Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, July 6, Wednesday, July 7, and during the morning of Thursday, July 8, I was unavoidably detained due to official international election monitoring efforts I took part in and was not present for rollcall votes on those days.

Had I been present I would have voted the following:

Rollcall 326, recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, I would have voted ``yea'';

Rollcall 327, expressing the sense of Congress that the President should posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery, I would have voted, ``yea'';

Rollcall 328, on the Manzullo amendment, which would provide $79.1 million for the Small Business 7(a) loan program to finance more than $13 billion in small business, I would have voted ``yea'';

Rollcall 329, on the Flake amendment, which would prohibit the use of funds to implement the Commerce Department's new restrictions on gift parcels to Cuba and the amount of personal baggage allowed for travelers to Cuba, I would have voted ``yea'';

Rollcall 330, on the Weiner amendment, which would increase COPS funding by $107 million and offsets that funding by cutting funding for the Census, I would have voted ``no'';

Rollcall 331, on the Hefley amendment eliminating funding ($174 million) for the re-engineered design process for the 2010 short-form only Census, I would have voted ``no'';

Rollcall 332, on the Kucinich amendment, expanding the membership of the President's ``Manufacturing Council'' to include representatives from unions and the steel industry, I would have voted ``yea'';

Rollcall 333, on the Paul amendment prohibiting funds to pay expenses for any U.S. contribution to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, I would have voted ``no'';

Rollcall 334, on the Farr amendment prohibiting funds from being used to prevent states from implementing state laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana I would have voted ``yea'';

Rollcall 335, on the Paul amendment prohibiting funds from being used to pay any U.S. contribution to the United Nations or any affiliated agency of the United Nations, I would have voted, ``no'';

Rollcall 336, on the rule providing for consideration of Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004, 1 would have voted, ``no'';

Rollcall 337, on the rule providing for consideration of the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2003 I would have voted, ``no''; and

Rollcall 338, on the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004, I would have voted, ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, I am disappointed that the Committee on Science has missed a golden opportunity to fashion a meaningful bipartisan manufacturing bill. The bill we are debating does little, other than providing an authorization for the Manufacturing Extension Program.

As much as I appreciate the MEP, a program President Bush has repeatedly tried to shut down, by the way, pretending that authorizing this single program is the only worthwhile step that can be taken to help our manufacturing sector shows a lack of imagination and political will.

I do not have time to cover all of the good amendments that Democrats offered in the committee, but I would like to discuss my amendment to authorize funding for the Advanced Technology Program, which was not made in order for the floor.

During the debate on the rule for consideration of this bill, it was said that this amendment should not be allowed because this bill was only supposed to be about Federal programs that were dedicated to manufacturing. But according to its statute, ATP was created ``for the purpose of assisting United States businesses in creating and applying the generic technology and research results necessary to, one, commercialize significant new scientific discoveries and technologies rapidly; and, two, refine manufacturing technologies.''

Mr. Chairman, ATP does provide significant support for manufacturing. In 43 competitions held between 1990 and 2004, 39 percent of the awards involve either direct or indirect development of advanced manufacturing technologies. ATP does this by helping small businesses, small companies. Over 85 percent of all manufacturing technical awards go to small companies, and average employment growth of small company projects is over 180 percent.

In light of these facts, I tried to offer an amendment to authorize money for ATP at $169 million per year for fiscal

years 2005 through 2008 and focus the funding on manufacturing projects.

I am not alone in my support for ATP. The Committee on Science's 2004 Views and Estimates on the budget supported funding ATP at the same level in my amendment.

In fact, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) both testified before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State of the Committee on Appropriations that ATP is ``necessary to help provide the edge that U.S. manufacturers need to compete in the global economy.''

Many associations support this. Let me close by saying I am disappointed that we are missing this opportunity to deal comprehensively with the long-festering problems of the U.S. manufacturing base. Unfortunately, because the Bush administration told the committee Republicans in negotiations that did not involve committee Democrats, that the President would not sign the bill if it did anything bold. And today we will be approving a bill that is not all it can be.

Mr. Chairman, I am disappointed that the Science Committee has missed a golden opportunity to fashion a meaningful, bipartisan manufacturing bill. The bill we are debating does little other than providing an authorization for the Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP). As much as I appreciate MEP, a program President Bush has repeatedly tried to shut down by the way, pretending that authorizing this single program is the only worthwhile step that can be taken to help our manufacturing sector shows a lack of imagination and political will.

I don't have time to cover all of the good amendments that Democrats offered in Committee, but I would like to discuss my amendment to authorize funding for the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), which was not made in order for floor consideration. During debate on the Rule for consideration of this bill, it was said that this amendment should not have been allowed because this bill was only supposed to be about Federal programs that were dedicated to manufacturing. But according to its statute, ATP was created ``for the purpose of assisting United States businesses in creating and applying the generic technology and research results necessary to (1) commercialize significant new scientific discoveries and technologies rapidly and (2) refine manufacturing technologies. And ATP does provide significant support for manufacturing. In 43 competitions held between 1990 and 2004, 39 percent of the awards involve either direct or indirect developments of advanced manufacturing technologies. ATP does this by helping small companies--over 85 percent of all manufacturing technical awards go to small companies, and average employment growth of small company projects is over 180 percent.

In light of these facts, I tried to offer an amendment to authorize funding for ATP at $169 million per year for fiscal years 2005 through 2008, and focus the funding on manufacturing projects. I am not alone in my support for ATP--the Science Committee's 2004 Views and Estimates on the Budget supported funding ATP at the level in my amendment. In fact, Chairman Boehlert and Chairman Ehlers both testified before the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations subcommittee that ATP is ``necessary to help provide the edge that U.S. manufacturers need to compete in the global economy.'' Many outside groups have expressed support for ATP, including the Electronics Industries Alliance, the International Economic Development Council, ASTRA (The Alliance for Science and Technology Research in America), the Council on Competitiveness, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its Coalition for the Future of Manufacturing.

One of the members of the Majority on the Rules Committee said that we should be taking guidance from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) as we consider this bill. Well, I did, and they said we need to fund ATP. But apparently the Rules Committee wasn't listening to NAM when they prevented me from offering my amendment.

I am going to support the underlying bill, because it is not objectionable. But I am disappointed that we are missing this opportunity to deal comprehensively with the long-festering problems of the U.S. manufacturing base.

Outside experts have told us that the future of American manufacturing lies in our ability to promote risk taking. We should be doing a little risk taking ourselves here today and investing in the innovation that will be needed to preserve the future of American manufacturing. Unfortunately, because the Bush Administration told the committee Republicans in negotiations that did not involve committee Democrats that the President would not sign the bill if it did anything bold, today we will be approving a bill that is not all that it could be.

Mr. Speaker, one feature industry loves about the energy bill this body passed again Tuesday is a provision that would repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act, which helps States regulate large multi-state electricity companies.

Some people say that we do not need PUHCA anymore, that its time has passed.

But exemptions from PUHCA are what enabled the actions we heard from Enron and other energy traders in recently released tapes. Here is how they described what they were doing when allowed to operate without

Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my steadfast support for the DeFazio/Turner Amendment, which will allow the Transportation Security Administration to properly staff security operations at airports this summer.

Airline industry experts expect this summer to be the busiest travel period in the last four years. 65 million passengers are projected to travel through U.S. airports each month--a 12 percent increase over last year. Instead of giving TSA the flexibility necessary to accommodate this growth, Congress has imposed a cap on the number of security screeners TSA can deploy. This restriction threatens to delay passengers and compromise security.

As thousands of travelers already know, too few screeners means delays for airport passengers, a problem that will only worsen during the busy summer travel season. In traveling through Mineta San Jose International Airport each week, I regularly witness hour-long waits at both passenger and baggage screening lanes that are understaffed due to GSA personnel shortages. In fact, at San Jose Airport, TSA is currently 60 full time employees below the authorized FTE level of 356. And in a disturbing development, TSA reduced the authorized level this year from 423 to 356--making authorized staffing levels more commensurate with actual staffing levels, but more disproportionate with proper staffing levels. San Jose Airport officials assert that 500 FTEs would more accurately reflect the security needs at the airport.

Airports are not just transportation gateways--they also facilitate economic growth. As this Nation recovers from a devastating recession, the Federal cap limiting TSA staff levels must not threaten our Nation's mobility and economic growth. Let's untie the hand behind TSA's back so it can fight the war on terrorism without undue delay to American travelers or restraints on regional economic growth. I urge my colleagues to support the DeFazio Turner Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4060--the Health, Safety, and Security of Peace Corps Volunteers Act of 2004.

This important measure amends the Peace Corps Act to establish the Office of the Ombudsman of the Peace Corps. This office will have the important role of addressing complaints or concerns regarding services or support provided by the Peace Corps to its Volunteers. The measure also establishes the Office of Safety and Security of the Peace Corps, which as the title of the section implies, will be responsible for safety and security activities of the Peace Corps.

The Peace Corps' mission of compassion, skill-sharing and diplomacy is more important today than ever before to our global village. As many parts of the world become an increasingly dangerous place to carry out this mission, we must do all we can to provide safety and security for our Volunteers.

Since 1961, Peace Corps Volunteers have strengthened the ties of friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Some one hundred and seventy thousand volunteers have served in 137 countries over the past 43 years to make an impact on this world. We owe it to these Volunteers to create avenues for their concerns to be heard.

I am proud to say that as a young man, I served as a Volunteer in the Republic of El Salvador, building schools and health clinics, learning the language, and developing an enduring bond with the people, culture, and language. The experience instilled in me a profound connection to that country, and a dedication to improving international relations around the world.

Over the past 43 years, the Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to progress, opportunity, and development at the grass-roots level in the developing world.

Mr. Speaker, the Peace Corps has been a part of my life for almost forty years. I have served as a Volunteer, I have supported important Peace Corps legislation and today I rise in support of the Health, Safety, and Security of Peace Corps Volunteers Act of 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and contributions of Mr. Robert Masahiro Yoshikawa who recently passed away. He was a pillar of the community and a personal friend of mine. Mr. Yoshikawa made an immeasurable impact on all those around him through his career, his volunteer work, and his devotion to family. His tireless efforts improved the lives of countless people in his community.

I met Robert Yoshikawa many years ago when we were both students at San Jose

State University. From that moment on he continually amazed me with his unwavering selflessness and his extraordinary dedication to the community. Throughout his life, he consistently put others before himself through volunteering and his active involvement with his church, his family activities, and his neighborhood.

For those who are unfamiliar with Mr. Yoshikawa's life, I would like to take a moment to highlight some of his extraordinary contributions. In addition to serving as President of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, Bob served on the board of directors of both the SJBC and Fuji Towers and played an integral part on many committees. Mr. Yoshikawa was also a past chairman of church ministerial affairs and Obon committees, as well as a charter member and current president of Young Japanese Adults. In 2002, Robert was presented with the Volunteer Recognition Award by the Junior League of San Jose.

In addition to his extensive volunteer work, Mr. Yoshikawa was a wonderful husband to his wife Phyllis and father to his sons, Mark and Scott. He served as an ideal role model for his sons, teaching them right from wrong, imparting to them a spirit of service, and making time to involve himself in their lives and activities. He could often be seen videotaping his sons' football games or driving them to various Boy Scouts, sporting or church activities in his Chevy Suburban. He would constantly guide his sons with sage advice from his experience and the experiences of his own father. He was a man of strong conviction, who stood behind his decisions without wavering.

Robert Yoshikawa, a second generation American, was born in Newcastle, California in 1940. Upon graduating from high school, he attended Sierra Junior College before matriculating on to San Jose State where he received a degree in mechanical engineering and met his future wife, Phyllis Osaki. The couple first lived in an apartment in Sunnyvale, but spent the past 37 years in the house in San Jose that they watched being built. It was there they raised their two boys. Robert worked at Lockheed Martin until his retirement in 2003. At Lockheed, Robert's robust engineering skills and attention to detail were instrumental in the success of several important projects. He was praised for being accurate and efficient, and his remarkable patience and experience made him a valuable mentor to the younger engineers at Lockheed.

Upon retiring from his job at Lockheed Martin after 40 years, Mr. Yoshikawa embarked on yet another chapter in his full life. Though he and Phyllis had already traveled the globe, he had even more trips planned and was enjoying his return to improving his golf game with other retired friends. Always wanting to be useful, he also agreed to volunteer at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose as just one more in his myriad of community services. It was on March 24, while volunteering at the museum, that Mr. Yoshikawa died of a heart attack. Since he was in apparent excellent health, his passing came as quite a shock to all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of a friend and a role model. I knew Robert for 40 years and he was as inspirational to me the last time I saw him, as he was when we first met. I know that the people of the Bay Area appreciate everything that this wonderful man has done for them and I feel privileged for having known him.

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

H.R. 2523 is a bill to designate the U.S. courthouse located at 125 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia, as the Tomochichi United States Courthouse. The bill was introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns).

In 1650, Chief Tomochichi was born in the small village of Coweta along the Chattahoochee River to the Creek Indian tribe. While he was the chief of the Yamacraw Indians he became a friend of James Oglethorpe, the English settler and leader of the settlers of the fledgling colony in Georgia. He supported Oglethorpe's plan for a new English colony in Georgia to be called Savannah.

Tomochichi was a great warrior, possessing both good judgment and wisdom. As repayment for his sound advice and trusted friendship, Oglethorpe took Tomochichi, his wife, his nephew. And other Indian chiefs to England for 4 months. When Tomochichi died in 1736, Oglethorpe was one of his pallbearers. He is buried in Wright Square, the site of the courthouse to be named in his honor. Tomochichi's actions helped ensure the successful settlement of Georgia and earned him a place in Georgian history. His hospitality is legendary even today. It is most fitting his contributions to American history are honored by this designation.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this event needs little introduction. 2004 marks the 37th anniversary of the D.C. Special Olympics. The torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics which take place at Gallaudet University in the District of Columbia. Each year approximately 2,500 Special Olympians compete in over a dozen events and more than 1 million children and adults with special needs participate in Special Olympic worldwide programs. The event is supported by literally thousands of volunteers from the District and the region.

The goal of the games is to help bring mentally challenged individuals into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted and respected. Confidence and self-esteem are the building blocks for these Olympic games. I enthusiastically support this resolution and the very worthwhile endeavor of the Special Olympics. I urge support for H. Con. Res. 389.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Before I begin, I would like to recognize the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) former chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, or better known as CAPAC, for his leadership, as well as the current vice chair of the caucus, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

As chair of CAPAC, I am proud to stand here to honor the accomplishments and diversity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. In 1978, my good friend Norman Mineta and Representative Frank Horton from New York, along with Hawaii's Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, first introduced the first resolution establishing Asian Pacific American Heritage Week to recognize the ongoing contributions to our Nation of the API population.

The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important anniversaries, the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, the month of May was designated as Asian Pacific Heritage Month. I take great pride to see the celebration of our community expand from 10 days to a month.

For centuries, America has been enriched by our diverse and rapidly growing API communities and by the contributions that Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and Samoans have made in their ancestral homelands. The first API settlement in this country dates to 1763, when Filipinos escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established a community near New Orleans. Chinese and Japanese immigrants, likewise, started communities in Hawaii and California, where they sought labor and agricultural opportunities.

From the time of these settlements, APIs have experienced dual currents of discrimination and assimilation. In the difficult times, APIs were singled out for persecution by such acts as the Exclusion Laws of 1882 and 1924, and the Alien Land Act of 1913, which prohibited API property ownership.

This year, 2004, marks the 62nd-year anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, pursuant to which 120,000 Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens were incarcerated in internment camps during World War II. Many of these families lost their property and possessions during the several years they were jailed behind barbed wires.

In order to learn the important lessons from our own history, I sponsored House Resolution 56, which sets aside a ``Day of Remembrance'' in memory of the relocation and internment policies of World War II. This year, House Resolution 56 was passed due to the support from my fellow colleagues here in Congress and support from community groups throughout the country.

I realize we need to learn from our own history. It is more important than ever to speak up against unjust policies. Also it is more important than ever to educate Americans of the Japanese American experience during World War II, as well as the experience of other groups, like Japanese Latin Americans and certain German and Italian Americans. We must remember that the decision to issue the order was shaped by racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.

At the newly opened Manzanar National Historic Site Interpretive Center at the Manzanar War Relocation Center, we have the opportunity to explore our past and reflect. Additionally, these past few days, the Enemy Alien Files Consortium has set up their exhibit in the Rayburn foyer. This traveling exhibition, featuring photographs, objects, documents, artifacts, art forms and oral history excerpts examines the little-known history of Italian, German, and Japanese immigrants in the U.S. and from Latin

America who were classified as enemy aliens during World War II.

Over 31,000 of these enemy aliens were apprehended, detained, and thousands interned based on suspicion and the potential dangerousness they posed to the U.S. national security. The internees were held without charges for indefinite duration and without trial. These internees, including many American-born children and spouses, languished in Army and Department of Justice camps throughout the USA.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda Sanchez) to speak to this particular item.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the gentlewoman, in spite of the growth of the Asian American communities, rather than feel threatened, the gentlewoman embraces them; and I think that is why the gentlewoman has been such a welcomed leader for political leadership in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Guam for raising the profile of Guamanians in the history and the patriotism of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), the Congresswoman from Oakland.

I thank the gentlewoman from California, and I appreciate her sharing the work that the community-based organizations are doing for the community in order for the members of the community to be able to access and be full participants in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), another great leader.

I thank the gentlewoman from California. Let me also comment and thank her for her leadership in helping this country understand how diverse and how colorful this country is.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the charismatic gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mahalo. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) to round out the great State of Hawaii.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), and he makes Hawaiians very proud; and we are privileged to have him as one of our members of CAPAC, and I always look toward him to understand how to deliver a speech eloquently.

Mr. Speaker, I was hoping he would say that.

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to extend my gratitude to the patriotic men and women serving our country and the

military including the 60,813 Asian American and Pacific Islanders serving on active duty in the U.S. armed services as well as the 20,066 in the Reserves and National Guard. I also commend the 351,000 API veterans. Last week I had the privilege to meet a young soldier, Army Specialist Bermanis of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. He was presented with the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart for Meritorious Conduct in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On July 16, 2003, the award presentation ceremony took place bedside at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he was convalescing from grave injuries. Specialist Bermanis and a fellow soldier were on guard duty in southern Baghdad when they sustained an attack by rocket-propelled grenades on June 10, 2003. His fellow soldier died instantly, and Specialist Bermanis lost both his legs and his left hand.

Specialist Bermanis hails from Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Officials from the Federated States of Micronesia and the U.S. Government had visited him at Walter Reed and praised him for his courage and exemplary service. A senior U.S. official commended Specialist Bermanis's service as representative of the Federated States of Micronesia citizens' commitment to the security of the United States and Pacific region.

Mr. Speaker, this month also affords us time to reflect on the various social needs that exist in the API community. Today there are 12.8 million APIs, which represents 4.5 percent of the U.S. population. Between 1990 and 2000, the community grew nationally by 72 percent.

APIs are one of the fastest growing populations in the country. The API community in this country encompasses 49 ethnicities speaking over 100 languages and dialects. The population enriches our culture linguistically through a range of languages, such as Japanese, Chinese, Samoan, Thai, Vietnamese, Hmong, Cambodian, Micronesian, and Korean.

Our linguistic diversity has contributed greatly to American society. It has allowed us to exercise international leadership economically and politically. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, slightly less than half of the 7 million API who speak a language other than English at home report that they speak English ``very well.'' We need to better address the educational and health care needs of all limited-English proficiency students, children, and adults.

Additionally, data is a cross-cutting issue. Lack of data impacts our understanding of the health problems in our communities as well as the problem of access and quality. Adequate data collection continues to be a challenge for the API community. Although we are often mistaken to be a homogenous group, our community is extremely diverse in ethnicities and languages. Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it difficult to understand the unique problems faced by the individual ethnicities.

This year as chair of CAPAC, I have looked into these and other critical issues within the API community. Through our CAPAC task forces, we have targeted such goals as eliminating racial ethnic health disparities, enacting comprehensive immigration reform, fighting to create jobs, and providing educational opportunities for the underserved.

CAPAC has had the privilege to work with our colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Native American Caucus to advance dialogue on these important issues.

I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the vice chairman of CAPAC, a Member of the Congress for many years, a leader and a person who represents American Samoa.

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would like to comment on the White House initiative that was initiated by the past administration of President Clinton. It is now in its fifth year, and the initiative suffers from neglect by the current administration.

Executive Order 13216 authorizing the initiative and its corresponding Advisory Commission expired on June 7, 2003; and since that time, both the initiative and the commission have laid dormant.

The commission is mandated to develop, monitor, and coordinate Federal efforts to improve API participation in government programs, foster research and data collection for API populations and sub- populations, and increase public and private sector involvement in improving the health and well-being of the API community.

API citizens deserve the coordination of services that the commission can facilitate.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to recognize also among other names, the gentleman from California (Mr. Matsui), a member of the Democratic leadership, and Governor Locke, the first API elected as a Governor in the lower 48 States.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by indicating that in this country, we have participated in the functioning of this country in every aspect of society, having athletes, both professional and amateur; we have had Nobel Prize winners; teachers and scholars. We are thankful for this time to share information regarding the Asian Pacific Islanders in this great country and the islands that our Members come from.

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

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 144, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the time of the gentlewoman of the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Pat Tillman, a San Jose native who was killed in action last week in Afghanistan.

At a time when many of us in this country talk about sacrifice, about devotion, about courage, we can look to Pat Tillman as a man who lived those ideals. The consummate student athlete, Pat excelled in the classroom and on the gridiron at Leland High School in San Jose. He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University while earning the honor of Pac-10 defensive Player of the Year of 1997. He was a loyal friend, a dutiful son, and a devoted brother.

By now, many of my colleagues have heard about Pat's selfless decision to join the Army Rangers, a decision that required him to turn his back on a multi-million dollar contract offer to continue playing professional football for the Arizona Cardinals.

Pat wanted to serve his country. He wanted to be a direct part of our national response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

In a society that reveres athletes as heroes, that hypes sporting events as mythic battles between warring foes, Pat Tillman wanted to serve his country as a soldier.

His enlistment in May of 2002 drew media attention, but Pat very deliberately avoided the publicity that followed his decision. For him, joining the Rangers was a matter of duty and honor, not an opportunity to generate fanfare for himself.

Instead of seeking special recognition for his own actions, Pat shifted attention to the men and women serving in the armed forces. Alongside his brother Kevin, Pat served in Afghanistan where Coalition forces continue to search for Osama bin Laden.

Last Thursday, near a village approximately 25 miles southwest of a U.S. military base, Pat was killed in a firefight when his unit came under attack.

Pat Tillman has made the ultimate sacrifice. The selflessness and patriotism he displayed in his short life will serve as a model to all Americans. For the people of San Jose, he is a native son lost in the field of battle. For Americans across the country, he represents the ideals of duty, honor, and courage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the Members of the House to join us in recognizing past instances of genocide and reaffirming our Nation's commitment to never again allow the perpetration of such atrocities anywhere on this earth. House Resolution 193 appropriately reaffirms America's obligation to international genocide conventions, and underscores the importance of recognizing past crimes against humanity, including the Holocaust and the Armenian, Cambodian, and Rwandan genocides.

We all know that silence in the face of genocide only encourages those who would commit such atrocities in the future. Israel Charney, the noted genocide and Holocaust scholar, has written extensively about the psychology of genocide denial. He has explained to the world what we should all know from history: to deny genocide is to celebrate the mass murder and to endorse the doctrine of corrupt power that brought about the destruction in the first place. To erase agonizing memories of genocide only mocks the sensibilities of the victims and their descendents--in essence, once again, victimize the victims.

For this reason, America must recognize the Turkish massacre and displacement of Armenians as an act of genocide. The House Judiciary Committee, upon its unanimous approval of the Genocide Resolution, described the Armenian Genocide in the following terms:

Beginning in 1915, the Islamic Turkish state of the Ottoman

Empire sought to end the collective existence of the

Christian Armenian population. From 1915 through 1918, during

World War 1, the Ottoman Empire subjected the Armenian people

to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre,

and starvation. The atrocities were renewed between 1920 and

1923. It is estimated that one and a half million Armenians

were killed out of over two million Armenians who had lived

in the Ottoman Empire. It should be noted that these

activities ceased with the institution of the new Republic of

Turkey in October, 1923.

U.S. recognition of the Armenian genocide is long past due. By failing to admit and recognize atrocities that clearly took place we undermine our Nation's credibility and commitment to combat genocide. On April 24, President Bush issued his annual message in remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide--only he failed to use the word ``genocide.'' In failing to refer to the Armenian Genocide accurately, he has turned his back on his own campaign pledge and on 190 Members of Congress who want the Armenian Genocide recognized.

It is not enough to say ``never again.'' We must take concrete steps to give it meaning and to bolster our own resolve. Passing House Resolution 193 is a small but important step in this ongoing effort to thwart those who would commit genocide. It is the least we can do for the millions who have been killed in Turkey, Germany, Rwanda, and Cambodia. Understanding the lessons of these tragedies will help prevent future crimes against humanity.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to honor the victims of genocide, and to urge my colleagues to always remain cognizant of the pledge our Nation has made to prevent future acts of genocide.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by commending the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Ranking Member Oberstar), as well as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), for their hard work, superb leadership, and commitment to bipartisan and sound transportation policy.

There is a great deal in this legislation for which to be proud. The bill protects the core transportation programs while creating new programs to fund projects of regional and national significance and to improve national corridors.

The bill also bolsters its requirements, recognizing that it is not feasible simply to build more highways. However, there is one area in which this bill is grossly deficient and that is funding. Let there be no mistake, the $275 billion bill before us today is not the committee's first choice. Rather, the committee first marked up a $375 billion bill, a level commensurate with the U.S. Department of Transportation's own estimation for the maintenance and improvement of our Nation's highways, bridges, and transit systems.

Unfortunately, that $375 billion bill has been shelved in response to the President's threat to veto any properly funded surface transportation bill.

Remembering how he so artfully pushed through sweeping tax cuts for the wealthy, I am appalled that he now practices a misguided form of fiscal discipline that undermines State and local efforts to enhance transportation infrastructure and that also thwarts job creation.

The Department of Transportation has determined for every $1 billion invested in Federal highway and transit spending, 47,500 jobs are created or sustained. It is daunting, then, to consider the impact that the $100 billion cut in TEA LU will have on job creation in the U.S. For all its promises, this legislation represents a lost opportunity to reignite the slow job growth that plagues our Nation.

I hope that this legislation moves forward, that we can achieve the Senate passed level of $318 billion, a level that would create 1.8 million more jobs and $235 billion more economic activity than the level imposed upon us by the Bush administration today.

I would like to thank the chairman and ranking members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for their unwavering dedication to sound transportation policy.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 105, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''