Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest respect and sincerity that I rise today to honor the late Mr. Jess Bowling. Known to many as ``Pooch,'' he was an endearing friend, a first-class sheriff, a well-beloved family man, and a respected member of our community in Merced County, California. At the age of 82, Jess Bowling passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2007.

Jess Bowling was born in Binger, Oklahoma on August 23, 1924. He moved to Dos Palos, California at the age of 11 with his father and brother, where he attended school and later married Darlene Dorrell in 1945. He began his career in law enforcement in 1953, working for the Dos Palos Police Department. In 1956, he joined the Atwater Police Department until finally moving back to Merced in 1958 to work as a resident deputy for the Sheriff's Department on the Westside. He rose quickly through the ranks of the department and was promoted to sergeant-in-command of the new Los Banos sub-station in 1962. Eleven years later, Mr. Bowling was appointed undersheriff and in August of 1974, he was named acting sheriff. That year he was officially elected sheriff by the citizens of Merced County.

As sheriff, Mr. Bowling was instrumental in the development of the department, including the creation of the department's corrections division and the hiring of its first female deputy. In addition, Mr. Bowling oversaw the creation of the county's first 24-hour patrol, organized a special narcotics investigation team, began a countywide crime prevention program, created the work furlough program for prisoners and significantly improved the jail communication system. Sadly, due to health reasons, Mr. Bowling retired from the Sheriff's Department in 1980. At the time of his death in 2007, Bowling was the oldest living Merced County sheriff.

Mr. Bowling is survived by his daughter Shirley Foley of Los Banos, his brother Jack Bowling of Atwater, his three grandchildren Talisha Zorra of Los Banos, Aaron Crutcher of Anchorage, Alaska, and Lance Crutcher of Merced, and 15 great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to join the community of Dos Palos in recognizing Jess ``Pooch'' Bowling. Our community benefits greatly from the example he set throughout his lifetime of service as a sheriff who dedicated his life to his community and his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 179, a resolution declaring the sense of the House that a National Foster Parents Day should be established.

I have a very personal interest in this issue. Seven years ago, I adopted two foster children. Since then, I have advocated on behalf of adoption and foster children in the California Assembly and in Congress.

Our Nation's foster care system was created as a temporary safe haven for abused and neglected children. Sadly, it has become a way of life for too many of our youth. On average, foster children spend nearly 3 years in the system, and move as many times from one placement to another and from school to school. Far too many spend much longer in the system, with as many as 24,000 young adults expected to ``age out'' of the system this year, cut loose with no family and little support. Several studies released in 2005 documented the special challenges facing these youths, especially in the areas of mental health, education and employment. They are especially poorly prepared to be self-sufficient.

Despite the sometimes valiant efforts and good intentions of social workers, judges, foster parents and others, day-to-day life for children in foster care is often filled with emotional hardship. Each year, thousands of children entering foster care will be separated from their brothers and sisters, some losing touch with each other for years to come. The trauma of foster care takes its toll on young children. Over one-third will neither earn a high school diploma nor a GED. One in four children in foster care will be incarcerated within the first 2 years after leaving the system, and over 20 percent will become homeless at some time after they turn 18.

These children are waiting. Speaking from personal experience, there is no greater joy in life than helping a child.

Every child, no matter what station they may be born to, deserves a chance to be raised in a stable and loving home. Innocent children should not be forced to bear the mistakes of others.

This is a big problem that will require bold solutions. In order to save the next generation of children, we must re-dedicate ourselves to their welfare and pledge to do whatever necessary to nurture and protect them.

This resolution, by highlighting attention to the problem, is a necessary first step. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee is expected to meet the week of April 23 to grant a rule which may structure the amendment process for floor consideration of H.R. 362, the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act.

Members who wish to offer an amendment to this bill should submit 30 copies of the amendment and a brief description of the amendment to the Rules Committee in H-312 in the Capitol no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, April 20. Members are strongly advised to adhere to the notice of amendment deadline to ensure the amendments that they provide receive consideration.

Amendments should be drafted to the bill as reported by the Committee on Science and Technology. A copy of that bill is posted on the Web site of the Rules Committee. Amendments should be drafted by Legislative Counsel and should also be reviewed by the Office of the Parliamentarian to be sure that amendments comply with the rules of the House.

Members are also strongly encouraged to submit their amendments to the Congressional Budget Office for analysis regarding possible PAYGO violations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of House Concurrent Resolution 88, honoring the life and many achievements of Ernest Gallo.

I am proud to say that Ernest Gallo was not only a constituent of mine but he was also a dear friend. Over the years I served in the California State legislature and here in Congress, Ernest's deep commitment to California and to winemaking was a constant presence that guided many of my legislative efforts.

Decades ago Ernest Gallo, along with his brother Julio, recognized the great potential of the San Joaquin Valley, with its temperate weather and its extraordinary fertile soil, to foster the growth of a strong domestic wine industry. They cultivated the Gallo Winery from a small plot of land with just a few grape varieties to a multinational beverage company that ranks as the second largest in the world.

My district, California's 18th Congressional District, grows nearly 250 different crops, from asparagus to sweet potatoes, and is home to a number of agricultural businesses, some small and some quite large. But not one business has had more impact on the rich tapestry of the valley than Gallo Winery.

The Gallo Winery provides hundreds of my constituents with high-skill employment opportunities and serves as a solid foundation for continued growth in the region. The Gallo family has contributed to countless community projects throughout the valley and to medical research projects devoted to curbing alcoholism.

Ernest Gallo and the Gallo Winery revolutionized the U.S. wine industry. But what was once a boutique industry reserved for the upper crust of society is now a billion dollar business that equalizes social classes by allowing the masses to participate in wine drinking and winemaking.

In his youth, Ernest and his brother Julio recognized an unmet need in the wine industry. Demonstrating his acute business skills, Ernest quickly capitalized on the market gap and set about to create inexpensive wines for the enjoyment of all citizens. The trend of affordable wines caught on, and quickly Gallo Winery became one of the most respected companies in the business.

For agriculture, the impact has been just as immense. The success of the Gallo Winery was one of the catalysts to bringing much-needed attention to the other side of American agriculture, that which was taking place outside of the traditional farming that was done in the Midwest.

Furthermore, Gallo's commitment to environmentally sustainable farming permeates the wine grape growing industry even today and will surely be the standard for years to come.

Ernest and the entire Gallo family have long partnered with the surrounding community, especially with the city of Modesto, to give back in a number of generous ways. For instance, the Gallo Arts Center in Modesto, which is under construction now, once completed will attract quality arts and entertainment performances where there had been virtually none before. For the first time, valley residents can participate in the cultural experiences on par with our urban neighbors.

However, above all, beyond Ernest's commitments and achievements in his professional life, he must also be lauded for his personal story. He was the son of Italian immigrants who

started out with nothing and, armed with little else than a brochure in winemaking from the local library, he grew the Gallo Winery empire.

Ernest Gallo is one of the finest examples of an American success story. Our culture praises individuals like Ernest, and rightly so. It is what we teach our children and our children's children, that you can take nothing for granted, that you always must take what you are given, and in Ernest's case it was his keen business sense, and turn that gift into something substantial.

I am proud to have represented Ernest Gallo all these years and even more proud to have called him my friend. He will be remembered fondly for his contributions to the industry, to agriculture, and to the community.

I thank my colleagues for their consideration.

Madam Speaker, due to a technical glitch, my vote on rollcall No. 204 was not recorded. Had my vote been recorded, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Republican budget alternative and in strong support of the Democratic budget.

I applaud my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for bringing forward a budget alternative, which is no small feat, so we can have a thorough debate about our Nation's priorities.

I would also like to add that I support their commitment to reforming mandatory spending programs. It is a significant problem on the horizon that Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, former Fed Chairman Greenspan, the Comptroller General, and others have forewarned us about. While I support their concept of reigning in mandatory spending, I suspect we differ in how to go about that.

What bothers me more about this process is not that we have disagreements, because we are going to have disagreements on where we spend the money and who pays for it. Those are legitimate arguments that should be vigorously debated. But the rhetoric that we use that surrounds it I think is unfair on both sides of the aisle.

I was not here in 2001, but I voted for about half of the 2003 tax cuts because I thought it was the right policy for this country. However, I did not agree with other budget policies. I don't believe that Republican budgets addressed critical health care and education priorities, or met the needs of our veterans. And the policies added staggering amounts to our Nation's debt. Regardless of how we got here, I think we ought to not fool ourselves about where we actually are. This is a train wreck that we find ourselves in, that the former Republican majority could not right. It was such a train wreck that Republicans could not pass a budget and could not finish the appropriations process last year. Democrats had to do a continuing resolution when we assumed the majority this year to clean up the mess that was left behind.

According to the Bush Administration's own numbers, the policies of President Bush and the Republican Congress put us on pace to increase the federal debt by well over $4 trillion by 2008. By comparison, it took the first 41 presidents combined to accumulate a total of $4 trillion in debt.

The debt and deficits we have racked up are not sustainable over time. They undermine America's economic strength by driving up interest rates and reducing investment. They force us to become increasingly beholden to foreign nations, as three-fourths of all new federal borrowing has come from foreign investors such as China and Japan. And they mortgage our children's future, forcing them to pay back the mountains of debt we are incurring today. We should be investing in our children's future, not borrowing from it.

We have a responsibility to begin cleaning up the fiscal mess that we inherited. The

Democratic budget does just that and promises a new direction for our country. What we are trying to do with the Democratic budget is to take tow trucks to this train wreck and pull those cars off the track. Then, somehow, we have got to straighten out the track. It is going to be a lot of tough work and a lot of hammering on those tracks to get them back in line. And then we have got to set those railcars back up on the railroad track and somehow get this train moving again.

Correcting the fiscal course of our country cannot be achieved overnight, but I believe that this budget is a good first step. It addresses our Nation's priorities. It institutes tough spending control measures and fiscal discipline. It provides for responsible tax relief. And it brings our budget back to balance within five years.

The gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Spratt, should be commended for helping to right this train. The budget may not be perfect, but he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for what he has done and the Blue Dog Coalition certainly appreciates his efforts. We think we are headed in the right direction and are on the right track.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Joe Hollstein, who is retiring after 28 years of service to the city of Ceres.

Joe Hollstein has admirably served Ceres and its residents since 1979. In most cases, Joe has supervised most of the capital projects that have occurred in Ceres for nearly three decades. Joe was instrumental in getting new wells drilled to increase the water supply and he explored the possibility of tapping into surface water. Joe also increased water storage capacity by having ground water reservoirs constructed which added to the city's firefighting capabilities.

Seeing a need to expand the city's wastewater treatment plant, Joe has worked continually on this project with the latest development to develop a sewer line to Turlock from Ceres.

As a traffic engineer, Joe has always been a valued resource to the community and surrounding areas. He has worked from day one with Cal Trans to widen Whitmore Avenue Overpass and to revise the Mitchell Road interchange. In spite of funding delays, Joe has continued to provide technical expertise on these projects and have kept them as a focal point for the local Council of Governments.

Joe has continued to be responsive to the public and its concerns by hosting public hearings and meetings to allow for public input. It is not unusual for Joe to personally respond to the residents on matters of concern to them.

In addition to public works infrastructure projects, Joe has maintained a vision for acquisition of land for parks and city owned buildings, He worked closely on the design of the public safety building and the new fire stations.

Joe continued to find unique ways to fund the community's growth and needs. He was very proactive in establishing special assessment districts to bring additional funds to the city--the establishment of street lighting and landscape maintenance districts. These districts were established in Ceres at a time when few cities had special district fees.

Outside of city hall, Joe has continued his commitment to the community; Joe has diligently volunteered his time to pruning the beautiful roses at Smyrna Park and to the restoration of the Daniel Whitmore Home.

Throughout his career with the city of Ceres, Joe Hollstein has been a consummate public servant. He has utilized his skills and experience for the betterment of the community. Joe has not limited his work to his own department but worked to provide facts and figures for other city projects.

I am honored to rise today to recognize the work of Joe Hollstein and to honor him for his many years of distinguished service to the Ceres community. I wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill.

It is the responsibility of this Congress, ladies and gentlemen, to demand accountability from this President and insist on concrete results from the Iraqi Government. Ladies and gentlemen, our troops are laying their lives on the line every single day. The least we can do is demand and require Iraqi accountability. This bill embraces that responsibility and sets the stage for handing over control of security of Iraq to the Iraqis.

It is also the responsibility of this Congress to provide our troops with the resources they need to do their jobs. And let there be no confusion. This bill provides full funding for our men and women in uniform, who continue to serve the country with great courage and dedication.

This bill also provides $1.7 billion in new funding for veterans' health care, something that is direly needed. The state of veterans' health care in America is in crisis, and our troops deserve better.

In addition, this bill will help us refocus our efforts on those who attacked us on September 11 by increasing funding for the war against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

It is deeply troubling to me that this war in Iraq has undermined our efforts to address the urgent threats in the war on terror. After failing to kill Osama bin Laden when we had the chance at Tora Bora, the administration turned its attention to Iraq, allowing the Taliban to regain lost ground in Afghanistan.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, our goals in Iraq must reflect reality. For far too long Congress served as nothing more than a rubber stamp for this President's disastrous policy in Iraq. Those days, Mr. Speaker, are over. Iraq has descended into a bloody civil war that cannot be resolved by the American military. Even our military commander in Iraq, General Petraeus, has said there is no military solution to this conflict.

The Sunni-Shia divide goes back 1,400 years. America alone cannot reverse 14 centuries of division and hate.

I support the rule, and I support the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 1 o'clock and 5 minutes a.m.), the House adjourned until today, Thursday, March 22, 2007, at 10 a.m.

Mr. Chairman, I support this legislation, and believe that it will improve accountability in Federal contracting and increase the amount of information provided to the public and to Congress about Federal contracts. However, I believe that more needs to be done.

I am particularly concerned about overuse of exemption four of the Freedom of Information Act--the exemption that protects trade secrets and business confidential information. Too often, this exemption is used to withhold information about Federal contracts that should be made public.

With minimal exceptions for proprietary information, the public should have access to information submitted to the Federal Government in application for Federal contracts. And agencies should release information to the public regarding questionable performance of Federal contractors. The public should be able to easily access through FOIA information relating to whether a contractor actually performed the work required under the terms of the contract as well as information that indicates the use of substandard materials or work practices in performing the contract.

Waste, fraud, and abuse in contracting is all to common. Contractors should not be able to hide behind a FOIA exemption in order to keep their poor performance out of the public eye.

I have spoken to Chairman Waxman and he has pledged to jointly request that GAO conduct an examination of this issue and clarify what legitimately qualifies as an exemption for confidential business information. I appreciate Mr. Waxman's interest in this issue and look forward to working with him.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 215 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 215 provides for the consideration of H.R. 700, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007, under an open rule with a preprinting requirement. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clause 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The bill shall be considered as read.

The rule provides that any amendment to the bill must be printed in the Congressional Record prior to consideration of the bill. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, simply stated, maintaining an adequate water supply is critical to the health and livelihood of our agricultural industry, our economy, and our environment.

However, as critical as water is to sustaining our way of life, all too often we take it for granted. Water does not come in an infinite supply. It is, in fact, a very, very scarce resource, particularly in my region of the country.

There are significant water supply issues in my home district of California's Central Valley. The valley faces water shortages as various interests compete for this scarce resource.

The Central Valley is not unique. Water scarcity is occurring across the country and is becoming more widespread due to several factors. Population is on the rise. Pollution is a constant threat. Growth and development are expanding. And drought can strike us at any time.

Despite these pressing needs, we are severely lacking in programs that address the looming shortage. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Congressional Budget Office, and other organizations have estimated that $400 billion is needed for programs to maintain existing and build new water infrastructure. The EPA has also estimated that programs to address sewer overflows need in excess of $140 billion.

However, even meeting the needs of these programs has been challenging as this administration has constantly cut funding. Moreover, these programs deal exclusively with protecting our water quality and do not address scarcity or shortages.

While these programs are just as important, it doesn't make sense to have a one-track mind. Improving the quality of water is just one part of the equation. We also have to find innovative ways to reuse and recycle water that we have so it will be there to meet our needs as well as the needs of future generations. The rule and the bill we have before us today will begin to address this problem.

Mr. Speaker, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007, H.R. 700, is quite simple. H.R. 700 extends a critical pilot program for alternative water source projects. Alternative water source projects allow local communities to develop innovative ways to reuse and recycle water, thereby saving money and expanding water use options for the entire country. This pilot program was initially created in 2002, but the program has expired.

The bill authorizes $125 million to help communities finance pilot projects to recycle or reuse water or to develop alternative water sources. It is not an excessive investment. Given the scarcity and challenges we face, this is just a start, but this funding is absolutely critical and is a step in the right direction. This will help spur technological development so that individuals, agriculture, and industry have access to the water they need. The bill is also fiscally responsible as it provides a 50 percent matching requirement.

Many should be recognized for their interest in ensuring that the future water supply will meet future water demands. I would like to commend my colleagues Mr. McNerney, Mrs. Tauscher, and Mr. Kagen for introducing this important bill. I would also like to thank Mr. Oberstar and Mr. Mica for their leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. This is a necessary bill. And this is a critically important investment for people today and for generations to come.

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, maintaining an adequate water

supply is critical to the health and livelihood of our agricultural industry, our economy and our environment. Water is not an infinite supply, and water scarcity is occurring across the country and becoming more widespread. We have to find innovative ways to reuse and recycle the water that we have so it will be there to meet our needs, as well as the needs of future generations, and we have to provide the means to make that happen. This bill does just that.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest of pleasure that I rise today to honor a renowned reporter from my district, Mike De La Cruz, who retired from the Merced Sun Star on December 29, 2006 after more than 37 years on the beat.

Mike De La Cruz was the authority in and around Merced on news relating to law enforcement. He developed a great relationship with local authorities and earned the reputation of being a knowledgable and ethical reporter. He chronicled Merced County's criminals in a style that mixed straight news with a tone of mild bemusement at how people ended up on the wrong side of the law.

Throughout his career, Mike has had his share of memorable moments such as the time he broke his ankle jumping over a fence while attempting to cover a police raid on marijuana growers. Or the time he suffered a terrible sunburn after waiting for hours in an orchard for deputies to bust a cock-fighting ring. Whatever the situation, Mike utilized his extensive contacts to ensure his stories were accurate, and at the same time to assure the people of Merced that law enforcement was looking out for them. Over the 37 years that he put pen to paper, Mike always garnered respect for his balanced reporting.

Madam Speaker, journalism in Merced will never be the same without the quick witted and balanced reporting of Mike De La Cruz. He will be missed by local law enforcement and the faithful readers of the Merced Sun Star. I want to take this time to express my sincere thanks to Mike De La Cruz for his many years of dedicated service and for all that he has done for our community. I certainly hope his future is as colorful and rewarding as his past. My fellow colleagues, I ask that you please rise to join me in honoring Mike De La Cruz.

Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest respect and sincerity that I rise today to honor an exceptional community leader, the late Mr. Joseph Edward Gallo. Mr. Gallo, a prominent Merced County rancher, dairyman and cheese producer, died February 17, 2007 at his home in Livingston, California at the age of 87.

Joseph Gallo started life as an immigrant's son on September 11, 1919 in Antioch, California, and ended it as one of the most successful dairymen in the country. He was the youngest of three boys to parents Joseph Sr. and Susie Gallo who moved to California from the Piedmont region of northern Italy. At a young age, Joe moved to Modesto, California with his family, and attended Franklin Grammar School. In 1937, Joseph graduated from Modesto High School and began his studies at Modesto Junior College. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and served in the Philippine Islands and Korea. In 1945, one year before he left the Army Joseph married Mary Ann Arata of Modesto and together they had three children: Peter Joseph, Michael David and Linda Ann. The family suffered a great loss in 1968 when 1st Lt. Peter Gallo was killed in action in Vietnam. Michael and Linda are partners in the Gallo business and farming enterprises, Michael serving as CEO since his father's retirement and Linda's husband Kenny is Ranch Operations Manager for the firm.

When Joseph returned home from the service, he became the ranch manager for his brothers' grape-growing operation, E&J Gallo Vineyards in Livingston. In 1966 Joseph married Patricia Morgan-Gardali of Modesto. Patricia and her nine year old son, Sam Gardali, joined the family, making their home in Livingston. During the 20 years he worked for his brothers' operation, he was also developing his own vineyard and cattle business. Joseph eventually accumulated 4,000 acres of vineyards, at one time becoming one of California's largest wine grape growers. In the years following, his interest in livestock developed and in 1979 Joseph built his first diary with 4,000 milking cows. Four more diaries would follow as did the founding of the Joseph Gallo Diary & Cheese Co. in 1982. In the 25 years since, Joseph's business has flourished and in addition to becoming a successful agricultural organization, it has become a leader in protecting the environment and public health for this and future generations. I remember as a child always hearing my father talk about what an amazing farmer Joe Gallo was and how impressed he was with how the Gallo operation had skillfully grown from a small ranch to one of the nation's most successful dairyman and cheese producers. His success was truly phenomenal and reflective of Joe's commitment, hard work and dedication to his business.

The Joseph Gallo Farms tradition and commitment to balancing success with environmental responsibility is unmatched and has set the standard for farming operations across the country. Joseph Gallo will be remembered as one of the early pioneers in using methane from manure as a source of electricity. He has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and was most recently named the International Dairy Foods Association's Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year. Joseph's interest in environmentally conscious farming had much to do with his love of the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and traveling. His work has truly helped shape the future of environmentally-friendly farming and will forever be admired and remembered for his ingenuity.

Throughout his life, Joseph has supported and been involved with countless community organizations and foundations including the Livingston Community Health Center, Mercy Medical Center Merced, St. Jude's Catholic School and Emanuel Hospital Chairman's Club of Turlock. He was also a major contributor to the Veteran's Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. in memory of his son Peter. Joseph's legacy will also be memorialized in the Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center at the University of California, Merced, after his son Michael and daughter Linda donated funds to its construction in their father's name.

Joseph Gallo is survived by his wife of 41 years, Patricia; his son Michael and wife Lori; his daughter Linda and husband Kenny Jelacich; his stepson Sam Gardali and wife Kay; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Peter, and his brother, Julio Gallo. He is also survived by his brother Ernest Gallo. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor and privilege to join our community and the Gallo family in honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Joseph Edward Gallo. We lost a pioneer, a community leader and a dear friend in his passing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 976, The Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007.

This bill provides $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small business owners and is one of the final steps toward raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour.

It has been 9\1/2\ years since the last minimum wage increase despite widespread support across the country and within the U.S. Congress. And why? Because of partisan politics, and special interests coming before the people's interests.

The Democratic Congress promised a change in priorities. And as one of our first measures of business, Democrats brought a minimum wage increase to the House floor, which received overwhelming bipartisan support. The other body has followed suit and we must work to resolve our differences, which is why we bring this bill before the House today.

A recent poll showed that 89 percent of Americans favor raising the minimum wage. The American public deserves--and has demanded--that raise. With our immediate consideration of this bill, we will heed that call. Hard-working Americans have waited far too long to receive an honest day's pay for an honest day's work.

The people's time has come. We have pledged to act in the public's best interests and we must do so without further delay. Passage of this rule and H.R. 976 will speed enactment of the long overdue increase in the minimum wage.

The Democratic Congress also pledged to reach across the aisle in a bipartisan manner and address the priorities of all Americans. Our bipartisan effort resulted in the carefully constructed compromise that we have before us today. This bill isn't about partisan politics, it's just good policy.

H.R. 976 will help give hard-working families the pay increase they so richly deserve, and ensure small business owners have every opportunity to succeed and prosper. And it will do so in a fiscally responsible manner that will avoid adding to the legacy of debt being left to our children and grandchildren.

Simply stated, this bill is good for taxpayers, good for business, good for people, and is just good policy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule and the underlying bill H.R. 976, The Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007.

This bill provides $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small business owners and is one of the final steps toward raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour. It has been 9\1/2\ years since the last minimum wage increase despite widespread support across the country and within the U.S. Congress. And why? Because of partisan politics and special interests coming before the people's interests.

The Democratic Congress promised a change in priorities. And as one of our first measures of business, Democrats brought a minimum wage increase to the House floor,

which received overwhelming bipartisan support. The other body has followed suit and we must work to resolve our differences, which is why we bring this bill before the House today.

A recent poll showed that 89 percent of Americans favor raising the minimum wage. The American public deserves--and has demanded--that raise. With our immediate consideration of this bill, we will heed that call. Hard-working Americans have waited far too long to receive an honest day's pay for an honest day's work.

The people's time has come. We have pledged to act in the public's best interests and we must do so without further delay. Passage of this rule and H.R. 976 will speed enactment of the long overdue increase in the minimum wage.

The Democratic Congress also pledged to reach across the aisle in a bipartisan manner and address the priorities of all Americans. Our bipartisan effort resulted in the carefully constructed compromise that we have before us today. This bill isn't about partisan politics, it's just good policy.

H.R. 976 will help give hard-working families the pay increase they so richly deserve, and ensure small business owners have every opportunity to succeed and prosper. And it will do so in a fiscally responsible manner that will avoid adding to the legacy of debt being left to our children and grandchildren.

Simply stated, this bill is good for taxpayers, good for business, good for people, and is just good policy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I believe in a robust military and a strong national defense; however, I oppose this escalation, because I do not believe that it will make America safer or improve security in Iraq.

At this hour, sending more American forces cannot reasonably be expected to resolve a civil war rooted in over 14 centuries of deep- seated historical division. I oppose the escalation because I believe that we must recognize Iraq for what it is, not what we want it to be.

Our best hope lies not with increasing Iraqi dependence on us, but rather in handing over responsibility to them. This ultimate success or failure is the endeavor that now lies in the hands of them, not us.

Our goal in Iraq must reflect reality. Our objective should be to protect the ethnic minorities and religious minorities from further oppression and genocide, and to maintain a strong deterrent against the spread of a broader war in the Middle East. None of these ends is served, however, by simply escalating the failed strategy that has gotten us to this point today.

Like most Americans, I am deeply dismayed by this administration's inept prosecution of this war. At almost every turn, the President and his team have been intolerant and dismissive to outside advice, the consequences of which have been dire. The President sent our men and women into battle absent a real plan and lacking the tools they need to protect themselves. By pushing our allies aside, the President has isolated America from the world. We are now bearing the burden of this war virtually alone. It did not have to come to this.

From the beginning, responsible critics who genuinely desire success in Iraq have offered the President and his team sensible strategies for changing course. Almost 3 years ago, I proposed a plan to the President that offered a responsible path forward. I am still waiting to this day for a response.

President Roosevelt during World War II, President Truman during Korea and the dawn of the Cold War, President Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis, and President Reagan at the twilight of the Cold War all successfully guided the ship of state through the roughest of seas. That caliber of leadership has been sorely lacking during this challenging time for our Nation. This President's inability to admit and correct mistakes has not served our Nation or our troops well. Now Iraq has descended into a bloody civil war that cannot be resolved by the American military. The Sunni-Shia divide goes back 1,400 years. Twenty thousand more American troops cannot reverse 14 centuries of division and hate in that country.

According to a recent poll, 71 percent of Iraqis want us to leave. Sixty-one percent of Iraqis support attacking U.S. troops. To argue that increasing our presence in Iraq will lessen the violence defies common sense. The American people and our military did not sign up for refereeing a civil war halfway across our planet. History has taught us that outside powers are ill-equipped to influence or resolve civil wars in foreign lands.

I am also deeply troubled that the war in Iraq has undermined our efforts to address urgent threats in the war on terrorism, note notably in Afghanistan. After failing to kill Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora, the administration turned its attention to Iraq, allowing the Taliban to regain lost ground.

I believe we must refocus our efforts on the following objectives:

Stopping the spread of a wider war in the Middle East.

Preventing a humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

Protecting the ethnic and religious groups, such as Assyrian Christians, who are vulnerable to persecution.

And we must redouble our efforts to snuff out the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Let me close, Mr. Speaker, by paying homage to our men and women in uniform. Some have alleged that this debate is inconsistent with support for our troops. Those who insist that Congress should remain silent on this issue are very familiar with that word ``silence.'' Many have remained silent when it comes time to supporting care for our veterans and their families as well. Many have stood idly by for years as our troops went into battle lacking the equipment and body armor they needed. Most of all, far too many have been invisible when it comes to genuinely supporting our servicemen and women by insisting on an effective plan to conclude and win this conflict. Simply repeating the word ``victory'' does not equal a plan, or support for our men and women in uniform.

I want to conclude by thanking those serving in harm's way. These brave men and women are America's finest. They have done everything that has been asked of them and more. Let us honor them by thanking them for a job well done and pursuing a policy that is worthy of their sacrifice.