Floor Statements

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 718, which recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On April 21 of this year, with Senator Ted Kennedy standing by his side, President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. This landmark legislation makes historical investments in both national and community service programs and helps to facilitate the extraordinary interest in volunteerism we are seeing throughout the country and in my hometown of Sacramento certainly, too.

The Serve America Act also designates September 11 of every year as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, and with this resolution, we are recognizing the observance of the first-ever federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

This bipartisan resolution calls upon all Americans to engage in community service and contribute to local projects in their neighborhood on September 11 in tribute to those who selflessly served their communities during the attacks on that day, as was mentioned by our New Yorkers here and people throughout the country.

On that day and the days following, first responders, rescue and recovery workers and perfect strangers came together to help those in need. Their sense of patriotism and service truly made our Nation great. This year we will honor them not only by remembering their heroism, but by recommitting ourselves to bettering our communities and our country.

This Friday, we will join with Americans across the country and give back to our communities by volunteering to

build houses, participate in literacy programs, lead neighborhood cleanups, collect food and clothing for the coming winter, and really much, much more. As a result, extraordinary things will be happening all through this country. The service events taking place will help address some of our Nation's toughest problems, from poverty and unmet education needs to preparing for natural disasters.

As co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, it is a pleasure to call attention to the tremendous work of volunteers participating in the first-ever National Day of Service and Remembrance and to partner with my colleague Peter King of New York on this legislation.

I also want to thank MyGoodDeed.org, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the families of 9/11 who helped make this a reality and for promoting volunteerism and service in every corner of our county.

I am really proud that this body has come together and has been a leader in recognizing the importance of volunteerism and community service. Please join me in honoring this spirit of service by voting in support of this resolution.

I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker I would like to thank Chairman Frank, Chairwoman Waters, as well as Ranking Members Bachus and Capito and all the staff for all the work they've done to get us here today. I would also like to thank FEMA for their technical guidance throughout the year. The amended bill before us today includes language from H.R. 1525 that I authored to provide technical changes to Federal flood zone designations. This legislation makes a number of modifications to the National Flood Insurance Act in order to give communities clarity to help them restore and improve their flood protection system. From my hometown of Sacramento to the Louisiana bayou to the plains of the Midwest, communities are advancing flood protection infrastructure in order to keep Americans safe and secure.

However, as we work to conform to changing dynamics of flood protection, these communities are seeking clarity as they work to meet Federal regulations.

Public safety is my absolute number one priority. And during the last year that I worked with local, State, and Federal flood protection officials, that remains our priority. This bill will give communities clarity so they can continue to uphold public safety and promote proper protection. Specifically, this legislation will update current law to take local, State, and Federal funding into account when determining designations.

The city of Sacramento and the State of California have devoted millions of dollars toward flood protection. That investment should simply be recognized by the Federal Government. For my constituents this is vital. FEMA needs to recognize what our State and city have contributed when they review the progress made on the Natomas levees in my district and determine the area's flood designation.

This legislation also helps communities understand requirements for a completed system. Current regulations are vague on what a completed system actually is, and this has caused great concern and confusion among local communities. This provision brings greater clarity by combining a public safety standard with a concrete milestone.

Protecting our constituents from the dangers of floods requires a comprehensive approach. Local communities, States, and the Federal Government must all be thoughtful and committed partners to achieve public safety. I am glad that the bill before us today includes this Federal commitment to

give communities clear objectives as they work to improve flood protection infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Obie Brandon, a dear friend and community leader who passed away last week after a valiant fight against cancer. Obie was a prominent labor leader in the Sacramento Region, and his death leaves a great void in the fight for the rights of working families and the labor movement. As his family, friends, and labor brothers and sisters gather to honor and remember his wonderful life, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting one of Sacramento's most well-respected figures.

Obie was an admired advocate for the working class citizens and an unapologetic champion for the rights of the underserved and needy. Obie's roots in labor began early in his life with his first career beginning in 1962 as a flour miller for Pillsbury. After the plant closed, he continued his career with United Grocers until he was called for military service in Vietnam. After serving his country for two years in Vietnam, Obie returned to his position with United Grocers. He was a steadfast advocate of labor and continued his support of labor by becoming an active member of the International Longshoremen's Warehouse Union Local 17. He began as the Recording-Secretary for the ILWU Local 17 in 1970 and soon became the Local's President in 1973.

Obie was widely recognized as a tough negotiator and strong advocate for the rights of Union labor members. His ardent support for the labor movement soon caught the attention of Roy Mack of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 498. Obie later joined Mack on the staff of the Local 498, where only eight months into his membership he was elected Secretary-Treasurer, a position he would hold from 1982 to 1990. Later, along with other labor leaders, Obie helped form the Coalition of Organized Labor Board, an organization of 24 local Unions representing some 150,000 members and committed to bringing Unions together to provide mutual support. He served until his passing as the group's Secretary-Treasurer.

Through his advocacy at the local and state levels, Obie became an important ambassador between labor Unions and Commercial Enterprises. In addition to his work with the UFCW, Obie served as Vice President of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. He was a passionate supporter of working class citizens and their rights through labor Unions, and his ardor and commitment to these issues resonated in his advocacy. Obie contributed to the growth and maturity of countless people and was a true champion of the labor movement.

Madam Speaker, as Obie Brandon's wife Kathy, his children Tera Clizbe and Eric Brandon, his three grandchildren, Cameron, Brandon and Taylor, and his friends gather to honor his wonderful legacy and countless contributions, I am honored to pay tribute to him. I ask all my colleagues to pause and join me in paying respect to an extraordinarily loving man, Obie Brandon.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 645 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Technically, this point of order is about whether or not to consider this rule and, ultimately, the underlying bill. In reality, it is about trying to block this bill without any opportunity for debate and without any opportunity for an up-or-down vote on the legislation, itself.

I think that is wrong, and I hope my colleagues will vote to consider this important legislation on its merits and not stop it on a procedural motion. Those who oppose the bill can vote against it on final passage. We must consider this rule, and we must pass this legislation today.

I have the right to close, but in the end, I will urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' so that we can consider the rule and get down to doing the business of the American people.

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

Mr. Speaker, again I want to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to consider so that we can debate and pass this important piece of legislation today.

I yield back the balance of my time.

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, my friend Mr. Diaz-Balart. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

General Leave

I also ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 645.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 645 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010. The resolution provides for 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank Chairman Obey as well as Mr. Pastor and Mr. Visclosky for their work on this bill. They have been tireless advocates for vital funding in this legislation which truly meets the needs of a number of important areas from our water infrastructure to our national energy policies. Specifically, the bill provides $5.5 billion for the Corps of Engineers, which is $139 million over 2009 levels. For my constituents, this funding is more than just numbers. It is a matter of survival. My district sits at the confluence of two great rivers, the Sacramento and the American. The Sacramento is considered to have the highest flood risk of any major metropolitan city in the United States. Almost a half million people, 110,000 structures, the capital of the State of California and up to $58 billion are at risk of flooding in my district alone. The Federal investments in this legislation for the Corps of Engineers directly benefits not only my constituents but the capital of the eighth largest economy in the world. Vital funding will strengthen levees along the American and Sacramento Rivers, levees which keep my constituents safe every single day.

The bill also makes it possible for the Corps of Engineers to complete a GRR to protect the Natomas community in my district. Additional funds will go toward levee construction in south Sacramento, which will give that community 100-year protection. These are projects I have worked on throughout my career in Congress, and I am eager to see it move forward. Finally, this important appropriations bill will also invest in modifications to the joint Federal project to provide greater efficiency in managing flood storage in the Folsom Reservoir.

From the joint Federal project in Sacramento to the levee work in the Mississippi Delta to the coastal restoration in the southeast, this bill works to protect our communities and commits to a strong investment in our aging infrastructure. The legislation before us today builds on the job-creating work of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has already started to stem the tide of bad economic news. In April, $10 million was invested in flood protection infrastructure in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This project alone will create up to 200 quality American jobs in manufacturing and construction. In my district alone, the Recovery Act has invested $21 million already in keeping my constituents' homes safe from floods and in keeping people in their jobs. The legislation before us today builds upon this positive record of infrastructure investment as a job- creating strategy. It will employ scientists to perform hydraulic studies, engineers to design levees and construction workers to move the dirt. When we rebuild our infrastructure, we rebuild our economy. The same is true for energy. When we invest in energy independence, we invest in our economic health. I strongly support the significant energy policies that this bill supports. Thanks to the congressional leadership in this House, our country is finally on the right track toward a clean energy future that will create jobs here at home and enhance our competitiveness abroad. Between the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the American Clean Energy and Security Act, this Congress has created a new day for our national energy policy.

The legislation contains $1 billion to reduce our dependence on foreign oil

and keep energy prices low. This funding will go toward research, development, demonstration and deployment of energy technologies which will help our country become more energy independent. When I look to the future of the world economy, other countries are already investing in the clean energy technologies that will power the future. China, for example, doubled its wind power investment in 2008 and has made its intentions clear to become the world's leader in wind energy development. The legislation before us today represents a strong step that this House can take to compete with the Chinese.

This bill also looks toward the future and provides robust funding for both the Department of Energy and the Office of Science. It makes a commitment to support the advancement of innovative technologies by providing $2.25 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy. It also recognizes the importance of an efficient, reliable, secure and flexible transmission and distribution grid by increasing funding for electricity delivery and energy reliability to $208 million, 52 percent above last year's level. Every increase for clean energy in this bill is a bet on the ingenuity of the American people to compete in a global marketplace where clean energy will drive investment for decades into the future. Just as every dollar invested in levees and other infrastructure in this bill is a down payment on the safety and security of communities, like my hometown of Sacramento, safety and security is what the legislation before us today is all about.

I strongly support the rule and the underlying legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank Mr. Obey and the committee for their work on this robust bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from New York, a member of the Committee on Rules, Mr. Arcuri.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a point.

This bill makes an investment in nuclear power and makes it clear that nuclear energy is a component of the overall energy mix. The bill provides $812 million for nuclear, $20 million above the fiscal year 2009 level, and $51 million above the President's request. Support is provided for existing activities funded in fiscal year 2009 and ensures this area is included in our funding priorities.

And with that, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a point.

Infrastructure spending on public safety projects in this bill will save jobs across America.

Infrastructure spending is also smart investment, exactly the kind of smart investment the American people want this Congress to be making at this difficult point in our history.

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates levee construction provides a 6-to-1 return on flood damages prevented when compared to initial investment cost. At the same time, our country's levees are crumbling and putting public health at risk.

Now is exactly the time to invest in this critical public good.

With that, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.

The rule before us today is a fair rule that allows us to highlight a significant appropriations bill. After seven hearings, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water crafted an important bill that brings our spending priorities in line with America's vision for a brighter tomorrow.

The bill before us invests in new technologies, scientific research and conservation efforts. It increases funding for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation allowing them to continue their mission to improve our water infrastructure.

The bill continues to invest in the development of a new smart grid to ensure electricity delivery and energy reliability, and it makes a commitment to renewable energy and scientific research. The bill also continues ongoing nuclear nonproliferation efforts and rejects funding for the development of a new nuclear weapon.

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

The material previously referred to by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida is as follows:

Amendment to H. Res. 645 Offered by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida

Strike the resolved clause and all that follows and insert

the following:

Resolved, That immediately upon the adoption of this

resolution the Speaker shall, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule

XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the

Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of

the bill (H.R. 3183) making appropriations for energy and

water development and related agencies for the fiscal year

ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. The first

reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of

order against consideration of the bill are waived except

those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. General

debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one

hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and

ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.

After general debate the bill shall be considered for

amendment under the five-minute rule. Points of order against

provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of

rule XXI are waived. During consideration of the bill for

amendment, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may

accord priority in recognition on the basis of whether the

Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in

the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that

purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII. Amendments so printed

shall be considered as read. When the committee rises and

reports the bill back to the House with a recommendation that

the bill do pass, the previous question shall be considered

as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final

passage without intervening motion except one motion to

recommit with or without instructions.

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

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 587 and ask for its immediate consideration.

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the record.

Madam Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I would like to speak briefly about all that the Speaker has meant to this body.

Since coming to Congress, I have watched Ellen Tauscher navigate the legislative and political waters of the House of Representatives. She has always done so with uncommon grace, skill and acumen which we would all be well served to emulate.

We will all miss her presence here in this Chamber, whether in the chair or on the floor. But we know that she will continue to serve our country well in her new capacity as Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the State Department.

Madam Speaker, H. Res. 587 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The resolution provides for 3 hours of general debate with 2\1/2\ hours controlled by the Committee on Energy and Commerce and 30 minutes controlled by the Committee on Ways and Means.

Madam Speaker, from coast to coast we are seeing the effects of our changing climate. Just last week, experts from 13 government agencies and several universities issued a new report on global climate change impacts in the United States. Their analysis was clear: global warming is caused by human-induced emissions.

It is also already having visible impacts in the United States. We are seeing these effects throughout our country, from increases in heavy storms to rising sea levels. From earlier snow melt to alterations in river flows. These experts concluded that negative effects of climate change will continue to worsen.

Climate change will combine with other air pollution, population growth,

overuse of resources, and social, economic, and environmental stresses to create larger impacts that will be felt around the world and here at home. For my constituents, this threat is very real and very urgent.

California's Department of Water Resources projects that the Sierra Nevada snow pack will experience a 25 to 40 percent reduction by 2050. These are not empty numbers. As California's climate warms, more of the Sierra Nevada's watershed will continue to peak storm runoff. High- frequency flood events are projected to increase as a result. We have no choice but to adapt to these changing realities.

In Sacramento, we live at the confluence of two great rivers, the Sacramento and the American. As global warming intensifies, scientists predict greater storm intensity that could forever change these rivers' flow patterns. This means that my district will have to cope with more direct runoff and more flooding.

I want to thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey for working with me to ensure that this bill addresses California's water needs in the context of climate change. Allowances are distributed to States for urgent projects to help fight extreme weather and flooding. These resources are vital as we work to adapt to changing climates and more intense weather patterns.

In order to deal with these issues and with others that confront us all, the Energy and Commerce Committee has held countless hearings on energy and climate change policy over the past 2\1/2\ years. This year alone we have convened over a dozen hearings and heard from numerous experts, as well as national and international leaders. In total, the committee has held over 40 days of hearings on energy and climate change policy over the past two Congresses. During these deliberations, over 300 witnesses testified, including 130 in this year alone.

Whether or not we all agree with Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey on the issue of global warming, and I personally do, we should all applaud the work these two chairmen have done to get us here today.

This bill is not only an achievement for the American people but also for our children and our grandchildren. By spurring a new era of clean energy jobs, this bill puts our economy on a new trajectory. And because of this investment, our children and grandchildren will live in a country that is more sustainable, more economically viable, and more efficient than the country we live in today.

The legislation will create millions of new clean energy jobs, enhance America's energy independence, and protect the environment. Specifically, it requires electric utilities to meet 20 percent of the electricity demand through renewable and energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020.

It also invests in new clean energy technologies and energy efficiencies, including energy efficiency and renewable energy carbon capture and sequestration, and basic scientific research and development.

It mandates new energy-saving standards for buildings, appliances, and industry, and it reduces carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 17 percent by 2020 and over 80 percent by 2050. These are the nationwide impacts of this groundbreaking legislation.

Part of the brilliance of this bill before us today, though, is that it also gives tools to local communities to fight climate change on their own. One of the ways this bill does so is through the transportation sector. Transportation accounts for 30 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere each year. Therefore, effective climate change legislation must include a transportation component if we are going to achieve the emission reduction levels that scientists say are vital to saving our planet.

I appreciated working with the committee on section 222, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through comprehensive transportation efficiency and land use planning. The way we plan our communities and transportation systems has a real effect on how well we reduce emissions from transportation. This legislation also protects consumers from energy price increases.

According to estimates from the EPA, the reductions in carbon pollution required by the legislation will cost American families only 22 to 30 cents per day. But fighting global warming is not just about preserving our current way of life; it is also about creating a cleaner, stronger economy that will power the United States toward a clean energy future.

EPA analysis shows that the Nation's gross domestic product would grow from $13 trillion in 2008 to over $22 trillion in 2030 while deploying clean energy technology and reducing global warming pollution. And consumption, an economic measure of a household's purchasing potential, would grow by 8 to 10 percent from 2010 to 2015, and 23 percent to 28 percent by 2030.

With the American Clean Energy and Security Act, we are making smart investments. We are giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to create clean energy jobs that demand American skills and that put our country in a strong position to compete internationally.

Madam Speaker, with the American Clean Energy and Security Act, we will show the rest of the world that America is back and we are ready to lead again.

I reserve the balance of my time.

No, we will not agree to that. We object.

We object. There are 3 hours on the bill.

We object.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts, a member of the Rules Committee, my colleague, Mr. McGovern.

I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Education and Labor Committee (Ms. Titus).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee (Ms. Castor).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Giffords).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Vermont, a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Mr. Welch.

I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Jackson-Lee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to a member of the Committee on Natural Resources, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich).

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley).

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have additional speakers coming.

Madam Speaker, I don't see my speakers present there, so I'm ready to close. I will use my remaining time to close.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.

The rule before us today is a fair rule. It allows us to highlight our current energy policy challenges and a vision for a better tomorrow.

The bill contains expedited procedures for consideration of a joint resolution of approval related to an international reserve allowance program. Such procedures are within the jurisdiction of the Rules Committee, and it is the committee's understanding that the procedures are placeholder language that will be finalized as the legislation moves forward. The Rules Committee looks forward to working with the other committees of jurisdiction on this provision.

From water, to energy, to transportation, agriculture and public health, climate change is a defining environmental challenge of our time. The action we take today will impact our country in a positive way for generations.

Today, it is this Congress' responsibility to pass comprehensive energy policy that charts a new course towards a clean energy economy. The underlying bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, takes huge steps to create jobs, help end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and fight global warming.

I urge my colleagues to recognize the urgent nature of the challenge before us today. If we do not act, we face disastrous consequences. Nearly every scientific society around the world has warned of the cost of inaction.

On the other hand, if we do act here today, we make our planet more sustainable, more economically viable and more efficient than the world we live in today. We will make a positive impact, not only on the billions of people who live on the Earth today, but for generations into the future.

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

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Chair, SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, is headquartered in my district in Sacramento, CA. I know this organization, and I support the earmark that will allow SEARCH to continue to perform its important work across the country supporting the homeland security efforts of state and local entities.

Over the past 40 years, this fine organization has accomplished a great deal to promote information sharing solutions among first responders. As a non-profit organization of the states with a membership body of gubernatorial appointees, SEARCH has served local, state, tribal, and federal information sharing and communications interoperability initiatives nationwide and continues to benefit the whole country.

SEARCH is uniquely qualified to develop and implement the program funded by this earmark. That is why I rise in support of the SEARCH National Institute for Communications Interoperability to promote interoperability in communications among first responders.

I urge Members to vote ``no'' on this amendment and support funding to SEARCH for the National Institute for Communications Interoperability.

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague on the Rules Committee, Mr. Hastings, for yielding me time. I commend him for his hard work on foreign relations issues.

Mr. Chair, today this Congress takes action to support our country's interests around the world.

A strong foreign service and a healthy State Department are not luxuries. They are absolute necessities in today's foreign policy climate.

Our country has historically shouldered great responsibilities on the international stage. From combating nuclear proliferation, to spurring international development, to protecting and advancing human rights around the world, the challenges we face as a country are great.

Two of these challenges particularly hit home for me, Mr. Chair.

As most of us know, two American journalists were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea this week after an abrupt and questionable trial.

One of these reporters grew up in my hometown of Sacramento. Her family continues to maintain ties to the Sacramento community.

I know that the State Department is doing everything in its power to secure the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee. I commend and support our government's efforts to bring these brave and courageous two women back home.

With today's bill, Congress is doing its part to ensure that Americans in similar situations around the world know that their country will never abandon them.

Our responsibility as a nation is not only to those fortunate to call themselves ``Americans,'' though. Another issue of urgent importance is the plight of about 5,000 Hmong refugees in Thailand.

These refugees, including many women and children, have fled persecution in their home

country of Laos based on historical grievances dating back to the Vietnam War era. They now live in unspeakably harsh conditions in a refugee camp in the Petchabun province of Thailand, and are under constant threat of being forcibly repatriated back to Laos to face certain persecution.

Our State Department has been working tirelessly to save the Hmong from this near-certain death sentence, and I have supported these efforts in every way that I can. I have written letters to the Thai government and to our own foreign policy leadership, asking them to spare the Hmong from any further suffering.

We have a responsibility to protect innocent people, Mr. Chair, just as we have a responsibility to protect our own in countries like North Korea.

Today's legislation gives our government the tools it needs to carry out this essential mission. It helps us strengthen our role in influencing world affairs so that we can work toward a future where basic human rights and dignity are respected the world over.

For this reason, I strongly support the bill before us today, Mr. Chair. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 453, which recognizes the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps programs, encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and helps raise awareness about the importance of national and community service to our country.

AmeriCorps Week is celebrated each year to honor the important work that AmeriCorps volunteers provide to our communities.

This year, we celebrated National AmeriCorps Week with a renewed sense of purpose after the passage of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Already we have seen a rise in AmeriCorps applications and a tremendous interest in national and community service as a direct result of this legislation.

The Serve America Act restores the promise of our national service programs by expanding the AmeriCorps programs' volunteer capacity from 75,000 to 250,000 volunteers across the country, and reauthorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service for the first time in 15 years.

In my district of Sacramento, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, or as we say NCCC, volunteers provide immense benefits to our community and our region. Trained in CPR, first aid, disaster response and firefighting, NCCC teams have responded to every national disaster since the program was established.

As a Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, it is a pleasure to call attention to the tremendous work of those involved at every level and in every AmeriCorps program.

As a result of the great work of these volunteers, extraordinary things are happening all around America. The service programs and new initiatives help address some of our nation's toughest problems, from poverty and unmet education needs, to natural disasters.

I urge my colleagues to continue to support AmeriCorps volunteers and take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication to our country and to their communities.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Mark Cohn for his sixty years of service and devotion to the Mosaic Law Congregation and the greater Sacramento community. On May 31st, the Mosaic Law Congregation celebrated Mr. Cohn's 80th birthday and honored him for his immeasurable dedication to the people of Sacramento. As Mr. Cohn's friends, family and colleagues gather to pay tribute to his lifelong achievements, I ask that all my colleagues join me in honoring this inspirational individual.

After proudly serving his country in the U.S. Air Force from the late 1940s to the early 1950s, Mr. Cohn returned to Sacramento and started his Kustom Kitchens design business. Since the inception of Kustom Kitchens, Mr. Cohn has received numerous residential designs awards which have been publicized in many local and national publications, such as the Sacramento Bee and Sacramento Magazine.

Despite the demands and immense time commitment it takes to run a successful business, Mr. Cohn continues to give back to the Sacramento community. A few of the many organizations Mr. Cohn has volunteered his time to includes the YWCA, Stanford Home Foundations, B'nai Brith, and 4 Robinhoods. ``He takes on any challenge and never lets anything get in the way of the big picture,'' said his wife Dianne Cohn, ``he never seems to run out of energy.'' For example, from 1991 to 1995, Mr. Cohn served as President of the Mosaic Law Congregation, managed his Kustom Kitchens business and served on various non-profit boards.

Mr. Cohn continues to be an incredibly active gentleman, walking the Great Wall of China at the age of 73, and skydiving at the ages of 75 and 80! Throughout his life, Mr. Cohn has shown substantial leadership skills, strength, innovation, and passion. He is a man we can all look up to.

Madam Speaker, as Mark Cohn, his wife Dianne and children Shelli, Lanie, Nelson, Larry, and Scott, along with his many friends and colleagues gather to celebrate Mr. Cohn's 80th birthday, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jane Hagedorn's 33 years of service as Chief Executive Officers of Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails, Inc. As Jane retires, she leaves a lasting legacy of dedication and commitment to the Sacramento region. After decades of service, her leadership and expertise will be deeply missed by all. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring one of Sacramento's finest public servants.

After earning her bachelor's degree with honors in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her master's degree in International Relations and Latin American Studies from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Jane spent the last three decades advocating on behalf of the people of Sacramento for improved air quality. I met Jane when she first came to Sacramento and have always been impressed by her intellect, compassion, and desire to do what is right. She began her career with Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails, Inc, formerly known as American Lung Association of Sacramento Emigrant Trails, in 1976. Under her leadership, the association has developed innovative clean air strategies which include creating the Cleaner Air Partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, bringing light rail to the Sacramento area, and working toward clean air initiatives. Breathe California was also a strong proponent of Proposition 99, California's tax initiative to reduce smoking.

Her dedication to our community is apparent through her work both with Breathe California and with other local non-profits. She serves on the board of Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Arden Park and Recreation District, Friends of Light Rail, Planning and Conservation League, Sacramento Tomorrow Coalition, and the Sacramento Symphony. Additionally, she was the first woman appointed to the Sacramento County Planning Commission, was the founding President of the Sacramento Tree Foundation and is instrumental in the California Oak Foundation. Jane has chaired the American River Parkway Funding Working Group and served on the Board of Directors of Valley Vision. She has taught at the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management and has co-authored two books on historic preservation of native oaks in the Central Valley. Personally, I am honored to call Jane my friend. She has always been a pleasure to work with. Her thoughtfulness and intelligence has touched many policy debates and countless people's lives.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Jane Hagedorn's distinguished commitment to Sacramento and regions needs. Jane's outstanding leadership and dedication to Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails Inc, has helped promote clean air strategies which has set an example for others across the state nation. We all are thankful for her efforts. As Jane's husband Jim, her children James and Jennifer, colleagues, family, and friends gather to honor her service, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing Jane Hagedorn continued good fortune in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members, employees, and supporters of the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps on the 25th anniversary of the organization's founding last week. For the last twenty-five years, this fine organization has improved the Sacramento region, while also transforming the lives of thousands of corpsmembers.

In 1984, the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce saw the need to create a program that would give Sacramento's young adults an opportunity to further their education and at the same time allow them to garner invaluable work experience. From that, the Sacramento Local Conservation Corps was born. In order to properly reflect their growth and commitment to the greater Sacramento region's wellbeing, they recently changed their name to the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps.

The Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps is a true community partnership. Exemplifying this is their board of directors, comprised of representatives from local financial institutions, law firms, businesses and government agencies. Their funding sources are equally as diverse. Each year the SRCC's committed staff looks far and wide in soliciting funding from government sources, private grants, and corporate supporters to ensure the SRCC can continue to serve the public and improve the lives of its corpsmembers.

The young men and women that make up the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps are just as varied as their supporters. They come from all neighborhoods of Sacramento, from all ethnicities and backgrounds, but they are united in their purpose, which is to improve their own lives and their community. They take on projects from clearing creeks and planting trees to teaching children about recycling and performing weatherization improvements on the homes of the less fortunate. Since their founding in 1984, over 4,500 young adults have taken part in this wonderful organization.

In doing so, corpsmembers often earn their high school diploma or GED. Upon graduating from the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps many have enrolled in college courses, while others have obtained well paying jobs. While in the program, corpsmembers learn valuable lessons in teamwork, community stewardship, and about how to become leaders in their own right.

Madam Speaker, as the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps celebrates their 25th Anniversary at the annual ``Breakfast on the River,'' I am honored to congratulate SRCC Executive Director Dwight Washabaugh, Board President Philip Lantsberger, and the thousands of SRCC alumni on this momentous achievement. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring this fine organization for all the work they have done for the people of Sacramento, and to wish them continued success in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness today to honor Albin Gruhn of San Anselmo, California, who passed away March 18 at the age of 94. Mr. Gruhn was a respected and beloved labor leader and consumer rights activist whose calling was the welfare of the working people of California. His 36 years as president of the California Labor Federation and his role as a founder of the Association of California Consumers were at the heart of a remarkable career.

Mr. Gruhn was born in Eureka, California, in 1915. At the age of 19 he began working for the Hammond Lumber Co., where he joined the Sawmill and Loggers Federal Union. Shortly after, a strike resulted in the deaths of three union picketers and deeply affected him, resulting in a lifelong commitment to the labor movement.

Mr. Gruhn was also blacklisted as a result of his participation in the strike but soon found employment in construction, joining the Laborers Local, where his membership continued for over 60 years. At the age of 22, he became secretary of the Central Labor Council of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties and led that council for over 20 years.

In 1940, Mr. Gruhn was first elected to what is now the California Labor Federation as district vice president and became its president in 1960. He led with skill, enthusiasm, and passion until his retirement in 1996. He helped build the organization into a strong and effective advocacy group for the rights of workers, inspiring several generations of political and labor leaders along the way.

During the 1960s, Mr. Gruhn was also a founder of the Association of California Consumers, California's first consumer group, and later became a founding officer and then president emeritus of the Consumer Federation of California. He also devoted some of his considerable energies to the California Apprenticeship Council and the California Constitution Revision Commission, and various other state commissions. These were appointments over the decades by five California governors and covered a variety of issues from fair housing to air pollution. One of the commissions dealt with children and youth, reflecting his deep involvement in the annual scholarship program established by the California Labor Federation.

Mr. Gruhn was always politically active as a means of supporting the causes he believed in. From campaigning for Franklin Roosevelt at the age of 17 to serving as an Adlai Stevenson delegate in 1956, he stayed engaged in the process. In 1944, he founded the Northern California AFL Political League.

Mr. Gruhn was married to the former Dorothy Coon for over 37 years. Dorothy predeceased him in 2005, and the couple is survived by a large family of eight children, 14 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, Albin Gruhn was proud to fight for working people, and all those with whom he came in contact--from family and friends to political leaders and co-workers--drew inspiration from his commitment. It is fitting in honoring him today to remember the remarks he always used to conclude his labor speeches: ``In unity there is strength. United we stand, divided we fall. An injury to one is an injury to all.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor Mrs. Carrie Sue Williams, who passed away on May 6, 2009, at the age of seventy-seven. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this fine woman.

Mrs. Williams was born Carrie Sue Martin on August 19, 1931, in Summit, Mississippi to Sam and Florence Martin. She was the eighth of nine children the Martins would have.

A woman of faith and quiet strength, Mrs. Williams' father passed away when she was young and she would often credit her mother's demeanor and ability to stay focused while raising nine with making a huge impact on her life.

United in holy matrimony on November 22, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, Carrie Sue and Pastor Ephraim Williams stood by each other's side for more than 55 years. They have been blessed with two children, Gwendolyn Sue and Ephraim Jr., four grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Affectionately known as ``Sister Sue,'' Mrs. Williams was a life long student devoted to God. During her studies, she attended Conroe Normal Industrial College, Andrews Bible College, and The Golden Gate Southern Baptist Extension. She graduated from the Southern Baptist Seminary Extension and the National Baptist Convention Certificate of Progress Program.

Additionally, Mrs. Williams undertook two years of pastoral training from local seminaries in Sacramento. She regularly attended conferences and seminars in religious programs, and completed enough hours of college level education to have earned her two master's degrees.

Always the devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Williams believed strongly that she had been called to be a pastor's wife, and defined her role as supporting her husband fully and being available for his needs.

Being devoted to her husband and his work as a pastor at St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church, Mrs. Williams traveled extensively

with him on church duties throughout the country and world. Their travels took them to 32 States and countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Madam Speaker, I hereby recognize and honor Mrs. Carrie Sue Williams for her life of service and dedication to her family, friends, and community. Mrs. Williams was a cheerful and loving woman who reached out to those in need and practiced what she believed in every day. She will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Dr. Donna L. Yee for her ongoing efforts to improve and strengthen services to older persons in the Sacramento region. As Donna's colleagues, friends and family gather to honor her work, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing this outstanding individual.

For over thirty-five years, Donna has been helping those in need of long term care. Since making Sacramento her home for the last decade, she has diligently worked and provided leadership to assure that social services are available, accessible, and acceptable to all elders.

Donna received her Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and her Ph.D. in Social Policy at the Heller School, Brandeis University. Prior to moving to Sacramento, she had most recently worked for the National Pacific Asian Center on Aging in Seattle and for the Institute for Health Policy at Brandeis University.

Since 2000, Donna has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Community Center in Sacramento, which is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit organizations in my district. By identifying, developing, and providing culturally sensitive health and social services for older adults, the Asian Community Center enhances the general welfare and quality of life for a wide group of Sacramentans.

Donna has brought national recognition to the many programs that the Asian Community Center operates. The Center's Rides Transportation Program, which gives rides to seniors who can not drive themselves, won the Senior Transportation Action Response Special Recognition Award from the Beverly Foundation in October, 2008. In addition, the Asian Community Center's Nursing Home has earned the highest rating of five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Agency.

Throughout her career, Donna has focused on capacity building, Medicare access, client-centered care, adult day care, assisted living, case management, hospital services for the aged, and has consistently provided support for the elderly and Asian Pacific Communities. In doing so, Donna has made her mark as one of Sacramento finest leaders.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Dr. Donna L. Yee for her lifetime of efforts to promote the quality and access of services for our senior citizens. She has done a tremendous job at the Asian Community Center and on behalf of the people of Sacramento and the Fifth Congressional District of California, I ask all my colleagues to join me in acknowledging her work.