Floor Statements

First of all, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) for his support and his eloquent presentation of the legislation before us and as well the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) in support of this legislation that impacts the State of California, especially Southern California, as it pertains to perchlorate.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 18, the Southern California Groundwater Remediation Act. This legislation passed the House in September 2004, and it was H.R. 4606. Today, I fight to protect Southern Californians from the growing crisis of perchlorate groundwater contamination. I reintroduced this legislation as a long- term solution to help cities in Southern California remove perchlorate from their drinking water and create safe drinking water.

This bill will authorize $50 million for groundwater remediation, including perchlorate cleanup, for most of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties in Southern California. The funds will be managed by the Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Reclamation. Perchlorate is a main ingredient in rocket fuel that has been found in drinking water supplies, lettuce, and even in the milk we drink.

Perchlorate in water supplies is left over from former military sites, defense contractors, and other industries. It has been found in 43 States, including California. Perchlorate has been linked to thyroid damage and may be harmful to infants, developing fetuses, and the elderly. There are 1.2 million women of childbearing age in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties who could be at risk from perchlorate, and we do not want them to be at risk. We want to make sure that there is good-quality drinking water. Perchlorate has been detected in 186 sources in the counties served by the Santa Ana River watershed and has jeopardized the water supplies of over 500,000 residents.

As indicated before, there are 30 wells that have been contaminated in the area. There is a perchlorate plume in the Inland Empire in California that is 10 miles long and is growing every day, and that includes my hometown, which I am a resident of, in Rialto. Perchlorate has impacted the daily lives of all of us, and we want to make sure that there is safe drinking water in the area. We have a legal and moral obligation to provide safe and healthy water to the families and children who drink this water every day.

But perchlorate contamination is more than just a health concern. The economic cost in providing safe drinking water is becoming more and more of a burden on our communities. Ninety percent of perchlorate in water comes from a Federal source. This includes DOD, NASA, and other Federal agencies. Innocent, hardworking families should not have to pay for federally created problems or problems for which no one will take the responsibility.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 18, which is a small price to pay for the crisis that has been forced on Southern Californians. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for his leadership and carrying legislation in the northern portion of California to deal with the problems that we have. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the gentleman from California (Mr. Gary G. Miller), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) for their support of this critical bill for the health of Southern California.

Madam. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 188, legislation that recognizes the courageous sacrifices of our nation's firefighters. I would like to thank the gentleman from Mississippi for introducing this symbolic and vital resolution.

Every day, firefighters risk their lives protecting our families, our property and our way of life. They fight for our security, not because they have to, but because they choose to.

Over the years in California, wildfires have destroyed homes, damaged properties and threatened the livelihood of thousands of families.

In 2003, Southern California and the Inland Empire experienced devastation like never before. Wildfires burned more than 740,000 acres of forest. Nearly 3,600 homes were destroyed and many people lost their lives. At one point, nearly 16,000 firefighters were battling the blazes at the peak of devastation. Without the bravery and fortitude of our firefighters, the wildfires in Southern California would not have been extinguished.

This exhibition in public service is not limited to my district or state. From the forests of California to the streets of New York City, firefighters selflessly put themselves in harm's way, believing in their call to duty.

We owe a great deal of gratitude to these brave men and women who fight daily for our safety.

Madam Speaker, I stand in strong support of this resolution and commend Congressman Thompson for his sponsorship. We need to continue to support individuals that are willing to stand on the line for us. I hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing these selfless acts.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I pay tribute today to the life of Mr. Edward Switzer. Mr. Switzer recently passed away, leaving a legacy of community work and commitment to those he loved. He was a magnanimous figure who was dedicated to his family and friends. It gives me no greater pleasure than honoring his memory today.

The life of Mr. Switzer took him from Regent, North Dakota, where he was born and raised, to serving in the Air Force during World War II. He attended a one-room grade school and went on to earn his Master's degree from North Dakota State University. After completing his graduate education, Mr. Switzer settled in San Bernardino, where he became my early supporter for the San Bernardino Valley College Board of Trustees.

To all those who knew Mr. Switzer, he exhibited generosity of spirit, love for his community, and dedication to his work. He constantly challenged the status quo, was never afraid to speak his mind, and undoubtedly left an immeasurable impression.

Mr. Switzer turned to teaching chemistry at San Bernardino Valley College for almost forty years and was a dedicated professor, who demonstrated genuine concern for his students. He realized that many students were having difficulty understanding basic chemistry concepts that were being taught using advanced techniques. Mr. Switzer decided to create a more clear methodology for teaching chemistry by specializing in making the fundamentals of chemistry easier to understand. His passion for the subject that he taught and dedication for teaching led him to become Chair of the Department of Chemistry. In addition to being a remarkable professor, Mr. Switzer celebrated his retirement by serving his community board by setting up after-school programs for teenagers.

I join today with family and friends in paying my respects to Mr. Switzer. He was a generous and humble human being who touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by all. He has touched my life as a friend and mentor. His inspiration and encouragement have led me to hold office and be who I am today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man who embodied the values of compassion and selflessness.

Serving for the past 26 years as the spiritual and emotional beacon of the Catholic Church, John Paul II exhibited charisma, character, and conviction when carrying his divine message to millions of people across the world.

He passed away this past Saturday at the age of 84 after a courageous struggle.

I join millions of mourning people across the world in honoring his remarkable life and recognizing his wondrous achievements.

Many great men and women have devoted themselves to a single cause or to a group of people. Pope John Paul devoted his efforts to all humanity around the world.

When he was elected Pope on October 16, 1978, he was well aware of the problems occurring not only in the Catholic Church but throughout the world. Communism had a grip on many areas, including his beloved homeland of Poland.

John Paul II had a social and political vision of what the world should be and dedicated himself to changing the reality that we knew.

He inspired incredible change, leading with unwavering faith and exceptional sincerity. His duty to the church was purposeful and his love for mankind was unconditional.

He undertook the goals of sewing the schisms of Christianity, healing the wounds of the Christian-Judeo relationship, and creating a legacy for the world to follow. He left his imprint on all faiths, as well as the scholar world.

As a devoted Catholic, I am honored and privileged to recognize such a special and loved person.

He was my inspirational compass and guided my faith through his unyielding dedication to the tenet of integrity and morality.

Mr. Speaker, today I mourn the passing of Pope John Paul II, but salute and express sincere admiration in his unparalleled life and lasting legacy, and I wrote a poem that I would like to dedicate to John Paul II that's called ``The Spirit of Life Is.''

To live is to believe. To see is to believe. To express is to believe. To feel is to believe. To respect is to believe. To forgive is to believe. To have hope is to believe. To love is to believe. For if you possess these values, you truly can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and the spirit of life will be within you. For you truly have touched the life of the world around us in making it a better place for humanity, changing the course of history. Your legacy will live in the lives of those who truly believe.''

Mr. Speaker, on this Sunday, I have looked into my heart and listened to my God in prayer, and spoken to my pastor and other parishioners in church. My decision this evening is an intensely personal one, in terms of life. As a father, husband, grandfather, and son in law, I have searched my soul about what the family must be going through.

As a Member of Congress, I know it is in our hands to offer what is the ultimate hope for this young woman. We cannot guarantee how the courts will rule, but we must offer all avenues for review and hope. We would ask nothing less for any case involving the rights of a person. We must be compassionate about life, the life of all individuals.

This is a tragic situation, but this young woman is not on life support, she is not on a respirator, she is not terminally ill, and she has been deprived of the physical therapy that might allow her to swallow and eat without a feeding tube. To look at her eyes is to see an individual who seems to be experiencing joy and awareness of others.

As a parent, if she were my daughter, I would want her to live, and give her a chance. She has demonstrated the will and the spirit to live. It is right and just that we have a final set of eyes to review the case. The Constitution gives Congress the right to set the jurisdiction of the courts.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition of H. Con. Res. 95, the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2006.

This budget contains painful spending cuts to critical programs, continued large deficits, and a spiraling debt.

It is fiscally reckless, morally irresponsible and is a clear failure of leadership.

This budget is a sham. It fails to include funding for many of the President's key programs--such as Social Security privatization, the war in Iraq, and the cost of the Alternative Minimum Tax. It does not cut the deficit in half, as the Administration claims. When all omitted costs are included, it will raise the deficit by $2 trillion over five years.

This growing debt will be passed on to our children and grandchildren, leaving them to shoulder the burden of our fiscal irresponsibility.

This budget cuts critical programs that working families depend on, like Medicaid, education, community development and veterans' health care.

We have soldiers fighting for us in Iraq, and this budget doesn't even provide enough funding to pay for their health care when they return.

The budget will also endanger the health of millions of Americans, by proposing a $1.1 billion cut to food stamps, the Nation's number one investment in nutrition and defense against hunger.

If this budget passes, we will be forcing working families to make hard choices between buying groceries and paying their bills.

The budget also spends every single penny of the $1.1 trillion Social Security trust fund. We need to return to pay as you go budget rules, so that we can provide a solid source of funding for Social Security.

What is most disturbing, is that the resolution before us today is even more dangerous than the version the President sent to Congress.

The budget fails to offer the specifics of the President's budget. It proposes large cuts in funding, but without targeting specific programs, it leaves a myriad of programs vulnerable to cuts.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' We need a plan that is fiscally responsible and will fund the programs working families depend on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule.

This rule adds to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations legislative language by Rep. Sensenbrenner that is completely unrelated to the Supplemental and will allow millions of people to drive our streets and freeways without insurance or a driver's license.

Yes, we are speaking about undocumented immigrants. Yes, they broke the law and are here illegally. But, do we somehow think that denying these people the ability to legally drive is going to force them back to their home countries?

That's ridiculous.

Do we want millions of unsafe, untrained drivers on our streets with no insurance?

This provision does nothing to make America safer.

It is simply anti-immigrant legislation disguised as homeland security.

No one doubts that our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed.

The Sensenbrenner provision is not the solution to our immigration problems and does not make our country safer.

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill is for funding our men and women in uniform overseas, not for controversial anti-immigrant agendas.

Our men and women in uniform are risking their lives for our country, and need our financial support. They need armored personnel carriers, bulletproof vests, and the tools necessary to do their job as safely as possible.

The Senate needs to be able to discuss and vote on the driver's license issue on its own merits, and not have this sneaked into our emergency war funding.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 21. I inadvertently gave the wrong number earlier.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American patriots who fought bravely and triumphantly in one of the most iconic battles in our Nation's history.

Sixty years ago, thousands of men left their homes and families to fight for our security, liberty, and democracy. They fought, not because they had to, but because they chose to--choosing to confront an enemy they could not see, in a place they did not know.

Over 450 Navy ships unloaded 75,000 American soldiers onto the tiny Pacific island of Iwo Jima and faced a blistering assault from an entrenched and virtually invisible Japanese army.

Despite the massive geographical advantage of the Japanese and the loss of almost 2,500 soldiers on the first day alone, our soldiers marched fearlessly forward to meet their hidden enemy.

After 36 day's, victory was in hand but not before 7,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese were killed.

This image of victory over adversity is ingrained in our history through the symbolic, yet evocative image of six American servicemen planting a salvaged American flag on top of Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima.

Though the battle lasted twice as long as expected, the commitment of our men and women in uniform to the ideals of freedom and peace never wavered. Their steadfast belief in themselves and our Nation remains a beacon of selflessness and sacrifice for all Americans.

For those who still defend our country and those who fight for the principles upon which this Nation was founded, the men and women of Iwo Jima provide an opportunity for hope.

Their actions will forever stir our hearts and rouse our belief in the human spirit. It is because of this that we will always be thankful to the soldiers of Iwo Jima.

Mr. Chairman, let's be clear--the Boozman amendment will force truck drivers to work longer hours, with less rest, putting all of us at risk.

This amendment is about one thing--increasing the workday for truck drivers from 14 to 16 hours. Those 16 hours are twice the length of the average American's workday. We do not need more tired truck drivers on the road.

I represent one of the largest trucking communities in this country. The Inland Empire in California is the trucking hub of all of Southern California. Let me share with you what I know.

Every truck stop in Southern California, and I suspect the rest of the Nation, is full of stay-awake and other legal caffeine pills for overworked and sleepy truck drivers. Truck drivers also quietly grumble that they are increasingly forced to carry larger loads, over longer distances, with shorter deadlines.

This amendment is not about flexibility; it is about rolling back safety so a few companies can increase profits.

Do you know anyone who works a 14-hour day who'd rather change that to 16 hours? Who, in their right mind, really wants to show up for work at 7 a.m. and leave at 11 p.m.? What about the families and their children? What about time to sleep?

The Boozman amendment is a bad idea that will endanger our families on the road and decrease the quality of life for truck drivers.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give recognition to Dr. Donald F. Averill, Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District for receiving the Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrative Award. It is my honor to recognize Dr. Averill's leadership, dedication, extensive educational background, and his academic and administrative merits to the faculty and students of the State of California.

Dr. Averill earned his doctoral degree in Educational Management from the University of La Verne. He has contributed great efforts to vocational education and educational development through teaching and administration. In addition to his 40 years of experience as professor and administrator, Dr. Averill has also served his tenure of service as Superintendent and President of Palo Verde College, President of the California Association of Occupational Administrators, Chair of the Occupational Education Coalition, Chair of a Legislative Oversight Committee on Contract Education, Chair of the Southern 30's Human Resources Exchange, and Chair of the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) Human Resources Commission.

Dr. Averill carries a strong commitment to public service, clearly demonstrated by his active involvement with the people and organizations of his community. He is currently involved with over 20 regional, state, and national organizations. Due to his broad knowledge in education and understanding of legislative and educational issues, Dr. Averill is frequently asked to take the lead in areas of higher education, economic development, and community college finances.

Furthermore, Dr. Averill has compiled an impressive list of community outreach, which includes his service as Co-Founder of the Orange County Technology Exchange Center, Chair of the local American Heart Association branch, Lt. Governor of Division Three for Kiwanis International, Chairman of the Board for Mary's Home, Director and Board Member of the Blythe Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Palo Verde Valley Economic Partnership, Member of the Board of Directors of the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rialto Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of California, the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, and the Work Incentive Board of San Bernardino County.

Dr. Averill is an outstanding awardee to receive the Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award. His leadership, commitment, loyalty, integrity, and merits all made him a perfect candidate deserving of such a great honor. The people of San Bernardino County and of the State of California thank him for his continued service.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 27, the Job Training Improvement Act. This bill fails to improve the Workforce Investment Act and falls short of the promises our government made to provide training and career opportunities for the unemployed.

H.R. 27 is fatally flawed and undermines our current national workforce policy.

It eliminates various worker-training programs, rolls back protection against religious discrimination, and potentially damages the stability of important social programs.

We cannot neglect the unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers of America who need ample and widespread funding for federal job training services.

Despite a suffering economy and high unemployment, this bill undercuts the ability of our government to provide for these vital workers and erodes Congressional authority and accountability over workforce funds.

Under the provisions of H.R. 27, funding will be shifted from WIA partner programs to pay for the WIA infrastructure and core services costs.

This transfer will weaken vital programs such as TANF, adult education, unemployment insurance, child support enforcement, and veterans employment programs.

Why would we threaten these vital social programs by passing a flawed bill that does not even assure more training would result from the transfer of funds?

H.R. 27 also contains explicit discriminatory provisions.

By repealing long-standing civil rights protections that were signed into law by President Reagan, this bill allows job-training providers to discriminate on the basis of religion.

Since 1982, these provisions have been included in the bill and received bipartisan support.

We cannot allow this gross inequity to tear at the fabric of a fundamental American principle--the inalienable right to fair and equal treatment under the law.

This is why I strongly support Congressman Scott's amendment that will restore these basic civil rights and my faith in our legislative process.

We cannot allow ourselves to drastically depart from previous workforce policy by eliminating worker training programs, destabilizing essential social programs, and writing discriminatory provisions into law.

This so-called Workforce Investment Act is not an acceptable or responsible proposal to provide needed services to our nation's unemployed.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no on final passage.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition of S. 5, the so-called ``Class Action Fairness Act.''

This bill will send the majority of class action suits from State to Federal courts, making it more difficult for people who have been unfairly hurt to collect compensation for their injuries.

Federal courts are already overwhelmed by a large number of drug and immigration cases, and they don't have the time or the resources to deal with complex issues of State law.

This bill has it all wrong. Instead of punishing individuals who pursue frivolous lawsuits, this bill will punish innocent people who have been wrongfully hurt.

This bill is a payoff to large companies and special interests. It takes rights away from consumers in order to protect drug manufacturers, insurance companies, HMOs and negligent doctors. There is no accountability on their part.

It is not ``frivolous'' for an innocent person who has been harmed through no fault of their own to seek compensation for their injuries.

When a child is disabled or maimed by a preventable error, it is not frivolous to seek damages from the company responsible for the injury.

This is a bill that's going to significantly harm small consumers who want to hold large companies accountable for defrauding them.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on S. 5.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 310, a bill that would increase the fines the Federal Communications Commission can impose for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane material.

The level of violent and sexual content in all forms of media has reached a point where Congress has no choice but to act.

The proliferation of indecent content in the media continues not only through television and movies but also through video games and the Internet--mediums that our children now have easier access to. A growing body of evidence suggests that these messages can be harmful to a child's development.

As Democrats and Republicans we must continue to work together to address these issues. That is the only way we will be able prevent our children from being needlessly exposed to violent and sexual content.

The failure of the FCC to adequately scrutinize Spanish-language radio broadcasts for indecent content has been particularly troubling. In the last decade alone, the number of Spanish-language outlets in television and radio nationwide has nearly doubled. With this growth comes an increasing necessity to improve the FCC's ability to enforce its decency standards in an increasingly diverse market place. The Spanish-speaking community is no less deserving of protection from blatant indecency than other audiences.

As the co-chair of the Congressional Sex and Violence in the Media Caucus with my friend and colleague, Congressman Tom Osborne, I believe that we must prevent violence by and against children through legislation, education, outreach and advocacy.

I hope that other Members of Congress and the public will continue to work to protect our children from obscene and inappropriate media.

I commend Congressman Upton and Congressman Markey for their sponsorship of this bill and support its passage.