Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Eric Botkin, a retired firefighter paramedic and valued member of the community of Riverside, California. Riverside has been blessed by dynamic and dedicated leaders, like Eric, who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work.

Eric Botkin began his career with the City of Riverside Fire Department on May 1, 1998. He held the position of firefighter paramedic until his retirement. During his career he performed as a fire investigator from February 18, 2000 through July 5, 2002. He completed Engine Certification on November 2, 2007. His last assignment was Fire Station 13 on Canyon Springs Blvd.

Prior to working for the City of Riverside Fire Department Eric was a paid/call firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority. He also worked for Lifefleet Ambulance and Medtrans Ambulance before pursuing his fire department career.

Eric passed away at his Temecula home on December 27th surrounded by family and friends, including his wife, Hallie, and son, Hunter, 10, after battling glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer. Eric Botkin was diagnosed in October of 2007 and retired from the fire department on October 30, 2008. For the past two years Eric remained upbeat and was an inspiration to all.

On behalf of all those who knew him, it is my honor to offer these remarks as a tribute to the life and legacy of Riverside Firefighter

Eric Botkin. His life and presence will be sorely missed and I extend my condolences to his dear family and friends.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a school in my congressional district, St. Margaret's Episcopal School, that not only excels in academics but is also distinguished on the football field. The St. Margaret's football team won the 2009 California Interscholastic Federation, CIF, Small Schools State Championship for the fourth consecutive year. In the championship game, St. Margaret's defeated Ontario Christian 12 to 6.

The football team is an outstanding example of hard work, determination and perseverance. After 4 straight years of being on top, they have certainly earned the title ``Champions.'' The members of the winning football team include:

Matt Duenes, Houston Agan, James Murayama, Mike Schmall, Andrew Torok, Fernando Almejo, Brennan Smith, Joey Sego, Jon Gencarella, Chris Adams, Chris Bauer, Chase McClure, Scott McGowan, Davis Edwards, Mark Olivier, John Carpenter, Adam Miyawaki, Nolan Lynch, Byran Flores, Leo Garcia, Chase Steuber, Jake Dappen, Jeff Askin, Brett Nicholas, Freddy Valencia, Will Findiesen, Matt Kloss, Connor McClure, Max Carpenter, and AJ Rovsek.

The team is led by Head Coach Harry Welch; Assistants Rod Baltau, Sean Coen, Hiram Johnson, Jay Noonan, Brent Ward, and Butch Ward.

It is an honor to represent such a fine group of young people with a strong dedication to teamwork and academics. I know each one of them will treasure the memories of their fourth championship season, and I commend them, and the entire St. Margaret's community, for this truly great achievement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual from my Congressional District whose dedication to defending the people of this country and preserving the basic freedoms and liberties that we hold so dear earned him the highest military award our country has to offer. Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Lewis Millett passed away on November 14, 2009. He was a true American hero and today I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to honor and remember him and his 31 years of service.

Colonel Millett was born in Mechanic Falls, ME, on December 15, 1920. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and served as an air gunner, then joined the Canadian Army when it appeared the United States would not enter World War II.

Millett returned to the U.S. Army in 1942 upon the United States' entrance into World War II and served in the 1st Armored Division. After making sergeant, he was awarded a battlefield commission.

According to his Medal of Honor Citation, then-Captain Millett distinguished himself ``above and beyond the call of duty in action'' in Korea, after he and his men came under heavy enemy fire on February 7, 1951.

Captain Millett ordered and led a bayonet counterattack up the hill, killing enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand assault during which he was wounded by a grenade blast. Despite the adverse conditions Captain Millett's company had taken the hill by early afternoon.

Captain Millett was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in July 1951. He retired as a colonel in 1973 after a 31-year career in which he served in World War II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam conflict.

Other notable military decorations awarded to Colonel Millett include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, three Bronze Stars, four Purple Hearts and three Air Medals.

Colonel Millett's dedication to his country is a testament to a life of service and a legacy that lives on through his sacrifices. Today let us pledge to always remember Colonel Lewis Millett--the goodness he brought to our world and the sacrifices he made will never be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, Norco, California has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. I rise today to recognize and honor one of those individuals: outgoing Norco City Council Member, and former Mayor, Frank Hall.

Frank started his public service career in 1993 as a member of the Streets and Trails Commission in Norco, California. With that experience he was elected as a Norco City Councilmember in 1997. As member of the Norco City Council, Frank also served as Mayor in 2008, 2004 and 2000. In 2000, Frank received the Norco Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award.

Over his accomplished career, Frank served on a number of special committees which addressed a wide range of issues. He worked on transportation issues as a member of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, Riverside Transit Authority Board of Directors and the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Northwest Zone Committee. He promoted education and learning in the community as a member of the Riverside Community College, Norco Friends of the Library, Norco Historical Society and the Corona/Norco Family YMCA. He also was successful in rallying support for NSWC, Corona and joined a regional effort to keep the base from being realigned to Port Hueneme during the last round of Base Realignment and Closure.

Frank Hall will leave the Norco City Council with many accomplishments; his legacy will serve as a shining example and constant reminder of what it means to be a public servant. I am proud to call Frank a fellow community member, American and friend. It has been an honor to work with him for the betterment of our community and I salute his service to the City of Norco.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in objection to the Pelosi Health Care Bill which creates over $1 trillion in new government spending. It is funded with the ``Hope'' that our children will figure out how to pay the bill tomorrow and with a ``Change'' in the Medicare program that cuts $500 billion from the over 45 million beneficiaries currently covered.

Provisions within the Pelosi Health Reform Bill will raise premiums and lower access to care for America's seniors. Although Democrats try to present these changes to Medicare as improvements and savings, the White House's own actuaries have stated that these changes will increase Medicare spending at a greater rate than if we had done nothing at all. With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reporting earlier this year that the Medicare trust fund will be exhausted by 2017, I do not believe this Congress should take any action that hastens the jeopardy already faced by America's seniors.

The Pelosi Health Care Bill cuts $170 billion from the Medicare Advantage Program, which covers almost 50 percent of the Medicare beneficiaries in the 44th Congressional District of California--36,124 senior citizens who rely on this highly successful program for their health care needs. The cuts undermine a program that currently gives seniors the choice to enroll in a private option and that provides the same benefits as traditional Medicare, prescription drug and other additional health benefits, usually with lower copayments.

The proposed changes also will result in reduced benefits for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries or result in higher premiums and copayments for fixed income seniors. But let me be clear--not for an improvement in service, but for the same or reduced level of service. For the workforce paying into the Medicare program, higher taxes are ahead.

In addition to the increased tax burden working Americans will face to keep Medicare afloat, this bill levies a 2.5 percent tax on the incomes of hardworking working Americans who cannot afford insurance. This breaks a fundamental promise of President Obama's campaign that he would not raise taxes on the middle class.

And even as the national unemployment climbs above 10 percent nationwide--over 20 percent in some parts of my district--Speaker Pelosi seeks to place an 8 percent tax on small businesses who cannot afford to provide government mandated ``acceptable insurance'' to their employees. In this economic climate, Congress should be working to enact real reform across the United States that creates jobs and stimulates the economy, not enacting a government expansion and tax regime that will put the jobs of at least 5.5 million largely low wage earners, minorities and young people at risk.

Finally, while Americans struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, Speaker Pelosi wants even more of their tax dollars to be spent to provide federal health benefits to the 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States. As I understand the bill before us today, a person would only need to ``declare'' that they are a citizen, provide a name and Social Security number and they would be eligible to receive health insurance benefits. There is no requirement for the verification of identification documentation. It is absolutely unacceptable that this bill would not, at a minimum, require even one verified identification document in order to receive taxpayer funded health care benefits. The bill should include clear processes and require documentation to confirm that an individual applying for health care benefits is a citizen or legal resident of the United States like the E-Verify program I created in 1996 for employers to verify the legal status of new employees.

The crafting of the bill before us today spent American liberties to purchase House Democrat votes in order to secure a political victory. The resulting legislation has put freedom and American ingenuity under the knife. For the sake of American jobs, American families and future generations, we must kill this bill and resume our work to create jobs, rein in government spending, increase healthcare freedom and choice and getting the U.S. government's financial house back in order.

However, I look forward to voting in favor of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which maintains the current federal government policy of preventing federal funding for abortion and for benefits packages that include abortion. This amendment ensures that federal taxpayers will not be coerced into funding elective abortions and is supported by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Democrats for Life, National Right to Life, Americans United for Life, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America and many other pro-life groups. I look forward to continuing to work to ensure taxpayer funds are not used to fund abortions and to provide the broadest possible conscience protections for physicians, health professionals, hospitals, insurers, and all those in the business of caring for the health of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Democrat leadership introduced their ever-evolving health care bill, a patchwork of deals cut to garner enough votes to secure a political victory.

In this bill, the trial lawyers win big. My home State of California has enacted commonsense trial practice reforms that have lowered medical liability costs for our residents. Since the enactment of reforms, malpractice rates in California have grown at one-third the rate of States without malpractice reforms, a savings which is passed on to patients. However, this bill would force States to repeal effective liability reforms in favor of unlimited payoffs for trial lawyers or States will lose out on Federal funds for their health care systems.

Health care reform must not reward frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of health care to the detriment of doctors, health care professionals and, most importantly, patients. Let's prove that Congress is more serious about the health of the American people than it is about the financial health of trial lawyers.

Madam Speaker, San Clemente, California has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. I rise today to recognize and honor one of those individuals: Mr. Ralph Klaasen. On Friday, October 16, 2009, Ralph passed away. He will be deeply missed.

Ralph, a San Clemente resident since 1946, was a strong advocate for the south Orange County senior community for decades, serving as president of South County Senior Services and helping raise funds to build two San Clemente senior centers.

Ralph Klaasen, along with Rex Tyner, co-chaired a successful campaign to build the current senior center at 242 Avenida Del Mar in 1982 and then another campaign to build its larger successor, the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, now under construction at 121 Avenida Victoria.

Ralph also helped rally support to build Casa de Seniors, an affordable senior-housing complex. Through his work with South County Senior Services, he helped establish and administer other senior centers and programs from Dana Point to Laguna Hills.

Born in San Diego and raised in Whittier, Ralph attended Whittier College before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. ``There were 13 major battles and I was in 12 of them,'' he once recalled. ``It was a long ordeal.''

When the war ended in 1945, Ralph Klaasen returned to his parents' house in Dana Point. He went to work in San Clemente and worked for the city for a short period in the 1940's but spent most of his career working in banking for Bank of America, Laguna Federal Savings and Great American while raising a family in town.

As Laguna Federal's longtime branch manager, Ralph was involved in community events and local charities. In 1975, the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce saluted him as the city's Citizen of the Year.

He retired in 1985 but continued to contribute to his community. In 2001, the city honored him on San Clemente's Wall of Recognition.

Ralph's dedication to his community is a testament to a life lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to Ralph's family and friends; although Ralph may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the world remain and will never be forgotten.

I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Dicks and Ranking Member Simpson for their courtesy and openness in the process of putting together this legislation. However, I reluctantly rise today in opposition to the fiscal year 2010 Interior appropriations conference report.

While Americans are cutting their budgets, the Democratic leadership continues the spending frenzy with an increase of $4.7 billion--that's 17 percent, as was mentioned earlier--over the 2009 levels for the Interior appropriations bill. This increased spending is on top of the $11 billion included in Interior programs in the stimulus package. That's an increase of $15.7 billion in 1 year.

This bill does fund certain vital initiatives, such as hazardous fuels reduction, the so-called FLAME Act which was mentioned, in areas that face the highest risk of catastrophic wildfire. Funds to ensure that firefighters have the resources they need to battle fires and diesel emission reduction grants to improve air quality are also included.

Unfortunately, the bill simply spends too much money with too little in return. For example, it includes $750,000 for yet another study to look at the science behind the federally imposed pumping restrictions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California. While I certainly have no objections to yet another study, I do believe that it may very well take a number of months to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to merely confirm what I think we already know: that after 4 years of water restrictions in the delta, the delta smelt remains close to extinction, all while farmers and families continue to suffer.

The Democratic leadership in this Congress continues to sit on its hands while the flaws and shortcuts of the Endangered Species Act have tied the hands of judges and water resource planners, creating a man- made drought that is killing jobs in California. Rather than addressing an issue that is creating 40 percent unemployment in some parts of the Central Valley, the majority has ignored yet another opportunity to resolve the problem and, instead, is focused on yet another job killer: cap-and-trade climate change language.

The bill includes $385 million for climate change initiatives, and earlier this week, Energy Secretary Chu suggested at a Senate hearing that the U.S. is falling behind countries like China in developing green energy because Congress has failed to pass the cap-and-trade legislation. The last time I checked, China has not implemented a cap- and-trade, nor has any intention to enter into a regulatory regime on cap-and-trade, so I was a bit surprised to hear the Secretary point to them as the gold standard.

I believe the statements from the Secretary, like the bill before us, reflect a key policy difference. While my friends on the other side of the aisle prefer to achieve results by expanding government, increasing spending, regulating everything, I believe we can achieve results by implementing policies that give hardworking Americans the freedom and basic tools that will enable them to unleash their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Reverend Canon Ernest

D. Sillers, the founder of St. Margaret's Episcopal School and two other Episcopal schools in Orange County. Orange County, California has been blessed by dynamic and dedicated leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Reverend Sillers dedicated his life and purpose to both God and education; he will be dearly missed.

Ernest Sillers was born October 2, 1910, in River John, Nova Scotia. When he was 18 years old, he answered his personal calling and decided to attend Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. It was there he met the love of his life, Aldine, and they were married. Rev. Sillers graduated with a degree in theology and entered the ministry at First Baptist Church in Seabrook, New Hampshire. He studied for a master's degree and attended the Episcopal Seminary at Cambridge Seminary as a part-time student. His efforts led him to become an ordained Episcopal Priest. After serving in New England, Rev. Sillers moved to Pico Rivera where he was Vicar of the mission parish of St. Bartholomew. Because of his long time interest in education, Rev. Sillers obtained a teaching credential. In 1960, Rev. Sillers was called to be Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Downey, California. There, he was inspired to start his first school.

Fifteen years later, Ernest Sillers and Aldine were retired and living in Laguna Beach. The Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles had heard that people in the growing community of San Juan Capistrano would be served by an Episcopal church. He asked Rev. Sillers if he would be a temporary priest-in-chart to start the church and Sillers accepted. In October 1979, St. Margaret's Episcopal School was founded with 79 students and was located in temporary structures. The following year, the student population doubled and by 1986, a 12th grade class had graduated. Aldine, served as the school's founding librarian.

After the successful founding and growth of St. Margaret's, Rev. Sillers was ready for a new challenge. He went on to found St. John's Episcopal Church and School in Rancho Santa Margarita and, a few years later, St. Mary and All Angels Episcopal School in Aliso Viejo.

On October 15, 2009, Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers passed away. On behalf of all those who knew him, it is my honor to offer these remarks as a tribute to the life and legacy of Reverend Sillers. His life and presence will be sorely missed and I extend my condolences to his dear family and friends. His legacy of service and his vision of education live on.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a group of individuals--heroes--who are receiving the recognition and honor they deserve for their service to our country. Operation Recognition is operated by the Riverside County Office of Education with assistance from the Riverside County Department of Veterans' Services. The program awards high school diplomas to veterans who missed completing high school due to military service in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, or due to internment in WWII Japanese-American relocation camps.

A recognition ceremony will be held on November 11, 2009, for the following individuals who received their high school diplomas through Operation Recognition:

Robert Wayne Archer, Vincent O. Arellano, Linzy Ray Banks, Frank L. Bernich, Charles E. Billups, Floyd J. Birch, Camillo Razo Calderon, Arthur A. Carvalho, Leon Chagolla, James Franklin Colvin, Harry W. Cutting, Raymond Ortiz Guerrero, Eugene B. Guilbert, Sr., Richard Louis Haller, Charles R. Hazen, Jr., Randall N. Klauk, Rodney Scott Lloyd, Robert Magan, Salvador Soria Murillo, Ronald Edward Pearson, Harry Peterson, Hubert Pierce, Si Porter, Edward A. Sandoval, Harold E. Six, Sr., Garey Dale Smith, Jerry E. Tidwell, Roger Jay Williams, and Eldon Ray Wilson.

Our country owes a debt of gratitude to all the above recipients for their service and sacrifice. I salute all the above individuals and congratulate them on receiving their high school diploma.

Mr. Speaker, there's been a lot of talk from my friends on the other side of the aisle about the so-called improvement in the United States economy. Unfortunately, all the talk comes without the data to back it up.

Nine months ago, Congress had an opportunity to provide a real shot in the arm to our economy, and yet Americans continue to lose their jobs. While the Democratic leadership continues to push for radical and expensive changes to the American economy, such as a government-run health care system, cap-and-trade legislation, the question that should be asked every day on Capitol Hill is, simply, Where are the jobs?

When the leadership spent $800 billion of Americans' hard-earned tax dollars with lightning speed with no review in February on the so- called ``stimulus bill,'' the White House promised that unemployment would not exceed 8 percent. We are now at 9.8 percent nationally, 12 percent in California, and 15 percent in parts of my congressional district.

Congress certainly does not have all the answers--it rarely does--but what Congress can do is straightforward: Reduce the Federal tax burden on families and business, reduce spending, and target spending where we have real infrastructure projects.

Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 812 the amendment offered by Representative Kratovil from Maryland, which requires the USCG to conduct a study on the facility infrastructure requirements needed to fulfill the Coast Guard's missions and capabilities and report the findings within 180 days. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 813, final passage of the Fiscal Year 2010 U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

I want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his hard work and the diligence that went forth in putting this bill together. However, Madam Speaker, today I cannot vote for this bill unless the motion to recommit passes because of my concern about what is going to happen with these prisoners at Guantanamo.

So I would suggest to all the Members this is a very serious concern to our country. It's a very serious concern to this fight on terrorism throughout the world. And I believe that we should show our unity and vote for the motion to recommit. And if that motion to recommit passes, then I will be happy to vote for this bill, which I think for the most part is a good bill with that exception.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Price and Ranking Member Rogers, and their staff, for crafting a very thoughtful Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. I especially appreciate the recognition of the Air and Marine Operations Center, also known as AMOC, which is located in my congressional district. AMOC has become the foremost aviation-oriented law enforcement operations and coordination center in the U.S. It plays an integral role in protecting us from attack and from human, drug and gun smuggling across our borders.

However, I was disappointed that the extension of E-Verify was reduced from the Senate language which would have provided for a permanent reauthorization of E-Verify. The House overwhelmingly passed a 5-year reauthorization last year and I think the American people would support a permanent reauthorization of E-Verify.

I would also like to commend Ranking Member Rogers for his work on language pertaining to the closing of Guantanamo Bay.

While the bill prohibits the release of detainees into the U.S., the report does not go far enough to prevent prisoners from being transferred to or detained on U.S. soil. I maintain that the President must provide a disposition plan which includes a risk assessment for each of the detainees and the danger they pose to the American people as well as to the national security of the United States. The requirement to have the administration report to Congress on these matters is similar to that of my bill, H.R. 1069, which I introduced on February 13 in response to the administration's January announcement that it would close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my support for the conference report but with strong reservations about the majority's actions that has severely restricted amendments and has shut down a once open appropriations process.

Mr. Speaker, under normal circumstances, the legislation before us would be approved without much attention or controversy. The bill simply authorizes water recycling projects, which I strongly support.

However, we are not living under normal circumstances. We are living in the midst of a crisis. The ongoing water crisis in California has created an economic downturn up and down the State. Statewide, the unemployment rate has risen to more than 12 percent. In the Central Valley, regional unemployment has reached 20 percent, with some communities' unemployment now over 40 percent.

California's water crisis is the result of water conditions, on top of the federally imposed pumping restrictions that have been placed on our State's critical water infrastructure. While the water pumping restrictions are undeniably hurting California's water economy, there is no clear evidence that endangered species are actually benefiting from the measures intended to protect them.

The fact remains that the flaws and shortcomings of the Endangered Species Act have tied the hands of judges and water resource planners, creating a man-made drought that is killing jobs in California. So what is the majority of the House doing to address the clear and obvious deficiencies in the Endangered Species Act? The answer is absolutely nothing.

The reality is that the leadership of the House is too afraid to allow an open and free debate on these policies because they know if reasonable people are given a chance, they would overwhelmingly reject failed policies aimed to protect fish and support efforts to give water to people who are struggling just to survive.

There are a number of bills sponsored by Members in the minority that would restore some common sense to our water and environmental policies. Perhaps if the Democratic leadership would allow these bills to come to the floor, legislation like this would be approved without much attention or much controversy.

Mr. Speaker, the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act is a good bill that extends the availability of the homebuyer tax credit to our servicemembers serving our country overseas. The homebuyer tax credit has proven to be an effective measure in stimulating our housing market, and I'm hopeful more of our servicemembers will be able to use it now that it is being extended.

In fact, I know that many members, including myself, support extending the homebuyer tax credit for everyone. I have a bill, the Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, H.R. 1245, that would extend and expand the tax credit. My bill has almost fifty cosponsors and I aware of other bills that have been introduced to extend the homebuyer tax credit.

am hopeful that in addition to passing this bill today, the House leadership and the Ways and Means Committee will act on a broader extension of the homebuyer tax credit in the near future.