communism and poverty in the 20th century. But now, in a global economy, we can no longer rely on the world's minds coming to our country. And this trend coupled with our own deficiencies in education has created a crisis that, according to this report, reaches national security proportions of the highest magnitude.

A great real-world example exists in my own district in Washington State, which exemplifies the importance of science and math education. My district is home to several high-tech companies, including Microsoft. In order to ensure the continued success of Microsoft and other similarly situated companies, we must take steps now to fix our failing math and science programs to make certain they're able to hire the very best and brightest and we don't have to rely on a failing immigration and visa program to coax highly skilled and trained workers from overseas.

I believe we need to continue to emphasize math and science throughout a child's education. During a speech before the National Governor's Association at their 2005 Achieve Summit, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said, ``In math and science, our 4th graders are among the top students in the world. By 8th grade, they're in the middle of the pack. By 12th grade, U.S. students are scoring near the bottom of all industrialized nations.'' The need for serious attention and improvements to our math and science education is clear. I am happy to see the committee begin to address this need today through scholarships, grants, and incentive programs to encourage students to pursue careers in math and science.

Every parent wants their child to grow up to have more opportunities and a better life than they had. Providing our children with access to a higher education is integrally linked to the future economic, social, and cultural health of our democracy. I urge all my colleagues to stand up for our children and their future and join me in supporting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize January 2008 as Mentoring Month and I am proud to offer my support to H. Res. 908, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month.

The history of mentorship nationwide and in my district is a rich one. In Washington State alone, there are approximately 190 organizations specifically dedicated to placing young people into formal mentoring relationships. These organizations spent approximately $30 million in 2006 to forge and maintain those relationships--much of that money coming from private citizens. Most important, all that work has amounted to approximately 29,000 young people in Washington State taking part in a positive mentoring relationship.

One organization in particular that has had a tremendous and lasting impact on many disadvantaged youth in my district is Big Brothers Big Sisters. In 2007, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound provided more than 2,500 children with mentoring matches and has a vision to provide successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to better schools, brighter futures, and stronger communities for all.

Many of us know personally or have heard first-hand the heartbreaking accounts of young people who veered off the path of success or, because of a variety of circumstances, never even knew where to find that path. Mentoring can be a promising approach to enriching the lives of disadvantaged children and youth by discouraging juvenile delinquency, improving school attendance and performance, and by providing positive adult role models.

A young man from my district, Lorenzo, is a shining example of the unique way in which mentoring enriches the lives of our youth. Lorenzo moved to Washington State from West Samoa in 2006, and immediately received mentoring help from Ken--an individual who has consistently given of his time to mentor and nurture young people in my home community. Ken helped this young man through the discomfort of transitioning into a new environment, through the academic process, and into positive relationships with his new peers. Upon graduating from Kent-Meridian High School--my alma mater--Lorenzo gained admission to Central Washington University and is a wonderful example of the power of responsible and caring adult guidance.

Today, as Congress recognizes January 2008 as National Mentoring Month, I encourage all citizens, businesses, public and private agencies, religious and educational institutions to support mentoring and give young people in our community the gift of time and friendship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound or other mentoring programs throughout Washington State and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 760, which recognizes October as Children's Health Month and supports the goals and ideals of this annual designation.

I was proud to introduce this resolution with Representative Kathy Castor. As cochairmen of the Congressional Children's Health Care Caucus, we are committed to building bipartisan support for efforts to facilitate access to care for the uninsured, seek cures for debilitating diseases and chronic conditions, and promote preventive health and wellness measures for America's children.

This resolution recognizes the importance of raising awareness of children's health needs and commends the health care professionals who provide for them. It also reaffirms our Nation's commitment to improving children's health and encourages State officials, non-profit organizations and businesses to join the House in supporting these objectives.

I am grateful for the enthusiastic backing this resolution enjoys from more than 100 Members spanning both sides of the aisle, and I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Wild Pratt River Act. This legislation builds upon a proud Washington tradition of protecting our public lands and improves the quality of life for many of my constituents and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts from across the state of Washington.

One of the popular glories of my district in Washington State is the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, a 362,000 acre wilderness that straddles the crest of the Cascade Mountains just west of the Seattle/Tacoma metropolitan area. My legislation will expand the boundary of the existing wilderness area to embrace important lower-elevation lands and complete watersheds. In doing this, we are--with a single exception-- addressing only federal lands already under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. We must continue to open markets to encourage American companies to innovate and compete with their global counterparts. This grows our economy and creates jobs.

I am proud to represent a district in Washington State that integrates our Nation's leading technology innovators with a vibrant and highly productive small business community. Opening new global markets gives them incentives to improve their products, produce more goods, and employ more American workers. I have seen these job-creating effects firsthand, with trade accounting for 1 out of every 3 jobs in my State.

The Peru Trade Promotion Agreement will level the playing field and increase market access for American and Peruvian companies. It will grow our Nation's economy by more than $2 billion.

I hope that the passage of this agreement finally advances our broader trade agenda in Congress. I am disappointed that it has taken more than 5 months since the bipartisan deal reached in May--and over 1 year since the Peru Free Trade Agreement was signed--for this measure to finally come to the floor.

We cannot allow important pending agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea to languish as the Peru measure did. I urge my colleagues in the majority to stop the delays and pass these free trade agreements. Let's advance the trade measures needed to grow our economy, create jobs, and improve our relations with global partners.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.

As the ranking member on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, I would like to commend, first of all and especially, Chairwoman Jane Harman, who has, as the chairman says, Mr. Thompson, really done a lot of work in this area and has been at the forefront of our intelligence community in working to protect our Nation.

I also want to thank the full committee chairman, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, for all his hard work, and our ranking member, Mr. King of New York, who could not be here today.

This truly has been a bipartisan effort. It's one of those issues that all of us in this body recognize as so critical to the protection of our citizens and our country. This legislation is focused on addressing the issue of radicalization and homegrown terrorism. While terrorist recruitment and radicalization is a worldwide problem that must be combated globally, the United States cannot afford to simply focus on eliminating terrorists abroad. It is essential that we fully understand the future and the nature of the threat here in the United States from homegrown radicals.

In the National Intelligence Estimate on the Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland released in July of this year, the Director of National Intelligence and the National Intelligence Council assess, ``The spread of radical Internet sites, increasingly aggressive anti-U.S. rhetoric and actions, and the growing number of radical, self-generating cells in Western countries indicate that the radical and violent segment of the West's Muslim population is expanding, including in the United States. The arrest and prosecution by U.S. law enforcement of a small number of violent Islamic extremists inside the United States--who are becoming more connected ideologically, virtually, and/or in a physical sense to the global extremist movement--points to the possibility that others may become sufficiently radicalized that they will view the use of violence here as legitimate.''

Because of the freedoms of our society, and the interconnected world we live in, radical ideas spread easily. These ideas can come from overseas or from within the United States. They can come from within prisons inside of isolated religious or ethnic enclaves or on the Internet. These ideas reach people in the privacy of their homes, via the Internet, and can be similarly assessed by vulnerable individuals at schools, libraries and universities.

Unfortunately, our freedoms are being abused by individuals whose sole purpose is to destroy our way of life. While we have not seen radicalization to the extent witnessed in other Western countries like the United Kingdom, we have seen homegrown terrorist cells.

Prisoners in Sacramento state prison plotted to attack Jewish and U.S. military targets. Radicalized individuals plotted to destroy fuel tanks at JFK Airport in New York and aimed to create carnage at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

While clearly law enforcement and intelligence efforts are key to intercepting and interdicting these ideas and thoughts and efforts in our country, we need a strategy to ensure that

violent, radical ideologies are contained. Because of the nature of this threat, it is essential that we understand why individuals become radicalized and what we can do to prevent radical ideologies from taking hold and spreading here in the United States.

H.R. 1955 establishes a National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Ideologically Based Violence. The commission incorporates aspects of H.R. 1695, the PREVENT Act, which I introduced earlier this year. The purpose of this national commission would be to proactively get ahead of the radicalization problems so that as a Nation we can combat these radical ideologies before they become widespread within our borders.

In addition, H.R. 1955 includes provisions to help us learn from our international partners on how they are trying to prevent radicalization in their own countries. This issue is not new to many countries throughout the world such as the United Kingdom, and I believe it is critical for us to work with our international partners and learn from their past successes and failures.

Lastly, this legislation includes provisions that ensure privacy and civil rights are protected for all American citizens.

Again, I would like to commend Chairman Harman and Chairman Thompson for working with me and Mr. King on this legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren), the ranking member of the Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), the ranking member of the Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response Subcommittee of the Homeland Security full committee.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida, a member of the full Committee on Homeland Security (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut, who is a member of the full Committee on Homeland Security (Mr. Shays).

Madam Speaker, it is indeed my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, who is a member of the full Committee on Homeland Security (Mr. Broun).

May I inquire as to how much time I have left.

I have no additional speakers.

Madam Speaker, I just want to reemphasize the words of Chairwoman Harman, who just spoke. This really has been a bipartisan effort; we talk a lot about that on the Hill here. And this committee, working with Ms. Harman has been, indeed, a pleasure, traveling across the country to various locations, holding hearings on this topic.

It is important for the American people to know and understand and realize there really is truly a threat here within the borders of the United States of America, and how important it is for all of us to work together because Americans working together keep this country safe and protect the freedoms that we have all enjoyed, for me, 57 years of enjoying the freedoms of this blessed country. And I want the same things for my children and my grandchildren. I want them to enjoy the same freedoms that I've had the opportunities to enjoy. In order for us to do that, both sides of the aisle have to work closely together to make sure that we pass the laws, the legislation that will accomplish that great feat.

In reminding the American people what has happened in the past 18 months in this country, the Sears Tower in Chicago in 2006; a New York- New Jersey PATH tunnel in July of 2006; Chicago-area shopping mall, December of 2006; passengers aboard a transatlantic flight from the U.K. to the U.S.; soldiers at Fort Dix in New Jersey; JFK Airport's fueling systems and others, these have been terrorist acts that have been prevented, and we need to continue that effort. Passing this legislation will accomplish that.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3776, the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Electricity is the lifeblood of our country. Without reliable electricity, our country would not be the world leader that it is today. Therefore, anything that can be done to improve and secure the reliability of the electric grid should be supported and encouraged. H.R. 3776 aims to do just that by focusing research and development on ways to store energy which would not only assist in reliability, but also efficiency of fuel use and security of not only our grid but also, in a broader sense, of our country.

Energy storage would allow for the enhanced use of renewable energy such as wind and solar.

Currently, the ability of wind energy and solar energy to contribute electricity to the electric grid is tied to when the wind is blowing or when the sun is shining, therefore, making these sources not as reliable as conventional sources of energy such as coal, natural gas and nuclear. With energy storage, excess generation that is unable to be used at the time of generation can be stored for use at a later time. This allows for wind and solar energy to be potential sources of base load generation.

In addition to energy storage for stationary sources, there is also a promising field of energy storage for vehicles, the most recognizable example being batteries that would be used in plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids would allow for a further decrease in transportation fuel consumption from conventional hybrids, thereby increasing our national security by decreasing our reliance on foreign sources of oil.

H.R. 3776 addresses the battery obstacle by including a research and development program into batteries and battery systems and a demonstration program to prove the viability of the R&D.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee and sponsor of this bill for recognizing the importance of energy storage to our country's energy future and also for including portions of Ranking Member Hall's energy storage language that was included in H.R. 2483 and cosponsored by several members of the Science and Technology Committee.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 751, supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Chemistry Week, a concept that was first introduced in 1987 by the American Chemical Society to educate Americans about the contribution chemists and chemistry have made to our society. We first celebrated National Chemistry Day on November 6, 1987, with a parade in Washington, D.C. Because of the overwhelming enthusiasm for the day, 2 years later the

concept was expanded to celebrate National Chemistry Week.

The National Chemistry Week program is designed to reach out to the public, especially elementary and secondary school children, to foster an appreciation for chemistry. The theme of this year's celebration is, ``The Many Faces of Chemistry,'' which is designed to educate the public on the many different types of careers in chemistry and the many different ways chemistry has contributed to our society.

As a part of the activities for this week, the American Chemical Society has chosen to honor chemists working in the fields of biosensors, cosmetics, food, nutrition, dye, materials, natural products, and environmental processes, as well as chemists who work as teachers. These varied fields contribute to our society on a daily basis.

For instance, biosensors may be used to test air quality, drinking water quality, help dentists find cavities, and test for biological and chemical weapons. Material chemists may work on ways to help make new products that are less harmful to the environment, such as making threads and plastic out of renewable biological materials. Nutritional chemists may develop products that contain more vitamins and minerals in an effort to make people healthier and fight malnutrition throughout the world.

National Chemistry Week is intended to honor all of these contributions, as well as encourage our Nation's schools to cultivate the finest scientists, engineers and technicians from every background to ensure we remain globally competitive.

This week, more than 10,000 National Chemistry Week volunteers from industry, government, and academia will reach out to educate millions of children across the country. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring them and these activities through the passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3775, the Industrial Energy Efficiency Research and Development Act of 2007, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The industrial sector of our economy is currently the largest user of energy. According to the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, the industrial sector consumed 32 percent of the Nation's energy in 2006. While the industrial sector has made impressive efficiency gains since 1980, more is needed and more can be done.

The Department of Energy currently runs the Industrial Technology Programs, ITP, whose mission it is to improve the energy intensity of the United States industrial sector, whose industries include aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, metal casting, mining, petroleum refining and steel. The ITP program engages in partnerships with industry to conduct research and development into energy efficiency technologies, as well as demonstrating those technologies and transferring them to the marketplace. The program has been very successful in its efforts with over 140 projects reaching the commercial market.

The ITP also conducts energy assessments, to help industrial manufacturers of all sizes, through both its Save Energy Now and university-based Industrial Assessment Centers, IACs. The Save Energy Now program completed 265 assessments that identified energy savings of more than $585 million per year.

The IACs serve a dual role, aiding small and medium-sized business to reduce their energy costs and the training of university students who will take the efficiency knowledge they have learned and apply it in the workforce.

The bill before us today will ensure that ITP's beneficial work will continue to help the industrial sector reduce its cost, which not only helps them remain globally competitive while allowing them to keep their operations in the United States of America. Further, the ITP aids our country's goal of reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy by improving this critical sector's use of energy.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on October 9, 2007, and October 10, 2007, I missed rollcall votes because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: ``aye'' on House Resolution 32, rollcall No. 949; ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 400, the War Profiteering Prevention Act, rollcall No. 950; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 951; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 952; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 953; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 954; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 955; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 956; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 957; ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act, rollcall No. 958; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 959; and ``nay'' on final passage of H.R. 3056, the Tax Collection Responsibility Act, rollcall No. 960.