Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the stand-by volunteers and Board of Directors of Volunteer Prince William.

In the event of an emergency, these trained and capable members of the stand-by team step-up for everything from administrative work to caring for household pets and shoveling snow. The volunteers are at the ready and Volunteer Prince William could not function without them. They give selflessly of their time and energy whenever they are called. The volunteers are the unsung heroes, quietly working behind the scenes. Their contributions to the community and to our organization make all of us safer, stronger and more resilient.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of volunteers for Volunteer Prince William:

Ralph Neeper, Nancy Neeper, Francis Daily, Jennifer Dailey, Debby Bruce, David Bruce, Denise Dubie, Julia Drake, Karen Bakken, Karen Lyle, Karen Wilkens, Margaret Flores, Nancy Bireley, Judson Bireley, Nancy Carney, Terry Richey, Trisha Fravel, The Fuller Center for Housing Northern Virginia, Vicki Smith, Pam Pandolfi, Debbie Page- Maples, Jack Maples, Connie Moser, Kim Kirkwood, Patricia DeSaliva, Dick Lee, Dick Abt, David Lane, Rodger Blinn

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of Board of Directors for Volunteer Prince William:

Mike Higgins, President

Gina Post, Vice President

Gary Hale

Dr. Mark Mason

Sarah Harrover

Nora Jewell

Eileen Pugh

Stephanie Ney

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers and Board of Directors of Volunteer Prince William for their service and in thanking them for their dedication to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Bette Cook on the occasion of her second attempt at retiring after 47 years of dedicated public service. Bette served for 42 years in both the Foreign Service and the Civil Service, working with USAID and its predecessor, the International Cooperation Administration, the Department of Defense, and SSA. Despite the fact that she ``officially'' retired in 2004, Bette has continued to serve the public at USAID as a consultant in the office of Legislative and Public Affairs and as a congressional liaison officer.

Bette began her career in development in 1961 when she was hired as Foreign Service staff at the United States Operations Mission in the newly independent Tunisia. Working as the American Secretary, she helped to manage a successful economic and technical assistance program that ultimately led to the nation's graduation from USAID funding in 1994. Leaving for Saigon in 1963, Bette was confronted with the rising threat of the Viet Cong as the conflict in Vietnam escalated, and she braved many attacks and bombings to carry out USAID's mission.

When she returned to the United States in 1965, Bette continued to devote herself to the many humanitarian and development challenges that Vietnam faced by joining the newly-established Vietnam Bureau. As a member of the Congressional Affairs and Public Relations Division, she devoted the next four years to explaining USAID's Vietnam programs to Congress and the public. She served as an on-air spokesperson, publicizing USAID's recruiting visits across the country to enlist people in what she called ``The other war: The war against hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and disease.'' Her work was instrumental in emphasizing the promotion of development in any effective foreign policy.

Throughout her years of service, Bette has played a pivotal role in ensuring that USAID continues to deliver on its mission. She's known for her 15 years of skillfully managing the Congressional Budget Justification preparation and submission and for her efforts on the Hill to continually share information about the Agency's humanitarian assistance efforts. Additionally, her work has securely positioned development as vital to maintaining national security. I have fond memories of working closely with Bette during my days on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and I developed a profound respect for her abilities and commitment. Her dedication to bettering the lives of people around the world was always clear.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Bette Cook and thanking her for her years of service and for her dedication to improving the awareness of issues that developing nations face. Her distinguished service has greatly contributed to the advancement and emphasis on development as an effective foreign policy strategy.

Mr. Chair, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations before us will fund a number of vital infrastructure projects, including a facility at Fort Belvoir in my district. Unfortunately, the bill also inextricably contains language that would actually make it more difficult to deliver this and other projects in a safe, cost-efficient manner.

In today's cost-constrained environment, we ought to be placing a premium on completing infrastructure projects on time and on budget. We ought to place a premium on creating safe working conditions and good relations between management and labor to achieve those results.

Since they were first employed by the Federal Government to help defeat the Germans during World War I, Project Labor Agreements have been used by both the public and private sectors to reduce costs on major infrastructure projects.

Iconic American projects like the Hoover Dam, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and Walt Disney World were completed under Project Labor Agreements. Wal-Mart and Toyota have touted the benefits of PLAs, and findings from the GAO and Cornell University show PLAs maximize productivity and minimize risk to yield savings. Right here in the National Capital Region, a PLA for the drawbridge on Woodrow Wilson Bridge helped complete that portion of the project 6 months ahead of schedule. Construction on the Dulles Rail project, which will link our Nation's capital with the premier international airport, also is being performed under a PLA.

I urge my colleagues to support the Grimm amendment and strike this restrictive language in the bill so we can make use of this valuable tool to control project costs, promote worker safety and realize savings for taxpayers.

Mr. Chair, I rise to support the bipartisan Lankford/Connolly amendment to combat human trafficking by federal subcontractors. Mr. Lankford, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Issa and I worked with Senators Blumenthal, Franken, Collins, and others to develop the bicameral legislation that is the basis of this amendment. It will combat human trafficking and has the support of both federal contractors and human rights advocates. The Subcommittee on Technology and Procurement, of which Mr. Lankford and I are Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, held two hearings on human trafficking by federal contractors. We heard testimony from human rights advocates that trafficking is widespread and rarely if ever punished. Typically logistics subcontractors, generally based in a country other than the United States, hire labor recruiters who mislead Third Country National (TCN) laborers into what can best be described as human slavery. The victims of human trafficking frequently are victims of both labor and sexual exploitation. Their oppressors generally steal passports, withhold pay, and frequently fail to return them to their home country even when their work is complete. Sadly, these abuses have occurred on federal DOD, Department of State, and USAID projects.

We have succeeding in motivating agencies to expand efforts to combat trafficking. The Department of State is conducting more on-site investigations to identify indices of trafficking, such as sub-human housing conditions, stolen passports, and withheld wages. Secretary Clinton issued a memo reminding State Department staff about the federal government's zero tolerance policy with respect to trafficking, which in the past was enforced in the breach. In the House and Senate we crafted bipartisan legislation to address the trafficking problems identified in the Subcommittee. This legislation will:

Requires every contract to have a clause allowing contract termination in the event of human trafficking and appropriate penalties for contractors who engage in trafficking.

Lists indices of trafficking, such as revocation of passports and high recruiting fees, which require agency investigations and corrective action.

Requires large overseas contracts to have compliance plans to prevent trafficking.

Requires agency investigation of trafficking complaints or evidence of trafficking.

Expands fraud in foreign labor contracting penalties to work performed outside of the US on federal contracts.

These provisions directly address real world challenges in prosecuting trafficking that we learned about in our subcommittee's hearing. In addition to improving agency efforts to combat trafficking, this legislation is necessary to ensure federal dollars never are used to support human slavery.

I hope my colleagues will join the Chairman and Ranking Member in voting for this amendment and greatly appreciate the support of Lynn Williams and other HASC staff. As is the Committee's standard practice, HASC has worked in a collaborative, bipartisan manner to support this amendment, and I greatly appreciate the staff's professionalism and the Chairman and Ranking Members' bipartisan leadership of the committee.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

I first want to congratulate the chairman and the ranking member and their respective staffs for once again offering us a model for bipartisan collaboration on major legislation.

This particular amendment addresses the future drawdown in Afghanistan which will require NATO to remove $30 billion of equipment from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. This includes everything from vehicles to armor to equipment. Logistically speaking, this is quite a challenge.

The United States and its allies have relied on two major routes to transport equipment to Afghanistan: the Ground Lines of Communication, which is the NATO supply route, and the Northern Distribution Network through Central Asia.

For nearly 6 months, Pakistan has closed the NATO troop supply route in response to the accidental shooting of Pakistani troops on the border. While recent talks between us on the subject have been positive, the final outcome is far from certain.

This simple amendment addresses the issue head-on by withholding funds to the Coalition Support Fund until the Secretary of Defense certifies that Pakistan has opened the Ground Lines of Communication, is allowing the transit of NATO supplies through Pakistan into Afghanistan, and, three, is supporting retrograde of U.S. equipment out of Afghanistan.

Drawing down from Afghanistan will be no easy feat, and it will require the cooperation of our allies, no matter how strained the ties.

Several recent developments have caused some of my colleagues to question why we continue to engage with Pakistan at all. Well, Secretary of State Clinton said it best: Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state sitting at the crossroads of a strategic region. And we have seen the cost of disengaging from that region before.

Simply put, we have a national security interest in maintaining the bilateral relationship. The presence of several competing actors in South and Central Asia necessitates ongoing U.S. engagement in the region. A key requirement for a successful transition to a post-Taliban Afghanistan is a deep and nuanced understanding of all the players in the region. This includes each actor's desired endgame and its willingness to work toward a peaceful Afghanistan ruled by the Afghans. Equivocal statements and doublespeak by any party, frankly, impedes that progress.

As the United States prepares to complete the transition, we should clearly outline our mission, identify our allies, and specify our expectations. This amendment does just that.

Mr. Chairman, I also want to take a moment to express my appreciation again to the chairman and ranking member of the committee for working with me on this and other provisions in the bill. Specifically, I am grateful for the committee's collaboration on two initiatives to promote competition among advanced small businesses to ensure the Federal agencies are issuing accurate size standards, and to strengthen America's small businesses and save taxpayer money.

I also appreciate the committee's support of a bipartisan amendment, amendment No. 96, I submitted, along with Mr. Lankford of Oklahoma, to combat human trafficking by Federal subcontractors. I think it will go a long way to addressing that problem.

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

May I inquire how much time is left on this side.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith), the distinguished ranking member of the committee.

I now yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I thank my colleague.

Again, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member and their wonderful staffs for their hard work on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, House Republicans say they want to prevent violence against women, yet because of their ideological agenda, the bill on the floor this week actually eliminates current protections for battered women, placing them in danger.

Domestic violence does not respect any boundary; it does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation.

Turning Points, the only domestic violence intervention program in Prince William County, served 6,000 clients last year. In Fairfax County, there were more than 8,000 cases of domestic violence reported, and we have seen a 40 percent increase in homelessness due to domestic violence.

Yet House Republicans would make it harder for women to come forward to report abuse. In a letter to the Judiciary Committee, law enforcement officials from across the Nation said the Republican bill, quote, ``will turn back the clock on over 17 years' of progress made by law enforcement in reducing violence against women and children in our communities.''

Madam Speaker, protecting women and children from abusive situations should not be a partisan issue. We should take up the Senate's bipartisan bill and not further abuse these poor victims.

Madam Speaker, House Republicans say they want to prevent violence against women, yet because of their ideological agenda, the bill on the floor this week actually eliminates current protections for battered women, placing them in danger.

Domestic violence does not respect any boundary; it does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation.

Turning Points, the only domestic violence intervention program in Prince William County, served 6,000 clients last year. In Fairfax County, there were more than 8,000 cases of domestic violence reported, and we have seen a 40 percent increase in homelessness due to domestic violence.

Yet House Republicans would make it harder for women to come forward to report abuse. In a letter to the Judiciary Committee, law enforcement officials from across the Nation said the Republican bill, quote, ``will turn back the clock on over 17 years' of progress made by law enforcement in reducing violence against women and children in our communities.''

Madam Speaker, protecting women and children from abusive situations should not be a partisan issue. We should take up the Senate's bipartisan bill and not further abuse these poor victims.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Norm Neiss for the more than 50 years of service he has given to the Mantua community in Virginia.

Mr. Neiss dedicated his life to serving the nation, spending more than 29 years in the United States Navy as a naval aviator. He retired from the Navy in 1974, but his service to our country continued through his dedication to his community.

Mr. Neiss moved to Virginia in 1965 and has been an active member of the community ever since. He was the Chabad Lubavich Temple Liason, and he was a volunteer for the New Covenant Committee, the Architectural and Environmental Review Committee, the District Planning Commission, the Fairfax Federation, and the Fairfax County Citizen Emergency Response Team's medical corps. In addition to generously donating his time as a member of these many community organizations, Mr. Neiss served in a number of local leadership positions, heading the Providence District Council, heading the Mantua Neighborhood Watch, and serving as the President of the Mantua Community Association.

Mr. Neiss never sought recognition for his many efforts in the many organizations in which he so graciously gave of his time. Nevertheless, his neighbors noticed his dedication and the shining example that he set. They nominated Mr. Neiss as the 2012 Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Citizen of the Year. The Federation represents the homeowners, civic, and citizen associations for Fairfax County's more than 1 million residents. Further, in recognition of his tireless service, Mr. Neiss was selected to be the Grand Marshall for the 2012 Mantua Parade on June 9th.

Mr. Neiss' life-long dedication to serving his community is a wonderful example for us all. I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking Norm Neiss for the tireless efforts he so graciously has given over the past 50 years and to recognize the tremendous contributions he has made to the Mantua community and the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to Colonel Peter B. Trainer on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force.

Colonel Trainer's professional achievements are numerous and I know he would be the first to acknowledge that none of them would have been possible without the support of his wife and family. Colonel Trainer's parents set the example of service as his father, Lt. Colonel Thomas R. Trainer, retired after a distinguished career in the Air Force.

He began his distinguished career in 1982 when he received his commission through ROTC at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. From there, he proceeded on to numerous important assignments. After completing the Space Operations Officer Course at Lowry AFB, Colorado, he was assigned as a Satellite System Controller and later Assistant Chief, Satellite Mission Planning Branch, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), Offutt AFB, Nebraska. In 1986, he was assigned as the Chief of Satellite Operations, Space Systems Division Los Angeles AFB, California where Colonel Trainer was responsible for all command and control activities of the launch and early orbit checkout for two DMSP satellites. Colonel Trainer was then selected for special duty as an Air Force Recruiter and served as the Chief of Operations for the 3514th Recruiting Squadron, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, where he was responsible for Air Force accessions in an area that included New York City, New Jersey and Europe. In 1993, Colonel Trainer was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Space Command where he qualified as a Space Surveillance Center Commander in the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. He was subsequently selected to become Chief of the Space Surveillance Section where he was a key player in the command's Space Control Mission.

In 1995, Colonel Trainer transitioned to his present status as a USAF Reserve Officer where he was chosen by U.S. Space Command Director for Operations to be the first Space Command Intern to the National Signals Intelligence Committee. Col. Trainer helped to shepherd in a new era of cooperation between Space Command and the National Reconnaissance Office. His successes continued as he later served as Chief, Space Exploitation and Integration Branch at U.S. Strategic Command, where he played an integral role in bringing tactical space capabilities, including ``Blue Force Tracking'' to our combatant forces. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, Colonel Trainer served as one of the watch commanders that stood up the nation's Blue Force Tracking Missions Management Center during Operation Enduring Freedom. This experience and background led to his selection as Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Chief, Space and Missile Programs, Air Force Legislative Liaison, advocating for space and missile programs to Congress. Col. Trainer worked extensively with our colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Sub-Committee, developing great rapport with former members, Rep. Terry Everett and Rep. Ellen Tauscher. His dedication and success in supporting numerous projects, including the unveiling of the Operational Responsive Space Concept to Congress, led to his selection as the Legislative Liaison Reservist of the Year in 2006.

Perhaps the most challenging assignment was his final one as Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director, National Reconnaissance Office, where he serves as the senior reserve officer supporting the NRO and all associated Space activities. In this position, he leads 60 total force professionals and aids the Director in the NRO's interaction with significant mission partners including the Director for National Intelligence, National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Air Force Space Command, Strategic Command and other Combatant Commanders. In 2010, the Air Force Reserve recognized Col. Trainer's performance by selecting him to its Reserve Brigadier General Qualification List.

Colonel Trainer has excelled throughout his distinguished career and I am honored to pay tribute to this Airman. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Colonel Pete Trainer, his wife, Melanie, and their son, Nick, for their service to our country. I wish them Godspeed, and continued happiness as they start a new chapter in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tony Jimenez, President & CEO of MicroTech, for being named the Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Council of America, or SBCA. MicroTech is an innovative technology company located in Vienna, Virginia started by Mr. Jimenez in 2004. It provides a host of technology services--including cyber security, systems integration, and cloud computing--to the commercial and public sectors, serving more than half-a-million daily technology users.

The SBCA is a nationwide nonprofit representing more than 20,000 businesses in the retail, service and manufacturing sectors. According to the SBCA, the criteria for the Small Business Person of the Year award includes, ``dedication to small business in America as evidenced through promotion of a climate favorable to free enterprise, promotion of a positive image of American business through excellent business, civic or corporate leadership, [and] leadership in advancing the interest of small business in America.''

During its short history MicroTech has won a number of awards from a host of organizations. Just a few of the many recognitions include: the Red Herring Global 100, which recognizes the most innovative tech companies in the world; the AFFIRM Award which recognizes the top 100 most influential Hispanics in IT; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ``Blue Ribbon Small Business;'' and the CRN Number 1 Fastest Growing Solutions Provider.

In addition to being an award-winning business professional, Mr. Jimenez is dedicated to giving back to the community and he was named a Top CEO Philanthropist; received recognition from the Washington Business Journal for top-privately-held corporate philanthropist; and received the USHAA Bravo Award for good business practices and philanthropy.

As my colleagues and I well know, small businesses are the economic engine of America, and MicroTech is a shining example. In its 8 years of existence Mr. Jimenez has created more than 400 jobs in 28 states. MicroTech is a shining success story and clearly demonstrates how a dedicated entrepreneur such as Mr. Jimenez can turn an idea into a successful business employing hundreds of Americans while serving as a tremendous corporate citizen in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the value that America's small business leaders bring to our economy, and join me in congratulating Tony Jimenez for being named the SBCA Small Business Person of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its dedicated employees for 150 years of service to America. By working with farmers across America, the USDA has built the most productive, efficient agricultural economy on earth. It has rescued whole regions from the Dust Bowl, diversified production in the South to end regional dependence on cotton, led efforts to restore estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay through conservation programs, financed rural development, and rebuilt agriculture in war-torn countries in partnership with the Armed Services.

America's food security today stands in stark contrast to other industrialized countries which are heavily dependent on food imports. Only because of the USDA's work do we enjoy this security, which includes affordable food for working Americans. Today the USDA is working to ensure that food security includes healthy foods which address America's most challenging chronic health problems. Under Secretary Vilsack, the USDA is leading efforts to redevelop local food production. The benefits of this initiative are evident in my home state of Virginia, where growing wine, cheese, fruit, and vegetable production is bringing land back into production which had been fallow for decades. The USDA is much more than agriculture; it pursues a comprehensive program of rural development, and its recent efforts to strengthen local food supplies are emblematic of this comprehensive approach.

The USDA is playing a central role in conserving America's natural resources, as it has since its inception. Photographs from the Works Progress Administration should serve as a reminder of the resources that would have been lost but for USDA leadership. Before we had comprehensive agricultural conservation programs, cubic miles of prime soils were being lost throughout the South and Midwest to erosion from wind and rain. The USDA pioneered soil conservation methods which ensured that these regions would remain productive for generations to come. Building on that early success, USDA conservation programs are responsible for reducing agricultural pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries, ensuring that Americans can enjoy productive fisheries as well as productive agricultural lands.

In an era where government is disparaged all too frequently, the USDA is a shining example of the benefits of federal service. We never could have become the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth without the agency which worked with farmers to feed our armies and our workforce, and to conserve those natural resources that we will rely on for the next 150 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Alan G. Merten and to congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement following a distinguished, 16-year tenure as president of George Mason University.

Dr. Merten was Mason's fifth president, and under his leadership the University developed the culture, academics and reputation of a unique and world-class institution of higher learning. There are many examples of its growth and enhanced prestige, but I would like to cite a few statistics that speak to the caliber of excellence Dr. Merten has helped build at Mason. U.S. News and World Report ranks George Mason 138th among the best universities in the nation. Incoming freshman now average a 3.6 GPA, up from 3.0 in 1996. Mason's student body has grown to more than 32,000. While GMU was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia, it became an independent institution in 1972 and now is the largest university in the Commonwealth. Dr. Merten's success cultivating new funding opportunities and promoting the fields of information technology and biological sciences have sparked an increase in annual research funding from $28 million in 1996 to more than $100 million today.

When he steps down next month, Dr. Merten will conclude a career in higher education that has spanned more than four decades of service at numerous institutions. Dr. Merten holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, a master's degree in computer science from Stanford University, and a PhD in computer science from the University of Wisconsin. He began his career in 1970 as an associate professor of industrial and operations engineering at the University of Michigan. He later served as an associate dean in the Michigan Business School where he was responsible for executive education and computing services. After serving for three years as the dean of the College of Business at the University of Florida, Dr. Merten accepted the deanship of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University in 1989. In 1996, he accepted the position of President at GMU.

Dr. Merten is a well respected figure in the Northern Virginia community who has used his considerable and diverse talents to raise the profile of the University and our community. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Merten has expanded GMU's partnership with the regional business community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and he was a member of the Virginia Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education. His tireless efforts advocating on behalf of the university in local, state, and federal government have earned him a reputation as a champion of higher education. After his retirement, Dr. Merten will continue to serve George Mason and our community in other capacities, as well as spend more time with his wife Sally, daughter Melissa, son Eric and four grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Dr. Alan G. Merten for his tremendous contributions to George Mason University and the higher education community. I consider Dr. Merten a dear friend and wish him, his wife and family the best as he moves into retirement. Thanks to his leadership, the University and Northern Virginia are well positioned for future growth and success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Cheryl E. Thompson on the occasion of her retirement from Mantua Elementary School on June 30, 2012. She began in the Fairfax County Public School System in 1973 as a Physical Education teacher and she became the Lead Physical Education teacher at Mantua 21 years ago. After serving in that capacity for 11 years, Ms. Thompson was promoted to Assistant Principal, a role which she embraced for the last decade.

Ms. Thompson has served the children of Fairfax County for the past four decades, spending the last 21 years at Mantua, where she personified the concept of community-building. She was the voice of the Mantua Elementary Intramural Basketball Finals; she organized and served as the DJ for the yearly Ice Cream Social, Sixth Grade End-of- Year Party, Spirit Parade, and the Mantua Citizens Association Pool Party. Ms. Thompson coached girls' basketball at Woodson High School, my daughter's alma mater, for 14 years, winning a number of division titles and the Virginia State Title in 1982. She earned Woodson Coach of the Year honors three times. The athletic instruction and support that Ms. Thompson gave to her students was exemplary; however, her dedication to her students' education is even more admirable. She earned Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year honors with Mantua Elementary as well.

While Ms. Thompson's absence will be felt throughout the Fairfax County Public School System, and especially at Mantua Elementary School, her dedication to her community will continue to resonate. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating her on her retirement and recognizing her many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I met with homeless individuals and families, and community leaders who advocate on their behalf. I can tell you that even in my district the wealthiest in the nation--we have real needs. While our poverty rate may be the envy of most jurisdictions across the nation, that's just a statistic. In real numbers, more than 60,000 people are struggling with poverty-- hard working men and women trying to provide for themselves, and tens of thousands of children not knowing where they'll sleep tonight, or if they'll eat. In fact there are more people below the poverty line in Fairfax County than the total population of more than 100 of Virginia's 139 jurisdictions.

This sequester replacement is a short sighted and cynical action. Make no mistake; this is NOT about fiscal responsibility. It forces sacrifices on the less fortunate among us; seniors and children who will lose supplemental meal assistance; struggling single parents who will lose child care support, threatening their ability to work; lower income families who will lose their health care. What this plan does not do is ask similar sacrifices from the most wealthy in our nation. In fact, it paves the way for another tax cut for the top 1 percent. Oil and gas companies, which have seen $290 billion in profits over the last 4 years are not asked to contribute even 1 penny of the $16 billion in special tax breaks they received.

No, this Republican Reconciliation Ruse is really an attempt to fundamentally change American values at the expense of the sick, the old, the young and the disadvantaged. I would ask my colleagues to go home and talk to those individuals struggling to get by in their community, and faith leaders who work with them, and ask how these draconian cuts affect their lives. I urge my colleagues to reject this Republican Reconciliation Ruse and to work toward truly comprehensive, responsible and bipartisan deficit reduction that safeguards the less fortunate among us and is reflective of our nation's shared values.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, along with the other co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus--Representative Shelley Berkley, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, and Representative Phil Gingrey--to recognize the service of Ronnie Chih-chien Lu. Mr. Lu is the outgoing Senior Officer in the Congressional Liaison Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, TECRO. Mr. Lu is returning to Taiwan for his next assignment as a diplomat. During his service as the TECRO contact for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Congressional Caucus on Taiwan, Mr. Lu has served as an invaluable resource for us.

In 2005, Mr. Lu was hand-picked to serve as a congressional liaison for TECRO. During his almost 7 year tenure in this position, Mr. Lu oversaw Congressional Delegation visits for over 30 Members of the House of Representatives and organized 12 Congressional Staff Delegation visits to Taiwan. Mr. Lu was also part of the TECRO team that worked toward the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 55, which commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. He also worked to garner support for House Concurrent Resolution 266 (H. Con. Res. 266), which called for Taiwan's active participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization. H. Con. Res. 266 passed the House of Representatives in 2010.

Mr. Lu has served in Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2000. Early in his diplomatic career, he served in both the Department of Protocol and Department of African Affairs. Mr. Lu received a Master of Arts degree from National Chengchi University in Taiwan.

Though he secured many legislative victories for Taiwan while he served in Washington, DC, he made even more long-lasting relationships. My colleagues and our staff are proud to call him a friend, and we hope to see him back in Washington, DC one day.

Mr. Speaker, climate deniers have buried their heads so deep in the sand they can't hear the Secretary of Defense warning us about the risk of climate change.

Last week, Secretary Panetta gave a speech about the impact of climate change on national security. He said,

``The area of climate change has a dramatic impact on national security. Rising sea levels, severe droughts, the melting of the polar caps, and devastating natural disasters all raise demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.'' And he might have added, and threaten military bases, especially naval bases, all around the world.

Americans are experiencing that severe weather already, including record-breaking droughts in the South and Southwest and unprecedented tornadic activity in the South and the Midwest.

Severe weather manifestations of climate change have a direct impact on our armed services and national security. Secretary Panetta focused on the geopolitical risks of increased flooding, drought, famine, and hurricanes. These troubling events create new demands for humanitarian intervention but can also destabilize political regimes and enable the rise of extreme elements.

Congress may be fiddling while Texas and wildfire regions of the mountain west burn, but the armed services are responding aggressively to the threat of climate change.

The Navy is leading the effort to boost production of biofuels and to protect the military and taxpayers against rising oil prices. The Department of Defense consumes some 350,000 barrels of oil every day. Each $10 increase in a barrel of oil costs our Department of Defense and the taxpayers $1.3 billion every year. By creating a supply of biofuels, the Navy's protecting taxpayer interests from volatile oil prices, while reducing greenhouse gas pollution associated with fossil fuels. The Navy also is reducing its own dependence on Middle Eastern oil, since it makes no sense for the DOD to be providing business to governments that support terrorism.

The Army and the Air Force have also made groundbreaking investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, reducing global warming pollution while strengthening our national security posture. At Fort Detrick, for example, and other installations, the Army is deploying energy efficient retrofits and renewable energy generation to achieve net zero energy consumption, meaning that the bases produce as much energy as they consume. These efforts reduce global warming pollution and protect critical facilities from a cyberattack on the grid.

The Army's implemented numerous energy savings performance contracts at other bases, including in my district at Fort Belvoir, to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas pollution. By reducing the $24.5 billion every year that Federal agencies spend on electricity consumption, these efforts protect taxpayers.

In today's fiscal climate, the Secretary of Defense is aware that the Federal Government needs to make better use of limited resources. He recognizes that investing in clean energy will reduce the Department of Defense's oil dependence and lower its fuel costs to free up resources for other priorities and to reduce the burden on taxpayers.

I'm surprised by the resistance of a few Members who wrap themselves in the mantle of fiscal responsibility, even while opposing the Defense Department's efforts to save money on energy costs.

The DOD's success in this area is actually a model for other agencies to follow.

There used to be a bipartisan consensus here, and we should address the threats posed by climate change. John Warner, who served as the Secretary of the Navy in a Republican administration before serving as the Republican Senator from my home State of Virginia for 30 years, introduced the first bill to address global warming which came to the Senate floor. Since his retirement in 2008, he has been a leading advocate for reductions in global warming pollution in order to improve our national security. Sadly, the House Republican leadership would take America in the opposite direction by blocking the Clean Air Act enforcement of carbon pollution limits and by reversing energy efficiency standards for lights and appliances.

As the impacts of climate change become more apparent with each passing season, we should heed Secretary Panetta's warning and take action to control the pollution, which endangers our warfighters abroad and threatens communities here at home.

[The Cutting Edge News, May 4, 2012]

Panetta Warns Climate Change Having `Dramatic Impact' on National

Security

(By Carlo Munoz)

Climate change has had a direct effect on national

security, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said this week.

Panetta told an audience at the Environmental Defense Fund

that climate change has raised the need for humanitarian

assistance and disaster relief, hitting national security in

the process.

``The area of climate change has a dramatic impact on

national security,'' Panetta said. ``Rising sea levels,

severe droughts, the melting of the polar caps, the more

frequent and devastating natural disasters all raise demand

for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.''

Panetta spoke to the Environmental Defense Fund on Tuesday

at an event honoring the Defense Department for advancing

clean-energy initiatives.

In recent years, the Defense Department and the services

have spearheaded a number of alternative-energy initiatives

and seemingly embraced environmentally friendly practices on

the battlefield.

President Obama effectively put the Pentagon at the

forefront of an ambitious alternative energy strategy during

the State of the Union speech in January. The Navy and Air

Force have already spent billions to integrate biofuels into

their fleets of fighter jets and warships.

Marine Corps combat units in Afghanistan are using mobile

solar panels to recharge batteries for their night vision and

communications in the field. Solar power is also helping to

run a number of Marine Corps combat outposts in the country.

But the Pentagon's adoption of environmentally sensitive

practices was driven more by the department's dire fiscal

situation than politics, Panetta said on Tuesday. DOD spent

roughly $15 billion to fuel its fighters, tanks and ships in

2012, the Defense chief said. The Pentagon spends $50 million

on fuel each month to keep combat operations in Afghanistan

going, Panetta added. As oil prices continue to skyrocket,

the department ``now [faces] a shortfall exceeding $3 billion

of higher-than-expected fuel costs this year,'' according to

Panetta.

In order to dig its way out of that financial hole, DOD has

no choice but to look to alternative fuel technologies.

Pentagon officials plan to invest more than $1 billion into

developing those technologies in fiscal 2013, he said.

However, Republicans on Capitol Hill have taken issue with

that decision, arguing the department will be sacrificing

needed much-needed combat systems in favor of alternative

energy work. In March, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) claimed the

Navy's ongoing biofuels work was devolving into another

``Solyndra situation.''

During a March 13 hearing of the Senate Armed Services

Committee, McCain compared the now-bankrupt solar-energy

company, into which the White House sank $535 million in loan

guarantees, to Navy-led efforts in alternative energy. Rep.

Randy Forbes (R-Va.), a member of the House Armed Services

subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, took Navy

Secretary Ray Mabus to task in February over the service's

plans. ``Shouldn't we refocus our priorities and make those

things our priorities instead of advancing a biofuels

market?'' Forbes asked at the time. Before Mabus could

respond, the Virginia Republican took a clear shot at the

secretary: ``You're not the secretary of the Energy. You're

the secretary of the Navy.''