Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication of the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building in honor of the contributions and sacrifices of past, present, and future Contra Costa County veterans for the freedoms we enjoy in our personal lives and for the security we value as a nation.

When we look around at our homes, neighborhoods, and institutions like our churches and schools, we see evidence of the valor and sacrifice of our veterans. We feel safe and protected in the ordinary and extraordinary activities of our daily lives because our veterans have made us safe. We are free to believe and speak what is in our hearts because veterans have fought for our freedoms to do that.

The Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building honors the contributions of veterans today, on Memorial Day, and every day to come. It is a living memorial, created in the heart of this vibrant community at the center of community life. It is intended to serve veterans and their families throughout Contra Costa County, and it is designed to accommodate the broadest possible range of needs of veterans as well as those of the community.

The Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building is also remarkable for being the collaborative achievement of Lafayette War Veterans, Inc., the City of Lafayette, the City of Walnut Creek, and Contra Costa County. Over a number of years, these project partners have come together to create this magnificent tribute to those who serve. They have blessed the community with an outstanding example of joint leadership and cooperative decision-making, as well as with the building itself.

Mr. Speaker, the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building stands as a fitting monument to our veterans whom we honor on Memorial Day and in our hearts all year long. It takes its part in our community as a reminder of the glories of past, present, and future veterans and of the work of smart, persevering, and dedicated community leaders who have brought their dreams to reality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this partisan rule.

The Rules Committee has once again failed to promote debate and instead rubber-stamped the majority and the administration's policies.

As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, I do not offer so-called political amendments. I offer

substantive amendments to real solutions to real problems.

Prisoner abuse is a real problem.

Nuclear proliferation is a real problem.

But the Rules Committee apparently does not think so.

I offered three simple amendments that would have improved the bill in these areas. They were all rejected.

My first amendment would have mandated that the Pentagon share International Committee of the Red Cross reports on treatment of detainees with Congress that we would hold confidential so that we could be informed and be part of the solution.

The Rules Committee clearly does not worry about fixing our dismal image in the Muslim world or preventing human rights abuse or upholding our end of the bargain in overseeing the military.

I submitted an amendment that would have created an office of nonproliferation in the White House to better coordinate our nonproliferation efforts.

But the Rules Committee is not worried about nuclear proliferation.

And, finally, over the last 2 weeks the majority has sought to limit the opportunities for women in the military over the objections of the Secretary of Defense, the service chiefs and Democrats.

The Rules Committee seems to agree with the majority on the Armed Services Committee that when men volunteer for the Army, they become soldiers. But when women volunteer for the Army, they become women soldiers.

Mr. Speaker, this rule is a travesty and should be soundly rejected. Vote ``no'' on the rule.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I will not, in the end, oppose it.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise to express my deep concern about the portion of the Hunter amendment that amends the language regarding women in combat. Currently, women in the military are barred from direct ground combat positions by policy and by the will of the American people. However, while I recommend that the Hunter amendment get passed, I want to make it crystal clear to the American people that this does not go far enough in amending what previously had been put in the bill, and it potentially infringes on the right of women to serve in combat support positions alongside men, positions that women currently hold. Equally important, it also greatly reduces the ability of the Pentagon to make needed personnel changes at a time of war.

For the last 2 weeks, Mr. Chairman, women in the military have been under assault by the majority in the House Committee on Armed Services. While this latest version of the Hunter amendment is an improvement over the horrendous language he included in the bill 2 weeks ago, this is like a school yard bully taking your lunch money, getting caught, giving you half the money back and then demanding you thank him for it. We should not be in this position in the first place.

At a time when our Armed Forces are overstretched and Army recruiting and retention has hit the skids, we should not appear to be restricting patriotic Americans who want to serve their country in the military. This entire effort sends a harmful message to the women serving today on the front lines of Iraq that Congress is considering the right that they have achieved to serve their country through military service may be in jeopardy.

Just a short while ago, this Congress was praising Jessica Lynch and Shoshana Johnson for their service. We should be thanking women in uniform, not limiting their opportunities. Suicide bombers do not discriminate, why should we?

Mr. Chairman, this is an ill-thought-out policy that has been proposed, revised, revised again, and argued all at the last minute without any hearings in the subcommittee or the committee. Apparently, in offering the most recently altered amendment, even the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) recognizes he had gone too far. While far from undoing the mixed signal this effort to change the rules has sent to women and men serving with distinction in a very dangerous environment, this amendment corrects the most egregious language currently in the bill and should be supported.

I guess what is most disappointing about this issue is that nothing has been done to repair the damage that this effort inflicts on women serving in the military today. Repairing the damage in this bill still begs the question: What are we going to do to restore the trust of our servicewomen?

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

Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have left?

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).

Mr. Speaker, here we go again. For the seventh time since the expiration of TEA 21 in September 2003, the House will adopt a temporary extension of highway, transit and highway safety programs.

Why can't we get this bill done? The House adopted the legislation on a 417-9 vote. The Senate adopted the legislation on an 89-11 vote. And yet, the President has threatened to veto the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, Americans are spending more time in traffic today than they ever have before. They're commuting hours to work, missing their children's soccer games, and losing their precious free time to traffic.

Commuters in my district in San Francisco's Bay Area are suffering in the second worst city in America for gridlock. They're losing a total of over $2 million in wasted fuel and several hours each week, away from their offices and their families.

At the same time, our infrastructure is in need of repair. Our roads and highways are crumbling and we have limited funds to invest in new transit systems.

Mr. Speaker, the American people get it. They know that we need an infusion of federal funds to begin addressing our critical transportation infrastructure needs. They're tired of paying gas taxes at the pump and receiving nothing in return.

It's time to get this bill done. It's time for the President to put his veto stamp away and listen to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Clifford Merrill for his 21 years

of service to the people of Solano County. Mr. Merrill began his employment with Solano County on February 22, 1984, as an entry level Deputy Probation Officer in the Probation Department, and has since held positions ranging from Probation Services Manager to Interim Chief of the Probation Department.

Mr. Merrill has provided valuable intensive services to many probationers. His effective management of the Repeat Offender Prevention Program Grant, the Targeted Truancy Grant, and the Fouts Springs Aftercare Grant are just a few examples of his responsible stewardship of public services.

Furthermore, Mr. Merrill demonstrated exemplary leadership, both as Chief Deputy Probation Officer and as Interim Chief of the Probation Department. Mr. Merrill developed and implemented a comprehensive Administrative Policy Manual for the Solano County Probation Department, and was instrumental in coordinating the development of the departments ``Task and Standards'' Manual for Adult and Juvenile divisions.

Clearly, Clifford has been an exceptional and loyal employee of the Solano County Probation Department and has distinguished himself by providing outstanding, professional service and leadership to Solano County.

Again, I am proud to honor Clifford J. Merrill for his twenty-one years of dedicated service to the citizens of Solano County. I thank Clifford for his career contributions to the Solano County Probation Department, and I wish him a well-deserved retirement in the community he has done so much to improve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Hitchhikers, Robotics Team 481, from my congressional district in California. This team won the Engineering Inspiration Award in March of 2005 at the Portland, Oregon, Pacific Northwest Regional Robotics Competition. This award honors success in advancing the science of robotics. By winning this award, the Hitchhikers, Robotics Team 481, qualified to compete in the Championship Robotics Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, where they came in second out of 52 teams in the first round of competition.

The Hitchhikers were created in an independent study course at Contra Costa College, San Pablo, California in the fall of 2002. Under the stewardship of Tom Murphy, a contra Costa College Instructor, Middle College formed its own FIRST robotics team, based on a commitment that the students would build a robot from the ground up. In December 2002, a grant from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers provided initial funding for the Hitchhikers, and the team received its first robot-building supplies in January 2003. In 2004, budget woes triggered a merge with another award-winning team at nearby De Anza High School, with the hopes of keeping robotics alive for students throughout the school district. The students of the merged team resolved to keep De Anza's number 481 and Middle College's name ``The Hitchhikers'' as a sign of their unity. Since then, the team has connected with local and national supporters. Other sponsors of The Hitchhikers, Team 481, are NASA Robotics Education Project, the Ed Fund (West Contra Costa Public Education Fund), Chevron Richmond Refinery, TAP Plastics of EI Cerrito, Planner's Collaborative of Boston, MA and Honda of El Cerrito.

The majority of Robotics Team 481's members are sophomores, juniors and seniors at Middle College, located on the Contra Costa College campus in San Pablo, California. Students also come from nearby De Anza, El Cerrito, and Pinole Valley high schools. The Middle College robotics team was created to help its members learn and understand scientific and engineering concepts while building team- and group-work skills. The Hitchhikers, Robotics Team 481, have managed to accomplish all this and have fun at the same time.

The Hitchhikers, Robotics Team 481, competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) National Championship in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta Georgia, April 21--23. FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is an organization founded on the sole principle of inspiring young people to find an interest in Science and Technology and using this knowledge in all aspects of life.

Please join me in saluting The Hitchhikers, Robotics Team 481 on their excellent performance in this national robotics competition.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) motion to instruct conferees on the emergency supplemental.

This motion declares that all future funding requests for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan should be included in the President's budget, not in emergency supplemental spending bills.

This provision enjoyed wide bipartisan support and was included in the Senate bill. The House needs now to follow this track to fiscal responsibility.

While I support using emergency funds to pay for real emergencies, continued reliance on emergency spending for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is fiscally irresponsible. Congress should stop bailing out the Pentagon for its inability to pay for the costs in Iraq.

On top of over $400 billion in defense appropriations every year, Congress has provided $268.7 billion in emergency supplemental funding for the war in Iraq and the war on terror. The new emergency supplemental will bring total war-related supplemental spending to $350 billion.

The gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) motion would not prevent this emergency supplemental from going through, but it would make sure that the administration and the Pentagon, like millions of Americans, budget according to their means. We can afford

to fight and win the war on terror, but the public should not be misled into believing that these costs are an emergency or unexpected or that there is not an imperative for the Pentagon to look at its existing budget and deal with the war inside that budget.

For example, we know that the war in Afghanistan and Iraq operations cost roughly $6 billion a month. Those costs have been somewhat fixed for well over a year. It is perfectly capable and necessary for the Pentagon to look inside its own operations, find savings and find a way to put this in the budget.

These costs can be planned for and considered by Congress in regular order, instead of saddling our children with billions of dollars of debt and cutting vital domestic programs.

Last February, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), my friend and colleague and chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, sent a strong letter to the Committee on the Budget for what he called funding certain items in the supplemental ``inappropriate.'' The gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) also agreed with many of us that some supplemental costs should be included in the annual budget process for consideration and action by the Congress.

Not budgeting for the war in the regular Pentagon budget is an abrogation of our responsibilities as stewards of the taxpayers' trust.

I urge support of the Obey motion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career accomplishments of Elaine Grothmann for her 30 years of service to the Contra Costa County Department of Employment and Human Services.

Ms. Grothmann represents the highest standards of professionalism in her life work with the Department. She is respected and trusted by her colleagues for her sincerity, constancy, and the outstanding quality of her work. Her managers know that when Elaine takes on an assignment, the end product is going to be assured, timely, and a credit to the Department.

Over her career, Elaine's work has benefited a wide range of the Department's customers, including dependent children, refugees, foster children, and parents entering and reentering the job market after having received welfare. She has been an innovator and mainstay of programs for CalWORKs participants, creating and implementing services in child care, substance abuse, mental health, and learning disabilities that buoy employability. The training program she spearheaded for CalWORKs participants to become licensed child care providers and preschool teachers is an inspired, lasting design that continues to meet multiple, compatible needs of the participants.

Elaine's respect for those who are served by the Department shows in her work on their behalf and confers respect on the Department. Her creativity, expertise, dedication, and amiability--not to mention her affinity for good times and monthly trips to Disneyland--are going to be missed by everyone who has worked with Elaine and benefited from her good work.

I thank Elaine Grothmann for her career contributions to the Contra Costa County Department of Employment and Human Services, and I wish her a well-deserved retirement in the community she has done so much to improve

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career accomplishments of Paul Ward for his 33 years of service to the Contra

Costa County Department of Employment and Human Services.

For three decades, the Department has looked to Mr. Ward for the highest professional standards of analytical support, especially during periods of systems change.

Paul was a major force in developing the information systems necessary for the Department to succeed in its mission to move welfare participants into the workplace. His researched pick for an automated system was chosen by the Department to track the progress of participants toward independence, and he played a significant role in training Department employees to use it.

When impending welfare reform legislation prompted redesign of the benefits program, Paul became a leader for change inside and outside the Department, making presentations about the impacts of reform to fellow employees, other agencies, and local employers, and supporting critical community outreach of the Department Director.

Paul has taken on additional roles as resource to Department leadership inside and outside the organization, writing the Emergency Management Response Plan, staffing the Department Director in the Emergency Operating Center, and acting as Department liaison to other County departments, legislative advocacy associations, and university advanced degree programs.

Throughout his career, Paul has been respected and admired by those he has worked with in the Department and the community for his excellent analytical skills, voice of reason, collegial cooperation, exemplary professional demeanor--and for his dry, intelligent wit.

I thank Paul Ward for his contributions to the Contra Costa County Department of Employment and Human Services, and I wish him well in the community that he has served so well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lotwin on his retirement after 20 years of distinguished service in the United States Army. I had the good fortune to have Lt. Col. Lotwin serve as a Military Fellow in my office for a year, and the further good fortune of developing a lasting friendship with him and his wonderful family. I can say without reservation that Lt. Col. Lotwin truly exemplifies what it means to wear the uniform of our great nation. His patriotism, intelligence and integrity and service are an example to all.

Lt. Col. Lotwin began what would become a distinguished military career more than twenty years ago when he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his military career he also received master's degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles and Webster University, and studied national security at Georgetown University. He also served as a faculty member at the United States Military Academy and at other prestigious military schools and conferences.

Throughout his career, Lt. Col. Lotwin specialized in intelligence issues, military procurement and relations with Congress. He served as a program manager in the Joint Program office for the Predator UAV. He formed a joint government-industry team to support a fielding plan for the JSTARS program. And as the U.S. Army representative to the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Steering Committee, Lt. Col. Lotwin saved the U.S. Government millions of dollars by establishing the JSTARS Common Ground Station as the baseline architecture for this NATO initiative.

Early in his career, Lt. Col. Lotwin served as a special agent in the Pentagon's Counterintelligence Detachment. He returned to the field of intelligence in recent years in his capacity as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. Lt. Col. Lotwin represented the Department of Defense in the areas of Intelligence, Space, Special Access Programs, and Information Technology critical to the Global War on Terrorism. Lt. Col. Lotwin displayed his trademark skills of leadership, management, professionalism and discretion. They served him well on Capitol Hill, where he became a vital link between Congress and the Pentagon and helped facilitate a better understanding of complicated matters vital to our national security.

Mr. Speaker, I got to know Lt. Col. Lotwin best during the year he served as my Military Fellow. He was an invaluable and truly wonderful presence in my office. He's the kind of guy who instantly earns your friendship with his humor and your respect with his intelligence. He brought not just a career-long knowledge of the Army and our Armed Forces, but his interest and aptitude in a wide array of other issues made him a valuable member of my team. His insight and advice helped me represent and serve the people of the Tenth Congressional District in California.

Andrew and his wife Holly are blessed with three wonderful children-- Amanda, Dana, and Noah. I really believe that military families are one of our country's most precious military resources, and this is certainly the case with the Lotwins. Holly's devotion to Andrew, their family and our country are evident. Like Andrew, she is a great American hero.

As Andrew Lotwin begins what is sure to be a remarkable second career, I wish him and his family all the best. America has been blessed to have him in our Armed Forces, and I applaud him for his continued service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the March 24, 2005 dedication of ``A Girl's Place,'' the Fairfield Facility of the Girl Scout Council of Napa-Solano.

This facility symbolizes a commitment from the community to ensuring that girls have a place to feel safe and to call their own. In June 1931, the residents of the City of Fairfield and Solano County came together to dedicate a building for the Girl Scouts of their community. Today, 75 years later, they have joined together again to reaffirm their pledge to the Girl Scouts and to dedicate a new facility. This new building replaces the old, which made way for modernization and offers the community hope and vision for the future.

``A Girl's'' Place'' will stand as an icon in the community, offering a safe haven for girls ages 5-17 and a place for adults who give freely of their time and love to come together to gain knowledge of our ever- changing young women.

The Girl Scouts of Napa-Solano serve 4,500 girls and 1,300 adult volunteers; nearly 1 in every 10 girls is a Girl Scout. Today Girl Scouts are reaching out into the community to provide a solid foundation for every girl, everywhere. Girls are participating in Girl Scouting in homes, schools, boys and girls clubs, juvenile halls, low- income housing complexes, emergency women's shelters, foster care programs, and churches. Girl Scouting helps girls mold their values and teaches self-confidence, leadership, teamwork and pride in her community. This collaboration inspires us all.

As the Girl Scouts' Honorary Congressional Co-Troop Leader, I am honored to recognize ``A Girls' Place'' as a proud addition to our community and I look forward to the generations of strong women who will spring from its steps.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career accomplishments of Elaine Grothmann for her 30 years of service to the Contra Costa County Department of Employment and Human Services.

Ms. Grothmann represents the highest standards of professionalism in her life work with the Department. She is respected and trusted by her colleagues for her sincerity, constancy, and the outstanding quality of her work. Her managers know that when Elaine takes on an assignment, the end product is going to be assured, timely, and a credit to the Department.

Over her career, Elaine's work has benefited a wide range of the Department's customers, including dependent children, refugees, foster children, and parents entering and reentering the job market after having received welfare. She has been an innovator and mainstay of programs for CalWORKs participants, creating and implementing services in child care, substance abuse, mental health, and learning disabilities that buoy employability. The training program she spearheaded for CalWORKs participants to become licensed child care providers and preschool teachers is an inspired, lasting design that continues to meet multiple, compatible needs of the participants.

Elaine's respect for those who are served by the Department shows in her work on their behalf and confers respect on the Department. Her creativity, expertise, dedication, and amiability--not to mention her affinity for good times and monthly trips to Disneyland--are going to be missed by everyone who has worked with Elaine and benefited from her good work.

I thank Elaine Grothmann for her career contributions to the Contra Costa County Department of Employment and Human Services, and I wish her a well-deserved retirement in the community she has done so much to improve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Fred L. Fields, who is retiring after 40 years as a Boilermaker and 9 years as Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of Boilermakers Local 549.

Fred Fields began his career in 1964 as a Boilermaker Apprentice at the Kaiser Steel shop in Napa, and finished his education through the Western States Field Construction Apprenticeship program.

Throughout his 40 year career as a California based Boilermaker, Mr. Fields has demonstrated outstanding leadership. He was elected by Local 549 to attend four Boilermaker National Conventions, where he was appointed to the Construction Division Committee by International President Charles W. Jones. He was elected as a trustee to the Executive Board of Local 549 in 1990, and was elected Business Manager/ Secretary Treasurer in 1996 and was reelected in 1999.

Fred Fields was appointed to represent the western states as the 13 western states as the Trustee on the Boilermaker National Health and Welfare Trust fund by International President Jones in 1997. He serves on the Executive Board of the California State Board of the California State Building and Construction Trades Council for the Boiler makers.

Mr. Fields recognized the importance of the formation of California Unions for Reliable Energy (C.U.R.E) to the boilermaker profession when it was created in 1996, C.U.R.E has provided of construction jobs for his fellow boilermakers.

Fred Fields has selflessly served his community as part of Local 549; donating food to needy families through the Loaves and Fishes Program, the Contra Costa Food Bank, and the Richmond rescue mission.

Mr. Speaker, it is always inspiring to see someone who has dedicated his life to improving conditions for his brothers and sisters in Local 549. Throughout Fred Fields' tenure as a Boilermaker, he has demonstrated not only commitment to his chosen profession, but also dedication to the citizens of his community. I am proud to recognize my constituent, Fred Fields, on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Peace Corps Week and to congratulate the 7,700 Peace Corp Volunteers-- including 30 of my constituents--who are serving their country today in 72 countries around the world.

More than 178,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 138 countries since the organization's inception in 1961. Every year, thousands of selfless volunteers share their time and talents by serving as teachers, business advisors, information technology consultants, health and HIV/AIDS educators, and youth and agriculture workers.

Over 3,100 volunteers work directly or indirectly on HIV/AIDS prevention and education activities throughout the world, and support efforts in 10 of the 15 focus countries in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

I praise our nation's Peace Corps volunteers who serve their country and the world as humanitarians, devoting themselves to transferring life-changing knowledge and skills to the people of other nations.

Mr. Speaker, I salute the hundreds of thousands of men and women of this nation who have selflessly served abroad as Peace Corps Volunteers. On this 44th Anniversary of the Peace Corps, I am especially proud to represent 30 such volunteers and I offer them my sincere gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the present and past members, leaders, and sponsors of Boy Scout Troop 243, founded in Lafayette, California, on the 50th Anniversary of the Troop.

Boy Scouting touches us all at some point in our lives--as troop members, parent volunteers, civic supporters, or simply as residents of our communities where we see the achievements of local Boy Scouts as upstanding models for our youth.

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a platoon of parents to serve a Boy Scout troop. Nationally, there are close to one million Boy Scouts served by over half a million adult volunteers--on average, more than one adult for every two Scouts.

Troop 243 has a rich history of local leadership. The founding sponsor was a committee of the Burton School, St. Mary's Orchards, and St. Mary's Estate Home Improvement Association. The first Scoutmaster, H. T. McBride, was followed in 1959 by J.J. DuFosee. In 1965, Harry Wiser served as Scoutmaster when the Lafayette Christian Church became Troop sponsor.

Troop growth took off in 1988 when John Coleman, a 1974 Troop 243 Eagle Scout, took over as Scoutmaster, initiating numerous outdoor activities including 50-mile hikes, snow skiing, summer camping, river rafting, and a 100-mile bicycle trip over Mt. Lassen.

The program of varied outdoor activities, including canoeing in Minnesota, continued under Scoutmaster Terry Campbell in 1994. Then in 1996 John Coleman returned, adding new Troop experiences, including a sailing expedition to Catalina Island.

Throughout the 50-year life of Troop 243, generations of Boy Scouts have taken on Good Deeds projects as good community members and civic representatives. Scouts and parents donate many hours cleaning up local creeks and trails. This year the Troop raised over 22,000 pounds of food for the local food bank!

Mr. Speaker, I honor the 50 years of accomplishments of members, leaders, and sponsors of Troop 243. I am very proud to represent Troop 243 in Congress and I congratulate them on their achievements.