Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I intend to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2473 because it carelessly threatens the safety of American consumers. In a recent hearing before the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, of which I am a member, we heard from numerous individuals including William Hubbard, the Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning with the Food and Drug Administration. Commissioner Hubbard testified that since late 1996, the FDA has initiated 73 counterfeit drug cases that have netted in 44 arrests and 27 convictions. He further testified that they have seen an increase in drug counterfeiting activity targeting high volume, high cost drugs primarily those used for treating cancer and AIDS patients.

One case, cited by Florida's Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, revealed a 2001 investigation that discovered South Florida criminals had counterfeited Procrit, a drug used to boost the immune systems of cancer and HIV/AIDS patients. The criminals re-labeled approximately 110,000 bottles of low strength Epogen to make the bottles appear to contain high strength Procrit, a drug 20 times the strength of the Epogen in the bottles. The criminals resold the relabeled drugs into the wholesale market with forged pedigree papers, passing the drugs through four states. Investigators located 800 boxes of the counterfeit Procrit at a large Texas wholesaler, which had unknowingly purchased the counterfeit Procrit. In addition, investigators found some of the product in Kentucky. In all, investigators recovered less than 10% of the counterfeit Procrit.

In conclusion, ``the imported drugs arriving through the mail, through private express couriers, or by passengers arriving at ports of entry are often unapproved new drugs that may not be subject to any reliable regulatory oversight. FDA cannot assure the safety of drugs purchased from such sources,'' stated Commissioner Hubbard. It is for these reasons that I can not support such legislation that we have no way of knowing of its content or origin. I am firmly committed to continuing efforts to reduce the out-of-pocket costs for pharmaceuticals for all Americans but H.R. 2473 and drug reimportation without any safety measures is the wrong approach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Sandy Draggoo of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) as she has recently received the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award. Ms. Draggoo has dedicated nearly thirty years to the Capital Area Transportation Authority and is responsible for the successful enterprise it is today.

In 1974, Sandy Draggoo's career with CATA began while the authority was in its infancy. Just two years after its inception, Sandy started as the secretary to the Executive Director. She was soon promoted to Personnel Manager in 1976, and after nine successful years succeeded her former boss as Executive Director in 1984. Under Ms. Draggoo's leadership, CATA has changed markedly in the last eighteen years. Annually, CATA provides over 8.7 million rides, more than twice the number it provided just five years ago, and almost twelvefold the roughly 730,000 rides the authority provided in 1974. This dramatic increase in ridership is a testament to Sandy's dedication and hard work and earned CATA the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Transit System Award in 1991.

In 1997, CATA announced the opening of the CATA Transportation Center, an intermodal passenger transfer center that had been a project of the authority since the mid 1980's. Sandy's leadership was paramount in overcoming the many hurdles necessary to bring this project to fruition. More recently, Sandy secured a contract with Michigan State University to assume operation of their bus system and consequently increased ridership from 850,000 to nearly 3 million. Ms. Draggoo brought extended CATA routes to Michigan State University students living in new off campus communities, averting severe congestion that worried local residents and municipal leaders.

Mr. Speaker, in her tenure, Sandy Draggoo has transformed the Capital Area Transportation Authority from a startup public transportation system into one of the nation's most premier. Her hard work and determination have eared her the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Draggoo for the receipt of this award and for her leadership and commitment to my community.

Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of July 25, 2003, the House

had a procedural vote on H.R. 2859, the FY 2003 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. On House rollcall vote No. 448, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the House had a vote on an amendment sponsored by Representative Rush to the FY 2004 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill. On House rollcall vote No. 421, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Supervisory Special Agent Thomas M. Bourgeois for his nearly twenty-two years of service to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For the past two decades, SSA Bourgeois has selflessly put his own well-being in jeopardy to serve and protect the American people.

Thomas M. Bourgeois reported for duty on October 5, 1981 and was first assigned to the Milwaukee Division of the FBI. He worked in both the Milwaukee and Myrtle Beach offices investigating fugitives, bank robbery, and kidnaping cases before being transferred to the Chicago Division to investigate narcotics and organized crime. During his tenure in Chicago, Tom was responsible for the apprehension of some of America's most dangerous criminals, including the Calabrese Street crew, Anthony Centracchio, and John Serpico. From 1986 until 1997, Tom served as a member of Chicago Division's enhanced SWAT Team. While serving on the SWAT Team, Tom was deployed on several assignments, including the Unibomber case, Hurricane Marilyn in the Virgin Islands, and the Republican National Convention in 1996.

SSA Thomas M. Bourgeois is the recipient of numerous honors for his work at the FBI. He received letters of commendation from FBI director William Webster in May of 1982 and again in March of 1986. Mr. Bourgeois also received the Chicago Crime Commission's Star of Distinction Award in both 2001 and 2003 for his role in the Anthony Centracchio investigation and for his role in thwarting a scheme by Cicero, Illinois public officials to defraud the town of nearly $13 million.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my best personal regards to SSA Thomas M. Bourgeois on his recent retirement from the FBI and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him on behalf of the American people for his service and dedication to our collective security.

Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the House had a procedural vote on the FY 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. On House rollcall vote No. 424, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Walter B. Jaehnig on the occasion of his 90th birthday celebration.

Walter B. Jaehnig is a remarkable man whose career in journalism spanned more than 36 years, most of them at The Daily News in Greenville, Michigan. During those years, he impacted his community and those with whom he worked in thousands of ways.

From 1943 until 1979, Wallie worked at The Daily News, doing everything from working as a linotype operator those first years, to writing sports beginning in 1944, and serving most of that time as managing editor and sports editor. Even after retirement, he continued as a sports writer for the newspaper.

Wallie's devotion to his community and the young people there is legendary. It was his joy in school sports that made The Daily News an integral part of the high school sports scene and boosted the popularity of those sports throughout the Greenville area.

Boys or girls sports, from baseball to basketball to football to track and more--Wallie was attending, watching, encouraging, analyzing and reporting the exploits of the area's young athletes. His career- long collection of game score books chronicled his devotion to the ups and downs of those athletes and the men and women who coached them.

During his years at the newspaper, Wallie also mentored untold numbers of young journalists, teaching them the basics of their trade

and introducing them to the real world of community journalism. Greenville and Montcalm County, they soon learned from Wallie, was a place where the newspaper cared deeply for its mission and the people and community it served. Wallie exemplified that attitude of service to the people who were the lifeblood of his career. Today his proteges are scattered throughout the United States, many of them following in Wallie's footsteps as community journalists with a heart for the people they serve.

Throughout his career and still today, it has been Wallie's family who were first in his life. His beloved wife, Adele B. Jaehnig, whom he married in 1937, and their three children, Faith, Walter Jr. and Candace were the center of his life. After Adele's death in 1990, Wallie continued to center his life around his children and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. On Sunday, July 27, 2003, his family and friends will gather to celebrate nine decades of a life that has been a joy to all who know and have known Wallie.

Mr. Speaker, we wish to extend congratulations to Walter B. Jaehnig on the occasion of his 90th birthday. We are honored to recognize his many accomplishments and ask that our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives join in recognizing his very worthy achievements and wishing him a very happy 90th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel James E. (Jim) Rogers for his brave and unselfish service as Commander of the Division Support Command of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. Jim's great work in the 101st Airborne during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom helped to lift the dark threat that terrorist supporting regimes posed to the citizens of the United States and the world.

Through Jim's work and leadership, and that of thousands of other U.S. soldiers, the United States and the Coalition of the Willing brought liberty to the oppressed and brutalized people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Without a doubt, the world can rest easier knowing that these brutal regimes have been removed from power. The swift and decisive removal of the Iraqi regime and the Taliban could not have been accomplished without Jim and the fine men and women of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles.

Jim was commissioned in the ordnance corps in June of 1979 upon his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy. His military education also includes the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advance courses, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Jim also holds a Masters Degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan.

Over the past 24 years, Colonel Rogers has served the army in a number of posts and locations around the world. Jim's service has taken him to assignments with the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas; the 782nd Maintenance Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Executive Officer for Armored Systems Modernization in Warren, Michigan; the 801st Main Support Battalion at Fort Campbell, KY; the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, Korea; the 82nd Forward Support Battalion at Fort Bragg; and the U.S. Army Total Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia. Jim currently serves as the Division Support Commander for the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell.

Jim's fine service to his country has seen him recognized with many awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe, and the Order of St. Michael.

Jim has repeatedly stood for the defense of this nation, her citizens and their freedom. His devotion and commitment to the defense of freedom and liberty around the world epitomizes the words Soldier, Patriot, and American. Jim is a role model for his four children, and a devoted husband to his wife Reba.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the gratitude of myself and the entire nation to Colonel Rogers for his service to the United States and his hard work in defense of freedom and liberty around the world. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jim's efforts and wishing him well in his new assignment at CENTCOM in Tampa, Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry for their courageous efforts in the Civil War that aided in the preservation of the Union, especially at Fredericksburg, Virginia.

In December of 1862, during the battle of Fredericksburg, the Union faced fierce opposition on the Rappahannock River and was forced to send men across the river to secure the Union's position. Members of the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry from Ingham County were among the daring men who risked their lives that cold December day. Under heavy fire, the Seventh Infantry paddled across the river and successfully flushed Confederate riflemen from their shelter. Their bravery is forever remembered in Michigan's state anthem, ``My Michigan, My Michigan.''

More than 140 years later, on December 11, 2003, the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry is being honored with a monument that is to be placed in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This monument is to remember the bold and daring efforts put forth by the Seventh Infantry throughout the Civil War. Their efforts held this nation together amidst a time of national divide and struggle.

The Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry has earned this place in our nation's history. In such a pivotal moment, the Seventh Infantry demonstrated bravery, determination and patriotism. They made their home state and their nation proud.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the gratitude of myself and the entire nation to the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry for their courage in the battle of Fredericksburg. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their place in history and their part in restoring the Union.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Major James ``Chocks'' Ewald of the Michigan National Guard for his courageous acts of bravery during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Major James Ewald has been serving his country since 1989 when he entered the Air Force. In July of 1998, Major Ewald joined the Michigan Air National Guard and has continued to fly contingency operations all over the world, including Bosnia, Korea, and Iraq. As a recent graduate of the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Major Ewald has significant knowledge and experience in flying.

On April 8, 2003, Major Ewald flew over Baghdad on an intelligence mission for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the mission, Major Ewald's aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile. Miracously, Major Ewald was able to gather important intelligence, continue flying his damaged aircraft while notifying U.S. forces about his position, and prepare for a safe ejection and rescue. The bravery and determination of Major James ``Chocks'' Ewald are to be applauded and commended.

Major Ewald has demonstrated true patriotism and loyalty to America. His service to his country will never be forgotten, and we can all be grateful for the sacrifices Major Ewald has made to protect our precious freedoms.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the gratitude of myself and the entire nation to Major James ``Chocks'' Ewald for his service to this nation.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the heroic acts Major Ewald has performed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. Chairman, I rise reluctantly as well, but in peer review science, being in the middle of it is maybe not the place to effect change. Maybe we should set some parameters up front.

One of the studies here sounds fairly innocent. Research on pandas and their relationship sounds a little funny on its face, but when we look at it, and I can say it no better than a representative from Michigan State University, and I just want to read this, ``Perhaps at no other time in human history have the issues been so crucial as pandemics whose roots are found in animals spread across the globe: SARS, AIDS and monkeypox, to name a few. Dr. Lou's work is exactly the research needed to understand and plan for tomorrow's health issues.''

They are getting into understanding and study of how some of these diseases get transferred from animals to humans. I would argue that is very, very important work, and we ought to invest in it.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, the House will convene on Monday at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour and 12 p.m. for legislative business. We will likely consider several measures under suspension of the rules. A final list of those bills will be sent to Members' offices by the end of the week. We will also consider the fiscal year 2004 agricultural appropriations bill on Monday. Any votes called on these measures will be rolled until 6:30 p.m.

For Tuesday and the balance of the week, we may consider additional legislation under suspension of the rules. We are also expected to consider several bills under a rule including the fiscal year 2004 through 2005 State Department authorization bill; H.R. 2122, the Project BioShield Act of 2003; the fiscal year 2004 Department of Interior appropriations bill; and H.R. 2210, the School Readiness Act of 2003.

Finally, Members should be aware that on Thursday Prime Minister Tony Blair will address a joint session of Congress at 4 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and will be happy to answer any questions he may have.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I would defer to the Committee on Rules, but can assure the gentleman that the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) and his colleagues will work hard to address the concerns Members bring to that committee.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for continuing to yield. We hope to appoint conferees to the bill on Monday and look forward to working fast and furiously on this issue.

In fact, I believe there have already been some informal conversations across the Capitol on this issue. Having said that, we do not intend to create any artificial time lines and, instead, will work as long and as hard as we can to get the best possible project.

Mr. Speaker, it would most likely be after the ag appropriation bill in late afternoon.

Again, Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I would defer to those who are involved in the conference. We are not going to set any artificial time lines. We want to make sure we have the best possible product, and so we will move ahead on Monday with the conferees, and certainly after next week we can reassess where we are time-wise.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia for continuing to yield.

As we understand, there are some differences, and we hope the Senate conferees can quickly realize the sensible approach of the House and allow us to move a conference report before the end of July. Certainly that would be our hope.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that both the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on the Judiciary held markups of the proposed Chilean-Singapore trade agreements this week. And while we have a significant amount of work to do in the next 2 weeks, I am hopeful we can find some time to consider this legislation before August. But, again, we will not set any artificial time lines, although we do hope that can happen.

Mr. Speaker, we will have a 5-day workweek certainly both weeks before the recess.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2003, for morning hour debates.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday next.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Thursday, July 17, 2003, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting the Right Honorable Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.