Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of my friend Colonel Mary Gene Ryan, who is retiring after 31 years of military service.

Colonel Ryan has served at both military bases in my district, Vandenberg Air Force Base and Naval Base Ventura County. She is retiring from the 30th Medical Group at Vandenberg as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Commander.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing, Colonel Ryan entered the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. She earned her master's degree in public health 4 years later as she worked her way up the ranks and gained experience and accreditation as a second flight nurse, a medical crew director and flight nurse instructor in the C-9, C-141 and C-130 while stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany.

She returned to the states as Officer In Charge of Environmental Health at Wilford Hall Medical Center in Texas, then made her transition to California as Chief of Environmental Health at Edwards Air Force Flight Test Center. By this time she had been promoted to captain and soon after, to major.

When the Air Force dissolved the Environmental Health Nurse career field, Colonel Ryan transferred to the California Air National Guard at what is now Naval Base Ventura County. She served at Naval Base Ventura County as Nurse Executive and Executive Officer and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

She later transferred to the Air Force Reserve and became Chief of Nursing Services at March Air Reserve Base. She was promoted to full Colonel on April 1, 2004.

While pursuing a successful medical military career, Colonel Ryan also worked in the civilian field and co-founded her own business, MGRyan & Co., Inc., a full-service safety and health consulting firm. She also served as Manager of Health & Safety for the County of Ventura and as Director of Occupational Health at Peterson Medical Clinic in Oxnard, California.

And, if that were not enough, Colonel Ryan is also a successful wife and mother. She and Dr. Robert E. Ryan III have three children, 24- year-old Michael, 21-year-old Jessica, and 16-year-old Matthew.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating Colonel Mary Gene Ryan on her retirement from military service and thank her for her many years of dedication to the military and the health and welfare of the men and women who serve in the Air Force, Air Force Reserves, and California Air National Guard.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of my friend Ralph Bering Busch, Jr., MD, who passed away on May 23 at age 84.

Dr. Busch was a medical pioneer in Ventura County, California. In the 1960s, Dr. Busch and his partner, M. Kathleen Belton, MD, became the first anesthesiologists to practice in Ventura County. They covered St. John's Hospital in Oxnard, Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, and occasionally Ojai Valley Community Hospital. Dr. Busch served at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital for twenty years and retired from Community Memorial Hospital in 1989.

Dr. Busch came to California after serving in the South Pacific with the U.S. Navy for four years, after graduating from high school, college, and medical school in the Midwest. He interned at University of Southern California, Los Angeles County Hospital and then practiced at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank for the next ten years.

In 1959, he married Deborah ``Deedee'' Bennett of Palm Springs. As their family grew, they decided to seek the country life of Ventura County. It was a good choice for them and for Ventura County. Ralph and Deedee have been blessed with six children and eighteen grandchildren.

In addition to his dedication to his practice and his family, Dr. Busch dedicated himself to the greater medical community and the community in which he lived. He was a past member of the California and American Societies of Anesthesiology, Ventura County Medical Society, Community Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Ventura County Museum of History and Art Board of Directors, and Berry Petroleum Co. Board of Directors. He was a forty-five-year member of Saticoy Country Club.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in remembering Dr. Ralph Bering Busch, Jr., as a good friend, a loving family man, a pioneer in Ventura County medicine, and one who worked to make his community stronger. In addition, I know my colleagues join me in extending our condolences to Deedee and their family and to all who called Ralph a friend.

Godspeed, Ralph.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of my friend, Bill Bennett, who died last week at 84 years young.

I met Bill and his wife, Marty, when I decided to run for Congress more than 20 years ago. We shared a love of politics, a dedication to our communities and country, and a love and dedication to our families.

Born in West Virginia, Bill Bennett came to California while serving in the U.S. Navy. Like many who venture to the Golden State, he fell in love and stayed. After being discharged from the Navy, Bill joined the Los Angeles City Fire Department. It would prove to be one of his long- term commitments. He retired from the Department 31 years later as Assistant Chief, in 1980.

Another of his long-term commitments was to Marty. They married in 1951 and partnered in life for the next 56 years.

In 1965, Bill and Marty moved with their children to Thousand Oaks, which I have represented for the better part of my congressional career. They became involved in their church, Emmanuel Presbyterian, and many other aspects of their community. Bill served on the board of the former Timber School District, Community Leaders Club, Republican Central Committee, Ventura County Grand Jury, Ventura County Planning Committee, Neighborhood Watch, and many other community organizations, for which he was duly recognized. He also became a supporter and friend to me.

At the same time Bill was making his community a better place, he dedicated himself to being a loving father and husband. In addition to Marty, Bill leaves behind daughter, Sue and her husband, Kim Force; daughter, Nancy and her husband, Jim Berg; daughter, Bonnie; and son Tom and his wife, Jane. Bill and Marty also have seven grandchildren, Michael, Christopher, Joshua, Brian, Janelle, Jilee and Justine; and two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Emily.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in remembering William Thomas Bennett as a good friend, a loving family man, and a lover of life, whose talents helped to make our community stronger. In addition, I know they join me in extending our condolences to Marty and their family and to all who called Bill a friend.

Godspeed, Bill.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to make the following rollcall votes on May 14, 2007:

H.R. 1124, To extend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, I would have voted ``nay.''

H. Res. 223, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, I would have voted ``aye.''

H. Res. 385, Recognizing National AmeriCorps Week, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, as you know, I, along with Mr. Blumenauer and Mr. Bartlett, have been trying to federally criminalize the brutal, inhumane practice of animal fighting for the past several Congresses.

A few years ago, Congress enacted legislation to tighten Federal laws with regard to animal fighting; however, this law created some loopholes that allowed the barbaric practices of animal fighting to thrive nationwide, in spite of bans in virtually every State. We left in place weak penalties that have proven ineffective. Misdemeanor penalties simply don't provide a meaningful deterrent. We've heard from U.S. Attorneys that they are reluctant to pursue animal fighting cases with just a misdemeanor penalty. Those involved in animal fighting ventures consider misdemeanor penalties a ``slap on the wrist'' or merely a ``cost of doing business.''

In recent years, we've seen a marked rise in the frequency of animal fighting busts in communities across the country. Local police and sheriffs are increasingly concerned about animal fighting, not only because of the animal cruelty involved, but also because of the other crimes that often go hand-in-hand, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and acts of human violence. In the last 6 months, every reported bust of an animal fight also led to additional arrests for at least one of these criminal activities.

Furthermore, there is an inherent danger for the children of animal fighters to be close to these animals. Children are often brought to these gruesome spectacles. Some dog fighters steal pets to use as bait for training their dogs; some allow trained fighting dogs to roam neighborhoods and endanger the public.

There is the additional concern that cockfighters spread diseases that jeopardize poultry flocks and even public health. We in California experienced this first-hand, when cockfighters spread exotic Newcastle disease, which was so devastating to many of our poultry producers in 2002 and 2003. That outbreak cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $200 million to eradicate, and cost the U.S. poultry industry many millions more in lost export markets.

Cockfighting has been identified as the major contributor of the spread of avian flu throughout Thailand and other parts of Asia, where the strain originated. At least nine people who contracted avian flu and died from it reportedly contracted it from fighting birds. Among those who are reported to have died from avian influenza as a result of exposure through cockfighting, include 4-year-old, 6-year-old, and 18- year-old boys in Thailand and a 6-year-old girl in Vietnam. Fortunately, bird flu has not yet jumped the species barrier in this country, but we ought to do all we can to minimize the risk.

Opponents of H.R. 137 have said this bill should be blocked because it will drive them underground, increasing the public health risks. That's a ludicrous argument. They're already underground (it's illegal in 49 States and various localities in the remaining State, Louisiana). They're coaching each other, as documented in chat rooms and other communications that have been intercepted, to hide their birds to avoid detection in the event of an outbreak. We're not talking about stellar citizens who are planning to contact health officials to ``do their part'' in stemming a pandemic. We'll be much better off cracking down on illegal cockfighting than allowing this high-risk industry to continue thriving and hoping they'll work with the government cooperatively to stem the threat of disease.

We need to help State and local law enforcement officials who have requested this strengthening of Federal laws to rid animal fighting from communities that do not want it. This legislation makes violations of federal animal fighting law a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison, makes it a felony to transport an animal across State or international borders for the purpose of animal fighting, and prohibits the interstate and foreign commerce in knives and gaffs designed for use in cockfighting.

This bill simply promotes meaningful enforcement of current Federal law that bars interstate and foreign movement of animals for fighting purposes, including both dog fighting and cockfighting, by upgrading current misdemeanor penalties to a felony level. The bill is explicitly limited to interstate and foreign commerce, so it protects States' rights in the 2 States where cockfighting is allowed, yet further protects States' rights in the other 48 States where weak Federal law compromises the ability to keep animal fighting outside their borders.

I also wanted to clarify for the Record that subsection (c) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act, which is about interstate instrumentalities and commercial speech, prohibits the websites and the magazines where fighting animals are advertised for sale. These publications are commercial speech, and also clearly promote animal fighting. They advertise fighting animals and weapons for sale in interstate commerce. For example, over the last 12 months, there have been over 1,600 pages worth of advertisements for illegal interstate commercial transactions in the two main cockfighting magazines.

Subsection (d) is meant to limit subsection (c) with respect to the magazines and other commercial speech promoting cockfights in States where that is legal. It acts as a limitation upon subsection (c), but, as under current law, only if the effect of that promotion is limited to cockfights in the one State where cockfighting is still legal. So as a practical matter, (d) does not limit enforcement of (c) against the cockfighting magazines and website advertisements, because these materials promote animal fights in every State--they are sent to or read by buyers in many States, who buy the fighting animals and implements and then use them in animal fights in States where cockfighting is illegal.

Finally, I also want to say that these provisions in current law, which are mirrored in H.R. 137, pose no problem in terms of the First Amendment. Animal fighting magazines and websites aren't protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court has been clear on this score-- there is no First Amendment protection for commercial speech where the underlying commercial transaction is lawfully prohibited, as is the case here. Subsection (c) is clearly constitutional. It is narrowly tailored with this in mind. First Amendment consideration is built right into the language. It only prohibits ``commercial speech''--like the cockfighting magazines with all of their advertisements for contraband. These animal fighting magazines are not political speech, they are basically just catalogs, with hundreds of advertisements per issue for illegal transactions. The sellers are just soliciting the buyers to commit criminal acts. They can't cloak it in the First Amendment just by throwing a little bit of non-commercial speech in there either, and the Supreme Court has been clear on that as well.

This is the perfect example of a bipartisan bill. The bill I cosponsored in the last Congress, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act of 2006, had 324 cosponsors and was passed through the Senate by unanimous consent. Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Bartlett, and I rounded up 300 Democrat and Republican co-sponsors in just a few weeks.

I want to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Blumenauer and Mr. Bartlett for their work on this legislation. We have all been working on this legislation for quite some time. I also want to commend Mr. Conyers, Mr. Smith, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Forbes for recognizing the importance of this issue and thank them for moving H.R. 137 through the Judiciary Committee so quickly. I also want to thank Mr. Peterson of the Agriculture Committee for his assistance on this matter. Finally, I want to thank my 300+ colleagues who cosponsored H.R. 137. Without your help, we would not have been able to show the amount of support this Congress has for ending this deplorable practice and all of the destructive behavior associated with it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As you know, along with my good friend Earl Blumenauer and Roscoe Bartlett, we have been trying to federally criminalize this brutal, inhumane practice of animal fighting for the past several Congresses.

When Congress enacted legislation to tighten Federal animal fighting laws, we left in place weak penalties that have proven ineffective and allowed the barbaric practice to thrive, in spite of bans in virtually every State. Misdemeanor penalties simply don't provide a meaningful deterrent. Animal fighters consider misdemeanor penalties as a ``slap on the wrist'' or merely the ``cost of doing business.''

State and local law enforcement officials are increasingly concerned about animal fighting not only because of the animal cruelty involved but because of the other crimes that often go hand in hand with animal fighting, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and acts of human violence. In the last 6 months, virtually every reported arrest in an animal fight has also led to additional arrests for at least one of these criminal activities.

Cockfighting has also spread diseases that jeopardize poultry and even public health. California experienced this firsthand when cockfighters spread exotic Newcastle disease in 2002 and 2003. That outbreak cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $200 million to eradicate, and the cost to the U.S. poultry industry was in the millions. Cockfighting has been identified as the major contributor to the spread of avian flu throughout Thailand and other parts of Asia, where the strain originated.

I want to express my sincere thanks to you, Earl Blumenauer, and to Roscoe Bartlett for their work on this legislation. I also commend and thank my good friend and neighbor Mr. John Conyers, the chairman of the committee; Lamar Smith, the ranking member; Bobby Scott, the chairman of the subcommittee; and Randy Forbes, the ranking member, for recognizing the importance of this issue and moving H.R. 137 through the Judiciary Committee so quickly.

Also I want to recognize Collin Peterson on the Ag Committee for his assistance.

Finally, more important than all, is recognizing the 303-plus Members that have co-sponsored this legislation. It is hard to believe that we have that many people agreeing on something like this when it is not often that we have that many people in the House agreeing on what day of the week it is. So I want to thank all of them for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with all of us in passing this legislation when we bring it to a vote here in a couple of minutes.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor my good friend, Richard Linsday, who is being recognized this week at the American Heart Association's Ventura County Gala as its 2007 Honoree.

Richard Linsday is a retired U.S. Marine Corps major who incorporates the Marine attitude of the impossible only takes a little longer in everything he does. He has helped the American Heart Association with that attitude for more than twenty years. Over the years he has chaired many Heart Association committees in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties and currently serves as a member of the Association's Ventura County Division Board of Directors.

It is appropriate that Richard is being honored by the American Heart Association at its Ventura County Gala, which has been described as an event dedicated to the ``celebration of life,'' because Richard is the epitome of the celebration of life.

In addition to his service in the Marines, Richard has built a successful career in the financial services industry, including positions as executive vice president and general manager of major financial companies. He has since opened his own firm, Planned Estate Services, based in my congressional district.

Richard is an adjunct professor of finance at California State University, Northridge, and sits on the Board of Advisors to the university's School of Business. In addition to receiving numerous professional awards, he has authored two books.

Aside from his dedication to the American Heart Association, Richard donates his time, energy, and resources to many other nonprofit organizations, including one founded by a fellow Marine officer, Devil Pups.

At the same time he is a loving and devoted husband to his wife of twenty-seven years, Laura, and their children, Heather and Brandon.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join the American Heart Association and me in honoring Richard H. Linsday for his dedication and contributions to his community and nation through his tireless efforts and can-do attitude.

I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, my concern about the Iraq resolution offered by my friends on the other side of the aisle is what impact it will have on our troops and our mission and its consequences on our mission. How can you say support our troops when you don't support sending in the people necessary to back them up to do the job that we sent them there to do to start with?

Let's be clear, Mr. Speaker, about who the real enemy is. We are at war with the Islamic jihadists. Jihadists have vowed to destroy America, the West and all sympathizers with democracy. We are at war for our very existence against jihadists who have vowed to enslave us with a fundamentalist philosophy that rejects all human rights.

The consequences of failure in Iraq are not just failure in Iraq. Iraq's stability has direct repercussions on Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and all of the Middle East. If our efforts to bring peace and stability to Iraq are successful, we will accomplish a great deal. If not, if Iraq fails, it will provide Islamic jihadists with a sanctuary similar to the one we removed from Afghanistan, only the sanctuary in Iraq would be many times worse, as the terrorists would have access to billions of dollars of oil resources to carry out their evil plans. Such a sanctuary would threaten Europe and the United States.

If we are in support of our military men and women, we must support their mission against Islamic jihadists. The alternative is defeat in Iraq and a greater threat of attack here at home.

A defeat in Iraq would not just be a defeat for the United States. It would also set back any chance for peace and stability in the Middle East. It would empower terrorists to unleash greater sectarian violence, which would draw all of Iraq's neighbors into a Sunni versus Shi'a conflict for control of Iraq.

I am also concerned about the resolution because it does not offer any alternative whatsoever that could lead to a successful outcome for the United States in Iraq. All the resolution does is to criticize the President's plan to augment our existing force in Iraq by 21,000-plus troops.

The Democratic resolution offers no other plan. It does not address what should be the right strategy or the right tactics. In effect, and I think this is the real issue, it endorses the status quo in Iraq, a position that I certainly can't support, and I hear lots of those that are supporting this say they can't support either, but they are de facto supporting the status quo by supporting this resolution.

I look forward to the majority offering a comprehensive proposal that would set forth a specific course of action. Then we could have a real debate on the pros and cons of the Democratic plan versus the President's plan to secure Iraq and defeat the terrorists in that country. Unfortunately, the resolution before us fails to do this, and therefore I can't support it. It should be rejected.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of my friend, Bill Lucking, who died at home earlier this week at the age of 89, surrounded by generations of family.

There are not enough pages in the Congressional Record to do justice to the life of William A. Lucking Jr. He was a decorated World War II combat veteran, a horseman, a rancher, a hunter, a world traveler, an attorney, a community volunteer, and an outdoorsman as comfortable on land as he was on or below the water. Bill also was active in Republican politics, including being a delegate to the Republican Convention that nominated Richard Nixon in 1960, much to the chagrin of his Democratic father.

Bill Lucking would say that he worked hard and played hard. Raised in the Ventura County, California, community of Ojai, he bought more than 200 acres of rugged land there in 1956--6 years after he passed the California

bar--and turned it into a thriving citrus and avocado ranch. His home there is testament to his world travels, filled with such treasures as maps and ancient pottery.

Bill served during World War II as a Navy Reserve ensign and skipper on coastal defense sailboats and as executive officer of the radar picket Pritchett (DD-561). It was on the Pritchett that he earned a Bronze Star for using a whaleboat to rescue sailors from the sinking USS Callaghan in the Pacific Theater.

Bill's love of the ocean continued throughout his life. He was a body surfer and a founder of the South Jetty Swells, and a diver who explored the sunken Winfield Scott off Anacapa Island. He put his horse-riding skills to use riding with the Ventura County Sheriff's Posse and Rancheros Adolfo--when he wasn't riding in Death Valley, Oregon, or with the Navajo in Arizona.

Bill was partner with many attorneys who went on to become judges. Bill also was offered judgeships, but turned them down. As he told a reporter in a 1970 interview, ``I enjoy being on one side or the other.''

In politics, he was squarely on the side of the Republican Party and was responsible for helping launch many a stellar political career, including that of my friend and mentor, a former member of this body, Bob Lagomarsino. Not only have they been close personal friends since the '50s, (``We called each other `Cuz' because he was married to my wife's cousin,'' Bob recalled), but Bill also was instrumental in Bob running for the California Senate in 1961. Bob credits Bill for keeping the party in Ventura County strong in good times and bad.

True to a life lived on his own terms, when Bill learned the end was near, he left the hospital to ``be at home, in front of the fire, with his arm around (his wife) Lucy,'' recalled his daughter, Helen.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in remembering Bill Lucking for a life lived to the fullest, who made contributions great and small in war and in peace, and who serves as an inspiration to all Americans.

Godspeed, Bill.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to make the following rollcall vote on January 19, 2007:

H.R. 475, The House Page Board Revision Act (Rollcall vote 42). On the motion to pass the bill, had I been present, I would have voted, ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act to address the brutal, inhumane practice of animal fighting, something I have been trying to federally criminalize for the past several Congresses.

A few years ago, Congress enacted legislation to tighten federal law and close some loopholes that were allowing the barbaric practices of animal fighting to thrive nationwide, in spite of bans in virtually every state.

But Congress didn't finish the job. We left in place weak penalties that have proven ineffective. Misdemeanor penalties simply don't provide a meaningful deterrent. Those involved in animal fighting ventures--where thousands of dollars typically change hands in the associated gambling activity--consider misdemeanor penalties a ``slap on the wrist'' or merely a ``cost of doing business.'' Moreover, we've heard from U.S. Attorneys that they are reluctant to pursue animal fighting cases with just a misdemeanor penalty.

In recent years, we've seen a marked rise in the frequency of animal fighting busts in communities across the country. Local police and sheriffs are increasingly concerned about animal fighting, not only because of the animal cruelty involved, but also because of the other crimes that often go hand-in-hand, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and acts of human violence. Furthermore, there is an inherent danger for the children of animal fighters to be close to these animals.

There is the additional concern that cockfighters spread diseases that jeopardize poultry flocks and even public health. We in California experienced this first-hand, when cockfighters spread exotic Newcastle disease, which was so devastating to many of our poultry producers in 2002 and 2003. That outbreak cost U.S. taxpayers ``nearly $200 million to eradicate, and cost the U.S. poultry industry many millions more in lost export markets,'' according to former Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. Cockfighting has been identified as the major contributor of the spread of avian flu throughout Thailand and other parts of Asia, where the strain originated. Many of the humans who contracted avian flu and died from it contracted it from fighting birds. Experts say it's just a matter of time before it reaches our shores.

It is time Congress finishes the job and helps state and local law enforcement officials who have requested a strengthening of federal laws to rid animal fighting from communities that do not want it.

This legislation makes violations of federal animal fighting law a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, makes it a felony to transport an animal across state or international borders for the purpose of animal fighting, and prohibits the interstate and foreign commerce in knives and gaffs designed for use in cockfighting.

In the past, this legislation has been endorsed by nearly 400 law enforcement organizations, 110 animal control and humane organizations, and a number of industry organizations as well, and I expect to have their support again. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Act of 2006 had 324 cosponsors and was passed through the Senate by unanimous consent. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation so we can end the deplorable practice of animal fighting and all of the destructive behavior associated with it.

Madam Speaker, today I introduced six bills that focus on the problems of illegal immigration and identity theft.

The first priority for this new Congress and any Congress, for that matter, should be to reduce the high levels of illegal immigrants entering this nation. This is a problem that goes directly to our responsibilities as a sovereign nation to secure our borders and enforce our laws.

Two of my bills address the crux of the illegal immigration problem in the United States. We know that most illegal immigrants come here looking for work. If we stop illegal workers from gaining employment, they would be less likely to enter our country illegally in the first place

To get a job, a person must provide his employer with a social security number. In many cases, an illegal immigrant simply provides a name and a fictitious social security number. Too often, an illegal immigrant has adopted the identity of a hard working American who is unaware that his identity has been stolen until he is refused a loan or contacted by an irate creditor.

The federal government currently has the capability to deter identity theft. Every year, employers have to file W-2 forms with the Social Security Administration that include the names, social security numbers and addresses of their workers.

Today, when the Social Security Administration receives multiple W-2 forms with the same social security number and different names and/or addresses, it simply ignores it, even when it is obvious that more than one person is using a Social Security number!

In other cases, when an employer files a W-2 with a name and Social Security number that does not match, the government simply mails the worker a letter explaining the discrepancy. That's it. The Social Security Administration does little to no follow-up. This has led to many discrepancies that the Social Security Administration has yet to resolve. In fact, a GAO report found that as of November 2004, there were 246 million unresolved discrepancies--involving $463 billion-- dating back to 1937, the beginning of the Social Security program.

My legislation would change that.

The Employment Eligibility Verification and Anti-Identity Theft Act would require workers to resolve discrepancies if their names and Social Security numbers do not match. Employers would have to terminate workers who do not resolve discrepancies. The Social Security Administration would also be required to notify the Department of Homeland Security so it can investigate whether a crime has been committed.

The Identity Theft Notification Act of 2007 would require the Social Security Administration to investigate if it receives more than eight (8) separate W -2 forms with the same Social Security number if the number corresponds with four (4) different addresses in a single year. If the Social Security Administration finds

evidence of fraudulent activity, it is required to notify not only the Department of Homeland Security, but also the legal possessor of that Social Security number. This will enable innocent people to take steps to protect their credit, identity, and good name.

Although jobs are the primary magnets that bring illegal immigrants to this country, I have also introduced another bill that will remove a major incentive for people to come to this country illegally.

The Citizenship Reform Act of 2007 would simply bring our laws into line with virtually every other nation on earth by requiring that at least one parent be a citizen or permanent resident in order for a child to become automatically a citizen.

Additionally, I have also introduced a bill that will make our current immigration law more fair. Under current law, an illegal immigrant who leaves the country faces a bar of up to three years if he has been in the country illegally for more than 6 months, and a ten year bar if he has been here illegally for more than a year. However, if an illegal immigrant never leaves the country but applies to adjust his status, he faces no reentry prohibitions. This is fundamentally unfair. My legislation provides that all illegal immigrants face the same penalty--even if they are eligible for a change in status.

Finally, I have introduced two bills that would criminalize actions common among illegal immigrants.

Unfortunately, many illegal immigrants who are apprehended and agree to voluntarily depart either fail to leave or leave only to return. My bill would make it a felony, with a mandatory one year jail sentence, for illegal immigrants agree to leave and then either fail to leave or return illegally.

I have also found that too many illegal immigrants have figured out that they are given a ``get out of jail free card'' when they are given a notice to appear. Another bill I have introduced would make it a felony, with a mandatory one-year jail sentence, when illegal immigrants ignore the law and refuse to appear in court when ordered.

I know that these bills, if passed, will dramatically reduce illegal immigration and identity theft. I ask my colleagues for their support to protect our nation's sovereignty and our citizens' identities.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to make the following rollcall votes on December 8, 2006:

H. Res. 1101, Waiving all points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 5682 and against its consideration (rollcall vote 529). On agreeing to the resolution, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

H. Res. 1099, Relating to consideration of the bill H.R. 6111 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the Tax Court may review claims for equitable innocent spouse relief and to suspend the running on the period of limitations while such claims are pending (rollcall vote 530). Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

H. Res. 1088, Expressing support for Lebanon's democratic institutions and condemning the recent terrorist assassination of Lebanese parliamentarian and Industry Minister Pierre Amine Gemayel (rollcall vote 531). On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, I would have voted ``aye.''

H.R. 6111, Markey of Massachusetts Amendment (rollcall vote 532). On the motion to amend the House Amendment to Senate Amendment, I would have voted ``nay.''

H.R. 6111, Tax Relief and Health Care Act (rollcall vote 533). On the Motion to Agree to Senate Amendment with Amendment, I would have voted ``aye.''

H. Res. 1091, Condemning in the strongest terms Iran's commitment to hold an international Holocaust denial conference (rollcall vote 534). On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended, I would have voted ``aye.''

H.R. 5948, Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006 (rollcall vote 537). On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5948) to reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5948, the Belarus Democracy Act of 2006, was introduced by my good friend, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey. I would like to commend Mr. Smith for his hard work on this issue and also for the work on supporting and promoting human rights throughout the entire world.

This important legislation reauthorizes the original Belarus Democracy Act, which was signed into law by President Bush in October of 2004. Given the anti-democratic track record of the Lukashenka regime in the past 2 years, it is entirely appropriate for Congress to reauthorize this statute.

Mr. Speaker, Belarus is often described as the last dictatorship in Europe, and the situation has only gone from bad to worse. In the past three or four years, President Alexander Lukashenka has increased repression against NGOs, media outlets, and any opponents of the government, including youth groups.

In addition, presidential elections held in March of this year were widely viewed as neither free nor fair.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5948 promotes democracy or democratic development, human rights and the rule of law in Belarus. It also promotes that countries enter into a democratic Euro-Atlantic community of nations.

The bill authorizes funds for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for democracy-building activities such as support for nongovernmental organizations, development of democratic political parties and independent media. It also authorizes funds for radio and television broadcasting in Belarus.

Finally, H.R. 5948 puts Congress on record in support of sanctions against the Lukashenka regime until the Government of Belarus has made significant progress in meeting several human rights conditions.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important measure in the support of human rights and democracy in Belarus. At a time when Belarus's neighbors, such as Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic Nations, have democratic governments that respect the rights of their citizens, it is long overdue that the Lukashenka regime provide the same freedoms for its citizens.

Again, I would like to compliment my good friend, Representative Smith, for his hard work on H.R. 5948 and on behalf of the democracy in Belarus. And I urge the passage of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) who is not only the sponsor of the bill, but also sponsored the 2004 bill.

Mr. Speaker, before I yield back, I would just like to say that this is a classic example of sending a message around the world of what America is all about. We stand here in this room, not as Democrats and Republicans, but as individuals fighting oppression and human rights violations around the world.

I applaud Chris Smith for his longstanding leadership. It has been an honor for me to serve with my good friend Tom Lantos on the other side of the aisle, it doesn't seem possible that I have been here 20 years, Tom, but he is a colleague from California. He is to be applauded.

I would be remiss if I didn't recognize our mutual friend, Henry Hyde, a mentor of mine for every year that I have been here on an ongoing basis, who has dedicated much of his life to fighting oppression and the violation of human rights around the world.

Henry Hyde will be missed, as he is retiring this year, but his legacy will live on, and I hope that is a message we will send to the rest of the world. That is what America is all about.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory of my friend, Don Pruner, who died suddenly last week.

Don Pruner is remembered by many for being a shrewd businessman who brought professional emergency medical services to eastern Ventura County, California, my home for more than 40 years, and paramedics to all of Ventura County. I remember as well his love of fishing, his hearty laugh, and our shared love of antique autos.

I met Don and his wife, Jackie, at a Christmas party in 1969. We've been friends ever since. Don was an eternal teenager who loved life to its fullest while exuding the maturity of a loving husband and father who knew the pulse of the community and how he could fulfill its needs.

Don bought Conejo Ambulance Service in 1963. He expanded the business by working 24 hours, 7 days a week, and driving a 1958 Pontiac Ambulance, hiring off-duty firefighters and sheriff's deputies to make the runs with him. Eventually, the business evolved under Don and Jackie's guidance into Pruner Health Services.

Don's success as a businessman was matched by his success as a human being. Don Pruner has countless friends and a wonderful, loving family. A native Southern Californian, he never strayed from his roots.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in remembering Don Pruner as a health care pioneer in Ventura County, California, as a good friend, a loving family man, and a lover of life. In addition, I know they join me in extending our condolences to Jackie and their three children and all who called Don a friend.

Godspeed, Don.