Floor Statements

I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, Mr. Gonzalez, and I want to thank your leadership for bringing this very important issue to the forefront.

Tonight, I would like to tell the story of Christopher Herrera. Lance Corporal Evenor Christopher Herrera was just 9 years old when his family came to the United States from Honduras in search of opportunity. He found that opportunity for himself in the United States serving in the Marine Corps, which he joined a year after graduating from Gypsum's Eagle Valley High School in Colorado.

He figured that enlisting he could pave the way to a better future, or, as he told his family, the 22 year-old would be considered a hero if he should die while serving his adopted country. Fate chose him the latter. On August 10, 2005 while manning a machine gun during a clash near Ar Ramadi in Iraq, an improvised explosive device detonated. Herrera was killed in combat with a month and a half left before he was to return home.

From the time his family immigrated from Honduras, he began talking about joining the Army. Christopher, as he was known to his family and friends, was not naive about the dangers he faced in Iraq. His brother, who was also a Marine, said that Christopher was happy to fight for the country that he loved. He would rather die over there as a hero and be remembered as doing something good, as opposed to being here and not remembered at all.

His mother, Blanca, said that he joined because he wanted to have more opportunity in this country. He wanted a career in the Marines. The stories about Christopher come easily. His sister recalled about how shy he was, but yet he was fearless, and once drove a 4-wheel-drive vehicle down a muddy hill, nearly flipping it over. Christopher enjoyed typical mountain activities like most young men in Colorado, like fishing and snowboarding.

The brothers often went camping. The brothers were close, but because they were both deployed Balmore Herrera hadn't seen his brother in 7 months. When Christopher was killed, Balmore was called to act as official military transport as his brother's body was transported from Maryland to Colorado.

There have been 3,396 servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and over 25,000 Americans wounded. This evening, members of the Hispanic Caucus rise to recognize immigrant servicemembers because these brave men and women didn't have the privilege of being born in this country. They chose to live here, and also made the choice to serve the country they loved in the Armed Forces.

Many immigrants, like Christopher, have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Each of them has a story. Each story is filled with struggle and a hope for opportunity. Like Christopher, each story is also filled with sacrifice.

There is an Internet blog set up as a memorial for Lance Corporal Herrera. Whiskey 3, Red 2, left these words for him:

``To my fellow brother Evenor, I had the great privilege of serving with you in the good and the bad times.

``I'll keep fighting the good fight, and one day I'll see you again . . . and together we can guard the gates of heaven as we once guarded each other in Iraq.

``You will never be forgotten.''

Madam Speaker, today I would like to commend the unsung heroes who go unnoticed but who get up every morning and think about how to make our lives safer. They are the men and women who make up the independent agency known as the Bureau of Explosives, headquartered in Pueblo, Colorado at the Transportation Technology Center. This month marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Bureau of Explosives.

The Bureau of Explosives (BOE) was formally established in 1907 by the railroad industry to serve as an independent agency to promote the safe transportation of explosives. BOE wrote the very first hazardous materials regulations, which were subsequently adopted and expanded upon by the Interstate Commerce Commission and later the U.S. Department of Transportation.

BOE was originally called the Bureau for the Safe Transportation of Explosives, and was created under the American Railway Association (ARA), predecessor of the Association of American Railroads (AAR). With a chemical laboratory and 16 inspectors, the Bureau immediately took the lead in inspecting shipments, encouraging improvements in shipping techniques, and developing rules that form the basis of all modern regulations of hazardous shipments. Although the Bureau was granted considerable enforcement powers by the ARA in its constitution, it encouraged compliance through education. This was accomplished primarily by personally visiting shippers and railroad personnel to explain why the rules were necessary for their safety. Annual reports illustrated examples of situations where the rules where not followed. In 1913, explosives manufacturers and shippers and manufacturers of shipping containers were invited to join the Bureau. Shippers quickly began using the Bureau to improve preparation of their shipments to withstand the rigors of transportation.

Today, the BOE is managed by Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads. BOE inspectors located throughout North America continue to work with more than 350 member North American railroads, hazardous materials shippers, and container manufacturers and repair companies to ensure safe shipping practices. Congratulations on 100 years of work that has paid off, making the transportation of hazardous shipments by rail today safer than at any other time in our nation's history.

Madam Speaker, I stand today to pay tribute to Jim Spehar, an outstanding community leader from Grand Junction, Colorado. For eight years he has served the City of Grand Junction as a distinguished and valued member of the City Council. Prior to that, Mr. Spehar served as a Mesa County Commissioner from 1991 to 1995.

Leadership and candor have been a hallmark of his legacy and he has employed both of these qualities in his city and county roles, as well as having served as president of the Colorado Municipal League. In addition, he excelled as the western Colorado representative for the Colorado Water Congress Board of Directors. He currently serves as the director of the Central Rockies office of the Sonoran Institute, where he assists cities in assessing the impact of growth on their communities.

Jim Spehar has always been about the betterment of communities and his decisions have always reflected that thought. Popularity was not his concern--reaching for the good of the populace has been at the heart of his actions. Never one to back down from controversy, Jim has led by example through thoughtful decision making with integrity and fairness. His leadership will be difficult to emulate, and the bar he has set will take extraordinary efforts by those who follow him.

It is my pleasure to acknowledge his contributions to the city of Grand Junction and Mesa County, as well as the entirety of the State of Colorado.

Mr. Chairman, just for the record, I want everyone to know that I am wearing one of my favorite ties, which is a horse tie. I have been a lifelong farmer and rancher, and I can assure you that no one in this Chamber loves horses more than I do.

But the good citizens of western Colorado and all Americans love our beautiful country and the public plans administered by the National Park Service, the Forest Service and the BLM. For more than 100 years, the Forest Service, the BLM lands, have been managed for multiple use and sustainable yield of their products. This means historic uses such as grazing remain a bedrock use of the land, and conservation remains a bedrock principle for which these lands are managed.

It is one thing to agree on these core principles. It is another one to do the hard work needed to effectively express the principles and actions and policies. Great needs for land management are going unanswered because Congress lacks the will to provide adequate funding to these core management functions. And at the same time, Mr. Chairman, the courage to adjust these laws reflects the reality of land management today.

So, for example, conservation of wildlife under the Endangered Species Act and other laws is regarded by many, including myself, as among the highest conservation priorities in our country. Nevertheless, Congress consistently fails to provide adequate funding for species conservation on the ground, or funding agencies to adequately implement the law.

We are at a similar place with respect to wild horses and wild burros. Legal recognition of the place of wild horses and burros on public lands was introduced in the passage of the Wild Horse and Burro Act in 1971. This law reflected America's love for horses and the concern that they be managed properly on public lands. These are values that, undoubtedly, we all share. The key provisions of the law required the BLM to manage the horses to an appropriate management level, called the AML. As a practical matter, this means that horse population numbers had to be managed within the multiple-use framework controlling management of BLM land.

For years, BLM has not been able to bring horse populations down within the AML ceiling. This means public lands have been degraded from overgrazing by horses. The habitat and food is taken from the wildlife, and the areas overpopulated by horses cannot

sustain other multiple uses of the land. Congress has consistently declined to provide the funding needed to gather more horses off BLM land and support them to live a healthy life in long-term holding facilities.

Still, the law calls for maintenance of wild horse populations at the AML, but the political will has been lacking to allow the agency to succeed.

So Congress enacted a legislative solution in the fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill to help relieve the overpopulation of wild horses on public lands by authorizing the sale of unadoptable horses. These are horses that no one wanted. Not ranchers, not public officials, not even members of the animal rights groups or horse protection leagues, and, I am most certainly sure, no one voting ``yes'' on H.R. 249.

That first year, in 2005, more than 1,500 horses were sold. BLM credits the law with allowing them to operate their program within budget for the first time in a number of years. A small sales program continues today that is significant to the BLM budget. This year already, in 2007, 346 horses have been sold. BLM estimates that it could run a small sales program of about 600 horses per year. The sale of this number of horses is worth several million dollars to BLM over the life of the horses, for a program that is funded only at approximately $30 million annually.

H.R. 249, sponsored by the great chairman, whom I have the greatest of respect for and I know his intentions are good, would eliminate this sales program. Why do it? BLM efforts to prevent the slaughter of horses have been successful to date. Congress is not making sufficient funding available to take necessary care of the horses in long-term care facilities.

While the public is adopting some horses under the BLM program, horses are not being adopted at a rate sufficient to ease the overpopulation on public lands. Perhaps worst of all, the administration's budget for fiscal year 2008 called for a complete cutting of the funding for the horse and burro program. The slow progress that has been made towards achieving the AML in recent years will be reversed if BLM lacks the funds to gather the horses. Expenses will increase in the near future, as there will be more horses to manage because the population will not be controlled next year.

The existing sale authority is a small but necessary tool in an overall program to manage wild horses and burros on public lands.

If you care about the proper management of public lands, responsible government, horse welfare, and political courage, you will vote ``no'' on H.R. 249.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I noticed on the map, Mr. Ranking Member, that we show across the western States much public land. Among the public land is also a great amount of ranching and farming land. I know that in some of my farming country and my own farm in Costilla County, every now and then, almost every year, we have a beautiful potato field that is run over by a herd of wild horses just because BLM does not have the proper funding and the authority to be able to manage these horses properly. I firmly believe that this bill will take those tools away that BLM currently has to manage wildlife.

Divisional Wildlife manages elk and deer herds so that they can thrive within the habitat that they currently have. One of the biggest problems that I see is that BLM uses the tools that they have and the funding that they have to be able to manage wildlife and horses on public land; but the biggest problem that I see is that if this bill passes, they will not be able to weed out the bad apples in the wild herds.

For example, they round up these horses. They put back into the wildlife the horses that are good, many of them that are good, but the ones that are lame or the ones that we saw like the one here in this picture, the ones that have broken legs, they can weed out of the population so that they can have better wild horse populations out there.

There is nothing more beautiful than to see a herd of wild horses out on the public lands running forever. I can assure you that if this bill passes, it will hurt BLM's ability to manage the great wild horse populations.

So I would also urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to be joined by my colleagues of the Blue Dog Coalition to speak about our Nation's problems.

Mr. Ross brought up the U.S. national debt now being $8.8 trillion, knocking on the door of $9 trillion. I remember the very first day I came to Congress where the actual figure was $7.54 trillion. Not even 2\1/2\ years ago, each American's share of the national debt was $26,000 at that time. What a shame. Over $3,000 more in 2 years.

Well, I am proud to join my fellow Blue Dogs today to talk about accountability in government and the gross negligence for taxpayer dollars in Washington. The Blue Dogs have been fighting for greater accountability in Washington for over 10 years. We have argued for a return to a PAYGO system or a balanced budget. We offered a 12-step reform plan to cure our Nation's addiction to deficit spending. We have argued that all earmarks should require written justification from a Member of Congress before being considered.

I am proud that our current leadership has taken into account what the Blue Dogs are saying. The Blue Dogs advocate accountability. Let's consider the facts. In 2004, the Federal Government spent $25 billion that it cannot account for. In that same year, only 6 of 63 Pentagon departments were able to produce a clean audit. For 2005, the GAO reports that 19 of the 24 Federal agencies can't produce a clean audit or fully explain how they spend taxpayer dollars.

In March of 2005, the Veterans Affairs inspector general issued a report calling for the agency's information systems and securities to be upgraded. No action was taken. And since that time, the personal information of millions of our Nation's veterans has been stolen.

Several of our Federal agencies received serious red-flag disclaimers on their 2005 financial statements, including the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Defense who wrote, ``We are unable to give an opinion on the fiscal year 2005 DOD financial statements because of the limitations on the scope of our work. Thus, the financial statements may be unreliable. Therefore, we are unable to express and we do not express an opinion on the DOD's financial statements.''

Mr. Speaker, the American public deserves the honest truth. The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security wrote, ``Unfortunately, the department made little or no progress to improve its financial reporting during fiscal year 2005. KPMG was unable to provide an opinion on the department's balance sheet.''

The inspector general for NASA in its 2005 financial report in the enclosed report from independent auditors, Ernest & Young, disclaimed an opinion on NASA's financial statement for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. The disclaimer resulted from NASA's inability to provide an auditable financial statement and sufficient evidence to support financial statements throughout the fiscal year and at year end.

Federal agencies are treating the taxpayer dollars that fund them like a joke, and the administration is incapable of lifting a finger to manage them effectively.

I believe we need strong enforcement measures in Congress and the Federal Government to make it more accountable for taxpayer dollars. We must ensure that Congress has the tools to hold Federal agencies responsible for their use of taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, American taxpayers deserve to know how Congress and this administration are spending their money.

I am proud once again to join my Blue Dog colleagues to demand more fiscal accountability in Iraq. The Blue Dogs have a plan for fiscal accountability in Iraq. Our plan calls for transparency on how war funds are being utilized. It creates a commission to investigate how contracts are awarded, and it stops the use of emergency supplementals to fund this war. This is the first administration, Mr. Speaker, that has used emergency supplementals to fund a war year after year after year.

The Blue Dogs also call for American resources to improve Iraq's ability to police themselves. The Blue Dog legislation addresses the glaring lack of oversight and accountability in Iraq. We make sure that taxpayer dollars are accounted for. Government reports have documented waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq. I think it is time to stop that waste. Congressional oversight is desperately needed. The administration must be held accountable for how reconstruction funds are being utilized.

The Blue Dog proposals are commonsense proposals. They ensure transparency and accountability. We have already spent $437 billion in Iraq, according to the Congressional Research Service, and we will spend another $100 billion in Iraq in 2007 alone. That is over $500 billion with virtually no oversight from Congress. We must start showing improvement in Iraq. Accountability leads directly to success, in my opinion. Iraq must begin making progress towards full responsibility by policing their own country. Without progress, it is a waste to continue U.S. investment in troops and financial resources.

We all support our troops. We must support our troops. We will do everything in our power to make sure that they have the equipment that they need. However, we cannot continue to write a blank check to this administration. Until our last troop has returned home, the American people deserve to know how their money is being spent. Accountability is not only patriotic, it often determines success from failure.

The Blue Dog proposal gives us an opportunity to regain that oversight and responsibility. This is the responsibility that we have to all of our men and women in uniform, to their parents, and to the American taxpayer who is footing the bill.

The Congressional Research Service and the Congressional Budget Office have clearly stated that if this continues, our fiscal irresponsibility in Congress, if it continues by the year 2040, every single penny of revenue that the Federal Government receives will go just to fund the interest on our national debt.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to let this happen. We cannot saddle our children with the irresponsibilities of this administration.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I often tell this story of my father. I served during the tail end of Vietnam and my father was a World War II veteran. My son served now during Iraqi Freedom. He just finished his tour last December, but I like to tell this story of my father who was a proud veteran.

At the age of 82, my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; and as was usual on Sunday mornings, I would go over to Mom and Dad's ranch house, and we would have breakfast with my mom and dad. We had been told by the doctors that my dad had Alzheimer's, and it was one day right around, he must have been around 84 when one Sunday morning we heard him fumbling around in his back bedroom. Shortly thereafter, he came out and in his hand he bore his World War II staff sergeant uniform, and he told us, this is the uniform that I want to be buried in. We thought at the time, well, it sounded a little bit self-serving but doctors tell you not to argue with Alzheimer's patients. So we said, sure, Dad, no problem. We will do that.

Well, the disease continued to progress over the next couple of years, but often, often he would bring up the issue of wanting to be buried in his uniform, and it was at the age of 86 that my father suffered a severe heart attack. My mother called me over. We live about a quarter mile away. When I got there, the ambulance was there, and I remember lifting my father off the floor to put him on the gurney to take him to the hospital. And with the last ounce of strength he had in his body, he lifted his arms up around my neck and he said, I love you, and the last word he ever whispered to me was the word ``uniform.''

My father had forgotten almost everything in life, even how to use his bodily functions; but there are two things he had not forgotten, the love that he had for his family and the love that he had for his country and how proud he was to have served his country.

For many veterans, that is the greatest legacy that they have, and so when we propose an Iraqi war supplemental, we are also proposing funding to make sure that the veterans that have served this country are protected.

I tell this story because it is important that we protect those that have

protected us, and I know that we as members of the Blue Dog Coalition are very proud to stand beside our veterans and make sure that they have the things that they need.

The gentleman from Arkansas talks about visiting Walter Reed. I do that on a regular basis, and it is the most disheartening feeling in the world to see our troops without arms and legs. They do not ask for anything. All they ask for is help me get through life. We owe that to our veterans.

I was in the Soviet Union during the fall of communism when Gorbachev was still in power in 1989, when we were out there studying international government with the Colorado Agriculture Leadership Program.

It's true, I couldn't agree with you more, that the spirit of democracy has to come from within, from within a country. They want to have it. They want to want it. A perfect example of how you win a war, it's with the spirit of sheer military force, but you also have to have a diplomatic surge as well. That is what Blue Dogs are asking for. They are asking to adopt the Iraqi Study Group recommendations. Sure, we can support a group surge, but coupled with a diplomatic surge. That is how you win wars. But they have to want it.

May I ask a question? You have some figures on this chart that show that basically through the Iraqi war supplementals we have actually budgeted $378.5 billion. Could I ask the gentleman, is this really the true cost of the war, or is this just what we budgeted through the supplementals?

But is this the actual, is this an actual true reflection of what the war in Iraq has cost? For example, we see that our troop levels, our military armor, and the equipment that our troops have is not adequate in many cases. So are we actually spending from other sources as well to supplement this?

I want to thank the gentleman for his comments. I think it is clear, with the figures that you have given us, that the $378 billion is not really a true reflection of what the Iraqi war has cost us.

And you are absolutely right, we as Blue Dogs, we as Democrats will stand strong with our troops making sure that they have the equipment that they need, and that is one of the things I wanted to talk about tonight was the Iraq war supplemental that our leadership has proposed includes making sure that we take care of our veterans; it includes money for devastated farmers and ranchers across this country due to weather problems and other issues.

So I believe that this is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do. But I would ask the administration to please look into trying some diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and hopefully we can move this forward and bring our troops home as quickly and safely as possible. In the meantime, let us not forget the men and women in uniform who serve this country bravely. And I want to thank the gentleman for inviting me today to visit with the American public and tell them the truth about what is going on with America's budget.

I just wanted to thank the gentleman. We see him on the floor every Tuesday trying to get the message out to the American public and trying to make sure that the figures that are being stated here in Congress are the true figures. I think that the American people deserve to know the truth, and I commend the gentleman for his dedication not only to the Blue Dog Coalition but also to the American people. And it is super-important, I believe, that the American people know the truth. Thank you very much. I appreciate your inviting me to speak with you tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor the life of a great American.

Lt. Col. Raymond Gerald Murphy was born on January 14, 1930, in Pueblo, Colorado. He graduated from Pueblo Catholic High School and attended Fort Lewis Junior College in Durango, then Adams State College in Alamosa.

After graduation, Jerry Murphy joined the Marine Corps Reserve and entered Officers Candidate School. In 1952, he was sent to Korea where he served with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

In February 1953, Raymond Gerald Murphy was cited for ``Conspicuous Gallantry at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as a Platoon Commander.''

Although painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy mortar shell, Second Lieutenant Murphy steadfastly refused medical attention and continued to lead his men up the hill through a withering barrage of hostile mortar and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time, he again refused assistance.

His resolute and inspiring leadership, exceptional fortitude and great personal valor reflect the highest credit upon Lt. Col. Murphy and enhance the finest traditions of the United States military service.

Raymond Gerald Murphy was the 39th United States Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for Heroism in the Korean War. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Lt. Col. Murphy was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

On Good Friday, Lt. Col. Raymond Jerry Murphy died in the Veterans Administration nursing home in Pueblo at the age of 77, Mr. Speaker, but his spirit and heroism will live forever.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for yielding, and I would like to recognize him, as well as the ranking member, for the exceptional leadership on this critical issue.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. I urge the swift passage of the measure. Passage of this bill is long overdue.

My communities are desperately waiting for infrastructure projects which are of major importance to their districts.

My district includes hundreds of small communities that have narrow economic and tax bases. Small communities like these often are unable to address the significant infrastructure needs. Water infrastructure is vital to the economy and stability of these small communities.

My rural communities rely on antiquated water systems, and they need to be updated. Without the means to update old systems, many of our constituents and communities nationwide have been living in substandard conditions.

It is not only an environmental health issue. A lack of sufficient water resources can effectively prevent the community from moving forward with critical infrastructure, like additional housing for its inhabitants.

This bill is an important and necessary step in protecting our Nation's water infrastructure. Quite simply, Mr. Chairman, we cannot afford not to pass this critical legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support this investment in water resource development and conservation projects and the passage of this much- needed bill.

I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for yielding, and I want to recognize the chairman and the ranking member for their exceptional leadership on this critical issue.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, and urge its swift passage.

Horrific terrorist events around the world have forced us to focus on rail security. This bill is an important and necessary step towards protecting our Nation's rail and surface transportation safety.

My district is home to the world-renowned Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. TTCI's Emergency Response Training Center conducts hands-on hazmat training for first responders and is known in the field as the premier graduate school for surface transportation hazmat training.

My good friend and fellow Coloradan, Mr. Perlmutter, highlighted in committee the critical role that TTCI plays in advancing rail security, research and development and hazmat training.

By making TTCI the sixth member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, it will add a critical component to the consortium that is now missing. TTCI is the only facility in the Nation that has the experience and assets necessary to test new emergency response and recovery techniques. Adding TTCI to the consortium will help fulfill the goals of this bill, making our rail lines safer from homeland security threats by enabling the facility to accelerate its already outstanding work in the field of rail security.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the investment in rail and public transportation security and passage of this much-needed bill.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I thank the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for bringing this important issue up to our attention.

I have been a proud cosponsor of this legislation for 2 years, and I want to thank Mr. Boswell for his leadership.

This brings up an important point. It brings up an important point because we are now seeing some underfunding of the VA committee and of VA health care initiatives. We have heard today statistics of how now, today, Vietnam veterans are still being affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. We haven't even been able to touch the beginning of the iceberg.

So today, Mr. Speaker, it is important to make it clear what the leadership of this House, the people's House, has said. The leadership of this House today has said that the most important issue for the veterans to be addressed are the issues of health care, both shortfall and VA funding, and it is also an important issue that today we push forward for full funding of VA health care.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues of the Blue Dog Coalition to demand more fiscal accountability in Iraq. You know, the Blue Dogs have a plan for fiscal accountability in Iraq. Our plan calls for four things, it calls for transparency on how the war funds are being spent.

Two, it creates an commission to investigate the awarding of contracts.

Three, it stops the use of supplemental supplementals to fund this war. Do you know that this is the first administration that has continually been using supplementals to fund a war? That is strange.

Number four, it uses American resources to improve Iraq's ability to police themselves.

Mr. Scott, I have been calling, on and on again, that it is important for us to turn the responsibilities over to the Iraqi people, let them be responsible for their own futures. Why should we be putting our soldiers lives on the line when over 60 percent of the Iraqis now claim that it is okay to shoot an American soldier?

But this is about accountability. This is about spending the American taxpayers' funds wisely. This is about the board of directors that America has selected and appointed to the U.S. Congress to do oversight on the taxpayers' funds that are being utilized to fund this war.

While the Blue Dog coalition legislation addresses the glaring lack of oversight and accountability in Iraq, we make sure that taxpayer dollars are accounted for. Government reports have documented waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, time and time again.

I believe, Madam Speaker, that it is time now to stop that waste. Congressional oversight is desperately needed. The administration must be held accountable for how these reconstruction funds are being used.

And speaking about reconstruction funds, Mr. Scott, you mentioned just briefly about Halliburton. Well, I find it kind of strange that, you know, when they are needed most to help pay taxes so that we can actually fund this war, all of a sudden they decide to pull up stakes and move because they say their tax rates are too high. Well, to me, Mr. Scott, that is not being patriotic.

This Blue Dog bill is tangible. It is a commonsense proposal that ensures transparency and accountability. We have already spent $437 billion in Iraq, according to the Congressional Research Service. We will spend another $100 billion in Iraq in 2007 alone. I think that we must start showing improvement in Iraq, and accountability leads directly to success.

You brought up a real point. It is almost as if someone reaches into your chest and jerks out your heart. I make regularly scheduled visits out to Walter Reed to visit our returning troops, and I meet with them and talk to them.

Their message is quite simple. They are there to do their job. They are proud to be Americans. They are proud patriotic citizens and proud to have served their country. And they tell me, do not let our efforts go in vain.

Well, I can assure you, Mr. Scott, that the Blue Dogs are committed to making sure that we stand by them and make sure that they have the equipment they need by holding this administration accountable.

It is amazing when you see our soldiers returning without arms and without legs and yet so strong and patriotic and talking about how proud they are to be Americans.

Well, Mr. Scott, it is time for the U.S. Congress to also say that they are patriotic and that they are proud Americans, and that they will stand by their soldiers. I think that Iraq must be progressing toward full responsibility for policing their own country. I think without progress it is a waste to continue U.S. investment in troops and financial resources. We all support our troops. We will do everything in our power to get them the equipment they need.

I have been in Iraq twice. The first time I was there, soldiers were complaining because they were out in the scrap piles looking for metal to build shields under the Humvees. And in many cases, those became the very instruments that cost their lives.

I want to thank the gentleman. And he made some very important points. It is our responsibility here in Congress to look out for our troops and our soldiers. But we cannot continue writing these blank checks, Madam Speaker. We have been writing blank checks for the last several years because over the last 6 years there hasn't been any oversight. There has not been any accountability.

And I can assure you that since January, over the last 2 months, there has been oversight hearings on several issues in regard to the military readiness, in regard to where some of this funding is going.

And so I am very proud to be a Member of the Blue Dog Coalition that brings forward this important bill. I think that until our last troop has returned home that the American people deserve to know how their money is being spent. Accountability is not only patriotic, but it often determines success from failure.

The Blue Dog bill gives an opportunity to regain oversight and responsibility. This is the responsibility we have, to all our men and women in uniform, to their parents, to the American taxpayer who is footing the bill.

Madam Speaker, today I want to thank you. I want to thank Mr. Scott for his leadership, and I want to thank you for giving me the time to be able to speak out on behalf of the American taxpayer, the American people and our soldiers in uniform.

Madam Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota for yielding me this time.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007. I urge swift passage of this matter.

Chairman Oberstar, thank you, thank you, thank you for addressing the issues of western America. Over the past 2 years, I have visited with folks from across the Third Congressional District of Colorado. Water is one of the issues that greatly affects every constituent in the arid southwest. My constituents are concerned about their water quality and supply, the aging infrastructure, and are concerned that their health is at risk.

Fast-growing rural areas are experiencing trouble with infrastructure demands, especially waste water treatment facilities. With revolving loan money on the decline, small rural communities have been struggling to address major infrastructure needs. This issue crosses lines of environment, health and human safety, growth and economic development.

Many of us view H.R. 720 as a long overdue measure to ensure that the Federal Government invests in waste water infrastructure. This legislation will not only ensure that we have undated waste water infrastructures; it will also reduce the burden of construction and maintenance costs on local towns and communities.

Now is the time for us to start investing in the infrastructure that will safeguard our water quality for future generations.

Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you. And thank you for understanding the struggles that rural America has. I don't understand our opposition on the other side and their opposition to prevailing wage and to a livable wage.

I would urge my colleagues to support investment in clean water infrastructure and passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, yesterday we resumed reading the names of our servicemembers on this House floor that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in this war. To date, 3,188 American servicemembers have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I am greatly saddened today to add the name of Specialist Blake Harris to that list of the fallen soldiers.

Specialist Harris was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Specialist Harris died on Monday, March 5, in Baqubah, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol.

Blake Harris was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. He was a 2002 graduate of Pueblo South High School.

In Pueblo, Blake leaves behind a loving wife, Joanna; a 2-year-old son, Jonah; and his mother, Deborah Harris. He is also survived by his father, John Harris of Denver.

Madam Speaker, I extend my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family and friends who have suffered this loss, and I pray for their comfort and strength in their time of greatest need.

Specialist Harris was a proud and courageous soldier whose story must never be forgotten. Blake Harris was 22 years old.

Madam Speaker, I submit this recognition to the United States House of Representatives in honor of his sacrifice so that the memory of Blake Harris may live on forever.

Madam Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks.

I stand here today to pay tribute and recognize the loss of SSG Joshua R. Hager. Staff Sergeant Hager was killed in action while serving his country in Iraq.

Every day, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces face danger in the hope to bring peace and prosperity to those in need. We must not forget the individual stories of these soldiers who are serving our country with courage and honor.

Joshua Hager was from Bloomfield, Colorado and he is survived by his wife and child who reside in Pueblo, Colorado.

Staff Sergeant Hager was one of three Fort Carson soldiers who died on Friday, February 23. Hager, PVT Travis Buford of Galveston, Texas, and PVT Rowan Walter of Winnetka, California, died Friday of injuries suffered a day earlier when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.

All three brave men were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, which has now lost 189 soldiers since the war in Iraq began.

Joshua Hager was 29 years old.

My heart goes out to Joshua's wife and child as well as all of his family and friends. Their courage in this time of hardship humbles us all.

We will not forget his sacrifice, and that of the soldiers who rode alongside Joshua.

I submit this recognition to the United States House of Representatives in honor of their sacrifice, so that Joshua Hager may live on in memory.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor United States Marine Corps Sergeant Clinton W. Ahlquist of Creede, Colorado, who was killed in the line of duty while serving his country honorably in Iraq.

Sergeant Ahlquist wore his Nation's uniform proudly, and we should all pay tribute to this brave and courageous young man.

Every day our men and women in uniform willingly face unknown dangers as part of the effort to promote peace and democracy throughout the world. Their individual stories of honor and courage must not be forgotten.

Clinton Ahlquist moved to Creede, Colorado, during his freshman year of high school. Clinton touched countless lives during his 3 years at Creede High School.

Ahlquist was killed in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, by an improvised explosive device while patrolling a Medivac helicopter. He was 20 years old.

My heart goes out to Clinton's family and friends and those whose lives he touched throughout his service to our country. I am humbled by their strength and perseverance in the face of such hardship.

Sergeant Ahlquist died performing noble deeds, serving and protecting his fellow countrymen. Clinton and his family and friends have exhibited a rare form of selflessness and courage.

Madam Speaker, I submit this recognition to the United States House of Representatives in honor of their sacrifice so that Clinton W. Ahlquist may live on in memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a profound debt of gratitude for our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our brave soldiers are remarkable. They find themselves in a foreign land with regional conflicts that date back over a thousand years. However, they don't run and hide. They fight. They risk their lives helping to encourage and teach the Iraqis to take over their own destiny.

Our Nation's sons and daughters deserve nothing short of unconditional gratitude and support from their government and the American people. As long as I am in Congress, our soldiers will have an ally.

As a veteran, and a father, I will always fight to protect those who defend their country. I will fight for equipment and supplies. I will fight for their safety and protection. I will make sure they return home to their loved ones as quickly as possible. And I pledge they will NOT be forgotten once they return home.

But I will not support sending over 20,000 more young men and women into a fight without a plan to win and get them home. We cannot send more Americans into harm's way to instill a peace that the Iraqis are not willing to seek for themselves.

The solutions now are political not military. The Iraq Study Group urged the president to pursue a diplomatic solution alongside our military efforts.

But this president has decided to ignore the diplomatic side of the equation. This administration has squandered their credibility by losing billions in reconstruction funds, failing to adequately equip our troops, and failing to develop a clear plan for reconstruction in Iraq.

It is time for the Iraqi people to stand up and for the United States to begin a phased redeployment to protect American interests and take our troops out of the direct line of fire.

In closing, this war has created a new generation of veterans with new disabilities not seen in past wars. Adding insult to injury, the president's recent budget proposal lacks adequate funding for our veterans returning home. Researching post-traumatic stress disorder, improving suicide prevention, and providing adequate funding for prosthetics are crucial budget needs to serve our new veterans.

On a recent trip to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, I met with several of our wounded soldiers. I pledge to them--and to all our men and women in uniform--that your country will take care of you. And I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.