Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2803, the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006, to provide important Federal safety regulations for coal mines.

The number of coal miners who have died so far this year is alarming and has highlighted the pressing need to revise coal miner health safety standards to ensure miners are equipped with state of the art technologies, tracking devices, and sufficient emergency supplies of oxygen.

Our current Federal mine safety regulations are outdated. We need to act now to protect

the health and safety of our coal miners from future tragedies and enact stiffer penalties for flagrant violations of the law. Further, regulations must be enforced. I have cosponsored Representative Miller's bill, H.R. 5389, the Protecting America's Miners Act, to improve mine safety regulations to help protect miners in the event of an emergency.

The bill before the House today, S. 2803, while not perfect, includes many important provisions to help save lives. The measure is a step in the right direction and is only the beginning of more mine safety reforms to be considered in the House to ensure our mine workers have the safest measures in place.

I represent southwestern and southern Illinois, a region with a rich coal mining history. Coal mining has played a significant roll in transforming and developing the region since the mid-1800s when substantial coal mining in Illinois began. In 2006, the coal industry continues to be a vital component of our economy, and one we are working to strengthen for the future. Improving mine safety standards is an important part of this process began in Illinois, West Virginia, and other coal producing States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2803 to affirm our commitment to the hard working men and women who enter coal mines every day.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the retirement of Chief Master Sergeant Robert Van Oss, who will be retiring from the United States Air Force after more than 30 years of service to his country. Chief Van Oss has led an exceptional military career specializing in healthcare. His proficiency in the medical field has proved to be an invaluable service in numerous ways during his years of service.

Robert J. Van Oss was born on June 20, 1958 in Denver, Colorado. Upon finishing high school at John S. Greenway High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 1976, he enlisted in the Air Force. Upon completion of his training as a Medical Service Specialist, he applied his skills to numerous and important tasks.

Chief Van Oss has performed a variety of assignments at bases in Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, the Phillipines, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. Recently he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he played a key role in the task of reconstructing an Iraqi healthcare system. He has also made vital contributions to the process of obtaining equipment for the purpose of medical evacuations in both the Air Force's aeromedical evacuation system and the Army medical evacuation system.

Chief Van Oss will be retiring as Chief of Medical Enlisted Issues for Air Mobility Command where he provides professional advice to the AMC Command Surgeon on issues pertaining to the 3,900 enlisted medical personnel who provide healthcare services throughout the command and at Scott Air Force Base. In addition, he is currently the AMC Aerospace Medical Service Technician Functional Manager and is responsible for technicians located at 15 bases throughout the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating CMSgt Robert Van Oss on his long and distinguished military career and thanking him for his service in the United States Air Force and to his country.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5449, legislation that will send the FAA and the air traffic controllers back to the bargaining table. H.R. 5449 seeks to ensure a fair process to resolve impasses that arise during collective bargaining negotiations with the FAA instead of the current one-sided process.

The FAA and NATCA started contract negotiations in July of 2005. The FAA declared an impasse on April 5 and promptly sent the contract to Congress just days before we went out on our April district work period. The 60-day clock expired yesterday, June 5, with the FAA imposing its last offer immediately.

I believe the best way to get a fair contract between the two sides is for Members to sign Discharge Petition No. 13 to bring H.R. 4755, a bipartisan bill with 265 cosponsors, including 75 Republicans, to the House floor for a vote. Congresswoman Sue Kelly and I introduced H.R. 4755 which would insist on binding arbitration, ensuring an end to the dispute, protecting collective bargaining rights and to promote good faith, fair negotiations. One hundred ninety-five Members, all Democrats, signed the Costello discharge petition to bring H.R. 4755 to the floor.

Because I filed the discharge petition, the Republican leadership has decided to bring up H.R. 5449, introduced by my good friend, Mr. LaTourette, to the House floor today for consideration. While I would have preferred to see H.R. 4755 on the floor today, I support H.R. 5449, the legislation before us, as a means of reversing the current one-sided process that does not promote good faith negotiations.

I want to remind my colleagues as we hear a lot about salaries and working conditions and other issues that this bill is about process only, plain and simple. There are no mandates concerning salaries, benefits or anything concerning working conditions with the air traffic controllers. It simply gets both sides back to the bargaining table.

Today's debate really comes down to whether Members support the rights of workers and the rights of collective bargaining. Anytime one side comes to the bargaining table knowing that they will get what they want at the end of the day, which is exactly what the current law does, it gives the FAA what they want, their last proposal at the end of the day, then there is no incentive to reach an agreement.

The current law is grossly unfair and needs to be permanently changed. If you truly believe in collective bargaining, you will send both sides back to the bargaining table by supporting H.R. 5449.

I urge all Members to vote ``yes.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to myself to make a point.

The gentleman from Florida just stated that they are paying these people over $200,000 on average, and I have to tell you that I do not believe that to be an accurate statement. I would just suggest to the gentleman that if you

think about over $200,000 a year on average, and I think that is very misleading.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time.

A couple of points very quickly. Number one, the average air traffic controller in the United States does not make over $200,000 a year. Number two, the 75 percent increase that has been referred to by the chairman of the subcommittee, 60 percent of that came through the normal process when every government employee received a raise.

Finally, let me close by asking our colleagues to support this legislation

and I would ask my friend, the chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, and the 75 Republicans who cosponsored the Kelly-Costello bill, that if this legislation fails tomorrow, if it does not get two-thirds vote and pass in this House tomorrow, then we want to see just how many Republicans who are supporting this legislation today will go up and sign discharge petition No. 13.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the career and public service of Joel Carp.

For 28 years, Joel Carp has been an effective leader for the Jewish Federation/Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Jewish community as a whole. As Senior Vice President, his responsibilities include management of its Government Affairs Program, delegating the budget for social welfare programs, and supervising the State of Illinois refugee and immigration programs, as well as several homeless services programs. Joel's persistent dedication and devotion to social services has truly made a difference in many people's lives and in many organizations.

Joel has dedicated his life to creating public policies that provide quality, comprehensive health and human services for people in Chicago and nationally. He is a member of numerous local, state, and national professional and community service organizations, and has served on various governmental task forces, including the City of Chicago's Task Force on Hunger. His work at the Illinois Department of Human Services includes service on the Governor's Families and Children Leadership Sub-Cabinet. With his knowledgeable background, he has published over 30 articles on various subjects in the field of social work, social planning and resettlement.

Joel was the recipient of the Melvin A. Block Award for Professional Distinction from the Associated YM-YWHAs of Greater New York, and he also received the City of Chicago's Commission on Human Relations Award. His vision is credited as the driving force behind numerous projects that continue to enhance not only Chicago, but our entire nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to overstate the impact that Joel Carp has had on improving the quality of life for thousands of people in Illinois and across the nation. I am proud to call him a friend, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his contributions and wish him and his family the very best in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 788, a resolution that honors and celebrates the 25th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service Observance Day on May 15, 2006. President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers' Memorial Day in 1962. However, it was not until May 15, 1982 that the first National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Service was held in Washington, DC. It is important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards, and sacrifices of their law enforcement agencies. The memorial that was created in Washington, DC stands as a daily reminder of these dangers facing our law enforcement officers and of how these brave men and women died facing them.

As a former police officer, I salute those law enforcement officials who died in the line of duty in 2005 and continue to honor those police officers who gave their lives in past years. As a member of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I strongly support critical funding for programs, such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, to hire additional police officers and help law enforcement acquire the latest crime-fighting technologies. I will continue to be a strong supporter of the law enforcement community and will advocate on behalf of public safety in Congress.

Madam Speaker, in honor of the law enforcement officers who, through their courageous deeds, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community or have become disabled in the performance of duty, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and paying respect to our fallen heroes. As a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 788, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness to and pay tribute to those affected by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, EDS.

The problems present in EDS include changes in the physical properties of skin, joints, blood vessels, and other tissues such as ligaments and tendons. EDS is a rare disorder, occurring in approximately 1 in 5,000 people; however, 90 percent of individuals who have EDS remain undiagnosed. The various forms of EDS are characterized by abnormalities in the chemical structure of the body's connective tissues resulting in some degree of joint looseness, fragile small blood vessels, and abnormal scar formation and wound healing. Some forms of EDS can present problems with the spine, including curved spine; the eyes; and weak internal organs, including the uterus, intestines, and large blood vessels.

There is no cure for this condition, although researchers believe that specific research on EDS would not only benefit EDS patients with diagnostic tools and treatment, but would also benefit understanding of other connective tissue related diseases. Scientific researchers have made some significant advances in recent years in trying to understand this condition, but many scientific challenges still remain.

Mr. Speaker, the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation, a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to controlling the effects of EDS as well as creating a support system for those diagnosed with this condition and their families, has designated May EDS Awareness Month. The goal of this effort is to educate the public about the nature and effects of EDS.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to become familiar with this disease and join us in recognizing the importance of an accurate diagnosis of EDS to ensure appropriate treatment and educational outreach. EDS Awareness Month gives all of us an opportunity to learn more about the condition. It will help us better understand the impact that EDS can have on people living with the disorder, as well as recognize the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment. In short, we must enhance public awareness of this very misunderstood and often misdiagnosed disease.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 60th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6368 in Dupo, Illinois.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States traces its roots back to 1899. That year, veterans of both the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their veterans. In Columbus, Ohio, Spanish-American War veterans founded the American Veterans of Foreign Service and in Denver, Colorado, Philippine veterans organized the Colorado Society, Army of the Philippines. In 1913, both organizations merged to form the present Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.

The VFW is known the world over for their service not only to veterans, but to all people. They are considered to be one of the most active forces in the pursuit of services for and recognition of veterans at a national level. The efforts of the VFW resulted in the creation of the House Veterans Committee, the WWI bonus, the national Veterans Day holiday, various GI bills, the creation of a cabinet-level office of Veterans Affairs and support on many veterans' health issues. The VFW is active in disaster relief and also provides information to citizens about our national flag. You cannot mention the VFW without mentioning their ``buddy poppy'' program which raises funds for veterans' homes.

VFW Post 6368 was chartered in 1946 with 52 charter members and was named the Sugar Loaf Memorial VFW Post. Currently, of the 52 original members, three are still with the Post; Robert Schneeberger, Stan Parrin and John Fischer. Post 6368 is very active in the community and provides many services and support to our area veterans, such as raising funds for homeless vets, money for the National Children's Home, and the Veterans Relief Fund. The Post also donates funds and supports the Dupo Senior High School Junior ROTC program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the men and women of VFW Post 6368 both past and present on 60 years of serving veterans and the people of Southwestern Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Reverend John H. Rouse, of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, in East St. Louis, Illinois, on the occasion of his 51st anniversary of service in the ministry and 31st anniversary as Pastor of Mt. Zion.

John Rouse is the son of Dr. W.B. and Evelyn Rouse. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Rev. Rouse graduated with honors from Lincoln High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. Even though he was the president of his graduating class, Rev. Rouse was once counseled at Lincoln High School to compromise his ambition and settle for employment that did not require public speaking. How fortunate for all those who have benefited from his years of ministry that Rev. Rouse did not follow that advice.

Rev. Rouse began his formal ministry at the First Ward Baptist Church, in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he was pastor until 1970. During his time in Tennessee, Rev. Rouse continued his extensive education at American Baptist Seminary and College of the Bible, Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State University and George Peabody College.

Also during his years in Tennessee, Rev. Rouse became very involved in the civil rights struggle. His work to end segregation in Tennessee and later in Henderson, Kentucky has continued throughout his years of ministry as he has been a constant champion of civil rights and social justice.

It was through activities as a member of the NAACP that Rev. Rouse met Mary G. Avent, who would become his wife and mother of their four children.

In 1975, Rev. Rouse returned to East St. Louis to begin his pastorate at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church where he still serves as pastor today. While at Mt. Zion, Rev. Rouse has expanded his ministry to include Mt. Zion Baptist Mission East, as well as a community-based prison ministry. In addition to their own four children, Rev. and Mrs. Rouse have taken in a number of foster children and opened their hearts and helping hands to many within their congregation.

While Rev. Rouse has built an impressive congregation in East St. Louis, he has extended his ministry through speaking engagements, workshops and revivals across the country and as far away as Seoul, South Korea. Rev. Rouse has officiated at over 2,000 weddings and over 5,000 funerals. He has served on governing boards and commissions serving the church, education, government and community.

Rev. Rouse has traveled far and wide in his service to the Lord. He has also been a teacher, coach and funeral director. He has built congregations and mentored others in their quest to become ministers. The good work that he has done has extended far beyond the boundaries of his present congregation and will be felt for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of appreciation to Reverend Rouse for his 51 years of dedicated ministry and to wish him and his family the very best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the Polish American War Veterans located in Caseyville, Illinois.

The year 1946 saw our Nation's veterans return home from serving their country during World War II. During that year, a group of Polish American veterans in East St. Louis, Illinois gathered to form an organization that would recognize the contributions of Polish Americans during the war, celebrate their Polish heritage and assist veterans, their families and other organizations within their community.

The first discussions took place at Steve Mizulski's S.M. Tavern and the first organizational meeting was held at the Polish Hall in East St. Louis. Soon after this meeting, the Polish American War Veterans organization was chartered by the State of Illinois.

With the formation of the PAWV a slate of officers was installed. Stanley Gula was the first Commander and other officers were: Stanley Boryczko, Vice Commander, Joseph Skowron, Adjutant, Michael Bartosz, Quartermaster and Adam Wondolowski, Sergeant-At-Arms. Initial charter members were: Walter

Kloczak, Les Kloczak, Louis Skosky, Tony Wondolowski, Ted Skrabacz, John Babinski, Aloysius Szablowski, Edward Cich and Ed Wondolowski.

The Polish Hall was the home for the PAWV from its founding, into the 1960s. The American Legion Hall in Fairmont City, Illinois served as the PAWV home until 1979, when the permanent home was built in Caseyville, Illinois.

During their years of service, the organization has held a number of events to raise funds, celebrate their Polish heritage and to provide family and recreational opportunities in their community. These have included organizing teams for bowling and baseball leagues, holding dances and golf tournaments and participating in many parades. They continue to offer ``care packages'' to veterans who are hospitalized or in nursing homes.

In 1999, the PAWV formed an Honor Guard that performs at area events and provides full military honors for veterans' funerals. This unit has received many honors and commendations from area civic and veterans groups.

The Polish American War Veterans have been an active and involved part of our community for 60 years. The service they gave to their country did not stop when they retired from active military duty. They continue to live by the motto, ``Still Serving and Proud to be Polish.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Polish American War Veterans and to wish the best to them for continued service in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Each year on April 24th, the Armenian community and others throughout the world remember and solemnly commemorate the 300 Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders that were arrested in Constantinople, taken to Turkey and murdered. Today marks the 91st anniversary of the deliberate campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. From 1915-1923, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered and more than 500,000 were forced from their homeland into exile.

Despite the effort of some to minimize the scope and deny its occurrence, the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact. In the years since, descendants of Armenian immigrants have clung to their identity and have prospered across this nation and throughout the world. In my district, there is a significant population of Armenian survivors and their families that showed heroic bravery and a will to survive. With faith and courage, generations of Armenians have overcome great suffering and proudly preserved their culture, traditions, and religion by sharing their story of the genocide. It is through their unforgettable tragedy that we are able to share in their history and strong heritage.

Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to imagine an evil more powerful than the massacre and willful destruction of a people. By commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we renew our commitment to prevent future atrocities, and therefore we ensure the lessons of the Armenian Genocide are properly understood and acknowledged. As U.S. efforts to aid victims of genocide continue, it is imperative that we pay tribute to the memory of others who have suffered and to never forget the past.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Signal Hill Fire Department located near Belleville, IL.

In 1946, the city of East St. Louis advised Signal Hill residents their fire department would no longer respond outside of the city limits. At the same time, the city of Belleville said their fire department would only respond to the Country Club Place subdivision if that neighborhood was annexed into the city.

Given the choice of annexation or lack of fire protection, a group of civic-minded citizens gathered to form the Signal Hill Fire Department. In July of 1946, the voters of the proposed fire protection district approved the formation of a taxing district that would provide funding for the fire department.

Sixty years later, the courage and dedication of the firefighters, as well as the consistent support of the community are still the hallmark of this volunteer fire department.

From its earliest days, the Signal Hill Fire Department has been guided and staffed by individuals who have been highly motivated, enjoy a challenge, and are sincerely interested helping others. The call to duty has been answered by several hundred community members who have given freely of their time to protect others from the perils of fire.

Significant progress has been made though the years as the Signal Hill Fire Department has not only kept pace with new procedures and equipment but has often been at the forefront of evolving technological advances. Signal Hill became the first fire department in all of Southern Illinois to acquire a thermal imaging camera. Two years later, they were profiled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Volunteer Fire Council, and the U.S. Fire Administration as an extraordinary example of recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. More recently, Signal Hill became the first volunteer fire department in all of St. Clair County and Southwestern Illinois to earn the distinguished ISO Class 3 rating.

The Signal Hill Fire Department has been a shining example of dedication and professionalism, made possible by the sacrifices that their volunteer firefighters and their families have made since 1946. Their compassion, valor, and unselfish acts of courage make each of them an everyday hero.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 60th anniversary of the Signal Hill Fire Department and to wish the best to them for continued service in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Tri Cities Knights of Columbus Council 1098.

In 1906, with an initial enrollment of 58 members, the Tri Cities Knights of Columbus Council 1098 was formed. The first Grand Knight was Mr. E. J. Sweeney and the early meetings were held in a hall in Madison, Illinois before moving to neighboring Granite City.

The years before World War I saw steady growth in membership and the establishment of the Knights of Columbus as a presence within the Tri Cities community. During the Great Depression and World War II, membership dwindled and it was only through the determination of the few dedicated members that the council survived. While most social activities for the members ceased during the war, the council opened the doors of their facilities for the entertainment of the troops stationed at the Granite City Engineering Depot.

After World War II, membership grew rapidly. During the 1950's a circle of the Daughters of Isabella was established for the wives and daughters of members and a circle of the Columbian Squires was formed to promote youth activities.

Social and athletic activities for members and their families expanded and grew but service and acts of charity continued to be the cornerstones of the council. The first chairman of Catholic Charities in the Tri Cities area was a past Grand Knight and members continued to be driving forces in this organization.

Council 1098 has been a significant supporter of community, charitable and educational organizations. The Council has directly contributed in excess of $100,000 annually in support of local Catholic education and provided more than $60,000 in scholarships annually. They have also contributed more than $15,000 a year to developmentally challenged service organizations.

While they have always focused on helping those within their community, Council 1098 has also extended its helping hands to those in need outside their boundaries. In response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the Council raised $50,000 in Katrina Relief and continues to provide on-going support to Brother Knights on the gulf coast.

Tri Cities Knights of Columbus Council 1098 has seen many changes through the last 100 years but they have always stayed true to the Knights of Columbus goals of Charity, Unity and Fraternity.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Tri Cities Knights of Columbus Council 1098 and wish the best to them for continued service in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 331, a resolution honoring the 16 extraordinary miners who lost their lives in the recent West Virginia coal mine accidents and recognizing the courage of Randal McCloy who survived. Further, I join my colleagues in extending our condolences to the families of these miners, and recognize the brave efforts of the rescue crews and volunteers during this time.

I represent southwestern and southern Illinois, a region with a rich coal mining history. Coal mining has played a significant role in transforming and developing the region since the mid-1800s when substantial coal mining in Illinois began. In 2006, the coal industry continues to be a vital component of our economy, and one we are working to strengthen for the future. Improving mine safety standards is an important part of this process in Illinois, West Virginia, and other coal producing States.

These unfortunate coal mining fatalities in West Virginia have highlighted the pressing need to revise the national coal mine health and safety s!andards to ensure miners are equipped with state of the art technologies and tracking devices, and sufficient emergency supplies of oxygen. I am pleased West Virginia legislators acted quickly to enact a state law requiring coal companies to give employees electronic tracking devices and to store oxygen supplies underground. Precautionary measures are needed to protect the health and safety of our coal miners and penalties for flagrant violations of the law and regulations must be enforced. To this end, I have joined my colleagues in the House as a cosponsor of H.R. 4695, the Federal Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in honoring the West Virginia coal miners for their courage and sacrifice and expressing our deepest condolences to their families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 798, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act, a bill to address the methamphetamine abuse problem and provide support to states and local communities to fight and clean-up methamphetamine (meth) and methamphetamine labs. As a cosponsor of H.R. 798, I believe this legislation takes a crucial first step towards achieving this goal and I applaud Ranking Member Gordon for his leadership on this issue.

As a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine and a former law enforcement official, I am actively working with my colleagues to decrease methamphetamine use. In my home state of Illinois, there were 926 methamphetamine seizures reported and 813 methamphetamine arrests in 2004, many in my district in Southern Illinois. In order to combat meth in our communities, I believe we need a comprehensive plan to deal with the environmental, health, and law enforcement challenges facing our communities because of the growing use of this dangerous drug.

Reports show that methamphetamine use in the United States has increased rapidly in recent years. In order to assist local governments prevent and control the spread of methamphetamine, I am pleased grants, such as the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, are available for cities and counties to apply for through the Department of Justice. I will continue to assist the local law enforcement agencies throughout my congressional district to ensure they receive funding based on local needs and conditions.

Mr. Speaker, meth labs not only cost communities, they also can create a serious public health threat. It is my continued hope that by raising national awareness about methamphetamine use and providing increased federal resources to combat the methamphetamine problem, we can diminish methamphetamine use. This legislation is a first step toward that goal and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 798.

Mr. Speaker, I rise day in opposition to H.R. 4297, the Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act. I do so because I do not believe we should be cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans while we are at war and at the same time cutting programs for our most vulnerable populations and adding to the staggering debt load of our children and grandchildren. This bill is not fiscally responsible, and we neglect the ramifications of the budget priorities of the majority party to the detriment of the country.

Governments on every level--from local to Federal--are running record deficits; the number of uninsured Americans is on the rise; people continue to go without heat, food or shelter as an abnormally cold winter persists; and the cost of health care and education continue to rise. The tax cuts contained in H.R. 4297 overwhelmingly benefit affluent investors in the wake of the House cutting programs for the poor by $50 billion in the name of deficit reduction. We continue to spend over $6 billion per month in Iraq and cut taxes while asking the least well off to pay for it. It's reverse Robin Hood--taking from the poor and giving to the rich--and this is something I cannot and will not support.

We must take stock and look at the reality of our fiscal situation-- deficits are rising with no end in sight--while the poor, the sick and the elderly pay the price. I believe tax cuts can be part of a reasonable approach to the Federal budget, but that we have reached a point with our deficit and debt where we must exercise extreme caution in using them. As Robert Bixby of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition was quoted in today's Washington Post, ``If they (Republicans) want to cut taxes, fine, but they are going to have to cut spending by at least that much to help the deficit, and clearly they are not willing to do that. They (Republicans ) have to start looking reality in the face.'' The $5.6 trillion surplus that existed in 2000 has been squandered. Future generations will pick up the tab.

The Republican tax cut bill is bad policy and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no on H.R. 4297.