Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such times I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2443, the Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Act of 2003. Before I discuss the bill or make comments on it, I would first like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the distinguished chairman of the full committee, for all of his efforts on behalf of the Coast Guard and, in particular, for this bill, also thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), our ranking member, who certainly has been a champion of the Coast Guard and worked closely with us, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking member on the Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, for their help and cooperation with this legislation.

This legislation was developed in a bipartisan manner and deserves the support of all the Members of Congress. The primary purpose of this bill is to authorize expenditures for the United States Coast Guard and the Federal Maritime Commission for the fiscal year 2004.

Title I of the bill authorizes for fiscal year 2004 approximately $7.1 billion for Coast Guard programs and operations. The bill also authorizes the administration's request for 18.5 million for the Federal Maritime Commission.

This legislation will increase funding for Coast Guard programs at a level above the administration's request to ensure that the service can meet its traditional missions and make meaningful progress toward carrying out its homeland security responsibilities under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

The bill funds the Coast Guard at levels requested by the President plus an additional $460 million. Of this amount, $70 million is for conducting the mandated U.S. port security plan approvals, $202 million to keep the Deepwater Capital Acquisition Program on track to meet its original 20-year implementation plan, $80 million to install equipment on already delivered C-130J aircraft, $39 million to establish a west coast HITRON squadron, $50 million for

conducting foreign port security assessments and foreign vessel security plan reviews, and, finally, $19 million is for making the Truman-Hobbs bridge alterations.

I am particularly concerned about the funding shortfalls for the critically important Deepwater recapitalization program designed to replace the Coast Guard's aging fleet of vessels and aircraft. From the start, Deepwater has been underfunded, jeopardizing on-time delivery of important assets. The effective accomplishment of the Coast Guard's national and homeland security missions, as well as its ability to sustain the level of performance of its traditional missions, is predicated upon having the required funding to recapitalize its aging assets sooner than the appropriated 20-year plan.

As evidence of this, I attended on Saturday the return of the Coast Guard cutter Dependable from a drug interdiction mission in the Caribbean where it actually had confiscated a record Coast Guard bust. The drug smugglers had dumped about 2,500 pounds overboard and the Dependable and its crew had actually confiscated about the same amount. DEA was there to take control of the substance, to destroy it, but when listening to the discussion and listening to the account of how this took place, it is remarkable that the Coast Guard cutter Dependable, which was commissioned during the 1960s, with a top speed of only 17 knots and an aging frame, was able to counter the drugies with their fast boat with only a rigid-hull inflatable that was like a Corvair chasing a Corvette.

Operation Deepwater is critically needed. I strongly endorse increasing the Coast Guard's overall funding level in order to support a faster Deepwater recapitalization program commensurate with the findings of the Deepwater acceleration plan submitted to the Congress in March of 2003.

In addition to authorizing the Coast Guard's fiscal year 2004 budget and personnel resources, the measure also provides parity between certain Coast Guard and Department of Defense authorities, improves personnel management, and includes provisions to allow the service to better accomplish its traditional regulatory and law enforcement missions.

The recent ferry accident in New York Harbor shows that the maritime transportation will never be perfect. However, the Coast Guard's constant and careful review of vessel and crew minimizes the number of maritime accidents we see in the United States. The service's response efforts also minimize the impact those incidents have in terms of loss of life and damage to property.

I did hold a hearing in New York, on Tuesday of this week, to look for ways in which we can further improve our prevention and response system.

In preparing this bill, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee held hearings on the Coast Guard's and the Federal Maritime Commission's budget request and the legislative provisions in the Coast Guard's proposal. The bill contains many of the Coast Guard's legislative requests, as well as items of concern to Members of Congress that were brought to our attention.

Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to commend the men and women of the Coast Guard. They do an amazing and remarkable job. Their ongoing traditional missions of illegal drug interdiction, of fisheries law enforcement, search and rescue, is always making the news. But what is really remarkable is the job that they are now doing on homeland and port security which is something that is new, that has been added to them since the terrible tragedy of September 11 of 2001.

America benefits from a strong Coast Guard that is equipped to stop terrorists and drug smugglers, support the country's defense, protect our natural resources, rescue mariners in distress, and respond to national emergencies.

We must act now to put the Coast Guard on sound financial footing, to be ready to respond to our increased homeland security demands, and other critical duties that the Coast Guard carries out daily. And the men and women of the Coast Guard are more than prepared to do their mission if we will only give them enough resources, enough assets and enough personnel to do the job. This bill will help ensure that that happens.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to support this piece of legislation.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Transportation.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, we have no further speakers on general debate. I reserve the balance of my time.

We are reserving the balance of our time.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment which has been worked out with the minority to make changes from the reported bill.

In addition to reaching an agreement with the full committee ranking Democratic member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the amendment includes provisions that have been proposed by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Schrock), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee). I appreciate the interest of all of these Members in this bill, and I look forward to their support today.

The amendment restructures the authorization to match the format used in the appropriation measure which funds the Coast Guard. It also makes changes to laws governing management of the Coast Guard. The amendment protects the Coast Guardsmen while they are forced to use disabling fire. It also authorizes a Coast Guard ROTC pilot program, allows the Coast Guard yard to work with private firms on government ship repair jobs, and allows the commandant to make recommendations directly to Congress.

The amendment also makes changes to shipping laws. It sets standards for vessel classification societies operating in the United States, and specifies membership in maritime security advisory committees.

Finally, the amendment contains other numerous issues of interest to members. It allows the Coast Guard to convey certain property it no longer uses, requires long-overdue regulations to be published by February 1, 2004, mandates a National Academy of Science study of future polar icebreaking needs, establishes a pilot project for improving the technology related to issuing merchant mariners' documents. It also authorizes funds to implement an intelligence-based vessel profiling system and a long-rang automated vessel tracking system for vessels operating in U.S. waters, and expresses the sense of Congress that Coast Guard should address safety risks posed by elevated levels of carbon monoxide in recreational vessels.

Again, this amendment has been worked out on a bipartisan basis. It incorporates numerous provisions sought by Members of both parties. It also makes improvements to U.S. maritime policy and Coast Guard management. I urge Members to vote in favor of this amendment.

Madam Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his amendment. We have looked it over, and we think it is a good amendment; and we are prepared to accept it.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for raising some very good points. We will certainly take a close look at this. It is an issue that I think most Members in this body can agree that we want to put a focus of attention on.

I strongly agree with the gentleman that, while I understand the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Wisconsin, that this is not the right amendment, that this is the wrong time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, as Chair of the Subcommittee for Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment, and I join with the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the chairman of the full committee, in saying that, first and foremost, this is a matter of national security.

This Deepwater Program that we are finally under way with and finally gaining some momentum with is replacing the aged assets of the Coast Guard that are desperately needed. Prior to September 11, it was an issue that just related to Coast Guard traditional missions. Since September 11, with the role that the Coast Guard has taken for homeland and port security, it is essential that we replace these assets as quickly as possible.

If in fact this amendment were to pass, the Coast Guard's National Security Cutter would be delayed by 18 months. That is totally unacceptable. The proposed amendment would also force the layoff of a number of U.S. workers; not workers in Germany, not workers somewhere else, workers right here in the United States of America. That is unacceptable.

This proposal actually is an attempt to rewrite and to go beyond the Buy America provisions that currently apply to the Coast Guard's Deepwater Program and would cancel, I repeat, cancel the current task force order that was awarded to another American company.

In addition to this, for those of my colleagues who are fiscally minded, this amendment, if enacted, would cost the American taxpayers in excess of $160 million. Unacceptable. Unacceptable on all fronts.

This was a bidding process that we entered into that we went through. I understand that there is a regional dispute about how one company was affected. But it was done fairly, it was done properly.

For the sake of the Coast Guard, and I will say that the Coast Guard has not taken a formal position because they have not had the opportunity to see this amendment in writing and to respond, but I feel very confident in saying that the Coast Guard would strongly oppose this if they had the opportunity to respond in writing for all of the reasons outlined above.

So I would urge my colleagues as strongly as I can to understand the implications of the Deep Water program moving forward, not being delayed, to understand the implications of national security, to understand the implications of taxpayer dollars being spent wisely, and vote against this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 2443, the Clerk be authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation and cross references, and to make such other necessary technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to reflect the actions of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2443.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the men and women of the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey on receiving an Air Force Outstanding

Unit Commendation for their ongoing homeland defense efforts as part of Operation Noble Eagle.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 177th ``Jersey Devils'' have dedicated themselves to securing the skies of the East Coast from terrorist threats and have set an example of excellence for their colleagues in the military and for their neighbors in the Second Congressional District of New Jersey.

Recently, I accompanied General Ralph Eberhart, Commander of the Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), on a trip to the 177th Fighter Wing to review the unit and thank them for their service. The pride and devotion to duty I saw that day was at the same level it was in the days after September 11 and I am firmly convinced this dedication will remain evident and strong for the duration.

This award is well deserved and I want to congratulate the leaders of the NJANG 177th Fighter Wing--Wing Commander Col. Michael G. Cosby, Vice Commander Col. Barry M. Johnson, Vice Wing Commander Lt. Col. Brian L. Webster, Vice Air Commander Lt. Col. Randall S. King, Executive Officer Capt. Yvonne L. Mays, and Command Chief Master Sergeant Herbert E. Mimler, Jr. on this award.

I also congratulate the Wing's group, squadron and flight commanders including Lt. Col. Roger F. Pharo, Jr., Lt. Col. Richard L. Hutchinson, Col. James T. Strader, Jr., Col. David J. Mellish, Lt. Col. Jeffrey C. Thomas, Maj. David G. Haar, Lt. Col. John C. Elwood, Lt. Col. Kerry M. Gentry, Maj. Michael K. Love, Maj. Stephen G. McBrearty, Maj. John J. Fogarty III, Lt. Col. Harry Hartman, Lt. Col. Scott J. Barberides, Capt. Diana M. Brown, 2nd Lt. Richard L. Defeo, 2nd Lt. Brian W. McCarthy and Capt. Thomas S. Fanslau. I salute each and every member of the Wing for their hard work and service to our nation. The efforts of the 177th Fighter Wing have been essential to America's homeland defense and this award honors those efforts. Congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail incorporates the very best of what the great State of New Jersey has to offer the rest of the Nation. Established by Congress in 1988, the Trail unifies New Jersey's many scenic points of interest. These points of interest include a wealth of environmental, historic, maritime and recreational sights found along New Jersey's coastline, stretching 300 miles from Perth Amboy to the north, Cape May in the extreme southern tip of the State and Deepwater to the west.

The Trail's area includes three National Wildlife Refuges, four tributaries of a Wild and Scenic River system, a Civil War fort and National cemetery, several lighthouses, historic homes, and other sites tied to southern New Jersey's maritime history. Through a network of themes and destinations, the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail connects people with places of historic, recreational, environmental and maritime interest.

One exciting aspect of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route is its focus on maritime history. There is a rich story to be told about the industries once sustained by the Delaware Bay, such as whaling, shipbuilding, oystering and crabbing. While we often define our Nation's history through military or political milestones, the Trail will serve to remind visitors that maritime-dependent commerce was a major factor in the growth of the United States.

``Eco-tourism'' along the Coastal Heritage Trail has proven to be a huge success. There is an abundant variety of natural habitats and species to be found on the Trail. Whale and dolphin watching have become extremely popular, and bird lovers from throughout the country, and in fact around the world, are realizing what Southern New Jersey residents have known all along: our region is unmatched for observing migratory birds, ospreys and bald eagles.

Today, I am introducing legislation to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. This legislation would extend the authorization of the Trail to provide an additional $4 million over 5 years to continue the work began in 1988. It would also initiate a Strategic Plan which would explore opportunities to increase participation by national and local private and public interests, as well as organizational options for sustaining the Trail.

The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail has helped New Jersey residents develop pride, awareness, experience with, and understanding of our coastal resources and its history. This reauthorization will allow the Trail to continue and flourish.

I urge my colleagues in the House to support this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman very much.

Offered By: Mr. LoBiondo

Amendment No. 12: Page 10, line 8, after the first dollar

amount, insert the following: ``(reduced by

$2,000,000)(increased by $2,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. LoBiondo

Amendment No. 13: Page 11, line 16, after the first dollar

amount, insert the following: ``(increased by $39,485,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the members and coaches of the Holy Spirit High School Girls' Crew Team of Absecon, New Jersey on their winning the coveted Peabody Cup world championship at the 16th Annual Henley Women's Regatta held at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England on June 22, 2003. The girls' varsity eight defeated the Kingston Grammar School in the final 1,500 meter race by two boat lengths in a time of five minutes, eighteen seconds. This victory in the final came just hours after Holy Spirit defeated the British national junior champion team in the morning semifinal.

Holy Spirit's proud championship tradition is well-known in the world's rowing community and this team has upheld and enhanced that tradition with their victory this year. They have a direct link with another world championship Holy Spirit crew. Their coach, Joe Welsh, was a member of the Holy Spirit boys' crew team that won a world championship at Henley in 1976. No doubt, the achievements of the girls' varsity eight in the 2003 Henley are a welcome addition to the Holy Spirit championship tradition and will serve to inspire young rowers.

I congratulate Coach Welsh and the members of the Holy Spirit girls' varsity eight--bow Robin Cascoli, Kristen Haneman, Robyn Brennan, Jen Maslanka, Andrea Haneman, Eileen Welsh, Christa Laquinta, stroke Teri Francesco and coxswain Jamie Marcone--on

their victory at the Henley Women's Regatta to become world champions and offer on behalf of all the residents of the Second Congressional District of New Jersey our appreciation for their achievements.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that continues my campaign and the campaign of many others to ensure that our maritime security efforts have as much resources available to defend against the potential disaster of an attack at one or more of our ports. My amendment would increase funding for the Coast Guard by $110 million; $35 million would go to fund the congressionally mandated review and approval of approximately 10,000 facilities and vessel security plans that owners and operators must submit to the Coast Guard next year; and $75 million to help get the critically needed Deep Water Acquisition Program back on track.

My amendment would provide roughly half of what has been requested for support by the Coast Guard for these programs.

Tomorrow in the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure session, we will be marking up the 2004 Coast Guard Authorization Act, which provides the funding for these important programs at the level requested and supported by the Coast Guard.

I would add that over 85 Members of the House have sent the appropriators a letter in support of our authorized level of funding.

At a May 22 hearing before my subcommittee, the commandant of the Coast Guard explained that the Coast Guard would need an additional $70 million to fund 150 full-time personnel to review and approve of the Vessel and Facility Security Plans mandated by the MTSA. If these plans are not reviewed and approved by the Coast Guard within a year of its submission, the owners will not be allowed to operate their vessels in U.S. waters, and noncompliant port facilities would be shut down.

With 95 percent of our Nation's trade entering and leaving our ports, this will have a chilling effect on our economy. Moreover, without additional funding to meet this congressionally imposed mandate, the Coast Guard will have to divert precious resources and personnel from other traditional missions, including search and rescue, drug interdiction, and fisheries enforcement. My amendment would provide $35 million for this purpose, half of what is needed.

At a June 3 hearing before my subcommittee, the commandant announced his support for the $702 million in funding for Deepwater. This level of funding represents what is needed to counteract 3 years of underfunding and would get the program back on track.

The Coast Guard operates the second oldest naval fleet in the world, and some assets have been commissioned since World War II. Nearly half of the 110-foot Patrol Boat Fleet is in immediate need of repair for structural deterioration and has cost over 6 months of lost patrol days on the west coast. On average, the High Endurance Cutter Fleet is having a fire in their main engineering spaces on every patrol, and the fleet's main search and rescue helicopter is equipped with radar designed and installed nearly 20 years ago. Therefore, the successful and timely implementation of Deepwater would ensure that the Coast Guard would have the modern assets necessary to respond to any threats necessary.

Mr. Chairman, I understand the very difficult decision-making process that confronted the appropriators in drafting this bill. I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) for their work, and at this point I would indicate my willingness to withdraw my amendment if the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) would be willing to enter into a colloquy with me.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, will the chairman enter into a colloquy with me on this subject?

Mr. Chairman, as I have said, I am willing to withdraw my amendment if the gentleman agrees to work with me as the bill moves forward to increase funding for the Deepwater program and provide additional funding for the review and approval of the Vessel and Facility Security Plans.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this issue and recognize the very difficult decision-making process he was confronted with in development of this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Offered By: Mr. LoBiondo

Amendment No. 7: In title II, in the item ``IMMIGRATION AND

CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT--Air and Marine Interdiction'', after the

dollar amount insert ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.

In title II, in the item ``TRANSPORTATION SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION--Aviation Security''--

(1) after the first dollar amount insert ``(reduced by

$10,000,000)''; and

(2) after the fourth dollar amount insert ``(reduced by

$10,000,000)''.

In title II, in the item ``TRANSPORTATION SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION--Administration'', after the dollar amount

insert ``(reduced by $36,000,000)''.

In title IV, in the item ``CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

SERVICES--Operating Expenses'', after the dollar amount

insert ``(reduced by $12,000,000)''.

In title IV, in the item ``UNITED STATES COAST GUARD--

Operating Expenses'', after the first dollar amount insert

``(increased by $35,000,000)''.

In title IV, in the item ``UNITED STATES COAST GUARD--

Acquisitions, Construction, and Improvements''--

(1) after the first dollar amount insert ``(increased by

$75,000,000)''; and

(2) after the sixth dollar amount insert ``(increased by

$75,000,000)''.

In title IV, in the item ``SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY--

Research, Development, Acquisition, and Operations'', after

the dollar amount insert ``(reduced by $47,000,000)''.

Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank Chairman Hunter, for yielding me this time and thank you for including my language in your en-bloc amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the horrific events of September 11th reminded us all of the importance of protecting our Nation and its people. Unfortunately, these emerging terrorist threats will continue to be an issue for many years to come.

National homeland defense must be our highest priority. We must utilize the unique capabilities and expertise of all agencies in this effort, including the Department of Defense.

The military's mission has been fundamentally changed by the new homeland defense requirements. This mission change has been significant enough to warrant the creation of another major combatant command-- Northern Command--to be responsible for national homeland defense.

We must identify exactly what the Department of Defense needs to execute this vital mission. Major steps are already being taken in this area. However, it is essential that we continue to closely examine what is needed to protect America during this dangerous time. Military construction to support the homeland defense mission is an integral part of the picture.

Homeland defense has not been traditionally used as a determining factor in the funding of MILCON projects. I remain concerned that we do not evaluate our military construction needs in light of the new homeland defense mission. This amendment will ensure that all MILCON projects, regardless of when submitted, be evaluated in part for their contribution to the homeland defense mission.

Postponing needed military construction required for homeland defense is something we cannot afford to do.

We need to make homeland defense one of the principle criteria for all future military construction programs. For example, in my district, the 177th Fighter Wing has been worldwide-deployable, but is now focused on homeland defense.

NORAD and NORTHCOM have given this wing responsibility for 24-hour alert and combat air patrol along the mid-Atlantic, including responsibility for cap missions over New York City and Washington, DC.

Because of this new 24-hour alert site status, the wing's needs have changed. Their military construction requirements have changed and this amendment will ensure the MILCON process recognizes this trend nationwide.

I encourage you to vote for this amendment to help preserve our homeland defense. Finally, I join with you to commend the men and women of our Nation's Armed Forces for service and thank them for securing the freedom we all enjoy.

I thank the gentlewoman from Washington for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 2185 which will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to workers whose State jobless benefits will expire at the end of this month. I believe that we need to make sure that unemployed workers can continue to look for work with a degree of security that they can pay their bills. This legislation is the right way to accomplish this goal. I supported an extension of unemployment benefits in January and at that time signaled my belief that we should extend benefits throughout all of 2003 to give the economy time to recover and Congress a chance to pass a strong jobs and growth package. Tonight, we will pass that package, and we will also make unemployed workers eligible for unemployment benefits through the end of the year.

I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the

chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means; I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), a colleague whom I have worked with closely to help working men and women; and I would like for all of my colleagues to think about, as we prepare to go back to our districts to answer to the folks that we represent next week, that we think about people in the real world, people who are around that kitchen table who know that they have a problem on their hands. This gives us an opportunity to say that we have listened, we have recognized the problem, and we are willing to do something about it. People will argue maybe that this is not perfect, but it is a good step that everyone should support, and we should look for additional ways to help working men and women get through these troubled times.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 173. This resolution recognizes the achievements and contributions of the National Wildlife Refuge System on the occasion of its centennial anniversary and expresses strong support for the continued success of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside Pelican Island off Florida's east coast to preserve the natural beauty of the islands for future generations. This act gave birth to a vision for America that has become the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Each year, millions of people who share Teddy Roosevelt's passion for the outdoors and his devotion to preserving these places visit and enjoy more than 540 refuges and nearly 100 million acres nationwide all set aside for the wildlife that live and visit these areas and for the people that treasure these natural wonders.

In my Southern New Jersey District, we have much to be thankful for with the trio of jewels that are the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Salem County, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Atlantic and Burlington Counties, and the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge in Cape May County. These three refuges provide both a welcome respite for important species who visit in this area as well as places for thousands of visitors to see these species in their natural habitat.

Throughout my service in Congress, I have been proud to work to preserve and enhance these wildlife refuges. However, much of the credit for the hard work of protecting our wildlife refuges must go to the dedicated employees and volunteers at each of our local refuges. Without their dedication and drive, these refuges would not be a living realization off Teddy Roosevelt's dream which began a century ago.

It is my hope that one hundred years from now, those who visit these national treasures are as astounded and inspired by the same beauty that the National Wildlife Refuge System is working so hard to preserve today.

Mr. Speaker, in the coming months we will be marking the third anniversary of the tragic death of one of my constituents. U.S. Navy Ensign John Elliott, who had just received his commission to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, was struck and killed by a drunk driver on July 22, 2000. The accident instantly killed Elliott and seriously injured his passenger, Kristen Hohenwarter.

Sadly, it was later discovered that the driver responsible for Elliott's death had been arrested for drunken driving earlier that evening. Elliott was on his way home for his mother's birthday party when he crossed paths with the intoxicated driver.

Nearly three years after that tragic accident, his parents continue the fight to save other families from the grief they have endured. Lobbying the New Jersey State Legislature, the Elliotts saw to fruition the drafting, passage and ultimate enactment of John's Law. The law ensures that individuals who pick up an arrested driver sign a document accepting custody. Additionally, it gives State Police the authorization to impound the automobile of an arrested driver for up to 12 hours.

Today, I am introducing a bill expressing the sense of Congress that funding should be made available from the Highway Trust Fund to encourage all states to enact legislation to require law enforcement officers to impound motor vehicles of those charged with driving while intoxicated and to issue responsibility warnings to those who take custody of suspects driving while intoxicated. The legislation also requires the National Traffic Safety Board to report to Congress on the number and severity of traffic accidents caused by individuals who were released by state and local police hours after being charged with DWI and to make recommendations on the need for states to adopt statutes similar to John's Law.

We are making important strides to eliminate the senseless deaths caused by the lethal mix of alcohol and automobiles. Annual deaths from drinking and driving have decreased from approximately 28,000 in 1980 to 16,068 in 2000. In 1982, 57 percent of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. In 2000, that percentage fell to 38 percent. However, much work remains to be done. Each death is a preventable one and I am sure this resolution will go a long way in ensuring deaths like Ensign Elliott's are prevented and families are saved from the pain the Elliotts and other families across the nation have endured.

I urge my colleagues in the House to support this resolution.