Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. Dr. Brazelton, the leading pediatrician in the country, has said that upon the birth of a child, the connection between a mother and a newborn begins with the first breath and touch of the child, literally, the bonding process begins.

In 1993, when this issue first came up, I voted the other way. I was on the wrong side of the issue. I would remind Members of the Congress that two of the best Members of Congress that I have ever served with were for this bill. Congressman Henry Hyde, who was a giant, and I would say one of the more pro-family people here in this Congress, and also former Senator Dan Coats, who was ranking Republican on the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, both voted for the Family Leave Act at that time.

I would urge Members to support this, because the bonding process and the immediacy and opportunity for mom to spend time with that child at the very, very beginning is very, very important.

I ask for a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I was on an official leave of absense to attend the commencement ceremony for Potomac Falls High School, a high school in my congressional district, at which I was the main commencement speaker. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Norman Longfellow Smith, a dedicated and outstanding public servant from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia. Mr. Smith passed away on May 26 at his home in Middleburg.

Mr. Smith, the former deputy chief of operations in the CIA's counterintelligence services, committed 27 tireless years to the Agency as an analyst, missile specialist, and counterintelligence officer. Mr. Smith also served in the United States Army and achieved the rank of colonel in his tenure along with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

I am inserting, for the record, the obituary which appeared in The Washington Post on June 7. Mr. Smith was an exemplary public servant and a fine example of devotion and allegiance to his country and family.

Norman Longfellow Smith, 83; CIA Official

(By Patricia Sullivan)

Norman Longfellow Smith, 83, a former deputy chief of

operations in the CIA's counterintelligence service, died of

congestive heart failure and complications of Guillain-Barre

Syndrome on May 26 at his home in Middleburg.

Mr. Smith, who joined the CIA in 1951, analyzed Soviet

armaments and, after the Soviets launched Sputnik,

specialized in ballistic missiles and space vehicles. In

1960, he chaired an intelligence community task force to

monitor missile activity outside the Soviet Union.

Dino Brugioni, an imagery analyst with the CIA's National

Photographic Interpretation Center who worked with Mr. Smith,

described him as a defensive-missile specialist in the

agency's Office of Scientific Intelligence who focused on

surface-to-air missiles.

Brugioni, who wrote ``Eyeball to Eyeball: The Inside Story

of the Cuban Missile Crisis'' (1990), said others in the

interpretation center spotted surface-to-air missile sites in

spy satellite photographs taken over Cuba in fall 1962. The

short, pipe-smoking Mr. Smith was called in, and he began

writing daily reports, concluding that construction was

rushing forward and that some sites would be operational in

two weeks, Brugioni said.

A short time later, when a U.S. U-2 spy plane was shot down

over Cuba and low-altitude spy flights came under fire, Mr.

Smith did the analysis about how and why it happened,

Brugioni said in an interview. Intercepted radio traffic was

in Russian, so it was clear that the Soviets were involved.

The information sparked what came to be known as the Cuban

missile crisis.

Mr. Smith was reassigned in 1968 to the CIA's

counterintelligence staff. He rose to the top ranks of the

division, which handles clandestine operations overseas. He

held that job until the CIA was reorganized in 1975 and 1976,

in the wake of newspaper and Senate investigations over

revelations that the agency had assassinated foreign leaders

and conducted surveillance on thousands of American citizens

active in the antiwar movement.

Mr. Smith then became executive director of a task force to

modernize and reform management procedures in the Directorate

of Operations, and he retired in 1978. He worked 10 more

years as a consultant for several defense contractors.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was drafted into the Army during

World War II and spent several years at Purdue University in

Indiana until he was sent to Europe with an infantry

division. He became an officer in the Army Reserve and

retired in 1980 as a colonel. Among his military awards were

a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

He graduated from Colgate University and in the 1950s

completed a doctoral degree at the London School of

Economics. He also attended the National University of

Mexico, Heidelberg University in Germany, New York University

and Georgetown University.

He was past president of the International Order of the

Knights of the Round Table in Arlington and treasurer of the

Arts Club of Washington. He was a member of the Diplomatic

and Consular Officers, Retired, the Central Intelligence

Retirees' Association, the Association of Former Intelligence

Officers, the Fairfax Hunt Club and the Evergreen Country

Club.

He was a Republican Party precinct chairman in Fairfax

County and a member of the Emmanuel and Trinity Episcopal

churches in Middleburg and Upperville.

His marriage to Deana Browne Smith ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Carolyn L.

Tillotson-Smith of Middleburg.

I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for his leadership. I am going to miss him and everyone is going to miss him as he leaves the body.

I would shudder to think how the Nation's Capital would function without Metro. Visitors from all over the country, as the other Members have said, and all over the world use this system when visiting the Nation's Capital.

Metro's highest ridership days have come when national events were taking place, Presidential inaugurations, holiday celebrations, 4th of July and such as the recent visit of the Pope.

Lastly, this system is vital to the emergency needs of the Nation. During the terrorist attacks of 9/11, when the Pentagon was hit, this city was immobilized and you could not get in and you could not get out. Metro was the reliable source, the reliable way to ensure that thousands were able to safely and quickly evacuate the city. This is, as the majority leader said, America's system.

I thank Mr. Davis again, and God bless him on his service.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by my Virginia colleague

and long-time advocate for the transportation needs of the Washington metropolitan area.

This House and this region are going to miss Tom Davis. He has worked tirelessly to provide the needed support and oversight of the Washington Metro system to ensure that it serves not only the residents and commuters of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, but the millions of visitors to the Capital City.

I have been pleased to work with Congressman Davis as well as Congressman Hoyer and others in the Washington metropolitan area congressional delegation to spur Congress as Metro's partner, providing the Federal investment to operate the system.

Every Congress and every administration since 1960 when President Eisenhower signed the National Capital Transportation Act creating the agency to develop a rapid rail system in the Nation's capital has recognized the Washington Metro system as America's subway.

I shudder to think how the Nation's capital would function without Metro. Visitors from all over the country and indeed the world use the system daily when visiting our nation's capital. Metro's highest ridership days have come when national events were taking place here, attended by thousands of citizens from across the country--presidential inaugurations, holiday celebrations, and events such as the Pope's recent visit.

The Metro system also supports the Federal workforce. Federal employees rely on Metro to commute back and forth to work and home every day, and also between Federal offices during the day. During peak times, over half of Metro's riders are Federal employees and contractors.

Finally, this system is vital to the emergency needs of the region. During the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Metro was the reliable way to ensure that thousands of people were able to safely and quickly evacuate the city.

Now today, with gas prices soaring, Metro serves as the mass transit option for growing numbers of commuters.

It was a 16-year effort after President Eisenhower signed the planning legislation which culminated in Metrorail's opening day in 1976 with five stations operating 4.2 miles on the Red Line. Some 12 years later in 1988, Metrorail carried its one-billionth rider. In 2001, Metro opened the five-station, 6.5-mile segment to Branch Ave, completing the 103-mile, 83 station Metrorail system.

With Metro's growing use and importance in providing mobility for thousands of riders every day, it is critical that this Congress makes sure that capital improvements and preventive maintenance are provided to ensure the system's continued operation.

With the federal investment, however, comes the expectation that Metro be accountable for the taxpayer funds which it uses. This amendment is important to that effort and I urge adoption of Congressman Davis's amendment.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to rule IX, I rise to notify the House of my intention to offer a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of my resolution is as follows:

Directing the Chief Administrative Officer and the Sergeant

At Arms of the House of Representatives to take timely action

to ensure that all Members, committees, and offices of the

House are alerted of the dangers of electronic attacks on the

computers and information systems used in carrying out their

official duties and are fully briefed on how to protect

themselves, their official records, and their communications

from electronic security breaches.

Understanding that the Clerk will finish the rest of the resolution, I ask unanimous consent that it be considered as read.

Madam Speaker, I call up the resolution just noticed.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, in August 2006, four of the computers in my personal office were compromised by an outside source. This source first hacked into the computer of my Foreign Policy and Human Rights staff person, then the computers of my Chief of Staff, my Legislative Director and my Judiciary Committee staff. On these computers was information about all the case work I've done on behalf of political dissidents and human rights activists around the world. That kind of information, as well, everything else on my computer, e-mails, memos, correspondence and district case work, was open for outside eyes to see.

I'm aware that the computers in the offices of several other Members of the Congress were similarly compromised, as well as a major committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee. That means the computers in the House Foreign Affairs Committee have been compromised. It is logical to assume that critical and sensitive information about U.S. foreign policy and the work of Congress to help people who are suffering around the world, was also open to view from those official computers.

In subsequent meetings with the House Information Resources and the FBI, it was revealed that the outside sources responsible for this attack came from within the People's Republic of China. Just so it's understood, they acknowledged that this attack came from within the People's Republic of China.

The cyber attacks permitted the source to probe our computers to evaluate our systems defenses and to view and copy information. My suspicion is some say that I perhaps was targeted by the Chinese sources because of the history of speaking out about China's abysmal, very abysmal human rights record.

My offices' computers were cleaned and returned to me by House Information Resources, but ever since this happened, I've been deeply concerned that this institution, the institution of the United States Congress, is definitely not adequately aware of or protected from these types of threats.

I've also learned that this threat exists not only here in the Capitol complex, but also when Members travel overseas. I've been told that, particularly in countries in which access to information is tightly controlled by the government, Members are at risk of having their conversations and information recorded or stolen from their cell phones and Blackberry devices. That means, when a Member of the House, the Senate or the administration goes abroad, goes to China, everything, and if they use their cell phone or they use their Blackberry, it's being recorded by the Chinese government. And I don't believe any Member of the Congress has been told of that.

As I've shared my office experience with other Members, it has become clear to me that many Members and committees of other offices in the House do not fully understand the extent of the threat against the security of their offices and how to protect themselves.

I have no information to confirm this, but it would be realistic that the Senate may also be at risk.

The committees in both Chambers on Government Reform, Intelligence, the Judiciary Committee, the Armed Services and the Homeland Security should have hearings on this issue. This is an issue that must have public hearings, as well as closed door and private hearings.

That is why, Madam Speaker, I'm here today on the House floor. I'm speaking out about the threat of cyber attacks from China and other countries on the entire U.S. government, including our military, because of my deep concern about maintaining the security and the integrity of our government.

According to a report from the Congressional Service, and I quote, ``U.S. counterintelligence officials reportedly have stated that about 140 different foreign intelligence organizations regularly attempt to hack into the computer systems of U.S. government agencies and U.S. companies.''

This happens with alarming frequency, according to a recent Business Week article entitled ``The New E-spionage Threat.'' This article states that U.S. Government agencies reported almost 13,000 cyber security incidents in fiscal year 2007, triple the number from just 2 years earlier.

The May 31 cover story of the National Journal, the respected National Journal, says, ``The Chinese Cyber-Invasion,'' and every Member should read it, titled the ``Chinese Cyber-Invasion'' reported, ``Electronic devices by the U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and his party during a December 2007 visit to China were invaded using spyware that could steal information.'' Gutierrez was in China with a high-level delegation to discuss trade-related issues.

Now, this Congress said it's concerned about trade-related issues with China, and that's why he was there, such as intellectual property rights, consumer product safety, and market access. The Associated Press also reported on the breach. Why did we learn about this in the press instead of from our own government officials? Did our government do anything about this attack? Did they get information from Secretary Gutierrez that could be used against American business in negotiation of trade agreements?

China, in particular, is actively engaged in espionage against the United States. I recently had the opportunity to read, and I hope every Member of the Congress has read, the U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission's classified report--it is in the House Intel Committee--to the Congress and found the report's conclusions to be very alarming. The report addresses China's activities in the areas of espionage, cyber warfare, and arms proliferation. I strongly urge all Members of the House to read this report as it gives a clear picture of the threat that China poses, the threat, and in their words, that China poses to our national security.

In fact, the Pentagon's 2008 annual report to Congress stated that ``in the past year, numerous computer networks around the world, including those owned by the U.S. Government, were subject to intrusions that appear to have originated within the People's Republic of China.''

According to the Business Week article in 2007, the U.S. Government launched a classified operation called Byzantine Foothold to combat sophisticated new attacks that were compromising sensitive information at the State Department and a defense contractor, such as Boeing, the source of which U.S. officials allege is China.

The Business Week article states that computer attacks have targeted sensitive information on the Internet works of at least several Federal agencies: the Defense Department, the State Department, the Energy Department, the Commerce Department, the Health and Human Services Department, and the Agriculture Department, and the Treasury Department. Defense contractors Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Raytheon, and General Dynamics have also been targeted.

Despite everything we read in the press, our intelligence and law enforcement, national security, and diplomatic corps remain hesitant to speak out on the problem. Perhaps they are afraid that talking about the problem will reveal our vulnerability. In fact, I have been urged not to speak out about this threat. But our adversaries already know we are vulnerable. Pretending that we are not vulnerable is a mistake.

As a Nation, we must decide when we are going to start considering this type of activity a threat to our national security and the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces, a threat that we must confront and which we must protect ourselves.

Madam Speaker, the apparent lack of national urgency to address this problem only gives those who wish us harm an extra advantage.

The Government Accounting Office reported in 2007 that no comprehensive strategy exists yet to coordinate improvements of computer security across the Federal Government in the private sector.

I strongly believe that the appropriate officials, including those of the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, should brief all Members of Congress in a closed session regarding threats from China and other countries against security of House technology including our computers, BlackBerry devices, and phones. There must be a session where any Member who is interested has the opportunity to get briefed by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security and others.

The potential for massive and coordinated cyber attacks against the United States is no longer a futuristic problem. We must prepare ourselves now and develop procedures for responding to this threat. Members need to know how best to protect themselves, their staff, and their official business from these threats. I have experienced this threat firsthand, as have others in the Congress, and are deeply worried that this institution, the United States Congress, is not adequately protected.

Congress should take the lead in protecting our government and indeed our country from the threat posed by cyber espionage activities.

James Lewis, the director of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies remarked last year in testimony before the House committee on Homeland Security that ``If gangs of foreigners broke into the State or Commerce Department and carried off dozens of file cabinets, there would be a crisis. When the same thing happens in cyberspace, we shrug it off as another of those annoying computer glitches we must live with.''

The apparent complacency in both the private and public sectors toward this threat is astonishing. We must know about the threat. We must speak out about how to protect ourselves and form a comprehensive strategy with which to respond.

Stephen Spoonamore, a CEO of a cyber security firm called Cybrinth, put the matter succinctly in the National Journal article. He said, ``By not talking openly about this, they are making truly a dangerous national security problem worse . . . Secrecy in this matter benefits no one. Our Nation's intellectual capital, industrial secrets, economic security are under daily and withering attack. The oceans that surround us are no protection from sophisticated hackers, working at the speed of light on behalf of nation-states and mafias.''

We must cease, Madam Speaker, this Congress must cease, the administration must cease denying the scope and scale and risk of the issue. And he goes on to say a growing number of his peers ``believe that our Nation is in grave and growing danger.''

Mr. Spoonamore is right. We are making this dangerous national security problem worse by not discussing it openly. I believe this institution, as my resolution states, should get the facts, and armed with these facts, should take the necessary action to protect the safety and integrity of the House.

In 1789, Madam Speaker, British Parliament member William Wilberforce, speaking to his colleagues about the slave trade, said, ``having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say you do not know.''

This Congress on both sides of the aisle and people in the administration can never again, can never again say you do not know; and the American people should ask their Members of Congress, Do you know and what are you going to do about it.

We cannot afford to look the other way when foreign sources are threatening to compromise our government institutions, our economy, our very way of life through cyber espionage. We cannot sit by and watch. I urge the adoption of the resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Before I yield the gentleman 5 minutes, I would say this is bigger than just the House, though. The computers of the House have been violated and when Members go abroad, but also, it deals with people in the administration.

And so I think there need to be public hearings by the Armed Services Committee and by the Judiciary Committee. This Congress is never reluctant to hold a hearing on different things. This is a major issue so it must be broader than just the House Administration Committee.

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey.

I recognize the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), a member of the Appropriations Committee whose computer was also stripped from someone in China, for 1\1/2\ minutes.

Madam Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes) for 2 minutes.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan, the ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, Mr. Hoekstra.

Madam Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for 2 minutes.

How much time do I have left, Mr. Speaker?

I thank the gentlelady for her agreement. I think we have to, one, read the National Journal. This is a very respected magazine. And this is a serious problem. Up until now, it has been neglected by many in the administration and many in Congress.

Secondly, I think the American people are ahead of this Congress. And quite frankly on this issue with China, I think they are ahead of the administration. They are ahead of the administration on human rights, religious freedom, persecution and bad goods coming in from China. This Congress and this administration ought to wake up.

Thirdly, people are not anxious to talk about this in the Congress, nor are they anxious to talk about it in the administration. They are not anxious to talk about it. There was an effort to have me not go ahead with this using different techniques and different ideas. And we complied. We worked with the majority every way we can.

I want to say this. I will not let this issue rest. I may not be the fastest person in this institution. But I am as dogged as anyone. And I expect the leadership, I expect the leadership to deal with this not just by the House Administration Committee, I expect the leadership to deal with this on the Armed Services Committee. I expect the leadership to deal with this with regard to the House Intelligence Committee. I expect the Government Operations, has the Government Operations Committee ever been reluctant to hold a hearing on anything? And the answer is ``no.'' They must deal with this issue. And I tell the gentlelady, who has been very good, and I thank her for that, that if this is not resolved, I will be down here on the floor. I will rework this resolution. It will be a privileged resolution. And the next time there will be a vote on this. And then the American people, the American people can see how aggressive this administration and this Congress will be on a major national security issue and the issues of religious freedom and persecution. Keep in mind that 35 Catholic

bishops are in jail in China. Two hundred Protestant pastors are in jail in China. They have plundered the Tibetans, and they're persecuting the Uighurs. This is not a government that is very friendly. And also they are the leading supporter of genocide in Darfur.

With that, knowing this will be dealt with, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Motion to Refer Offered by Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 332, which recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly came together to pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which serves as a set of standards for all people and all nations of the world to strive toward.

Drawing upon principles from both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the fundamental human rights bestowed to each person on this Earth regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. Ronald Reagan once described the U.S. Constitution as ``a kind of covenant. It is a covenant we've made not only with ourselves but with all of mankind.'' The Universal Declaration of Human Rights shines light in the darkest corners of the world and reminds those in the most desperate of situations that every person is entitled to respect and dignity.

It has been my distinct privilege to serve as co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus for the past 7 years. The Caucus was founded in 1983 by the late Congressman Tom Lantos and former Congressman John Porter for Members of Congress to work to defend the rights of individuals worldwide as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

With the passage of this important resolution, I reaffirm my commitment to serve as a voice for the voiceless and continue to ensure that human rights remains a priority in the U.S. Congress.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 366, expressing the sense of Congress that increasing American capabilities in science, mathematics, and technology education should be a national priority.

Two years ago, a National Academies panel led by Norm Augustine produced the ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report, highlighting the critical state of our science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

Although this Congress passed America COMPETES Act last year, much more remains to be done to ensure our Nation is prepared to compete in the global economy in the 21st century. And we simply will not be able to compete if we cannot produce a workforce that excels in STEM fields.

We have barely begun to turn the page in meeting our workforce and innovation demands. I am pleased that the resolution provides us the opportunity to raise awareness of this dire situation. Consider that:

We still graduate half the number of physicists that we did in 1956-- before Sputnik spurred our last ``great awakening'' in science and engineering.

One-third to half of those we graduate with science and engineering degrees are foreign students; and most of them will return to their home countries rather than applying their skills in the U.S.

U.S. patents are down and our companies are spending more on tort legislation than on research and development.

Tests still show that one-third of U.S. students lack the competency to perform the most basic mathematical computations.

Half of the money we made available for grants for college students in STEM fields is going unused.

Our edge in aerospace research is in danger. Our historic prominence in automobiles and electronics manufacturing has long since eroded; we cannot afford to lose our aerospace leadership.

Above all else, I worry about our staggering $9 trillion debt and $54 trillion unfunded liability. This debt is being fueled by uncontrollable entitlement program growth--which has grown from one- third of the federal budget in 1960 to over two-thirds today.

This is critically important to our competitiveness because, without reforming entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and tax policy, we simply won't have the resources to prepare our workforce to compete or to make the necessary investments in research.

For the past year, Congressman Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Tennessee, and I have been working closely together on the Cooper-Wolf SAFE Commission Act. It has since garnered nearly 100 bipartisan cosponsors. Modeled after the base-closing process, the bill would create a bipartisan 16-member commission to review entitlement spending, tax policy, debt, and all other Federal spending.

The commission will look beyond the Beltway for solutions, holding at least 12 town meetings--one in each of the Nation's Federal Reserve districts--over the span of 12 months in order to hear directly from the American people. And just like the base-closing process, the SAFE Commission Act would require and up-or-down vote on the commission's proposal--ensuring that Congress finally considered a comprehensive solution to this great challenge.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. It is yet another reminder that the next president and Congress must make both entitlement reform and American competitiveness top priorities.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that the FY 2009 budget resolution conference report represents another missed opportunity to address the financial crisis facing our nation. Focusing on these economic challenges, reining in entitlement spending, and curbing Congress's appetite for autopilot spending will take strong bipartisan commitment from both sides of the aisle. Our ``long-term'' spending crisis has arrived, and our children and grandchildren will bear the burden if Congress does not act.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who was at the heart of the German resistance against Nazism, said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.''

This Congress is leaving the next generation saddled with $54 trillion in unfunded liabilities and $9 trillion in debt, $1 trillion of which is held by the Chinese. They also face potential loss of our country's triple-A bond rating--as early as 2012, according to Standard & Poor's, or by 2018, according to Moody's Investors Service. This is an economic issue, but also a moral and generational issue.

Representative Jim Cooper and I have been working together with over 100 cosponsors on a solution that would put everything--entitlements and tax policy--on the table in order to turn things around. The Cooper-Wolf SAFE Act would create a bipartisan entitlement review commission, culminating in a required up or down vote by Congress on a legislative proposal born from the commission's work. Mandating action is what makes the SAFE Commission unique.

We had the opportunity in this year's budget process to take the initial steps to get our financial house in order. But again this budget cycle, Congress is choosing to look the other way. I am hopeful that my colleagues will recognize that the budget resolution makes little progress on this pressing issue and join our efforts with the SAFE Commission.

When educating his colleagues in the British Parliament about the horrors of the slave trade in 1789, William Wilberforce said, ``Having heard all this you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.''

Not one member of the 110th Congress can say they don't know about the category 5 storm off our shores, which former Comptroller General David Walker says could result in a ``tsunami of spending and debt that could swamp our ship of state.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4106, the Telework Improvements Act of 2008.

I would like to thank Congressman Danny Davis for introducing this important and necessary legislation. I also want to recognize Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis on the Oversight and movement Reform Committee for reporting out a good bill for our consideration today.

As many of my colleagues know, I have been a long-time and staunch supporter of telework or telecommuting. Telework offers a 21st century workplace option that can reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as well as cut gasoline consumption and dependency on foreign oil. Study after study has shown that telework benefits employees and employers. It gives employees the flexibility they need to meet daily demands.

Employers--both government and private businesses--get the benefit of increased productivity, improved morale, fewer sick leave days used, better worker retention, and reduced costs for office space.

My legislation enacted in 2001 mandated a phased-in program to expand the number of federal employees who telework with the goal of giving every eligible federal worker this workplace option by the end of 2005. While annual surveys by the Office of Personnel Management on telework by federal employees have shown some progress in meeting the law's mandate, there is much more that agencies can do to expand the number of federal telecommuters and this legislation is an important next step in making the Federal Government a model telework employer.

To emphasize the importance of telework in the federal workplace, when I chaired the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittee, I included provisions in the FY 2005, FY 2006 and FY 2007 spending bills for the departments of Commerce, Justice, and State and related agencies to withhold $5 million from the agencies which fail to meet the 2001 law.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor and strong proponent of the Telework Improvements Act that we are considering today. It will require the head of each executive agency to establish a policy under which employees may be authorized to telework and allow authorized employees to be allowed to telework at least 20 percent of the hours worked in every two administrative workweeks.

Given the soaring cost of gas, I can think of no better time for us to be passing this bill and encouraging further adoption of telework. In the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including my district in northern Virginia, telework has the added benefit of taking cars off the road and reducing congestion and air pollution. It is also a good policy to have in place for continuity of operations in the event of an emergency.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation so that we can ensure that the federal workforce is making full use of teleworking.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2420, the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008. This bill would require a clause in federal food services contracts greater than $25,000 to encouraging donations to nonprofit organizations, such as food banks and food pantries.

I have been active in the fight against hunger for over two decades. Following my first visit to Ethiopia during its famine in 1984, I worked across the aisle to fight hunger both at home and abroad. I was pleased to work for the passage of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996 that protected organizations donating food to charitable organizations from liability in order to spur greater donations.

However, I am concerned that rising food commodity prices and gasoline prices could hamper efforts by food banks and food pantries to meet the needs of the hungry. In meeting with charitable organizations in my congressional district, it is clear that the business

community and government agencies could be doing much more to support efforts to a growing number of families relying on food assistance from charitable organizations.

Anyone who has visited a grocery store in the last year understands the challenge our food banks are facing. U.S. grocery prices increased 5.1 percent overall during the last year, with a 17-percent increase in cost for dairy products, a 13-percent increase for rice and pasta, and a 12-percent increase in the cost of breads. This has a tremendous impact on the bottom line for American families. For example, if a family earns $45,000 a year, it now costs them an extra $1,000 to maintain the same food, gas, and basic goods purchases compared to 2006--a 9.6-percent increase. This makes more families dependent on food assistance, and even more affluent families less likely to donate to food banks and food pantries.

I am proud that the food banks and food pantries, grocery stores, and chambers of commerce in my district are coming together to raise awareness of this challenge and develop community-based solutions. Given the large federal agency presence in my district, I believe that this bill will help supplement their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this pragmatic and necessary legislation.

Madam Speaker, I continue to be extremely concerned about the treatment of Baha'is in Iran. Recent reports indicate that on May 14, Iranian intelligence agents forcibly raided the homes and subsequently arrested six of seven prominent members of the Baha'i leadership in Tehran. The seventh member of the leadership group was arrested 2 months ago in Mashhad. They have reportedly been taken to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Many former prisoners have given horrifying accounts of the abuse, torture, and rape that takes place inside the prison walls.

The Baha'is are Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority and have faced continuous persecution since the government banned all formal Baha'i activity in 1983. Under President

Ahmadinejad, harassment, attacks and arrests of Baha'is have become increasingly common.

In the early 1980s, 17 Baha'i leaders were arrested and either executed, abducted and disappeared in a systematic campaign to eliminate Baha'i influence in Iran. I pray that this is not the fate of the six arrested this past week.

Iran continues to break its promises to the international community. I call on the international community to follow the lead of the U.S. State Department and strongly condemn the unwarranted arrests and detention of the Baha'i leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with our colleagues the news about an outstanding recognition recently given to one of our House employees, who I am proud to say is a member of my staff. I pay tribute today to Benjamin B. Dutton, Jr., a man who is called ``Mr. Winchester.'' I am fortunate to have Ben representing my office in Winchester, Virginia, one of the best small cities in America.

Along with diligently serving constituents not only for my office since 1990, when Winchester became part of the 10th Congressional District, but also for my predecessors George Allen and the late French Slaughter, Ben has played an active and key role in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival since it began in 1927.

The Apple Blossom Festival is a special event in Winchester each spring and I look forward to participating in the Grand Feature Parade every year. Ben was recognized this year in the Festival program as the ``Keeper of the Flame'' for the Festival. He served as the president of the festival from 1970-1972 and currently serves on the Board. Even as Ben approaches his 83rd birthday this June, he is still actively involved in making sure the Apple Blossom Festival is a success every year.

Ben is very deserving of all the honors and accolades coming his way and is truly committed in his service to his community. I am proud that he is a member of my staff and I am proud to call him my friend. The Festival program recognition of Ben as ``Keeper of the Flame'' follows:

Ben Dutton: Keeper of the Flame

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is constantly in a

state of flux; constantly reinventing itself. At the same

time, the Festival works very hard to maintain its balance;

to maintain its place in history; and, to never lose contact

with its roots and its purpose. We know all too well how the

Greatest Generation is being taken from us at an alarming

rate these days; but, one of the ``Keepers of Flame'' for the

Festival; one of the guardians of our roots, Mr. Ben Dutton,

is still carrying on an active role in the Festival world

even as he approaches his 83rd birthday.

When asked recently when he reckoned that his involvement

with the Festival started, Ben replied, ``From the

beginning!'' Shortly after the Festival was founded, the

Washington Post ran a pictorial article in 1927 called ``The

Little Blossoms of Winchester''; and, Ben, aged two, was one

of the local children featured in the article. Ben is quick

to credit his Mother's very close friendship with Tom

Baldridge, the original ``Mr. Apple Blossom'', for instilling

in him early in life a great love and devotion for the

Festival. Mrs. B. B. Dutton, Sr., was the Chairman of the

Queen and Court Department those many years ago; and, Tom

Baldridge had started his incredible run as Director General

of the Festival in 1937 when Ben was just a child. Growing up

around Mr. Tom's boundless enthusiasm, seemingly

inexhaustible energy and undying love for the Pink and Green

lit a Festival fire in young Ben that has never been

quenched.

Following graduation from Handley High School, Ben served

three years in the U.S. Army during World War II; graduated

from the University of Virginia in 1950; and, married his

lovely wife, Jean Whipple Dutton, in 1952. They began their

family of three beautiful daughters shortly thereafter; and,

Ben began working in the insurance business in Atlanta,

Louisiana and Southwest Virginia. In 1963, Ben returned to

Winchester for good; joining the firm of J. V. Arthur as a

Vice President and partner; and, immediately returning to the

Apple Blossom World. He served as President of the Festival

in 1970, 1971, and 1972. He served as the Festival's

volunteer Executive Director in 1971; and, professionally in

that capacity from 1995 to 1997.

Ben remembers fondly from the early 70s, the establishment

of the ties between the Festival and the then-new Disney

World in Orlando; and, the beginning of the visits of

Disney's World Ambassador (always a pretty girl); and, of

Mickey Mouse. He also enjoyed helping to establish an adults'

beer, peanuts and dance party at the National Guard Armory

called ``Your Father's Mustache''. Another memory from the

past: the balls that used to be held in old, dry, wooden

packing sheds, filled with wooden apple crates and bulk bins;

and, decorated with cascades of crepe paper and lanterns.

While the memory sounds quaint and charming, it is obvious

that the insurance agent in Ben winces at the through of the

old-fashioned barn-dance-type fire hazards involved.

When asked to describe his favorite Festival guests from

the early 1970s, Ben had no problem zeroing in on two very

special people; people who are not only very special in their

places in the history of the world; but, who are obviously

very special people in Ben Dutton's life. In 1972, Ben sought

out and received the services of the Reverend Billy Graham as

Grand Marshal of the Festival. It is not at all hard to

imagine the electric effect Graham had on the Festival crowds

that year. It is also obvious, listening to Ben tell the

story, that his time spent with Dr. Graham is something that

he will never forget. Ben says that the met him at Dulles

Airport and that Billy told him that ``he had always wanted

to cross the Blue Ridge and descend into the Shenandoah

Valley in the springtime.'' Ben's other favorite was the

Festival appearance in 1971 of Admiral Alan Shepard, who was

in town to crown his daughter, Juliana, as Queen. Shepard had

recently returned from an Apollo Mission to the Moon. Ben is

still fascinated by the fact that the raucous crowd at the

Stag Luncheon was instantly hushed to silence when Admiral

Shepard stepped to the microphone to describe his trip to the

Moon.

When asked how he feels after all these years when he sees

the lead units of the Grand Feature Parade coming up

Washington Street Hill, Ben said that ``He still had; and,

always would have a tender spot in his heart for that

scene.'' He continued, ``What would springtime be like

without it?'' Ben, admittedly, had a rough winter of 2007-

2008. Health problems kept him away from one Festival Board

Meeting after another; and, this was tough for a man who has

remained active enough in the Festival to have played a key

role in the establishment of a new event, the Men's

Commonwealth Luncheon, just two years ago. The February 2008

Board Meeting had already started when, unexpected and

unannounced, in the door walked Ben Dutton. The immediate

burst of applause was instantaneous, genuine, affectionate

and relieved. Festival people do know who the Keepers of the

Flame are; and, they are cherished!

I had wanted to offer two amendments, one that would have prohibited government officials from attending the genocide Olympics on taxpayer money, and also Members of Congress. And no Member of Congress who speaks out on human rights should go to that Olympics.

Secondly, I wanted to offer an amendment that would create a bipartisan commission, much like the Iraq Study Group, to look at everything, to put everything on the table, all of the spending and tax policies, to get control of our spending and where we are.

We have $54 trillion of unfunded liabilities in this Nation. We have $9 trillion of debt, $1 trillion that the Chinese hold, and the Saudis also hold a large portion, the Saudis who had 15 Wahabbies on those airplanes that went into our buildings.

Standard & Poor's says we will lose our AAA bond rating in 2012, and Moody's says we will lose it in 2018. The value of the dollar is falling like a rock. Gasoline is increasing. Mr. Speaker, what kind of country are we leaving to our children? Are we leaving a country whereby China and Saudi Arabia will be their bankers?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor who stood up to the Nazis, said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.''

This Congress, on both sides of the aisle, Republican and Democratic side, is not leaving a very good situation to their children and their grandchildren. I would ask you as Members of this Congress, as parents and grandparents, what kind of country do you want to

leave? What are you going to tell your kids and your grandkids later on when you say, When I was there, there was $54 trillion of debt, and I did nothing. There was $1 trillion held by the Chinese, who are spying against us, and Mr. Murtha knows how they are spying against us, we did nothing.

We lost our AAA bond rating, Mom or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa while you were there, did you do anything? And the answer will be: We did nothing.

I rise in opposition to this legislation.

I have been a member of the Appropriations Committee since 1995, yet I cannot recall a time that the House has avoided the Appropriations Committee process with such a critical nationally and internationally important piece of legislation.

Members of the Committee--including the minority--are being shut out of the process.

I wanted to offer an amendment that would prohibit U.S. government employees from attending the Olympics on the taxpayer's dime.

When awarded the honor of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, China had the opportunity to show the world that it has changed. But the China of today is worse than the China of yesterday, or of last year, or of the last decade. China is not progressing. It is regressing. It is more violent, more repressive, and more resistant to democratic values than ever before.

China, which jails Catholic bishops, Protestant house church leaders, Tibetan Buddhists, Muslim Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners; which is spying against us and supplying weapons to regimes like Khartoum; which has an extensive system of slave labor camps, was awarded the honor of hosting the 2008 summer Olympic games.

We should not reward the Beijing regime with our taxpayer dollars. U.S. officials should not be permitted to use Federal funds to attend the 2008 Olympics. But I am being prevented from offering this amendment because the Democrat leadership has gone around the Appropriations Committee and brought this bill to the floor under a closed rule.

I also wanted to offer an amendment that would create a bipartisan commission--much like the Iraq Study Group--to look at everything--tax policy and entitlement spending--and recommend legislative action to rein in our Federal debt.

We have $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and over $9 trillion dollars in debt. Standard and Poor's Investment Service has indicated that we could lose our triple-A bonding rating as early as 2012. The value of the dollar is falling through the floor. China holds our debt. OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia hold our debt. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.''

Our grandchildren will bear the burden of out-of-control entitlement spending if we do not act. It's on our watch to fix, and the process being used today shuts out critical issues that we must face.

This House needs to come together and work in a bipartisan manner to address the critical issues facing our country. This legislation today is the product of the heavy hand of the Democrat leadership in foreclosing an open and fair process and I cannot support it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share a speech I gave to the National Academies' convocation on April 29, 2008 on the second anniversary of the release of the ``Gathering Storm.'' I was honored to have had the opportunity to address some of our nation's top business, academic, and scientific leaders at the convocation.

As you may recall, the report painted a very bleak picture of our Nation's high-tech workforce, innovation, and global competitiveness. It prompted swift congressional action to authorize new funding and resources to bolster our science and high-tech workforce, culminating with the enactment of the America COMPETES Act last fall.

However, I am concerned that we still have much work to do to secure our economic future in this global marketplace. And we will never be competitive if we cannot get the Federal Government's finances in order and begin to reduce our dependency on foreign debt.

Madam Speaker, my address as prepared to the ``Gathering Storm'' convocation follows:

Thank you for the opportunity to address this gathering. As

the fourth of five ``congressional perspectives'' on the

program this morning, I'm reminded of the old Congressman Mo

Udall quote: ``Everything has been said but not everyone has

said it.''

First, I want to thank you all for your efforts. I am

pleased that so many of our nation's science, business, and

government leaders have once again gathered to discuss this

most pressing of issues challenging the United States.

Perhaps the greatest success of the ``Gathering Storm''

report thus far is the tremendous awareness and urgency it

has raised among the American people.

It was only a few years ago, in 2005, that Rep. Vernon

Ehlers, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, and I went to the White House

to urge the administration to make this a priority.

With the support of the councils of National Academies of

Science and Engineering, we announced a national summit on

science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing at the

Department of Commerce which helped lead to the creation of

the Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st

Century.

I want to thank Norm Augustine and the other members of the

committee who helped educate me to the critical importance of

this as I served as Chairman of the Appropriations

Subcommittee funding these programs.

I appreciate President Bush for laying out the American

Competitiveness Agenda in his 2006 State of the Union and his

support for more funding this year.

Congress followed suit and adopted many recommendations

from the ``Gathering Storm'' report into the America COMPETES

Act which was signed into law last year.

I appreciate the leadership of Science Committee Chairman

Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph Hall in the House, as

well as Sen. Lamar Alexander in the Senate for seeing this

bill through.

It is rare in Washington that good ideas move so far, so

fast. And it is in many ways a testament to the people in

this room who tirelessly worked to educate Congress, the

Administration, business community, and the American people.

There is so much more work to be done. We have been

successful in raising public awareness of these issues, but

we have barely begun to turn the page in meeting our

workforce and innovation demands.

I worry that we still graduate half the number of

physicists that we did in 1956--before Sputnik spurred our

last ``great awakening'' in science and engineering.

I worry that one-third to half of those we graduate with

science and engineering degrees are foreign students; and

most of them will return to their home countries rather than

applying their skills in the U.S.

I worry that U.S. patents are down and our companies are

spending more on tort legislation than on research and

development.

I worry that tests still show that one-third of U.S.

students lack the competency to perform the most basic

mathematical computations.

I worry that half of the money we made available for grants

for college students in STEM fields is going unused.

I worry that our edge in aerospace research is in danger.

Our historic prominence in automobiles and electronics

manufacturing has long since eroded; we cannot afford to lose

our aerospace leadership.

I worry about losing competitiveness with China--they may

even beat us back to the moon.

I worry about the country my children and grandchildren

will live in if we fail to deal with this.

But you don't need me to rattle off any more statistics.

The real experts will help put these trends and developments

in context later today.

Instead, I'd like to talk about a different, yet

inextricably linked, issue that is further undermining our

competitiveness. To turn Udall's phrase, I would like to talk

about something that hasn't been said, in hopes that everyone

will say it.

While we are working hard to stave off the ``Gathering

Storm,'' we are losing sight of the tsunami right off our

coasts--a tsunami of debt. Former Comptroller General David

Walker calls this tsunami powerful enough to ``swamp our ship

of state.''

This is particularly relevant as we consider the state of

our nation's competitiveness. If we can't pay for our current

obligations, how can we begin to afford the resources we will

need to compete globally in the twentyfirst century?

These two efforts go hand-in-hand.

America is $9 trillion deep in federal debt, and the

Government Accountability Office has estimated $54.3 trillion

in unfunded promised benefits if we don't change our current

course. That's trillions, with a ``T''.

The Social Security and Medicare Trustees reports issued

last month only reinforce the dire condition of our fiscal

health. Both reports make very clear that we must address

these tremendous shortfalls very soon.

The U.S. dollar is dropping like a rock--it lost 15 percent

against the Euro last year.

Gasoline reached $120 per barrel this week.

What will happen when the well runs dry and we no longer

have money for the vital technology programs that we're

discussing today?

How will we remain competitive when there is no money to

fund science and math education initiatives? Our children

can't compete in the global marketplace if we can't provide

U.S. students with a first-class education.

How will we remain competitive when there is no money to

fund medical research? Without discretionary funding to

develop cutting-edge technology, advance research, and

perform clinical trials, we will not be able to make critical

strides toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, autism, and

other devastating diseases.

How will we remain competitive when there is no money to

fund our infrastructure?

How will we remain competitive when there is no money to

pay for the National Science Foundation and NASA? America

will no longer be able to provide leadership and inspiration

to the rest of the world.

These bleak scenarios only scratch the surface of how

concerned we should be about America's future. These are the

realities we face.

Sadly, much of this falls on deaf ears in Washington. So

many bright people delude themselves into thinking that we

have a long-term plan to bring our finances into order.

The long-term has arrived. The next President will have to

address this.

It reminds me of the refrain from songwriter Paul Simon's

``The Boxer'': ``Man hears what he wants to hear and

disregards the rest.'' That could describe Congress's and

Wall Street's reaction, or lack thereof, to the financial

crisis staring America square in the face.

We can't afford to put off reform anymore. With every year

that Congress prolongs making the difficult decisions to deal

with this runaway mandatory spending--the portion of the

federal budget available to fund discretionary programs

decreases.

And just so we're clear: nearly every science, technology,

research, manufacturing, and competitiveness program we

discuss here today is funded through discretionary dollars.

In 1962, mandatory spending--Social Security, Medicare,

Medicaid, and debt interest payments--comprised less than

one-third of the federal budget. Today it's doubled to over

two-thirds of the budget.

The Office of Management and Budget projects that in less

than 5 years, non-defense discretionary spending will fall to

less than 15 percent of the federal budget. And the

competitiveness programs we're working so hard for are but a

small fraction of that.

Because mandatory programs get funded first, we will have

to fight harder for fewer dollars to fund this important

initiative.

Without mandatory spending reform, we simply won't be able

to fund the necessary increases in competitiveness programs

without significant cuts in other discretionary programs.

Clearly, this is a pressing economic issue, as the first

baby boomer has just signed up for promised Social Security

benefits and our nation's longterm IOUs are coming due.

Just recently, Moody's Investment Service indicated that

the U.S. triple-A bond rating will be at risk by 2018.

Standard and Poor's Investment Service indicated that it may

be as early as 2012; and if present trends continue would

plummet to junk-bond status by 2025.

What will that mean to our economy?

Should the U.S. lose its AAA rating in a few years, the

cost of borrowing for both the Treasury and for U.S. private

businesses would significantly increase. It would also

increase the likelihood of a devastating capital flight. This

is a very real risk to our economic growth and global

competitiveness.

Again, this debt has very real implications. More than $2.6

billion a day is needed to fund our budget shortfall, which

has left nearly 40 percent of our domestic economy in foreign

hands.

These IOU's are held by foreign countries--with significant

shares held by non-democratic countries like China and Saudi

Arabia. We should care that countries that do not share our

democratic values have growing leverage over the U.S.

Borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars on the Chinese

and Saudi credit cards puts not only our future economy, but

also our national security at serious risk.

Ironically, the Chinese will be some of our greatest

economic and technology competitors in the twenty-first

century. How well will we be able to compete when we depend

on their credit to fund our programs? They have become our

banker.

This is also a moral issue. Last month, Pete Peterson

penned an editorial that ran in Newsweek. He ends by quoting

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was instrumental

in the resistance movement against Nazism. Bonhoeffer said,

``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world

it leaves to its children.''

I can't help but wonder what sort of future today's

partisan Washington is leaving to our children and

grandchildren.

Fortunately, we still have options--if we act soon.

I am truly impressed by the bipartisan and broad ranging

coalition that the ``Gathering Storm'' report has assembled

in its cause. I believe we can replicate this success in

addressing entitlement reform, tax policy, and fiscal

solvency. We need to replicate the ``Gathering Storm'' effort

to deal with the issue of our debt.

For the past year, Congressman Jim Cooper, a Democrat from

Tennessee, and I have been working closely together on the

Cooper-Wolf SAFE Commission Act. It has since garnered over

80 bipartisan cosponsors, including Republican leadership in

the House as well as the chairs of the Democratic Blue Dog

Coalition.

The Heritage Foundation, Brookings Institution, Concord

Coalition, and former Comptroller General David Walker helped

us draft this and it is supported by David Broder and David

Brooks.

Modeled after the base-closing process, the bill would

create a bipartisan 16-member commission to review

entitlement spending, tax policy, debt, and all other federal

spending.

The Commission will look beyond the Beltway for solutions,

holding at least 12 town meetings--one in each of the

nation's Federal Reserve districts--over the span of 12

months in order to hear directly from the American people.

Everything must be on the table--including tax policy.

If anyone has another viable plan to address our

entitlement tsunami, we are anxious to hear it. But it has to

be able to pass. Doing nothing is not acceptable.

And just like the base-closing process, the SAFE Commission

Act would require and up-or-down vote on the Commission's

proposal--ensuring that Congress finally considered a

comprehensive solution to this great challenge.

So far, Rep. Cooper and I have reached out to every Member

of Congress, the President and his potential successors,

Fortune 500 leaders, small business owners, think tanks,

thought leaders, and the religious community.

And today I'm reaching out to you--our science, technology,

engineering, manufacturing and workforce development leaders.

I ask for your support in this endeavor so that it may put

us back on track financially, just as the ``Gathering Storm''

report spurred us to fix our nation's education and

competitiveness programs.

William Wilberforce, who, in his first speech in the

British Parliament in 1789 describing the evils of the slave

trade, concluded by telling his colleagues,

``Having heard all this you may choose to look the other

way, but you can never again say that you did not know.''

Not one of us can say we do not know about the nation's

long-term financial outlook.

We know, and it's on our watch to fix.

This must also be a part of this year's presidential

debate. We need to make the next president understand that

entitlement reform.

And the media needs to do a better job covering it. We

should insist on a presidential debate devoted to these

issues.

I am confident that, with your support, we will succeed and

it may well lead to a renaissance in America--a renaissance

in innovation, education, and economic development.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my frustration and disappointment with the leadership's decision to bypass the Appropriations Committee and to bring up the 2008 supplemental without giving Members an opportunity either on the floor or in the committee to offer an amendment.

I wanted to offer an amendment to prohibit U.S. Government employees from attending the Beijing Olympics on the taxpayers' dime because of China's violent repression of religious minorities and human rights activists.

Catholics, Protestants, Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners and other religious minorities in China face harassment, imprisonment, even torture and death. China is actively engaging in espionage against our country and now participating in a genocide in Sudan.

The political prisoners in China and the dissidents around the world will be deeply demoralized if senior American officials attend the games.