Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 797 is a very, very good bill, and I appreciate Ms. Baldwin working so hard. I think we could actually use the adjective tirelessly on this one, in order to bring it forward.

It really has two provisions that I'm especially pleased to support. First, I'm pleased that this bill will help veterans with visual disabilities. To put this in perspective, VA compensates about 13,000 veterans for blindness in one eye.

DOD statistics show that about 1,169 servicemembers have experienced eye injuries in Iraq, and VA states about 111 of those are now receiving compensation. And let us not forget that with the number of traumatic brain injury casualties, and those that have gone undiagnosed, many of them will experience visual impairment as a result of those injuries. Thanks to Ms. Baldwin's work in bringing this forward, the change in this law will make sure that all of these individuals will be treated fairly.

I am also greatly pleased that we have been able to fund reinstatement of the GI Bill work-study provisions that expired last June. These additional work-study jobs will benefit both the veteran student and veterans at large by increasing the resources available to assist VA employees in accomplishing their mission.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very good bill and I urge my colleagues to support it. I also want to thank Mr. Filner and his staff for, again, bringing this forward, along with Mr. Buyer, the ranking member; and the staff over here. Again, this is a very good bill, and I urge support of its passage with my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3998, in particular title X of the bill, the Butterfield Overland Trail Study Act. This title directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Butterfield Overland Trail, which stretches from Missouri to California. Before the railroad and even the famed Pony Express, the Butterfield Trail was the only connection between the eastern United States and the rapidly expanding west coast.

Commissioned by Congress in 1857, John Butterfield established a trail that could be traveled by stagecoach from the Mississippi River to San Francisco in a remarkable 25 days.

While the original purpose of the trail has long been surpassed by modern technology, the trail survives with the potential to be a great link to our Nation's past, attracting tourists with its educational and historic appeal, as well as a tool to educate our children about our country's storied history.

I have worked with the National Resources Committee to ensure that extreme caution is given to protecting private property rights, and clear language is contained in the bill so that any future action will not compromise private land.

Mr. Speaker, as our country continues to rapidly grow and develop in the spirit of the old American West, it is so important that we remember what brought us to this point. It is our duty to our children and grandchildren that we take the time to mark the paths our ancestors took across our country.

I respectfully ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3998. And I want to thank the committee so much, and the committee staff. It has really been a pleasure to work with you guys to help us as we worked forward in ironing out the kinks.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to one of my constituents who's dedicated his adult life toward protecting the men and women of Arkansas.

I rise to congratulate Les Braunns of Springdale on his promotion to the rank of major in the Arkansas State Police. A 28-year veteran trooper, Major Braunns was most recently the commanding officer of Troop L, where he earned the respect and friendship of the men he commanded.

According to the men of Troop L, Major Braunns always led his men by example, and led his men from the front, never asking a trooper to perform a task he was unwilling to perform himself.

His men pointed to the most recent example of his leadership from an incident in July when the Hell's Angels descended on my district for their annual get-together. Then Captain Braunns marched into a group of 300 and told them, ``You can police yourselves, or we can do it for you.'' The State police kept their word and so did the Hell's Angels.

I congratulate Major Braunns on his promotion, and I thank him and appreciate all that he's done for the State of Arkansas.

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

H.R. 3315 provides that the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center be known as Emancipation Hall. The bill was introduced by Representative Zach Wamp of Tennessee on August 2, 2007.

At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Capitol Visitor Center is the largest project undertaken by the Office of the Architect of the Capitol in the Capitol's 212-year-old history. It is one of the most important projects since the extensions to the Capitol and the Dome were built more than 140 years ago. As an extension of the Capitol, the Capitol Visitor Center will welcome visitors to the seat of the American Government.

Within the Capitol Visitor Center, the great hall is a large 20,000- square-foot room where visitors will gather as they enter the Capitol. This promising gathering space will serve as the gateway for the public's experience of the Capitol and American democracy.

The Capitol Visitor Center will provide visitors to the Capitol the opportunity to learn about and more fully understand the Constitution, the Congress, and the history of the Capitol, including the contribution of slaves who helped build the Capitol and the country. It will help deepen the understanding of all who visit about our Nation's long struggle with slavery and its ultimate abolition.

It is fitting and appropriate to recognize the seminal moment of the Emancipation Proclamation in American history. We should recognize the sacrifice and contribution of the many slaves who helped build the Capitol.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Wamp of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

I just want to close by thanking Mr. Wamp, the gentleman from Tennessee, and Mr. Jackson for his help in moving this forward. This certainly is a very fitting honor. And I ask all of my colleagues for a resounding ``yes'' vote to this so that we might move forward.

I also want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee for her hard work in pushing this forward and getting it on the floor.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I offer my congratulations to the United States Marshals Service, as well as a hearty ``Welcome Home'' to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

At ``high noon'' today, trucks from ABF Freight System arrived with precious cargo: the history of the United States Marshals Service. They arrived from Wyoming to their new hometown of Fort Smith, the future site of the United States Marshals Museum.

Today's arrival is a symbolic event, but just a temporary stop. The Marshals collection, now inside Arkansas' borders, will be secured in a safe location while we build a proper home of the legendary history of the Marshals Service.

From the arrival of the ``Hanging Judge'' Isaac Parker and through such men as Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, an African-American deputy who arrested more than 3,000 men, the history of the Marshals Service and the history of Fort Smith, Arkansas, have been continually linked.

Today, we take the next step in making that link permanent. The legacy of the United States Marshals Service is now in Arkansas.

Congratulations to Fort Smith and congratulations to the United States Marshals.

Welcome home.

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

The bill before us, H.R. 1567, the Stop Tuberculosis Act of 2007, has been put forward by its supporters to provide a very significant increase in our foreign aid spending on anti-TB programs abroad.

If we rely on figures gathered with the assistance of the Congressional Research Service, the bill would raise our spending on such programs through the U.S. Agency for International Development by about six times in the next 2 years.

According to a brief letter received late last week from the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would increase such spending somewhat less, by somewhere between two and three times in the next 2- year period.

Although it is possible that the latter estimate by CBO may inadvertently have included in its baseline comparison current funding levels for some anti-TB programs outside of the scope of this bill, it is clear that this measure seeks a major increase in the AID programs it covers.

Along those lines, the bill strongly encourages, if not directs, the President to ensure that the funds that would be provided under this bill will be transferred to the World Health Organization's ``Stop TB Partnership'' plan.

Finally, the funding amounts in the bill have apparently been formulated using a calculation meant to reflect what the United States' fair share might be in funding that international plan.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the determination of the supporters of this measure to do more to combat TB overseas.

On a personal note, my mother was afflicted with tuberculosis when she was in her mid to late teens and was on her back for a year, just didn't get out of bed. So we understand the importance of eradicating TB, not only worldwide but in the United States. She's done well, though. By coincidence, this is her 86th birthday, and so she recovered fully.

I also want to thank Congressman Engel for his work on this. I know that he's worked very, very hard, and also Congresswoman Heather Wilson of New Mexico.

With that, we don't have any more speakers, and if you all don't, I will yield back.

Do you have some more speakers?

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

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

The Eurasia Foundation has reportedly done some good work over the past few years of the region of the former Soviet Union. Because the aid programs for the countries of that region from which the foundation has received its funding are now closing down, the issue before us is whether that foundation should be authorized to continue to receive funds directly from the U.S. in order to continue its democracy promotion work independently. I suspect that for many of us in this House the answer would be yes.

Just as we have had an Asia foundation, it is possible to see the work of funding this kind of foundation to do democracy promotion in Eurasia.

The passage of this bill, H.R. 2949, would help ensure that funding.

At the request of Members from our side of the aisle and the Foreign Affairs Committee, this bill has been amended in committee to try to address a significant problem that is not directly related to the Eurasia Foundation but that is an issue of importance to the wise use of our United States Government funds if they are appropriated to the foundation under this bill in the future.

Independent of the Eurasia Foundation, our United States Government- funded Enterprise Fund in Russia, the major state of that region, is closing down and is seeking to use the hundreds of millions of dollars from the

sale of its assets to fund democracy promotion, civil society and rule- of-law programs in Russia, as well as economic reform efforts.

At the same time, we have democracy promotion programs under way across Russia and the rest of the region, through the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Republican Institute.

So there is obviously a possibility that duplications of efforts will take place unless this Congress finds ways to ensure that it doesn't. We don't want to see U.S. Government-funded organizations compete to do the same kinds of activities if that leads to duplication and waste, and the democracy promotion in that region is too important to see money wasted at a time when Russian President Putin and others are forcing their own brand of authoritarian government on their nations.

This measure has been amended in a way that seeks to mandate that any successor to the U.S. Government-funded Enterprise Fund in Russia has to reach an agreement with the Eurasia Foundation before it engages in any democracy promotion efforts in that country. Hopefully, that will eliminate duplication to some degree.

The bill, as amended, does not go as far as some of us would like, I must note. It does not address the similar situation that will arise in the Ukraine in the next few years when our U.S. Government-funded Enterprise Fund there closes down and seeks to set up its own successor foundation that may, once again, end up duplicating the work done by the Eurasia Foundation in the Ukraine.

It also does not address a completely separate question about how the assets of such U.S. Government-funded Enterprise Funds in Russia and Ukraine will be disposed of, an issue that involves hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer funds. It has been the practice to ensure that the taxpayers get back at least 50 percent of the funds held by such funds when they close down their operations.

There is an effort in the House-passed fiscal year 2008 foreign aid appropriations bill, however, to allow our fund in Russia not to turn back to our Treasury half of its assets. That would mean that the taxpayers would lose $160 million, or perhaps even more than that, depending on the value of the assets sold in the case of the Russia fund alone. Those are monies that might otherwise go to help fund other worthwhile programs.

Perhaps this is not the bill in which to debate that issue, and our efforts in committee to address it in this measure were unsuccessful. But I take this opportunity to point out that issue in the hopes that the administration will be supported by Congress in its efforts to follow current practice and ensure that our Treasury gets back that very significant sum of money.

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

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

The great nation of France and the United States of America have a shared heritage of commitment to freedom and independence. From time to time, of course, we have made different choices or followed different paths in our commitment to the rule of law, human rights and democracy, but we in the United States are always grateful to have France's collaboration in advancing important foreign policy and security objectives. The newly elected President of France, Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy, is this week paying an official visit to Washington and will address a joint meeting of this Congress during his visit.

His visit prompts us to recall some of the expressions of support Mr. Sarkozy has offered to our country and some of the concrete steps he has, indeed, taken to join with the United States in addressing key issues of our day.

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, then-French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy traveled to New York City to demonstrate solidarity with the American people on that occasion. During his visit, Mr. Sarkozy paid tribute to New York City's Police and Fire Departments as part of the commemoration of the anniversary and noted as part of his remarks the following: ``One thing is sure in the history of our two peoples, each time we faced a challenge, France was able to count on the United States of America.''

He then presented to the New York Fire Department the French Medal of Honor, the very first time that the medal, the highest award for French firefighters, has been awarded to foreigners. By taking such actions, as both Minister of the Interior and now as the President of France, Mr. Sarkozy has won the appreciation of the American people.

I note that his attitude regarding the necessity of preventing Iran from achieving its nuclear ambitions, his expressed support for the nation of Israel and his praise for the United States as a land of opportunity are very much appreciated as well.

Mr. Speaker, we are glad to have France as an ally, and we hope to deepen the friendship and partnership that the United States and France have enjoyed so many times in the history of our two countries. As the cochair of the Congressional French Caucus, I believe that the resolution before us today helps send a message of continued friendship with the people of France while congratulating President Sarkozy on his election and welcoming him to the United States.

I ask all of my colleagues to join in supporting this very timely resolution.

I have one additional speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) as much time as he may consume.

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

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

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

I welcome the focus this bill places on the growing influence of Iran in Latin America. Because Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism, we dare not lose sight of its increasing presence and activities in the region, nor can we forget its past transgressions.

One year ago, Argentina's State Prosecutor concluded that the horrific 1994 AMIA bombing was ``decided and organized by the highest leaders of the former government of Iran.''

Yet, somehow the leader of Iran continues to be warmly received by many in the hemisphere. In fact, he has found much strength in his friendship formed with Hugo Chavez, Ahmadinejad's key ally in the region.

The implications of Iran's presence in Latin America are disconcerting in themselves. When partnered with the power of Venezuela's petroleum, it is truly a cause for alarm and concern.

Ahmadinejad has capitalized on his relationship with Chavez to inject his influence throughout the hemisphere, recently signing a cooperation agreement worth $1 billion with Bolivia, and is reportedly making plans to establish an embassy for the first time in Quito, Ecuador.

Furthermore, the disturbing alliance between Venezuela, Iran and Cuba cannot be ignored. The radical efforts of Ahmadinejad, Chavez and Castro to stir anti-U.S. resentment in the region and support for anti- American regimes across the hemisphere are an increasing and undeniable threat to our security. For this reason, we must remain vigilant in our attention to the hemisphere and be sincere in our efforts to strengthen our relationships with the nations of Latin America.

I commend the efforts being taken by the U.S. and our partners in Latin America to combat terrorist activities. However, we must recognize that if the U.S. is to support the efforts of our friends in the region, we must support them wholeheartedly. We cannot continue to send mixed signals. Denying free trade agreements with Colombia, while calling for increased cooperation on any front is not good, fair or effective policy.

I thank my colleague for introducing this measure and look forward to additional efforts by Congress to comprehensively support our security in the Western Hemisphere.

Again, I have one more speaker, Mr. Engel.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he would like to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).

Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, let's take a moment to recognize an ally whose relationship with the United States certainly exceeds its size. Completely surrounded by Italy, the European microstate of San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe. Yet, San Marino has made a strong ally of the United States, most notably within a number of international institutions, including the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. In fact, the U.S. and San Marino have collaborated closely on several key issues such as combating international terrorist financing and protecting intellectual property rights.

Moreover, San Marino has been a leader in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue within the European Union. The value of our relationship was marked earlier this year by the first exchange of ambassadors between the U.S. and San Marino.

I, therefore, ask my colleagues to join me in supporting Ranking Member Dreier's H. Con. Res. 236, recognizing our close relationship with the Republic of San Marino.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) such time as he may consume.

(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of Congressman Dreier's resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

I am pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 550, which congratulates the people of Ethiopia as they celebrate their second millennium. This commends Ethiopia's contribution to peace and stability on the African continent and recognizes the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and the United States.

While much of the world celebrated the dawn of the second millennium in January of 2000, Ethiopia recognizes the Coptic calendar, which falls 7 years behind our own. This practice is in keeping with Ethiopia's long and rich cultural heritage.

Ethiopia is the only country on the African continent never to have been colonized and, in fact, played an important role in the liberation struggles of numerous other African countries during the colonial period. It continues to play an important role in promoting peace across the continent, both as a major supporter of peacekeeping efforts and the home of the African Union.

Ethiopia has served as a model of religious toleration in the region, a place where Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have co-existed peacefully for centuries. Ethiopia also is home to countless historical artifacts and world heritage sites, including the earliest known hominid, Lucy; and the medieval rock churches of Lalibela, which have been recognized as a wonder of the world. All of these facts have contributed to the strong sense of pride and nationalism that Ethiopians enjoy today.

And while Ethiopia continues to face significant challenges in terms of security and democratic and economic development, this is a country that has served as one of the strongest allies of the United States in the region. The value of our relationship should not be taken lightly.

I was particularly pleased to learn that Prime Minister Meles, Ethiopia's Prime Minister, kicked off the celebrations in September by granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, including a number of opposition leaders.

It is my hope that the spirit of rebirth and reconciliation engendered in the celebration will continue to take root as Ethiopia embarks on a second millennium.

So I rise to congratulate our friends in Ethiopia on this joyous occasion, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I come here today to continue my call on the leadership to move the Veterans appropriations bill forward.

As of today, we have gone 138 days in this Chamber with no action, no plan of action, and more importantly, no veterans bill. I am concerned that we have a $4.4 billion increase in veterans health care collecting dust on someone's desk in this very building. I suspect that there are many people here today and watching at home who are also troubled as well.

I'm proud that the veterans issues are not partisan. They never should be. I am also proud to be a member of a bipartisan Veterans Committee. I am not proud, however, that we have gone this long into the year without a single appropriations bill.

I call on the leadership of the House to get on the stick, get past whatever reason or strategy that is holding this important bill up, and get a clean bill to the President so we can deliver this money to these heroes to whom we owe so much.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3224 amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance to States for the rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams.

I would like to commend Congressman Randy Kuhl for his steadfast leadership on this issue. He was the original sponsor of similar legislation this year, and he was instrumental in the reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program last year. I would also like to thank Mr. Salazar, again, for his leadership in this issue also.

This bill would authorize a program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding for repairs to publicly owned dams that would pose a direct risk to human life if they failed. The number of unsafe dams has risen by 80 percent since 1998 to more than 3,200.

This grant program would fund repairs of the most critical dams, which the Association of State Dam Safety officials estimates is a $10 billion need over the next 12 years. Dams require ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and rehabilitation. Many States are unable to fund necessary repairs to publicly owned dams without assistance from the Federal Government. This new program will provide assistance up to 65 percent of the cost of the repairs. H.R. 3224 authorizes the program for 5 years at $200 million.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important issue throughout the country in areas with numerous old and abandoned dams. Too often, the 19th century companies that built the dams no longer exist and local governments are left with orphaned dams in their jurisdiction. These downstream communities have a responsibility to protect their population, but they rarely have the tax base or revenue to repair the failing dams.

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

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2671, introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), designates the United States courthouse located at 301 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida, as the C. Clyde Atkins United States Courthouse.

The bill recognizes Judge Atkins's dedication to the law and his fairness on the bench. In 1914, Judge Atkins was born in Washington, D.C. He received his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1936 and began his career in the private practice of law in Stuart, Florida.

Judge Atkins's service to his community in the legal profession includes serving as president of the Dade County Bar Association, president of the Florida Bar Association, trustee of the Mercy Hospital, and trustee of Biscayne College.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Judge Atkins to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Atkins served as chief justice on the district court from 1977 to 1982 when he assumed senior status. Judge Atkins's tenure on the bench ended with his passing at the age of 84 on March 11, 1999.

This legislation is a fitting tribute to Judge Atkins's service to equal justice. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Madam Speaker, having no further speakers, again, I think this is a very fitting tribute and honor and something that we should all very much support.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

H.R. 2728, introduced by Representative Darrell Issa of California, designates the station of the United States Border Patrol located at 25762 Madison Avenue in Murrieta, California, as the Theodore L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station.

Forty years ago, Theodore Newton and George Azrak were tragically killed in the line of duty. The deaths of these two agents shook the foundations of the agency.

The two young Border Patrol agents were working the graveyard shift at a remote checkpoint when they were kidnapped from their post by drug smugglers. They were found murdered and handcuffed to a stove in an abandoned mountain shack.

These two agents, just like agents on the front line today, put themselves in harm's way to uphold the tradition of honor, integrity, and service in securing our Nation's borders. Over 100 employees of the Border Patrol have died in the line of duty since it was formed in 1924.

The Newton-Azrak Award, the Border Patrol's highest award, pays tribute to those who show courage and heroism in the face of grave danger.

This bill recognizes the ultimate sacrifice these men made, giving their lives in the service of their country.

I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time having no further speakers.