Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize June Picetti Sheppard, who has been named the City of Sonoma's 2005 Alcaldesa, or Honorary Mayor.

Ms. Sheppard earned this honor from her community for a lifetime of volunteer work. She is a practitioner of the ``little things'' that can make such a difference in someone's day-to-day life. An avid early morning walker, this dynamic 88-year-old picks up newspapers at homes along her route when it is raining and places them on her neighbor's porches, just to help folks out. She is also well known around town for her trademark flower cups, or ``Tussy Mussies,'' that she distributes when the mood strikes her, and the mood strikes often.

Ms. Sheppard has been a long-time volunteer with Friends In Sonoma Helping (FISH), which provides food and clothing for the disadvantaged. She helps gather surplus food from local markets and bakeries for the FISH clients and for community groups such as the Senior Center and Boys and Girls Club.

She also volunteers as a docent with the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, providing tours of vintage homes in the community.

As Alcaldesa, Ms. Sheppard will preside over all ceremonial events in the town, from parades to grand openings to meetings. Since 1975, the City of Sonoma has bestowed the honor of Alcalde/Alcaldesa on a local resident or couple who demonstrates outstanding community service.

Mr. Speaker, June Picetti Sheppard's dedication to her community follows this tradition and it is therefore appropriate that we recognize her at this time as the 2005 Alcaldesa for the City of Sonoma.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Kind, Mr. Putnam and all the Members of the Congressional Sportsman's Caucus received tragic news that Brad Rowse, Manager of Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation's (CSF) State Caucus program and the new National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses died of an aneurysm on Monday, December 27, 2004. He was 26 years old.

Brad was a dedicated and highly respected member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation joining the organization two years ago to help lead the early efforts to expand the sportsmen's caucus model to state legislatures. A native of upstate New York, Brad grew up hunting and fishing on his family's farm where he grew a passionate fondness for the outdoors. He used his undergraduate work at Cornell University and his Masters from SUNY Syracuse to focus on natural resource policy with the goal of adapting, improving and creating programs and policies to improve our fish and wildlife resources. Before coming to the CSF, he interned with The Wildlife Society and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Washington, DC.

The unique combination of skills that Brad had acquired served him well during his time with the CSF. As the CSF State Caucus Manager, he built the program from its early beginnings to the national network of state caucuses that was launched on December 5, 2004. Brad took primary responsibility for monitoring sportsmen's issues at the state level and for building relations with state legislators and sportsmen's groups to create a unified voice for sportsmen. Through Brad's leadership and dedication there are now 21 state sportsmen's caucuses and a new National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses to support their growth and success.

America's sportsmen and women will miss his leadership and commitment to protecting our natural resources and hunting and fishing heritage.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I am both saddened and honored to rise today in memory of our friend Bob Matsui. We can barely glimpse a man's greatness in a single floor statement, but I will try.

American heroes have customarily run toward towering figures of many words, but today, our Chamber and our Nation honors a man whose contribution was not the quantity and volume of words but, rather, the quality and the effectiveness of both his spirit and his skill.

Many will speak from the floor tonight of the landmark, legislative achievements of this extraordinary man. Many more will honor his lifetime of legislative victories and how they directly improved the lives of millions of Americans spanning several generations. Single mothers with infants. Civil rights. Our Nation's most vulnerable seniors. Bob provided more than a voice for those who could not speak for themselves. He provided victory. He provided results. He won monumental battles, not by being the loudest but by being the smartest and the most informed person in the debate.

The Greeks have told us that death is hardest on those it leaves behind. This House has lost a rare statesman. Doris, Brian, Amy and Anna have lost a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. I have lost a mentor and my best friend in this Congress, and our Nation has lost a tireless, compassionate and brilliant leader. To the Members I say, in the year that lies ahead of us, let us make sure that this Chamber is worthy of his grace and his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Arthur Libertucci. On January 3, 2005 Mr. Libertucci will retire from his post as Administrator of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, capping a long and distinguished career of public service.

Mr. Libertucci's service has spanned four decades. He joined the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms in 1972 as an inspector in New York City. Over the years he has served in a number of positions at ATF headquarters and in field offices throughout the country.

Mr. Speaker, after working his way through the ranks of the ATF, Mr. Libertucci became a federal executive in 1989. He has held many executive positions in the ATF from Associate Director for Compliance Operations to Assistant Director for the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco.

Following the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and the reorganization of the ATF, Mr. Libertucci was charged with establishing a new bureau to regulate the alcohol and tobacco industries. Mr. Libertucci's experience and commitment to public service made him the clear choice to lead the new Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of representing some of America's premier wine regions and consequently, I have had the pleasure of working very closely with Mr. Libertucci over the years. He is a consummate professional who has gone to great lengths to ensure that the TTB is a partner of the American wine industry and not just a regulator. Under Mr. Libertucci's leadership, the TTB has played a significant role in fostering the growth and economic vitality of the domestic wine industry.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we recognize Mr. Libertucci for his service to our country and his commitment to public service. His efforts in the organization of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau will have a lasting impact on the United States Government. I thank Mr. Libertucci for his service and I wish him well in his new endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Phillip G. West, USMC, who was killed in action in Iraq November 19, 2004. Corporal West, a 19-year-old resident of Napa County, CA, answered his country's call and paid the ultimate price.

Corporal West served as a rifleman with the 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was on patrol in Fallujah when he was fatally wounded by an explosive device.

Corporal West was born and raised in Napa County. He was a lifeguard at the American Canyon Aquatics Center and taught many local youngsters to swim. He also played football for the Vintage High School Crushers in Napa.

Corporal West loved his country and he enlisted in the Marines immediately upon graduation from Vintage High in 2003. He was drawn to the Corps because, to him, it was ``the best'' and he wanted to be part of the best.

Corporal West was deployed to Iraq's Al Anbar Province in June. As a rifleman, he was often in combat situations, either on safety patrol or in directly confronting insurgents. He excelled at his job, was highly regarded by his unit and received a commendation from the Marine Corps for superior performance.

Corporal West died serving the country he loved, with comrades he loved and with the love of his family in his heart. Our nation is humbled and grateful for his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize Lance Corporal Phillip G. West, USMC, who gave his life in service to his country.

Mr. Speaker, we rise today to pay tribute to the Queen of Peace Catholic Church as this organization celebrates fifty years of service.

The Queen of Peace Parish was established in 1954 and has served the people of Lake County since its dedication on November 29, 1954. The parish includes the city of Clearlake and the communities of Lower Lake and Clearlake Oaks. In 1995 the community of Lucerne became part of the parish.

The parish has committed itself to serving members of the community and has established several organizations that provide charitable works for the City of Clearlake and Lake County. The contributions from parishioners and revenue from the Thrift Store in Lower Lake have provided emergency assistance, food and shelter to the needy.

Father Louis has served as pastor of the Queen of Peace Church since 1997 and has provided dedicated leadership to the parish community.

Mr. Speaker, the Queen of Peace Catholic Church represents the commitment of promoting a strong community. Quite simply, the Queen of Peace Catholic Church has been a legacy to Lake County; it is most appropriate that we honor the fifty years of service of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Arsenio P. ``Sam'' Sanchez for his outstanding service on the City Council of Clearlake, California. His outstanding leadership and commitment has significantly benefited the people of Clearlake and he will be sorely missed upon his retirement.

Mr. Sanchez has dedicated 18 years and 10 months of his life to serving on the City Council. He has achieved the status of the longest tenured council member in the city's history. In 1984 he was first elected and served until 1990 and because of his efforts on behalf of the community he was again elected in 1992 and served until 2004. During this time he has served as Mayor for three terms and also as Vice Mayor for three terms.

Mr. Sanchez's expertise is matched only by his dedication to improving his community and his tremendous work ethic. He has served as a longstanding member on the Lake County Coordinated Resource Management Committee and on the Area Planning Council (APC). He has shown his devotion as a longstanding member of the Lake Transit Authority Board of directors. In appreciation for all of his contributions over the years, a new transit building in Lower Lake will be named after him. The building will be known officially as ``The Lamkin-Sanchez Transit Operations Center.''

While serving our community for numerous years on the City Council, Arsenio has also served in Army Intelligence. He committed over 25 years of his life to Army Intelligence before retiring.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, because of the many contributions he has made to the city of Clearlake, it is proper for us to honor Arsenio P. ``Sam'' Sanchez as he retires from the City Council and extend our very best wishes to him in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize James L. McMurray, who is retiring from the City Council of Clearlake, California. James's outstanding contributions and dedication to our community are truly appreciated.

James has dedicated 8 years of his life to service on the City Council and has served two consecutive 4-year terms beginning in 1996. He has had the privilege of serving as Mayor for three terms and as Vice Mayor for two terms.

James has made many contributions to the community through his service on the City Council. He has strengthened the City's finances and he has put an end to the ongoing usage of dangerous buildings all over the city. His most passionate issue was Measure P, which ensured the repair of many California schools in need. These outstanding accomplishments are just a few of his many achievements.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, James L. McMurray set the standard of hard work that should be followed in all communities. His commitment to our community has been shown time and time again. For these reasons and countless others, it is most appropriate that we honor him at the time of his retirement and extend our best wishes to him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Times-Standard, a newspaper that has dependably served the Humboldt County, California area since 1854. The only regional daily newspaper, the Times-Standard is a reliable source of national, State and local news for thousands of citizens of the North Coast of California.

First published in September, 1854, the Humboldt Times was the sole source of news and information for early residents of the community. In April, 1875, the Humboldt Standard began publication, joining the Humboldt Times in promoting the interests of the area. From the beginning, important stories appeared. In 1854, the first railroad in the area was incorporated; a steamer from San Francisco sank with substantial loss of lives in 1860; a month later a tragic massacre of members of the Wiyot Tribe; and in 1917 the heavy cruiser USS Milwaukee, trying to rescue a stranded submarine in thick fog, was beached near Eureka--a story that made international headlines.

Headquartered in Eureka, California, on June 1, 1967 the two newspapers combined to become the Times-Standard and provided improved access to information, community leadership, advertising and entertainment to local residents.

The Times-Standard is an invaluable resource for historians and educators. In the early days of European settlement, people came to northern California from Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland and the British Isles to farm, harvest timber and fish the Pacific Ocean. Workers came from Asia to take part in building and mining, giving a diverse population a role in the growth of the Nation. The newspapers chronicled the impact of this settlement on the native peoples of the area, including the Hupa, Yurok, Tolowa, Karuk, and Wiyot among others.

Under a single owner from 1941 to 1967, the newspaper was acquired by the Brush-Moore Group and was purchased later that year by Thomson Newspapers. In 1996, the Times-Standard became a member of MediaNews Corporation.

The newspaper has been a community champion for major issues facing the region and a leading forum for discussion and debate. It plays a significant role in the progress of the region. The Times-Standard remains committed to the improvement of the community it serves and is an indispensable source of accurate and comprehensive news to the citizens of our State.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize one of California's finest newspapers, the Times-Standard of Eureka, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Humboldt Creamery, which was founded along the banks of the Eel River in Humboldt County, CA. The Humboldt Creamery serves not only the people of northern California, but provides high quality products to our Nation and to Asia and Europe.

Formed as a cooperative, Humboldt Creamery's founding principles included high quality products as well as good service and reliability, which are as important today as they were in 1929. Made up of 65 local dairies, Humboldt Creamery and its member dairies employ over 500 people. It brings $70 million in annual sales to the local economy and has a positive economic impact of $210 million on the local region.

Powdered milk, which traces its origins back to Humboldt County, comprises 50 percent of the Humboldt Creamery's business. Its whole milk powder is used nation wide in confectionery products, supplying companies such as Hershey's, Nestle's and See's Candy.

Humboldt Creamery is the source for natural, pasture-based milk products which are free of synthetic growth hormones. Its instantized non-fat powdered milk is used in sports drinks, pudding, dietary supplements and some pharmaceuticals. The creamery provides this product to Bristol Meyers, Farmer Brothers Coffee and many other companies. Organic powder is a growing element in the creamery's catalogue.

Humboldt Creamery processes 10 million gallons of ice cream each year in addition to its 20 million pounds of milk powders. Ice cream, the fastest growing part of the creamery business, brings in $30 million each year from domestic and foreign sales.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize Humboldt Creamery on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mike Kazar, who is retiring as a volunteer firefighter for the City of St. Helena, in California's 1st District. Mr. Kazar's outstanding contributions and dedication to our community are truly appreciated.

Mike Kazar will be leaving the Saint Helena Fire Department after twenty years of service. He currently serves as the Captain of the department. In addition to his duties in Saint Helena, Mike Kazar also volunteers for the Sand Point-Sagle Idaho area Volunteer Fire Department. He served as Captain of the Moraga/Orinda Fire Department for 37 years. He is also a member and safety officer on the State OES Overhead Team.

A native of California, Mr. Kazar was born in Carmel. He graduated from Miramonti High School in Orinda in 1960. While growing up in Moraga, Mike Kazar and his family lived in an apartment over the family owned grocery store. Next-door was a firehouse which peaked his interest in the profession.

He served four years in the Navy as a firefighter stationed in Guam. Mike Kazar has one daughter, Michelle Hill and two granddaughters. Mike loves to spend time outdoors and is especially fond of hunting.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, Mike Kazar set the standard of dependability, bravery and hard work that should be followed in all communities. His commitment to our community has been shown time and time again. For these reasons and countless others, it is most appropriate that we honor him at the time of his retirement and extend our best wishes to him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, last night I had the opportunity to testify before the Committee on Rules on behalf of my Blue Dog colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), who had proposed an amendment to reintroduce PAYGO into the rule. That proposed amendment would have reestablished one of the most basic, most responsible, and most successful principles of budget enforcement, the PAYGO rule.

I am sad to stand on this floor today and say that this amendment was stopped. It was stopped by the majority on that Committee on Rules from being able to be part of this final resolve to this issue today.

PAYGO was a provision in the original Budget Enforcement Act which this House allowed to expire in 2002. Prior to that time, not only were we forced to operate within the caps imposed on our discretionary spending; we had to offset all legislation that had the effect of increasing spending or reducing revenue. Put plainly, we had to pay for our bills as we passed our bills.

Since the expiration of the Budget Enforcement Act provisions, PAYGO included, this Congress has not been operating with anywhere near the same level of fiscal responsibility.

Deficits are growing. They are growing in size, they are growing as a percentage of our gross domestic product and, most important, they are growing unchecked because we have allowed provisions such as PAYGO to expire.

The Stenholm proposed amendment would have returned us to the rules by which Congress operated during the 1990s, bipartisan rules. This is not a partisan concept. In its original form in 1990, PAYGO was part of a bipartisan budget agreement between the first President Bush and a Democratic Congress. In 1993, it was extended with a Democratic President and Congress, and again in 1997 it was extended with a Democratic President and a Republican Congress. One hundred ninety- three Republicans voted for PAYGO when it was last extended. One hundred twenty-one of them are still serving in this House today.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal budget should emphasize fiscal responsibility, saving the money necessary to keep both Social Security and Medicare solvent, and paying down the national debt, not increasing it.

I do not like voting to increase the debt ceiling any more than anybody else in this body, but I am not opposed to it if it is accompanied by a plan that would put us back on solid fiscal ground. A good way to start is to reinstate the PAYGO rules. It would be irresponsible for this body to raise the debt limit without a plan for controlling this runaway spending.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for fiscal responsibility, to stand up for fiscal integrity and vote no on this rule and insist that we restore PAYGO.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the most prolific and respected wine writers in the history of our Nation, if not the entire world. It is only fitting that we recognize the distinguished career of Robert M. Parker, Jr. on this, the 25th anniversary of the first publication of his semiannual journal, the Wine Advocate.

On October 22 and 23, 2004, the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America (C.I.A.) will host a gala weekend of events to honor the long career of Mr. Parker. I can think of no better place than the C.I.A. to have such an event, given all that Mr. Parker has done to further the enjoyment of fine wine and good food.

Robert Parker was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1947. The first 30 years of his life were filled with college, law school and a 10-year career in corporate America. In August of 1978, the Wine Advocate was born with less than 600 subscribers. Today, the Wine Advocate has over 40,000 subscribers in all 50 states and 37 countries around the world.

Mr. Speaker, over the course of 25 years of writing his newsletter, Mr. Parker has become known as one of the world's foremost experts on wine. Mr. Parker pioneered an innovative approach to wine criticism. Rather than limiting his ratings to a letter scale or a scale of 1-10, Mr. Parker rates wine on a scale of 50-100. This scale has become a widely accepted method of reviewing wines.

However, Mr. Parker's rating scale only accounts for a small portion of his wine reviews. Mr. Parker compiles extensive tasting notes highlighting each aspect of the wines he reviews. He is known for pinpointing the color,

tastes and aroma of a wine and eloquently translating these attributes into prose.

In addition to publishing the Wine Advocate, Mr. Parker has written 11 books on wine. His first book, Bordeaux, was published in 1985 and was met with critical acclaim worldwide.

Mr. Parker has been a powerful advocate of the international wine industry. In a 1998 article, Los Angeles Times media critic David Shaw called Parker, ``the most powerful critic of any kind, any where.'' Mr. Parker's reviews have steadily guided wine consumers for many years.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I think it is appropriate that we honor and congratulate Robert Parker on his 25 years of publishing the Wine Advocate and we thank Mr. Parker for his service as a tireless champion of the wine industry.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Sonoma Index-Tribune Newspaper, which has been selected as the Business of the Year by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Over its 125 year history, this family-owned newspaper has won hundreds of national, state and local awards: including First Place for Best Local News Coverage by the National Newspaper Association in 2004, the Environmental Business Award from the Sonoma Ecology Center in 2003-2004, the Howard Grothe Award for Progressive Contributions to Newspaper Advertising from the California Newspaper Advertising Executives Association in 2002, the James Madison Freedom of Information Award for Investigative Journalism from the California Newspaper Advertising Executives Association in 2001, the Lincoln Steffens Investigative Reporting award from Sonoma State University and the Sonoma County Press Club in 2001, the Justice F. Craemer Newspaper Executive of the Year Award to Bill Lynch from the California Press Association in 2001, the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation Award in 2001 and the Community Partnership Award from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation in 1999.

The Index-Tribune was selected to receive this award not only because of its journalistic excellence but also because the paper and the Lynch Family contribute to the community in many other ways.

The newspaper has been an exemplary employer and has been a training ground for many fine journalists throughout its history.

Over the years the paper has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars of free advertising space to non-profit organizations serving the Sonoma Valley. CEO and President Bill Lynch and his brother, CFO and Publisher Jim Lynch have personally contributed countless hours to a variety of community organizations, including the Hanna Boys Center, the Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club, Sonoma Valley Hospital, Field of Dreams, Maxwell Park and the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, through its industry excellence, its community involvement and its employment practices, the Sonoma Index-Tribune has earned a position of prestige in the Sonoma Valley. It is appropriate for us today to honor Bill and Jim Lynch, the paper and its many employees both past and present.

Mr. Speaker, we rise today to pay tribute to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Lake County, California.

For the past 75 years, the CHP has had the motto ``Safety, Security and Service.'' This reflects the mission and the intent of the CHP in Lake County.

The Lake County CHP consists of 32 uniformed members and five civilians. They are commanded by Lieutenant D.R. Hayward. In addition, a Vehicle Theft Investigator, Mobile Commercial Vehicle Inspector and a Motor Carrier Specialist are permanently deployed in the Lake County region. They are responsible for traffic and general law enforcement on roadways that cover 1825 square miles.

The Lake County CHP's commitment to the citizens of Lake County includes a very successful community outreach program. This program combines a dedicated community outreach officer along with Senior Volunteers and Explorers who act as a conduit for not only the general community but the Native American communities to interact with the Department and voice their concerns.

The Lake County CHP won the 2003 California Chief's Challenge as well as recognition for the 2003 Pedestrian Safety Corridor grant which was successful in reducing fatal collisions to zero during the duration of the grant.

The commander has implemented a collective program with Caltrans to continuously identify and mitigate any safety related highway designs. This program has had a quantifiable effect on reducing collisions and increasing traffic safety within the community.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is most appropriate that we acknowledge and honor the CHP in Lake County for their service to the community. The CHP of Lake County has established a standard of dependability, bravery and hard work that should be followed in all communities.