Floor Statements

Thank you, Mr. Filner and Mr. Boswell.

Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the previous remarks of all my colleagues in regard to H.R. 327, of which I am in complete support. It is a bill designed to decrease suicide amongst our veterans. As you have heard, we have had the highest rate of suicide of any other war.

This is about soldiers like Michael, who returned from Iraq, went months on a waiting list from doctor to doctor without proper treatment, and when finally diagnosed, a week later he shot himself. This is about the two marines gathered at a muster in Long Beach just recently who were diagnosed on the spot with suicidal tendencies and were hospitalized immediately. This is about our local VFW seeing more and more young people seeking to get services for their mental well- being. This is also about our families becoming aware of signs to look for and where to find treatment. This is about providing the funding to help heal the mental wounds so that our warriors believe it is better to remain alive and not dead. What is more critical and more important?

I urge my colleagues to vote in support of 327.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in total opposition to the President's plan, a plan that escalates the number of our young men and women, American troops, being sent to Iraq. But what are we talking about? What are the words in this resolution? It says, Resolved by the House of Representatives that, one, Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and, secondly, Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. That is what we speak to.

I did not vote for the war resolution, and I do not believe that sending more young Americans to Iraq and putting their lives at risk will change the situation. Since the beginning of the Iraq conflict, our valiant men and women in uniform have not received the adequate training nor the proper life-protection equipment required to ensure their safety. I visited one of the armories where 2 years after the Iraq war had started. They were still making the doors for the Humvees to protect them from those bombs that were killing and maiming our men and women.

The President's proposal to put more troops in harm's way, into the middle of a civil war, whether you like it or not, it may be local, but it is a civil war, where neither side backs our continued occupation, further endangers our troops.

My constituents are not in favor of the escalation by a margin of 50 to 1. We have had phone calls, e-mails, messages. They want our young men and women back. They do not want to escalate it any more. Families have suffered enough already. There is no justification for causing more pain and adding to the suffering of the mothers and of the fathers and of the husbands and the wives and the sons and the daughters and other loved ones. We speak of the soldiers who have lost their lives in Iraq in this war. We speak not of the thousands of injured and the suffering they and their families are being put through. The consequences of the war in Iraq extend far beyond the awful tally of the 3,100 killed and the 23,000 wounded.

The Nation's economic consequences of the escalation are profound. Point one: every portion of our budget has been cut and continues to be cut except for defense spending. The worst budget cuts are taking funding away from our veterans, the very men and women who put their lives on the line in Iraq and in other wars. We regularly receive letters and phone calls, e-mails, from constituents who ask me to fund vital, successful, necessary programs for their communities; but we cannot support our communities with the funds they truly need as they are instead being diverted to a war we did not seek. Vital social services, critical to the well-being of the people of my district and certainly of all other districts, are again being cut.

Other consequences of the war are the social consequences. These soldiers fortunate enough to return home alive and in good physical health suffer long-term mental health problems, Mr. Speaker, as a direct consequence of their deployment, not one, not two, but possibly three and more deployments in Iraq.

Yet our services to them and their families not only are sadly lacking and underfunded; they are being cut. We have not enough money to be able to deal with the devastation in the minds of not only these men and women but their families to be able to deal with the consequences when they return home and try to regain a normal life.

Families are being torn apart more so by this war than any other war. There are suicides. There is divorce. There is homelessness now. Their children are forced to grow up without their father or their mother. Parents are losing children. No mother should have to bury a son or a daughter.

I urge the President to work with Iraq's neighbors and the international community to ensure other countries' commitments to Iraq's security situation, the training of Iraqi troops and police, and, of course, financial support. Escalation is certainly not the answer and I cannot and will not support such a policy.

I certainly want to say thank you to our brave men and women in uniform for your bravery and your service. Our prayers are with you and your families

Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to authorize and request the President of the United States to award the Medal of Honor to Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for acts of valor while serving his country in the Republic of Vietnam on December 22, 1966.

Joe Getherall was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was seriously wounded three times during his second tour. He served as a squad leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Third Marine Division during ``Operation Chinook.'' In the early morning hours of December 22, 1966, Company M was occupying a night defensive position in the area of the Co Bi-Than Tan Corridor, Thua Thien Province. Suddenly, the Marines came under intense small arms and mortar fire from the 802nd Viet Cong Battalion. Sergeant Getherall unhesitatingly exposed himself to intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire in order to repeatedly move across open terrain to effectively control his unit. While moving from one position to another he was seriously wounded in both legs and arms by an exploding mortar round. However, despite his painful injuries, he steadfastly refused medical evacuation and continued to direct his unit.

As the battle raged throughout the night, with most of the enemy ground assaults concentrated in front of his squad's position through 50 meters of open terrain, he continually exposed himself to enemy small arms fire. With enemy mortars and grenades exploding around him he disregarded his own safety in order to pinpoint enemy targets, direct fire, resupply his men with ammunition and ensure the integrity of the perimeter defense. He personally killed many of the enemy attackers with his own rifle fire. During one of the enemy assaults, a Marine went down in the open. Sergeant Getherall realized the gravity of the situation and fearlessly moved across the hazardous open terrain under intense enemy fire and dragged the Marine to cover.

During another assault, Sergeant Getherall observed a Viet Cong about to throw a grenade and Sergeant Getherall killed him with rifle fire. The enemy was still able to throw his grenade, which landed among the Marines. Sergeant Getherall shouted a warning to his men and with complete disregard for his own life, under heavy enemy fire he was able to get to the grenade and jump on it. He then picked it up and threw it back at the enemy where it exploded a few meters away, wounding Sergeant Getherall for a second time in one of his legs. By his prompt and courageous action in the face of almost certain death, he saved several of his squad members from death or serious injury.

During the remainder of the night, he moved among his men, encouraging them and ensuring that there was maximum security and firepower to repulse subsequent attacks. Inspired by his selfless courage and aggressive fighting spirit, his squad members repulsed a number

of savage attacks while inflicting heavy casualties on a determined and numerically superior enemy force. By his outstanding leadership, resolute determination and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Sergeant Getherall upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

This bill I am introducing today will waive the time limitations that require the award to be made within 5 years of the act. This is needed because the original award recommendation by Gary Loveridge, the platoon commander at the time, was lost by the Marine Corps. Additionally, six of Sergeant Getherall's squad members and his commanding officer have recently submitted sworn affidavits attesting to his heroic actions.

Madam Speaker, Joe Getherall is a great man who performed an amazing feat to defend his country and his squadron. He deserves the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 235) to allow for the renegotiation of the payment schedule of contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and the Redwood Valley County Water District, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

I rise in very strong support of H.R. 235, as amended. This legislation will allow the Redwood Valley County Water District in Northern California to renegotiate loans it received from the Federal Government for an unsuccessful water project. This action will clear the way for the Water District to initiate a new project that will develop a reliable supply of drinking water for that area. The District will rely only on private financing for the new project. No Federal money will be spent on this new project.

However, before the District can secure private financing for any project, it must renegotiate the existing loans to provide for their repayment subsequent to repayment of the new loan. Once the new project is built and delivering water, it will provide enough revenue to allow the District to repay both its private loan and the United States Government.

Specifically, this legislation allows the Redwood County Valley Water District to secure a private loan for a project to provide the region with a reliable water supply. It also requires the Water District to repay its current suspended loan to the Federal Government once the renewed water project is paid for.

In consultation with the minority, the legislation includes a minor amendment to clarify the requirement that the Secretary of the Interior must reschedule loan payments and that the payments must begin immediately upon satisfaction of the Water District's newer financial obligation.

Similar legislation was passed by this House in the 109th Congress; and I congratulate my colleague, Congressman Mike Thompson, for all of his hard work on behalf of the Redwood Valley County Water District.

I do urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 235, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 356) to remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States.

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

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

H.R. 356 removes congressionally imposed restrictions on the use of lands transferred in 1987 from the United States to the Mammoth Community Water District in California. This legislation would allow the District to modify the use of these lands so that those 12 acres of land now used for material storage may be put to a more beneficial use.

In 2004, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on similar legislation. In the 109th Congress, similar legislation was favorably reported by the committee and passed by the House.

We have no objections on this noncontroversial bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 386) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 386 would transfer title for approximately 9 acres of land and several buildings to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District. The terms of the transfer are included in a formal agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and the irrigation district. Other parts of the reclamation project, including the Tieton diversion dam and associated canals, would not be affected.

In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on similar legislation. That bill was favorably reported by the committee and passed by this House. We have no objection to this legislation.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 482) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer ownership of the American River Pump Station Project, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 482 directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain lands and the water pumping facility under construction on the American River to the Placer County Water Agency in California. Currently, the Bureau of Reclamation is obligated by a previous agreement to supply temporary pumping service to satisfy the water rights of the Placer County Water Agency. This temporary pumping is done at considerable cost to the Bureau of Reclamation. The American River Pump Station will provide a permanent facility for the delivery of water to that agency.

H.R. 482 allows the bureau to satisfy its contractual obligations by transferring this facility and eliminates the continued cost of providing temporary pumping service to that agency.

In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on similar legislation, and the bill was subsequently favorably reported by the committee and passed by the House. We have no objections to this legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers. Hopefully, we will be able to continue working in a bipartisan manner to get these very, very critical projects going and approved and moving out of this House. I am sure that we are going to have others that are just equally important. I hope the same consideration is given to all those.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 19, 2007, I was absent due to a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 42, agreeing to H.R. 475--to revise the composition of the House of Representatives Page Board to equalize the number of members representing the majority and minority parties and to include a member representing the parents of pages and a member representing former pages.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 36, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Thank you, Chairman Miller.

Madam Speaker, following each statement I will provide a translation in Spanish.

Today, I join my colleagues to support the College Student Relief Act, H.R. 5. A competitive global economy cannot be sustained without an educated workforce and the affordable education for those people.

Hoy, acompano a mis colegas en apoyar la propuesta. La economia competitiva global no se puede llevar acabo sin tener ciudadanos educados y hacer educacion accesible.

Like many students from my district, Jenna, a Pomona student, recently spoke of her $30,000 debt for her post-graduate degree.

(En Espanol) Como muchos estudiantes de mi distrito, estudiante Jenna recientemente hablo sobre su deuda de 30 mil dolares, el costo para obtener su licenciatura posgraduada.

She is burdened not only by the high cost of education tuition, the loan payments, but also by having to look for employment, much like many of the other minority and Hispanic peers.

(En Espanol) No solo tiene la deuda de su colegiatura y de su prestamo, tambien tiene que buscar empleo, como la mayoria de sus colegas Hispanas y otras menorias.

Students like her will save $2,500 over the life of their loan at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

(En Espanol) Sin costo adicional al los que pagan impuestos, estudiantes podran ahorrar mas de $2,500 sobre el total del prestamo.

It is time to help our students. Give them the aid they need. Lower the student loan rates. I certainly want to ensure that all my colleagues on both sides vote for this proposal, H.R. 5.

Es tiempo que ayudemos a nuestros estudiantes. Denles la ayuda necesaria!! Bajemos la tasa del prestamo!

Mr. Speaker, a minimum wage increase is crucial for all Americans, more so for women and minorities.

Es de maxima importancia que este Congreso eleve el salario minimo, especialmente para las mujeres y menorias.

Ten years of neglect, plus inflation, have left workers living below poverty.

Diez anos de olvido, mas la inflacion, han dejado a nuestros trabajadores en pobreza.

1.4 million working women will be main beneficiaries for an increase from $5.15 to eventually $7.25 per hour in 2 years, of which 33 percent are African American and Hispanic female workers.

Mas de uno punto quarto millon de mujeres trabajan -seran las beneficiaries el cual son Hispanas y AfroAmericanas del salario de 5.15 a 7.25 pro hora.

It helps economic social conditions, reduces pay gaps. It helps the economy. More money spent will create more career opportunities through affordability of education.

Ayuda a la economia nacional ya que se gastara mas dinero.

Mujeres encabezadas de su familia podran tener mas dinero para mantener su familia.

Women breadwinners can increase economic and financial independence.

Enough talk. Take action. Have a conscience. Help America. Vote for the minimum wage increase.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of Mr. Radanovich's legislation to authorize implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement.

Enacting this legislation will allow the San Joaquin River--the second-longest river in California--to once again have the water it needs to support a viable salmon fishery. If enacted, the San Joaquin River will be a living river decades after the Bureau of Reclamation built Friant Dam.

Putting water back into a dry river in California is a very complicated and controversial task. A number of ``third parties'' have now come forward to express concerns that their own particular interests may in some way be detrimentally affected by this settlement and its proposed legislation, and ask that this legislation be restructured to eliminate or minimize their concerns. It is entirely appropriate that this legislation addresses those concerns. As we consider the implications of enacting this restoration legislation for the San Joaquin River and the need to protect a variety of interests, I am mindful of and remain committed to progress in implementing and funding the December 19, 2000, Trinity River restoration record of decision and the Hoopa Valley Tribe's comanagement of the decision's important goal of restoring the fishery resources that the United States holds in trust for the Hoopa Valley Tribe.

The San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement legislation is tremendously important for all of California. The settling parties, along with Senator Feinstein, Congressman Radanovich, and many other concerned and affected parties have worked long and hard to bring this settlement to Congress all making concessions, and deserve our recognition and appreciation. I will continue to work with my colleagues and do whatever I can to help ensure the enabling legislation is enacted.

Mr. Chairman, I rise as chair of the 21-member Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and call for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act.

This bill is about protecting the most basic and significant civil rights for all American citizens, the right to vote. I call on this House to pass the bill.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

The gentleman from Arizona and I have had some conversation over this particular issue earlier today, and I did try to impress upon him that this is not just an earmark. This isn't pork.

This is, in fact, funding that would come from the Small Business Administration account for construction of the $25 million trade center that is going to be located at the Pomona State Fairgrounds, which, by the way, is also a proposed staging area for the Los Angeles County emergency staging for terrorism. And this is vital to the city of Pomona and the whole surrounding community not only east of the Los Angeles area but the Inland Empire, as was mentioned by my colleague, Congressman Dreier.

This would create jobs and assist businesses in an economically depressed as well as disadvantaged community and, of course, as many of us already know, the number one crime city in the State of California. The unemployment rates are exceedingly high.

Now, this new addition to the fairgrounds, the Trade and Conference Center, will generate 1,700 full-time jobs, provide a large economic stimulus in the community where now a lot of people are out of work; businesses are moving partly because of NAFTA and others, let me tell you. But 90 small businesses are already signed and registered to work at this new facility or to be able to be exposed there. The Fairplex is a very well respected, nonprofit event center hosting yearly over 300 activities, including the Los Angeles County Fair, and attracts hundreds of thousands of people. It is used for Federal events and, as you just recently heard, for the Iraqi elections. And last but not least, it is also used for naturalization ceremonies.

I wish to thank my colleague, Chairman Dreier, for his support of the project that affects the many surrounding communities of southern Los Angeles. And as the Representative for Pomona, I am proud to support this bid of $750,000, which will benefit jobs and the economy in this area. And in helping this project move forward, I certainly thank you and look forward to the support for defeating the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, I was absent due to a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way:

``Aye'' on rollcall No. 295, an amendment by Mr. Schiff to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 296, an amendment by Mr. King to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 297, an amendment by Mr. Chocola to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 298, an amendment by Mr. Flake, No. 2 to, H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 299, an amendment by Mr. Flake, No. 3, to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Aye'' on rollcall No. 300, an amendment by Mr. Hinchey, No. 1, to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Aye'' on rollcall No. 301, an amendment by Mr. Hinchey, No. 2, to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 302, an amendment by Mr. Flake, No. 6, to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 303, an amendment by Mr. Flake, No. 7, to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 304, an amendment by Mr. Flake, No. 9, to H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 305, final passage of H.R. 5631, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.