Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, I was unable to vote on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to S. Con. Res. 26, Honoring and memorializing the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 (rollcall 465); on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3649, the Sportfishing and Recreational Boating Safety Amendments Act (rollcall 466); and on the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 276, the Wind Cave National Boundary Revision Act (rollcall 467). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three measures.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 6, 2005, I was unable to vote on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 360, commemorating the 60th anniversary of V-J Day and the end of World War II in the Pacific (rollcall vote 454); and on the motion to suspend the rules and pass as amended, S.J. Res. 19, Calling on the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act (rollcall vote 455). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both measures.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 25, 2005, I was unable to vote to suspend the rules and pass H.J. Res. 59, sense of Congress with respect to the establishment of an appropriate day for the commemoration of the women's suffragists (rollcall 417); H. Con. Res. 181, supporting the goals and ideals of National Life Insurance Awareness Month (rollcall 418); and H. Res. 376, expressing the sense of the House that the Federal Trade Commission should investigate the publication of the video game ``Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' to determine if the publisher intentionally deceived the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to avoid an ``Adults-Only'' rating (rollcall 419). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three measures.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 14, 2005 I was unable to vote on several matters because I was testifying before the Los Angeles regional BRAC hearing on behalf of Naval Base Ventura County. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``no'' on the motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (rollcall vote 373); ``yes'' on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3100, the East Asia Security Act of 2005 (rollcall vote 374); ``yes'' on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 356, Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in London, England on July 7, 2005 (rollcall vote 375); ``no'' on Rohrabacher amendment to H.R. 2864, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (rollcall vote 376); ``no'' on the Flake amendment to H.R. 2864, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (rollcall vote 377); ``yes'' on passage of H.R. 2864, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (rollcall 378); and ``yes'' on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 191, Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the conclusion of the War in the Pacific and honoring the veterans of both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters of the Second World War (rollcall 379).

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 11, 2005 I was unable to vote on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 168, Condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the abductions and continued captivity of citizens of the Republic of Korea and Japan as acts of terrorism and gross violations of human rights (rollcall 363); and H. Res. 333, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Weekend of Prayer and Refection for Darfur, Sudan (rollcall 364). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both measures.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to musician, vocalist, actor, community advocate and friend Frankie Avalon.

Frankie Avalon is a show business icon. In some ways he is also a show business anomaly. Frankie Avalon has been the loving husband of 43 years to Kathryn, and the devoted father to his eight children, four boys and four girls. He is also a firm believer in giving back to his community. A resident of the city of Thousand Oaks in my district, he will exhibit that quality once again when he appears as Master of Ceremonies at the Awards Dinner following Monday's 2nd Annual Michael DiRaimondo Foundation Golf Tournament and Silent Auction.

U.S. Army medic Michael DiRaimondo died when his medical helicopter crashed in Iraq after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in January 2004. His parents, Tony and Carol, launched the foundation to provide scholarships to those who wish to become paramedics, a dream of their son. Frankie Avalon's participation in the event has raised its profile and has helped ensure the event was sold out.

Frankie Avalon began his show business career as a child growing up in Philadelphia, where his father inspired in him a love of playing the trumpet. By the time he was 12, Frankie Avalon was performing on national television. He also formed a dance band with another young musician, drummer Bobby Rydell. His first hit, ``De De Dinah,'' which he performed on Dick Clark's ``American Bandstand,'' sold a million copies just as he was turning 18. More million-record hits followed.

In 1960, Frankie Avalon began his movie career when he co-starred with Alan Ladd in ``Guns of the Timberland.'' In 1963 he and Annette Funicello began their series of surfing movies, ``Beach Party,'' ``Muscle Beach,'' ``Beach Blanket Bingo,'' and several others.

Frankie Avalon continued to record during his movie-making years and in the summer of 1985 teamed up with Bobby Rydell and Fabian on a successful 50-city tour as the ``The Golden Boys of Bandstand.'' In 1987 he re-united with Annette Funicello to parody their earlier beach movies with ``Back to the Beach.''

Frankie Avalon continues to perform in nightclubs and concerts, often with two of his sons, one who plays guitar and one who plays drums.

Frankie Avalon's music and movies has always presented him as a clean-cut, all-American boy. In his case, however, it is not a Hollywood facade. Frankie Avalon's success in the entertainment industry is equaled by his success as a husband and father and his success in giving back to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in thanking Frankie Avalon for decades of entertainment and in paying tribute to him for retaining and promoting the American values we all hold dear.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment.

Marijuana is not a therapeutic drug. It is a harmful drug. Proponents of medical marijuana claim that drugs help alleviate pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite for the terminally ill. But these alleged benefits are rejected by medical authorities. The American Medical Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Cancer Society, however, have all rejected the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Further, smoking pot is physically harmful. Smoking pot delivers three to five times the amount of tar and carbon monoxide as cigarettes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as much cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day. Smoking pot is not helpful; it is harmful.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 23, 2005 I was unable to vote on a motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 744, the Internet Spyware Prevention Act of 2005 (rollcall No. 200); H.R. 29, Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (rollcall No. 201); and H. Con. Res. 149, Recognizing the 57th Anniversary of the Independence of the State of Israel (rollcall No. 202). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three measures.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Pat Cimmarusti, who died this past week after 87 years of service to his family, community and Nation.

I have known Pat for more than 30 years, and he has been a good friend to my wife, Janice, and me.

Pat was born in Santa Monica, California, on January 16, 1918. After service in the U.S. Army, he and Ann Smaldino married on June 7, 1942. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary last year.

Pat and Ann's first home together was a farm in Malibu, but as they began a family Pat opened a plumbing and contracting business and they settled in Los Angeles. In 1974, they opened an Italian grocery store and vegetable market in Hollywood with their three children. The store and market were an extension of Pat's personality. He loved to cook steak dinners and make his own spaghetti sauce.

He used to take his grandchildren to a farm in Oxnard to handpick tomatoes. The next day, Pat arose at 4 a.m. and began making spaghetti sauce. By the time family began to arrive, the sauce was halfway done and Pat was preparing lunch for his wife, children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He had a hearty laugh, a warm smile, large brown eyes and great pride in his family.

Community was also important to Pat. He was a member of the American Legion and Elks Club in Pasadena, a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of UNICO National and a member of the Sons of Italy in America. In 2000, Pat was honored as one of the UNICO men of the year. He also was honored by Cardinal Roger Mahony.

Among the events Pat cherished in his life was meeting President Ronald Reagan and being blessed, with his family, by Pope John Paul II in Rome. He equally cherished attending every sporting event and graduation his children and grandchildren were involved in.

Pat is survived by his wife, Ann; his children and their spouses, Loretta Cimmarusti Chicoine and her husband, Richard, and Lawrence and Amalia and Ralph and Hallie Cimmarusti; grandchildren, Patti Chicoine Nelson and her husband, Marc, and Patrick, Ralph, Annie, Larry, Paula and Loretta Cimmarusti; and great-grandchildren, Lauren and Grant Nelson.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in expressing our condolences to Pat's family and in honoring his loving service to family, community and Nation.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 28, 2005 I was unable to vote on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 210, Supporting the goals of World Intellectual Property Day, and recognizing the importance of intellectual property in the United States and Worldwide. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on roll call vote 150.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Patricia Havens, who has dedicated her life to preserving, researching and re-telling the history of my hometown of Simi Valley, California, and who will be honored this Saturday for her decades as a teacher, director and author in pursuit of that dedication.

Forty years ago, Pat Havens and 3 others founded the Simi Valley Historical Society. The society, largely under Pat's guidance, has been responsible for documenting and saving local buildings and antiques of historical significance. Many of them are now housed at the Strathearn Historical Park and Museum, where Pat serves as the Museum Director. The projects are ongoing.

The society is currently renovating Simi Valley's first house of worship, which opened as a Presbyterian church in 1902 and became a Catholic church 10 years later. The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District purchased the building in 2002 and moved it to Strathearn Park, where it joins the Simi Adobe, which was built during the early days of the city's Spanish period beginning in 1795; the Strathearn family farmhouse that was built onto the adobe in 1892; the Simi Valley Library building that served the community from 1930-1962; and many other buildings and artifacts that tell the valley's story.

Preservation has not been enough for Pat Havens, however. Thirty years ago she began teaching the ``History of Simi Valley'' program and five years ago, in collaboration with Bill Appleton, she published through the historical society a comprehensive history of the valley, ``Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time.''

The City Council named Pat as Simi Valley's first City Historian while I was mayor of the city, a post she still holds.

Pat's ties to Simi Valley run deep. Although born in Arkansas, she moved here as a young girl and graduated from Simi Valley High School in 1947 with her future husband, Neil. Neil Havens served as the city's postmaster for 30 years, following in the steps of his father and grandfather, and died peacefully last year. Together they raised three children in Simi Valley, Debra, Barbara and Russ.

During Pat's lifetime, Simi Valley transformed from a farming community into a thriving suburban city of 120,000 people. Thanks in large part to her efforts, Simi Valley's past was preserved before it slipped away. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in thanking Pat Havens for dedicating 40 years to preserving Simi Valley's history and for helping to make it relevant to our lives today.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, March 17, 2005, I was unable to vote on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 18, Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian and Lebanese people by the government of the Syrian Arab Republic (roll call 89). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 21, 2005 I was unable to return to Washington from California for consideration of and the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 686, for the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 90.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, March 3, 2005, I had left the chamber after the voice vote on the final passage of H.R. 841, the Continuity in Representation Act, thinking that congressional business had ended for the day. I did not know that subsequently the vote was vacated and a rollcall vote was called. At that time I was on my way to Dulles Airport to fly back to my congressional district. If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage (rollcall vote 52).

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 17, 2005, I was unable to vote on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 91, Honoring the life and legacy of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (rollcall 39). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''