Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman Radanovich, to congratulate Bob Fraley upon his induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Fraley will be honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Bob Fraley grew up in the tiny community of Hardwick, California, and admired the man considered the best pole-vaulter ever, ``Dutch'' Warmerdam. Coach Fraley was raised just an orchard away from the Warmerdam home. Before he was done with his storied career, Coach Fraley would nurture a track-and-field powerhouse at Lemoore High School, mentor more than 40 All-Americans at California State University, Fresno, and made the ``Fraley'' name synonymous with the pole vault all over the world.

According to Coach Fraley, his most significant accomplishment in his career was saving the California State University, Fresno, men's track- and-field team in 2003 after it was cut by the school as an intercollegiate sport. He saved the program by telling the university's administration, ``take my salary; just don't take my sport.'' The school agreed and Coach Fraley coached for free and was hailed in Sports Illustrated for solving a problem instead of pointing fingers at others.

The honors are many for Coach Fraley, who was also a trailblazer for women's athletics and the implementation of Title IX. He was named 2003 USA Track and Field Nike Coach of the Year, U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year in 2004, 2006 national Pole Vault Hall of Fame inductee and two-time Western Athletic Conference coach of the year. During his 28 years at California State University, Fresno, including 8 years as head coach, he developed many of the Nation's top performers; including 19 Academic All-Americans. Among his top athletes were pole-vaulter Jim Davis, who cleared 19 feet and won three NCAA titles; four-time All-American triple jumper Reggie Jackson; and Melissa (Price) Lewis, the first female inductee of the national Pole Vault Hall of Fame and the first female high school and NCAA pole vault champ.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Bob Fraley upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Coach Fraley congratulations on his many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with Congressman Radanovich, to congratulate Amanda Scott upon her induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Ms. Scott will be honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner at the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Amanda Scott was born and raised in Clovis, California and graduated from Clovis High School. She went on to attend California State University, Fresno where she pitched for the Lady Bulldogs. In the championship game of the 1998 National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, Softball World Series, Ms. Scott pitched a near perfect game against top-seeded Arizona in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She led her team to a 1-0 victory over Arizona. She pitched seven innings, allowing three hits and she had six strike outs. At bat, she was three for three. The Bulldogs had captured their first NCAA Division 1 team championship in school history.

Ms. Scott's accolades do not stop there. She was the first four-time first-team All-American for CSU Fresno, she was named number two among CSU Fresno's ``Greatest Athletes of the Twentieth Century'', two-time Academic All-American, two-time Western Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Year, member of the NCAA's twenty-fifth anniversary team, winner of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was named ``Most Valuable Player'' of the 1998 Softball World Series.

Upon graduating from CSU Fresno she was the school's career leader in strikeouts (851), saves (110), Runs Batted In (212) and pitching appearances (155). Her career win-loss record is 106-18 and her batting average was .303 with thirty-one home runs. Her records are amazing, and her career continued to grow. Amanda Scott was at her best in the clutch when she was pitted against the best the sport had to offer; her face was a picture of resolve whether pitching or batting. She was a member of the 1998 U.S. team that won the World Championship and was an alternate on the gold-medal winning 2000 U.S. Olympic team. Ms. Scott starred in the National Pro Fastpitch league, and was named the ``World Series Most Valuable Player'' for the 2004 champion, the New York Juggernaut. Today, she is an assistant softball coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a television sports commentator.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Amanda Scott upon her achievements. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Ms. Scott many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman Radanovich to congratulate Lee Angelich upon his induction into the Fresno Hall of Fame. Mr. Angelich will be honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Lee Angelich, the youngest of five boys, was born to a Serbian immigrant family and starred in track and field in high school and college. Mr. Angelich qualified for the State Finals his senior year at Shasta High School. In his two years at Sacramento Junior College, he led the Panthers to league and state titles and in 1941 he led them to a national title. Mr. Angelich placed second in the 120 high hurdles and fifth in the high jump at the national meet. He then went on to the University of California, where in 1943 he won Pacific Coast Conference titles in the 120 high and the 220 low hurdles, and finished fifth and sixth respectively in the same events at the NCAA Championships. In 1943, Mr. Angelich joined the Navy and served as an officer on the U.S.S. Rixey in the Pacific. After the war, he enrolled at California State University Fresno and placed third in the West Coast Relays in the 120 high hurdles.

After completing his education Mr. Angelich began coaching. As a coach he stressed fundamentals, defense and teamwork. He guided boys' teams at Kerman High, Porterville High and Fresno High to eight league championships and an overall record of 255-76 from 1947 to 1963. His Kerman team won the Central Section small schools championship, and his Fresno High teams won forty-eight straight games at home, second best in section history. Under Mr. Angelich, Fresno High won four consecutive North Yosemite League titles (1957-1960). He is one of the rare coaches to win central Section titles in two different sports, as Fresno High captured the boys' track-and-field championship in 1957. He became one of the winningest high school basketball coaches in central section history. Additionally, after turning down a chance to coach Greece's national men's basketball team in 1959, he organized and coached the Libyan national team that participated in the North African Games in 1961.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Lee Angelich upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Angelich congratulations on his many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman Radanovich to congratulate Dr. Peter Mehas upon his induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Mehas was honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Peter Mehas' love of sports was nurtured during his childhood, as he shagged baseballs as a bat boy for the Fresno Cardinals at Euless Park. Although he never considered himself a great athlete, Dr. Mehas was an All-American center/linebacker at Fresno City College, and a member of the 1961 California State University, Fresno Mercy Bowl team. After graduating from California State University, Fresno, Dr. Mehas coached the football, soccer and tennis teams at Roosevelt High School. His tennis teams won five straight North Yosemite League titles.

After receiving his masters degree, and coaching football at University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Mehas returned to Fresno where he taught and coached future Fresno Hall of Famers Charle Young and Charles Anthony, both football players at Edison High School. Dr. Mehas moved into administration for Clovis Unified School District, and assisted in the development of many programs and facilities; including Clovis High School's Lamonica Stadium and the Clovis West High School Olympic Swim Complex. He earned his doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California in 1979.

Dr. Mehas has served as the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame president for 15 years. At the time of his induction, his professional and civic career is a notable example of applying the lessons learned in athletics to other endeavors. Under his leadership, the Hall of Fame expanded on its mission of honoring the Valley's greatest sports heroes and inspiring youngsters to follow in their footsteps. He also has been instrumental in expanding athletic opportunities for women.

Politics came next as Dr. Mehas served as Governor George Deukmejian's secretary of education and a trustee for the State Board of Education and California's Community Colleges. In 1990, he was elected to the first of four terms as the Fresno County superintendent of schools. In 2007, he was appointed to the California State University board of trustees.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Dr. Peter Mehas upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Dr. Mehas congratulations on his many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman Radanovich to congratulate the 1998 California State University, Fresno Softball Team upon it's induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. The team members and coaches will be honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

On a hot day in late May 1998, second baseman Nina Lindenberg sent the first pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning over the left-field fence and the Lady Bulldogs into history. The home run off Arizona ace, Nancy Evans, was Lindenberg's thirteenth of the season, gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the championship game at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Women's College Softball World Series Most Valuable Player, Amanda Scott, then polished off a three-hit shutout, and the Wildcats, as California State University, Fresno claimed its first NCAA Division I team championship in any sport.

The 1-0 victory capped a magical season for Head Coach Margie Wright's Bulldogs, who started the season with a 2-2 record and finished with 52 wins 11 loses. The season was highlighted by 4 wins and 1 loss in the Women's College World Series, WCWS, with victories over Nebraska, Michigan, Washington and top-ranked Arizona. The national title was a united effort as four Bulldogs made the All- Women's College World Series team: outfielder Laura Berg, first baseman Angela Cervantez, Nina Lindenberg and Amanda Scott. The Bulldogs captivated all of the San Joaquin Valley as their games were aired on local radio and ESPN. Seeded seventh in the field, they arrived in Oklahoma City determined to win the title for a school that had finished second in the WCWS four times.

The team was led throughout the year by a pitching staff that included Amanda Scott (25-4, 0.79 ERA) and Lindsay Parker (21-4, 1.54 ERA) and a balanced hitting attack keyed by Laura Berg (.458 batting average, 72 runs), Nina Lindenberg (.449, 77 RBI), outfielder Becky Witt (.392, 69 runs) and Amanda Scott (14 home runs, 72 RBI). The team included; OF Laura Berg, 1B Angela Cervantez, 2B Nina Lindenberg, Lindsay Parker, P Amanda Scott, Becky Witt, OF Candice Bowlin, OF Kara Campbell, SS Alicia Dowland, C/1B Jennifer Jokinen, 3B Jaime Maxey, P Kim Peck, C Jennifer Slaney, C Janna Todd, I B Vanessa Valenzuela, C Amber Wall, C Carolyn Wilson, OF Daviana Wisener. The coaching staff was headed by Margie Wright, assisted by Margaret Sutter and Mary Ivy. Also involved with the team was Maribel Campos, manager and Andrew Weeks, trainer.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate 1998 California State University, Fresno Softball Team upon its achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the 1998 Fresno State Softball Team congratulations on its many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman Radanovich, to congratulate Tom Goodwin upon his induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Goodwin will be honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Tom Goodwin excelled at every level of baseball which was highlighted by 14 years in the major leagues. He was so fast that he turned groundballs hit to the left side into infield singles, which excited both teammates and fans, and frustrated opponents. After starring at Central High School in Fresno, California, he energized Bob Bennett's California State University, Fresno, teams for 3 seasons, topped by the 1989 campaign when he was named an All-American, the Big West Conference Player of the Year and the Bulldog's Male Athlete of the Year. A year earlier, Mr. Goodwin played in the College World Series and experienced Olympic glory as a center fielder on the gold-medal- winning U.S. team in Seoul. He left California State University, Fresno, as a two-time NCAA stolen-base champion. He was the Bulldog's career stolen-base leader with 164 and is among the school's Top 10 in many season, and career, offensive categories.

Drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mr. Goodwin reached the major leagues in just his second season and became a regular in 1995 with the Kansas City Royals; hitting .288, with 50 stolen bases. He would go on to steal 50 or more bases during 4 seasons, with a high of 66 during one season. He finished his career with a total of 360 stolen bases. His career batting average is .268, with 636 runs and 284 runs batted in. Mr. Goodwin's handling of the bat and commitment to winning is illustrated by twice leading the American League in sacrifice bunts. He played in 7 postseasons with the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and reached the World Series in 2002 with the Giants.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Tom Goodwin upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Goodwin congratulations on his many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman Radanovich to congratulate Stephen Baker upon his induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Baker will be honored at the 50th anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

A sportswriter once said that Stephen Baker, at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, was built more for gymnastics than for football. But with his lightning quickness, sure hands and gritty toughness, the wide receiver earned one of the game's enduring nicknames--``the touchdown maker.'' He was given the catchy moniker at West Los Angeles College, where he scored 31 touchdowns in two seasons, before starring at California State University Fresno for two seasons and playing six seasons with the New York Giants (1987-1992). With the Bulldogs, he was a frequent target of NCAA record-setting quarterback Kevin Sweeney, burning opponents for sixty-two receptions, an amazing 26.3 yards per catch and sixteen touchdowns over two seasons. He closed his collegiate career by catching a thirty-six yard scoring pass that gave the West All-Stars a victory in the Japan Bowl.

Drafted in the third round by the New York Giants, Mr. Baker earned the respect of Coach Bill Parcels with his ability to elude defenders and hang onto the ball. Over the course of his NFL career, he lost just one fumble. He started fifty-three games for the Giants and finished his career with one hundred and forty-one receptions, an 18.3 yards- per-catch average and twenty-one touchdowns. His best season was 1988, when he hauled in forty passes and scored seven times. The highlight of Baker's NFL career came in Superbowl XXV, as the Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-19. He caught two passes--one of them a fourteen yard touchdown pass from Jeff Hostetler with just twenty-five seconds left in the first half to cut the Giants' deficit to 12-10.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Stephen Baker upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Baker congratulations on his many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true patriot serving in our military, Sergeant Richard E. Reyes. Sgt. Reyes serves proudly in the United States Marine Corps, and hails from Sanger, California. He has recently been named the USO Service Marine of the Year, and I want to send my sincere congratulations.

Sgt. Reyes served as team leader with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, which is stationed in Iraq. While serving in the Persian Gulf, Sgt. Reyes led his team on 70 combat missions and was instrumental in the capture of over 35 insurgents. During combat operations in July 2007, his platoon's base came under enemy attack with small arms and machinegun fire. Located just 250 meters from the ambush, Sgt. Reyes maneuvered onto a nearby rooftop, identified the insurgents, and relayed the enemy's location to the platoon commander.

He was still undetected by the enemy, and he and his team engaged the insurgent group with high explosive rounds, which reduced enemy fire on the base, but exposed his position on the rooftop. Sgt. Reyes was determined to end this engagement, which had been going on for 45 minutes. He then moved his team onto another rooftop and single- handedly directed attacks by U.S. jets and helicopters. After several attempts, the enemy's position was destroyed.

Just 3 days later, Sgt. Reyes again demonstrated superb leadership and courage when he engaged an insurgent from the rooftop of his platoon's base and directed a counter-attack. During the firefight, Sgt. Reyes and his team maintained their position and coordinated a diversion using artillery smoke. As a result of his initiative, perseverance, and dedication to duty, an additional two insurgents were captured in this engagement.

Sgt. Reyes is a Sanger High School graduate, and while he was there, he was a three sport athlete. He played for his school's water polo team in the fall, he wrestled in the winter, and swam in the spring. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 17. Sgt. Reyes is the son of Rosa and Gustavo Reyes, and he has two brothers and two sisters.

On behalf of all my colleagues in the House and Senate, I would like to congratulate Sgt. Richard Reyes for being named the USO

Service Marine of the Year, and thank him for his bravery on the battlefield. He truly exemplifies the courageous service of our men and women in uniform, and especially our United States Marines.

Madam Speaker, to the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, it is my understanding that section 132 of the bill authorizes the Securities and Exchange Commission to suspend by rule, regulation or order, statement 157 of FASB if the commission determines it is necessary and appropriate and in the public interest and that this discretionary authority would grant banks flexibility in meeting their accounting requirements; is this correct?

And I understand, Mr. Chairman, the section does not require the SEC to grant such discretion. Is it the intent of the gentleman and the chairman of the SEC to ensure that banks are granted accounting discretion, to the extent that such discretion is consistent with the intent of the language in section 132, including but not limited to in reports that will be required at the end of this month?

And the legislation doesn't speak to it, but it is my understanding that the chairman of the committee will work on all regulatory agencies, including the banking regulatory agencies, to ensure that banks have the necessary and appropriate flexibility to address the changing market environment regarding capital requirements, accounting, audits and reports, and to do so in a timely manner for reports as of September 30, the end of the next reporting period, and would include but not be limited to the section 132 discretion?

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend you and the staff for the hard work that has been done on assimilating this very important package.

While it is unfortunate that we are in this position here today, the economic security of our Nation is at risk. We are talking about Main Street here. To do nothing is not an option. I look forward to supporting this effort and your efforts in the next Congress to do the reforms that are necessary to bring back economic sanity to our country. I would urge an ``aye'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the life of Simon Lakritz. Mr. Lakritz was devoted to his family and to his hometown of Hanford where he was an educator, city councilman, and mayor. He passed away on September 17th, 2008.

Simon Lakritz was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1930. He moved with his mother, brother and sisters to Arizona in the 1940s. He attended Tucson High School from 1945 to 1949 and the University of Arizona from 1949 to 1953.

Upon graduation from college, Mr. Lakritz entered the U.S. Army, stationed in California at Fort Ord. He served during the Korean war at the European Army central command, in Heidelberg, Germany. Before leaving Germany, Lakritz married Mary ``Mimi'' Elizabeth Lyon at Fort Ord, and both traveled to Europe to begin married life overseas.

After returning to the states, Simon obtained his master's degree in Latin American history and pedagogy from the University of Arizona.

Soon after receiving his degree, Simon and his family moved to California and began his first job at Hanford Joint Union High School as a history teacher. He proved himself to be a popular educator.

Simon went on to a career of 37 years teaching and serving as coordinator of Federal programs for disabled and economically disadvantaged students at Hanford High School until his retirement in 1994.

While he led a successful career in education, Simon had a passion for public service and believed strongly in representative democracy.

During his 25 years on the city council, he served five times as mayor. In 2002, he was elected to the Hanford Joint Union High School District board of trustees, and also served as a mentor to teachers at Chapman University.

Simon volunteered his time to community organizations, including the NAACP, the Kings County Commission on Aging, of which he was a co- founder, and the Hanford Taoist Temple Preservation Society.

Simon Lakritz was preceded in death by his wife Mary ``Mimi'' Elizabeth in 1991. Surviving are his four children, Andrew Morris Lakritz, Jeffrey Lakritz, Bradley William Lakritz and Thomas Spencer Lakritz, and his four grandchildren: Ania, 11, of Arlington, Va.; Emily, 18, Noah, 12, and Mia, 10, of San Rafael.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues from California, Mr. Radanovich and Mr. Nunes to pay tribute and congratulate the distinguished public service of Mr. Nick Yovino. After 37 years, Nick is leaving his position as Director of the Planning Department with the city of Fresno. Mr. Yovino will be honored at a reception held by the city of Fresno on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Nick started as an intern in October 1971 and upon graduating from Fresno State he took a temporary position in the Planning and Inspection Department at Fresno City Hall. In 1972, Nick became a permanent employee as a Planning Technician with the city of Fresno. In 2000, he became Director of the Planning and Development Department and since that time Nick has been instrumental on numerous development projects helping the city of Fresno become a better place for the entire community. One major focus has been downtown revitalization resulting in the growth of government and commercial enterprises and leading the way toward a vibrant downtown we can all be proud of.

Mr. Yovino played an active role in the General Plans of 1975, 1984 and 2025, as well as plans for the Mixed Use Ordinance, Community Design Guidelines and the Full Enterprising of the Planning and Building Safety Services Division. In addition Nick was instrumental on the Tower District and Fulton-Lowell Specific Plans, the Bullard Community Plan, the Pinedale and Highway City Woodward Park Community Plan and the Southeast Growth Area Expansions.

Nick has a natural gift and ability of bringing people of diverse thinking together that has always resulted in making the city and county of Fresno a better community for residents and visitors alike. Over the years Nick has been an extraordinary leader and a friend.

Madam Speaker, it goes without saying that Mr. Yovino's dedication and accomplishments in planning and development with the city of Fresno gained him the respect and appreciation from all who had the pleasure to work with him and know him. He worked hard, he sacrificed time away from his family, and he expected little in return. With retirement now a reality, as Nick prepares to spend more time with his children and grandchildren, we thank him and honor him for his many years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I too want to thank the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Frank Pallone from New Jersey, for his good work in this important legislation that we are going to vote on. This effort is really a culmination of a lot of people's hopes, desires and dreams to further advance the medical science that has taken place in recent decades on organ transplants.

As a founder and the cochair of the Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus, I am very pleased to support this measure before us, H.R. 6469, otherwise known thereafter as the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Organ Transplant Authorization Act.

I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman DeGette for her hard work with me on this important legislation, as well as the caucus cochairs, Congress Member Camp, Congress Member Clay and Congresswoman Ros- Lehtinen, all champions of transplant communities throughout our country.

This bill reaffirms our Nation's commitment to providing lifesaving care through transplantation, and at the same time it honors our late colleague, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who gave the gift of life by becoming an organ donor after her passing.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network was created in 1984 as a public-private partnership to facilitate the safe, effective and efficient sharing of organs through donation and transplantation. Since its inception, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which contracts with the United Network for Organ Sharing, has helped facilitate the transplantation of over 435,000 organs. And nearly 53,000 of them have occurred in my home State of California. I know, because I have worked with the transplant community. My good friend, Dr. Sue McDiarmid, who was formerly the president of the United Network for Organ Sharing, and her colleagues have been doing some amazing work at UCLA Transplant Center to serve the needs of our youngest children specializing in pediatric transplantation with the largest record of transplantation that has taken place probably anywhere in the world, giving these young children, and in some cases babies, a second chance at a full life.

Whether it's a kidney transplant that ends a child's need for dialysis or a liver transplant that gives a person a second chance to play catch with his or her daughter or son, the impact of these lifesaving procedures cannot be overstated. With the advancement of medical science today, we are able to do more and more in this gift of life that is so important.

Still, despite the amazing advances the United Network for Organ Sharing and its partners in the transplant community have made, there is still much work to be done. As has been noted, over 100,000 people are currently waiting for an organ, and the numbers grow each day.

Today, we take an important step toward reducing that number by providing additional resources to continue the increased number of donors to improve and to expand the outreach and to help provide those in need with the access to life-saving organs.

I encourage all of my colleagues to join in honoring Congresswoman Tubbs Jones by supporting this bill and by also following her example in becoming organ donors. After all, it's perhaps the most precious gift we can give. I know because I am one of those who intends to do just that.

I urge an ``aye'' vote on this important measure.

Mr. Speaker, today it is my honor to rise in strong support of House Resolution 1438, which commemorates, as noted by the two previous speakers, the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958.

This resolution is sponsored by the Portuguese Caucus, my colleagues and good friend Congressman Devin Nunes and Congressman Dennis Cardoza. We've worked on this together, not only to take note of this significant anniversary, but also to coordinate with our guests, the President of the Portuguese Parliament and three members of the House of Deputies.

It was September 27, 1957, when the island of Faial experienced a series of volcanic eruptions that lasted for over a year and shattered the economic infrastructure of that island, and had impacts throughout the Archipelago.

During that time, two great United States Senators, John Pastore of Rhode Island, who represented a large Portuguese constituency, and Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, later to become the 35th President of the United States, offered to help those who were suffering as a result of this natural event that devastated the islands. They did so by drafting and passing the law of Azorean Refugee Act of 1958.

It made available special non-quota immigrant visas available to the victims of the earthquakes and volcanoes, and it was extended until 1963, that allowed even more refugees to come to the United States.

Between 1960 and 1980, over 175,000 Azoreans have come to establish and develop their roots in the United States and, at the same time, maintain their family relationships to their friends and their members of their families in the Azores and in Portugal. In fact, the 2000 U.S. Census showed that there were almost 2 million Portuguese-Americans in the United States, many of them of Azorean descent.

Mr. Speaker, these Portuguese immigrants have contributed greatly to the fabric of our Nation, not only in the Northeast and New England, but in California as well. As has been noted, they have participated in all walks of life. In my district and Mr. Cardoza and Mr. Nunes' the Portuguese-Americans have been dominant in the San Joaquin Valley, not just in the dairy industry, but yes, they've also become teachers and doctors and judges and yes, even Members of Congress.

The Portuguese culture is thriving in the San Joaquin Valley, and there are many festas throughout the year, family reunions, the exchanges of those traditions and the ties that bind us quite well.

It's important to note that we have, as I mentioned a moment ago, a visiting delegation. Up in the gallery we have the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, President Jaime Gama. With him are the former Speaker, Joao Moto Amaral, next to him is a member of the House of Deputies, Antonio Filipe, as well as Ricardo Rodrigues. And we're very appreciative that they be could be here to witness this 50th anniversary and this acknowledgment, because we need to understand that it's more than just like immigrants before and immigrants since. We have had a solid relationship with Portugal with the largest Air Force base, military strategic diplomatic involvement as it relates to just not Europe but the Middle East and Africa, all very vital to America's interests.

Again, we want to recognize all those Portuguese-Americans for their contributions to our Nation, the Azoreans who came to America under this Azorean Refugee Act. We want to thank our Portuguese Caucus, Congressman Nunes, Cardoza, Congressman Frank, Congressman Kennedy and McGovern, all who are cosponsors of this resolution who represent significant Portuguese communities.

We also want to thank Chairman Conyers, Ranking Member Lamar Smith and the leadership on both sides for moving this resolution in an expedited fashion through the committee process and onto the floor. We urge an ``aye'' vote.

Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Rahall, Chairman Miller, and Chairman Green for all their hard work and their continuous efforts to try to ensure that we deal with America's energy crisis today.

I rise in support of the passage of H.R. 6899, but I view this bill as a work in progress. Obviously it's not in its final form. The Senate needs to vet its efforts, and the President needs to weigh in, and therefore it needs more work, in my opinion.

I do appreciate, though, the Speaker's efforts on this bill. And I do hope to continue to support her efforts as we look at the compromise, the bipartisan compromise, that will continue to improve this measure.

In its current form, however, it doesn't provide some of the comprehensive efforts and solutions that existed in the measure that Congressmen Abercrombie, Peterson, and others worked on in a bipartisan effort; and I want to thank them, Representatives Abercrombie and Peterson, for their hard work. Six weeks we worked in June and in July to form the bipartisan compromise effort otherwise known as the National Conservation Environment and Energy Independence Act, H.R. 6709.

The differences between that effort and this are the following:

First, the bill prohibits drilling within 50 miles of the coast, which, in my opinion, puts a lot of our most promising areas off-limits in terms of the Outer Continental Shelf.

Second, by not allowing revenue sharing with States, as we do with Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, I think it makes it less likely that States will opt in to leasing, even between the 50 and 100 miles.

Third, the bill doesn't directly tie the new royalties generated to funding for renewables and energy efficiency. So it doesn't provide the same benefits that we have in H.R. 6709, although there are some PAYGO issues there. I think they are workable. I think we can get this measure out. I think we can work with them in the Senate.

The bottom line is that we need to use all the energy tools in our energy toolbox. That includes both coal sequestration, as well as new advances in nuclear power that doesn't put it in Nevada.

We talk a lot about the urge to put an Apollo-like program together. We do. We do need to do that in a bipartisan effort. But sometimes people forget that in the Apollo program, we had the Mercury program so that men could go into space. We had the Gemini project that showed that you could dock and you could spacewalk before we got to Apollo.

The goal is to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, reduce our dependency on foreign sources of energy. We can't get there overnight. We need to have this Apollo-like program that uses our current energy resources here in America to finance the renewables that will bridge the gap. That's what we need to do.

It's my hope that the provisions of our previous measure can be incorporated into this bill as we work through the legislative process, as we should do. But I think it's a step in the right direction, this measure. We need to move forward to take a closer look at how we come together in a bipartisan effort in that comprehensive energy package. The American public demands that we do this. Our economy requires that we do this.

We are going to have a transfer of $750 million in wealth this year just to pay for our energy price tag. For all those reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote for this measure, even though you don't like some of the elements in this measure, as I don't believe some of the elements in this measure are pointed toward that comprehensive effort.

But I want to commend my colleagues, Chairman Rahall, Chairman Miller and Chairman Green, for their willingness to compromise. I want to continue my efforts across the aisle with Congressman Peterson and others who are part of that bipartisan effort. That's what we need to do, that's what the American public expects, and that's why I'm voting for this measure.

I thank the chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues from California, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Nunes and Mr. Cardoza to pay tribute and congratulate the distinguished public service and educational career of Mr. Jim Tucker. After 19 years, Jim Tucker is leaving his position as host of the Valley Press Show. Mr. Tucker will be honored at a reception held by Valley Public Television on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

During his 19 years of service, Mr. Tucker has hosted the Valley Press Show and has interviewed more than 1,500 guests on more than 650 episodes and hosted 40 political debates. His guests included national, state and local politicians, celebrities, authors, historians, sports figures, religious, educational and community leaders, as well as, numerous members of our local Valley media. He planned, prepared, wrote, scheduled and hosted the weekly program. Valley Press is the signature KVPT public affairs program; it provides viewers with an in- depth look at major local area news stories. Mr. Tucker has been responsible for researching topics of interest and contacting the numerous guests for the program. Mr. Tucker has dedicated himself tirelessly to KVPT--Valley Public Television and to his community.

Mr. Tucker also taught journalism in the Mass Communications Department at California State University, Fresno. Due to his vast wisdom and knowledge of journalism and reporting, he has been honored with many distinctions recognition awards throughout the years. His awards include Outstanding Journalism Professor of the Year in 1996, twice nominee for a regional Emmy award and California State University of Fresno Provost's Award for excellence in Teaching in 1997.

For those who have had the wonderful opportunity to be one of the guests on Jim's show, it has always been a learning experience. The same dedication and knowledge of journalism he shared with his students at Fresno State was always demonstrated in his efforts to bring as much information as possible from his guests to the public at large. That is what made his show one of the best of its kind, and why he had such a large following throughout the Valley and across the entire political spectrum. As a result, Jim Tucker is the quintessential journalist; always seeking answers to tough questions in an attempt to try and better inform the public, who are the critical link in making representative democracy work effectively.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Jim Tucker upon his retirement from Valley Public Television. As a valley resident his journalistic integrity and credibility have been greatly appreciated. Upon his retirement, as he prepares to spend more time with his family and endeavors of interest to him, we thank him for his service and we wish him continued success and best of luck for the future.