Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give thanks and praise to a fellow Nevadan and friend who has served her state well in many capacities. Ann O'Connell, a former Nevada State Senator, retired at the end of this state session. I stand today to give praise to her for her wonderful 19-year contribution to the great state of Nevada.

Ms. O'Connell was born in 1934 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She later earned a degree from the University of New Mexico. Upon moving to Nevada she began a very successful career in politics in which she has served her fellow Nevadans well.

In 1988 Ms. O'Connell received the Woman of Achievement in Politics award from the

Women's Council of the Greater Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. She has also appeared in several editions of the ``Distinguished Women's Book of Nevada.'' In 2002 she received the Women's Role Model Award from the Nevada Office of the Attorney General.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I stand today to pay tribute to a great legislator and public servant. Ann O'Connell will be missed but not forgotten. I know that her retirement will not be the end of her public service and I thank her for her diligence in serving those around her.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I stand today to pay tribute to a friend and fellow Nevadan. Mr. Raymond Rawson has served the great State of Nevada in the Nevada State Senate since 1985. I have had the honor to serve with him as he served as the Senate Assistant Majority Floor Leader in which he served as a great legislative role model and leader. I know that he will be missed in his retirement.

Mr. Rawson was born in Sandy, Utah, in 1940. He later moved to Nevada to pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received his D.D.S. from Loma Linda University Dental School, California, and then returned to Las Vegas to pursue a masters degree at UNLV in physical anthropology.

Mr. Rawson served the public in his 19 years of political service, as well as in his dental practice where he received numerous dental awards including Dentist of the Year in 1997. Mr. Rawson has served his community well in his political capacity, and I am sure he will continue to serve even after his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to stand with me today and honor all those State legislators across the country, like Mr. Rawson, who have dedicated so many years to building a better State community, which in turn contributes to a better Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and honor John Ritter for his contribution to Clark County Legal Services through the Ritter Charitable Trust. This important contribution of $175,000 will ensure that victims of violence against women will continue to have access to the legal support they need to protect themselves and their families.

John Ritter has long been a leader in the economic development of Clark County, Nevada. This gift, and other charitable donations he has made, shows that he is also a leader in meeting the humanitarian needs of our community. John Ritter has shown that, as Southern Nevada continues to experience the fastest growth in the Nation, our community will meet its challenges with the same spirit that has made Las Vegas a world capital of culture, entertainment and quality of life. I look forward to continuing to work with John Ritter and Barbara Buckley, Director of Clark County Legal Services, to fight violence against women. I urge the House to join me in honoring John Ritter for his philanthropy and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 4593, the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak in favor of this valuable legislation and I am proud to be an original co-sponsor.

I applaud the local governments of Clark and Lincoln Counties along with the Nevada Delegation and local officials that have helped with this collaborative legislation.

This is the result of many years of work with many parties and I am proud to be part of this legislation.

H.R. 4593 represents an important compromise between the Department of Interior and the State of Nevada. It enjoys strong bipartisan support from the entire Nevada Congressional Delegation.

Nevada's Third District, located in Clark County, is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. The growth has provided many positive opportunities for jobs and created a strong economic climate, but it has also placed an increased strain on our water supply and resources.

The fact is, the State of Nevada, and my congressional district in particular, continue to lead the Nation in population growth, yet we have access to the smallest water allocation of the seven States using the Colorado River.

As drought continues in the West and our State continues to grow, the development of in-state water resources grows increasingly important.

This new legislation will help the development and economy of both Lincoln and Clark Counties while continuing to preserve and protect Nevada's precious lands.

It will help us maintain a balance between land management and public use.

In Clark County we have enjoyed the benefits of improved parks, trails, and recreational areas using the proceeds from Federal land sales.

H.R. 4593 would provide similar opportunities for Lincoln County, located just north of Clark County. It offers a comprehensive plan that will contribute to the proposed development of Nevada's in-state resources intended to diversify southern Nevada's water supply and supplement the area's water entitlement from the Colorado River.

This legislation will help to expedite a solution to southern Nevada's current water situation without compromising public involvement and environmental compliance.

H.R. 4593 will also create utility corridors, resolve wilderness study issues, provide for competitive Federal land sales, and provide for the conveyance of Federal land to the State of Nevada and Lincoln County for use as public parks.

For the past decade Clark County's use of the Colorado River and an emphasis on water conservation have helped us in southern Nevada balance our growth and our need for water; however, as we plan for the future we realize we need additional water resources and planning.

I would like to urge my colleagues in the House to support this important bipartisan legislation and join with me in voting for this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor Margaret Parker Fretwell. Mrs. Fretwell just recently celebrated her ninetieth birthday and it is my great pleasure to note that she is still working hard to better her community. Through her enjoyment of community service and a love for her family, Margaret Fretwell has made sure that her ninety years here on this earth have been spent in the service of others.

As an active member in her family, church, and community, she has become a symbol of service and charity. Those around her have been able to rely on her hard work and giving nature to promote charitable programs and

educational events that benefit everyone in her hometown of Anderson, South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to stand here and honor Margaret Fretwell with my deepest thanks for her continued service and contributions to her local community. It is my hope that those that have been touched by her generosity will remember her example and use it in their own lives.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment to H.R. 10 that will recognize the importance of the private sector and the tourism industry in particular in our Nation's homeland security.

I, like many Members here today in this great body, have read the 9/ 11 report and am anxious to act on its findings.

I would like to quote from that report: ``The mandate of the Homeland Security Department does not end with the government. The Department is also responsible for working with the private sector to ensure preparedness.''

It also says, the ``private sector preparedness is not a luxury. It is a cost of doing business in the post 9/11 world.''

Mr. Chairman, we currently have a Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Private Sector, before the report was published, and unfortunately, the report says we still are not helping the private sector enough.

As an example, the Las Vegas community in the great State of Nevada, we had applied for the Urban Area Security Initiatives Grants and determined that, initially, we did not qualify because we are a small State of approximately 2 million people. With further research, they realized that we have 38 million tourists that visit the great State of Nevada annually. That is an example where there are some challenges with the current law.

We need to promote this position to give it the weight, to make sure private industry is helped and encouraged in its effort to enhance homeland security while staying in business, protecting their employees and their customers.

Again, as I read the 9/11 report, it mentioned how easily the terrorists mingled with the 500 million people who travel across our borders every year and with the hundreds of millions more who travel internally in this country. As I said, Nevada has close to 38 million visitors a year.

The report has some excellent ideas on how to improve transportation and border security, and I look forward to passing those suggestions. But the travel and tourism industry is the number one, number two and number three industry in every State of the union. It is the common element of the private sector in every community. Domestic travellers spend close to $500 billion annually in this country. Foreign tourism contributes $80 billion to our economy. Tourism generates close to $95 billion in taxes, and tourism in our country supports 7.2 million jobs, generating $158 billion in payroll.

As a matter of fact, Las Vegas is the bellwether for an ever-changing and improving economy, creating close to 40,000 new jobs alone in the last year.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment ensures that the DHS has a senior official that recognizes the importance of this industry and all industry and provides liaison with other Federal agencies active on this very important issues.

Our small businesses, their employees, their customers deserve to have their needs count when homeland security decisions are made.

It is important to note that this amendment does not cost the Federal Government in additional dollars or disrupt the operation of any agencies. Mr. Chairman, I urge the House to pass my amendment.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments from my colleague. I will conclude by stating the importance of this is for the safety first of those visiting and traveling to our communities, providing the expertise from those individuals that deal with, on a daily basis, the handling of millions and millions of visitors to our great State and to our country and to the businesses that do the same.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Gredia Grecia Alajar, a retired teacher and Nevada's recipient of the Outstanding Older Worker Award. The work for and dedication to the community of retired individuals, like Mrs. Alajar, are inspiring to all of us as we seek to improve our districts and our States.

Mrs. Alajar, after a lifetime of teaching in the Philippines, Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, returned to the workforce, this time as a member of health care delivery system. She is an integral part of the operations of the First Choice Home Health Care Agency.

Mrs. Alajar was born and raised in the Philippines, where she taught high school before moving to the United States in 1970. After overcoming the language barrier, she began teaching mentally challenged children. Her good works continued as she impacted the lives of many children facing challenges. I applaud Mrs. Alajar and her dedication to our community as an excellent role model for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act, and I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting for this common-sense bill.

The reforms before us are straightforward, even simple, but they are also incredibly important. I was proud to cosponsor this legislation and look forward to the benefits it provides our teachers.

This bill addresses two pressing issues within the Federal higher education programs. First, it will shut down excess subsidies being paid to certain student loan providers. Second, it will direct these dollars so that we can increase student loan relief for teachers.

In February, President Bush called on Congress to put an end to excess subsidies paid to certain student loan providers. Republicans answered the President's call by introducing legislation in May that would shut this practice down and direct the resources back

to where they belong, to student benefits within the Higher Education Act.

This bill will finally allow us to enact that important reform and will direct the savings to increased loan relief for teachers.

The second piece of this bill will provide critical support for our Nation's classrooms, and I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), for his leadership in this area.

The loan relief provider in this bill will increase loan forgiveness for teachers of math, science and special education who serve in disadvantaged schools. I know firsthand how rural and urban school districts are struggling to find highly qualified teachers in these key subjects, and that is why I am so proud to support this bill. In Clark County, Nevada, alone, we are required to hire, on average, 2,000 new teachers a year.

Currently, the Higher Education Act provides loan forgiveness of up to $5,000 for teachers who teach for at least 5 years in Title I schools. These schools, which serve larger shares of disadvantaged students, often struggle to recruit and retain the teachers they need.

Although the current loan forgiveness is valuable, we have discovered particular shortages in math, science and special education. To help schools recruit teachers in these high-demand subject areas, we must target our resources where they are needed most.

I appreciate and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 805) supporting efforts to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for youth in high-risk situations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 805.

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

I rise today in support of H. Res. 805 which seeks to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources and supports for youth in high-risk situations. I would like to thank the leadership for allowing this resolution to come to the House floor as it highlights a very tragic and important issue.

Runaway and thrownaway episodes among our Nation's youth are serious and widespread, with one out of every seven children and youth in the United States running away or being turned

out of the home before the age of 18. A recent study by the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention estimates that nearly 1.7 million youth experienced a runaway or thrownaway episode in a single year. The prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the Nation is astounding, with studies suggesting that between 1.6 million and 2.8 million young people live on the streets of the United States each year. The primary factors of running away or being thrown away are severe family conflict, abuse and neglect, and parental abuse of alcohol and drugs.

In the district that I represent in southern Nevada, the statistics are similar. In the year 2003, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported 4,527 runaways. There were approximately 3,500 children who required emergency shelter. 1,800 of these children were placed in foster care. In addition to that, the Clark County School District reported that 3,011 of our students were homeless. These astonishing statistics highlight the need for our support of those important programs that seek to prevent these types of incidents.

Many of the conditions that lead young people to leave or be turned out of their homes are preventable through interventions that can strengthen families and support youth in high-risk situations. Successful interventions are grounded in partnerships among families, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based organizations and businesses.

The National Network For Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard have collaborated since 2002 in cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month during the month of November. National Runaway Prevention Month is a public education initiative aimed at increasing the awareness of issues facing runaways as well as making the public aware of the role they play in preventing youth from running away. As a result of this collaboration, communities across the country have undertaken a range of activities to commemorate National Runaway Prevention Month.

Preventing young people from running away and supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, community and national concern. Please join us in encouraging all Americans to play a role in supporting the millions of young people who have run away and who are at risk of doing so each year. H.R. 805 supports efforts to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources and supports for youth in high-risk situations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) expressing the sense of the Congress that student travel is a vital component of the educational process, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 131.

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

I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 131 offered by the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). House Concurrent Resolution 131 recognizes the critical role that student travel plays in the educational process.

I support this resolution because I agree we should recognize the unique value that educational travel can provide to our Nation's students. It can be very worthwhile to extend the educational experience outside of the classroom in order to give students the opportunity to gain valuable skills through experience and direct interaction. I also agree that in the wake of September 11, we should encourage students and their families to continue taking advantage of the rich history that exists in Washington, D.C. I firmly believe that students who are given the chance to travel to Washington, D.C. will have a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of American history, culture, government and politics.

I commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for her leadership in authoring this resolution to recognize the importance and value of student travel and urge my colleagues to adopt this measure.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 809) supporting the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school programs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 809.

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 809, offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). This resolution seeks to support the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after- school programs.

On October 14, 2004, more than 6,000 communities across the country will rally for after-school programs by participating in the fifth anniversary of ``Lights On Afterschool!'' This nationwide event is aimed at bringing attention to the need for high-quality after-school programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement.

I support this resolution because after-school programs are an important part of many American students' lives. High-quality after- school programs provide safe, challenging, and fun learning experiences that help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural, and academic skills. I am pleased that we are able to help bring attention to the critical importance of after-school programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

This resolution is simple and straightforward. It supports the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a nationwide celebration of after-school programs and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the communities to engage in innovative after- school programs and activities that ensure the doors stay open and the lights stay on for children after school.

I commend the gentleman (Mr. Kildee) for his leadership in offering H. Res. 809 and urge my colleagues' support.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 4593, the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in favor of this valuable legislation, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor.

I would also like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), for introducing this legislation in the House, as well as Senator Ensign and Senator Reid for introducing companion legislation in the Senate. H.R. 4593 represents an important compromise and enjoys strong bipartisan support from the entire Nevada congressional delegation.

The area I represent in Congress is one of the fastest growing areas in the Nation. The growth of Clark County has been significant, and it is a tribute to the leadership of our elected and administrative officials, the hard work and dedication of local developers and the economic success of the Las Vegas region.

We have worked hard in the State of Nevada to ensure the organized, strategic and orchestrated growth of our community while still maintaining and preserving many of Nevada's environmental treasures and our resources. This growth, while impressive, has created and placed new and increased pressures on our existing precious resources, such as infrastructure, education and water. In my 20 years in public office, I have seized opportunities to better manage this growth and the responsibilities and liabilities it brings.

I see the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act as legislation that can benefit southern Nevada, Lincoln County and the full State of Nevada as our economy and population continue to grow, specifically with the development of additional water resources.

At a time when Clark County continues to lead the Nation in growth with thousands of new residents each month, Nevada has access to the smallest water allocation of the seven States using the Colorado River. By 2002, our population had increased to 1.6 million people, most of whom reside in the Las Vegas Valley, and water use had far surpassed our 300,000-acre-foot allocation from the Colorado River. As a result, we must remain committed to maximizing the use of available Colorado River water while at the same time making use of existing in-State resources.

As drought continues in the West and our State continues to grow, the development of the in-State water resources grows increasingly important. This legislation will help with the proposed development of our in-State resources intended to diversify our water supply and supplement Nevada's water entitlement from the Colorado River. The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act will help to expedite a solution to southern Nevada's current water situation without

compromising public involvement and environmental compliance.

Mr. Speaker, for the past decade, Colorado River water and conservation have been the most cost-effective options to meet demands in southern Nevada. However, as we plan for the future, the continued development of additional water resources has become necessary.

Development of in-State water resources will provide southern Nevada with a long-term, reliable water supply to meet the increased demands of a growing population and ensure supply during times of drought. Accessing these resources requires significant investment, and H.R. 4593 is an important step forward in achieving these goals.

I would like to urge my colleagues in the House to support this important bipartisan legislation and join me in voting for H.R. 4593.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to honor an individual that has been awarded the Electronic Retailing Association's (ERA) 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the electronic retailing industry and who have elevated the significance and stature of both direct response and the association.

Mr. Greg Renker is a founding principal of Guthy-Renker, an infomercial studio that has evolved into one of the world's largest television response-driven companies. Mr. Renker is personally responsible for productions, new business development and business affairs, and, with partner Bill Guthy, supervises the overall direction of the company.

As a founder of ERA and an industry pioneer, Advertising Age magazine named Mr. Renker to its ``Marketing 100'' list for his achievements in the direct response television industry. In addition, Mr. Renker has been spotlighted by Fortune Magazine on its list of ``America's Smartest Young Entrepreneurs'' and also was honored as one of Inc.'s ``Entrepreneurs of the Year.'' Currently, he serves as a permanent Chairman Emeritus of ERA and is active in a multitude of industry-wide initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Greg Renker on his successes and on his dedication to the electronic retailing industry. I know that he will continue to be a strong presence in both the industry as well as in his local community. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passage of James Elliott Weeks. Mr. Weeks passed away on September 8, 2004.

James Weeks was born in March 1917 in Claude, Texas. James served as a Captain in the Army during World War II. He then served as an Assistant Attorney General of Texas, and was elected County Attorney of Lubbock, Texas. He was later elected to the Abilene School Board and the Texas Board of Education. Captain Weeks was a member of the Texas and Supreme Court bar.

James Weeks is survived by his wife Inez, three sons, and eight grandchildren. I urge the House to join me in mourning his passing and remembering him for his life of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor a great man who has dedicated his life to his country as a Citizen Soldier of the United States Army Reserve. After 10 years of service, Daniel Porter received the Meritorious Service Medal as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve. This medal was presented for service offered from June of 1986 until June of 1996 as Daniel dedicated his free time to serving our Nation and the great state of Nevada as a military reservist.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I stand today to honor this man. It is men and women such as Daniel Porter that continue to help our country remain safe and protected from the increasing dangers we see every day. I would hope that my colleagues would stand with me in honoring Daniel Porter, and the many other military reservists that protect our freedom and combat terror.