Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of all of us in the United States House of Representatives to pay tribute to several individuals who have contributed significantly to the operation and success of the 108th Congress of the United States.

I take this opportunity to especially recognize and thank the members of my personal staff for their outstanding work and dedication in serving the constituents of the Seventh Congressional District of Michigan. I want to commend their exemplary service in helping citizens, especially when the federal government bureaucracy was bogged down or hadn't addressed the real needs of the people. I praise my staff for their efforts to analyze and develop legislation that will make our country stronger and better in the future.

The individuals I pay tribute to today are: Keith Brown, Jennifer Burg, Dan Byers, Mary Christ, Soren Dayton, David Finger, Alan Knapp, Ruth Mayday, Greg Moore, Ammani Nagesh, Jared Page, David Rawson, Lindy Salem, Peter Saling, Kurt Schmautz, Ed Sharkey, Heather Smith, Priscilla Smith, Lee VanWychen, and Wendy Wieringa, and Gary Wolfram.

I applaud my staff's commitment to serving the people of this great nation and I extend my heartfelt thanks to them for their insight and hard work. It is individuals such as these that make members of Congress successful, enabling us to perform and serve in the best possible manner. On behalf of the United States Congress, I wish each of them the very best and every success in all their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise today in honor of Dr. Henry (Harry) Moniba, former Vice President of Liberia. Dr. Moniba died suddenly on November 23, 2004, as a result of an automobile accident.

He was born in Liberia on October 22, 1937. Dr. Moniba earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education in 1964, a Masters degree in Secondary Education from SUNY, participated in a post-Masters program in International Relations and European Studies at NYU, and as a Fulbright Scholar, earned a Ph.D. in International Relations and African Studies at Michigan State University.

He began his professional career as an educator. A strong believer in the power of a good education, Dr. Moniba once stated: ``If you think education is expensive, then, try ignorance''. He served in various capacities in the education field, from classroom teacher to Director of Research at the Ministry of Education in Monrovia, Liberia.

Dr. Moniba had a long and distinguished career in public service. He served as First Secretary and Consul for the Embassy of Liberia in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa, Canada from 1976-1980; from 1981-1984, he served as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs, Liberia; he was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia, to the Court of St. James in London, England, the Vatican, and the Sovereign Military Order Malta, in Rome from 1981- 1984. In 1984, he was appointed Vice President of the Interim National Assembly Government of Liberia, and in 1985, elected to the office of Vice President of Liberia. In 1994, he was awarded the Human Rights Award from the Liberian Human Rights Chapter.

Dr. Moniba loved his country, and worked tirelessly to establish peace and prosperity for Liberia. He understood well the true role of a politician in a democratic society, and said: ``The objective of the good politician cannot, therefore, be the acquisition of power for its own sake or at and cost. What he wants is a healthy political environment in which he and his fellow citinens can lead a fulfilling life.'' At the time of his death, Dr. Moniba was one of the leading candidates for the 2005 Liberian presidential eption.

I join his family and his many admirers throughout the world in mourning his passing. May his tireless commitment to his homeland and the advancement of peace and democracy in Liberia stand as a timeless memorial to him. May God bless him and his family, and may he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, football is a great American tradition. In Michigan, this tradition is personified by the Lumen Christi Titans, who on November 27, 2004, won their 7th State Championship Title at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.

I rise today to honor the 2004 Lumen Christi Titans: Tyler Aldridge, Josh Badall, Alex Belfey, Eddie Bellers, Michael Berkemeier, Andrew Biskupski, Mike Blair, Blake Brannick, Patrick Brogan, Corey Burris, Mike Calderone, B.J. Carter, Conor Coffman, Daniel Coolbaugh, Blake Davis, Trevor Elinski, Eric Ewing, Andy Flippo, Ken Gallant, Golden Gibson, Ben Gier, John Gurriero, Evan Hagan, Andy Horning, Luke Jarzynka, Corey Johnson, Kyle Johnstone, Doug Karasek, Guy Kennedy, Brent Kuntz, Stephen Kutyna, Ryan LaMarre, Mark Lathers, Marty Lozier, Nick Lefere, Dan Lusty, Nick Maes, Joe Marcantel, Trevor Markovich; Sean Miller, Tyler Moran, Josh McCormick, Ben Neville, Tony Panici, Michael Patchak, Brad Polnasek, Ken Powers, Marc Powers, Ryan Powers, Joe Putra, John Riley, Phil Riley, Kent Richardson, Sean Richardson, Michael Risner, Jon Ryan, Jeremy Sauter, Brent Schaefer, Corey Skinner, Abram Soper, Alex Soper, Kyle Strong, Kelly Thompson, Sean Thompson, Brandon Vinson, Derek Walker, Mark Warfield, Chris Weeks, Matt Weeks, Terrell Willis, Terrence Willis, Jeff Wojtusik; Managers Coley Crowley and Christopher Gaddy, Trainer Todd Sparks and Assistant Trainer Sarah Duffey.

These fine young men were coached by Head Coach Herb Brogan, and Assistant Coaches Mike Armeli, Sean Brogan, Ken Dillon, Ted Cole, Dick Corser, Dan Crowley, Jason Idziak, Pete Lefere, Joff Marcantel, Matt Reesor, Frank Slaby, Tim Sullivan, Jerry Sykes, Mike Tash, and Joe Williams.

Led by Team Captains Doug Karasek, Luke Jarzynka, and B.J. Carter, these 72 young men worked diligently throughout the season to achieve this laudable goal. Despite a difficult start to the season, the Titans continued to work as a team and won 9 consecutive games to win the title. The Titans have been Division V State champs four of the last five years, and have won three of those titles with no points scored against them. The Titans are the only team in Michigan that has won more than six State titles without losing a single State championship title game.

This honor is also a testament to the parents, students, and community who have supported and influenced this team and this program throughout the years. I am proud to join with their many admirers, friends and fans in extending my highest praise and congratulations to the 2004 Lumen Christi Titans for their outstanding football season.

I rise today to honor the 2004 Chelsea Area Citizen of the Year, Mr. Jack Merkel. A lifelong resident of Chelsea, Jack Merkel has dedicated his life to the betterment of his community. Mr. Merkel is a respected business owner, community leader, husband, father, and grandfather.

He has served on countless boards and commissions throughout his life, including the Chelsea Village Council, Mayor of Chelsea, Chelsea Community Hospital, Silver Maples of Chelsea, Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, Chelsea City Charter Commission, and is an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. A distinguished businessman, Jack and his brother, Bob, owned and operated Merkel's Furniture, a Chelsea landmark, for 46 years.

Mr. Merkel was the leader of the Chelsea Cityhood initiative. Over 12 years, he provided tireless leadership, focus, and support to the project, which culminated in a City Charter first approved by the State of Michigan and approved by the residents of Chelsea in March of 2004.

On behalf of the Congress of the United States of America, I am proud to honor Mr. Jack Merkel for his commitment to family and community, and his dedication to improving his hometown. We commend him for his selfless service to others, and honor his contributions to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John and Julia Komai of Jackson, Michigan.

Born in Liberia, both John and Julia have dedicated their lives to improving the plight of Liberians and restoring peace and democracy to Liberia.

John first came to the United States in the 1950's to attend Spring Arbor High School and later Spring Arbor College. He completed degrees at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois; Chicago State University in Chicago, Ill; McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois; and Loyola University Graduate School of Education. An ordained Presbyterian Minister, Dr. Komai was Pastor-at-Large and Supervisor of Missions for the Community Presbyterian Church in Libera, as well as Founder and President of Jobai International Development Corporation to support mission development. In 1984, Dr. Komai was appointed to the Ministry of Education, and served as the Director of the World Bank and African Development Bank education projects for the Republic of Liberia.

Born in Zlehtown, Liberia, June 7, 1947, Julia grew up there and in Monrovia. A strident and outspoken believer in the dignity of all people, she was jailed as a political prisoner in 1979 for speaking out against human rights abuses committed by then-President William Tolbert. She was freed in 1980 when Samuel Doe came to power. Julia served as the Assistant Director of the African Unity Conference Center from 1982 to 1990. She and John fled Liberia during the coup-de-etat of 1989, walking 300 miles to reach Sierra Leone, surviving on grass and sleeping wherever they could.

Julia passed away suddenly on November 23, 2004 in an automobile accident. She will be forever remembered for her generous spirit and enthusiasm for life. In the face of hardships most Americans cannot begin to imagine, she persevered. Hers is a story of hope and boundless optimism, of dedication to ideals greater than herself. She loved her native land and hoped to return there someday.

I am proud to join the many friends and admirers of John and Julia Komai in recognizing their dedication to the restoration of peace and democracy to their homeland of Liberia. I extend my condolences to Julia's family and friends. May she rest in peace, and may her memory live on in those whose lives she touched.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time, and I thank the ranking member, the staff, and the rest of the members for doing a good job on this bill. I am an outside member because my Subcommittee on Research on the Committee on Science overseas the U.S. Fire Administration, and this legislation reauthorizes the Fire Grant program.

By the end of this year, we will have 25,000 fire grants awarded in the United States, and I understand that every congressional district will have had a grant to a fire department in their district or operating for their district.

Volunteers in the United States cover most of the fire protection for areas of the United States. One concern in this fire grant bill reauthorization was that the Senate rejected an offer by the House to encourage volunteers. Let me tell you what happened. In the language in our House bill we had a bipartisan provision that said you cannot discriminate against full-time firefighters volunteering when they go back to their home districts. We were told that the IAFF opposed and that it would be thrown out and the Senate conferees would rather have no fire grant program than have that language in the bill. So sadly for volunteers that language is not in the bill.

But everybody should understand that volunteer firefighters are incredibly selfless, putting their lives at risk for usually no reward greater than the knowledge that they are making their community a safer place. Many career firefighters actually get their start as volunteers, only joining the paid department after they have attained a basic level of training and experience. The fire grant program is an excellent program. Volunteers in the United States add enormously to our first- line home protection and volunteerism should be encouraged.

Passage of this legislation will extend the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program through 2009. The fire grant program was started 5 years ago in this bill. It has dramatically improved public safety in this country. Through fiscal year 2003, nearly 17,000 fire departments have received assistance to purchase vital equipment, vehicles, and training, and it is estimated that an additional 8,000 will receive grants this year.

The fire grant program is extremely effective for our homeland defense. Grants are distributed based on the recommendations of panels of nonbiased firefighters, who rank grant applications based on merit. The funding goes straight to the departments that need it most without being held up by political considerations, complex formulas or bureaucratic red tape.

Unfortunately, the reauthorization will do nothing to protect career firefighters from being discriminated against for volunteering during off-duty hours. Many career firefighters who volunteer in their home communities when they aren't at work are actually harassed for doing so. In some career fire departments, volunteering can even be grounds for termination. The House bill to reauthorize the fire grant program, H.R. 4107, included important language prohibiting a fire department that receives grant funds from discriminating against, or prohibiting its members from engaging in volunteer activities during off-duty hours.

A provision was unanimously supported by the bipartisan leaders of the House Congressional Fire Services Caucus. Unfortunately, we ran into a brick wall when we got to conference. The Senate conferees were prepared to forgo reauthorizing the fire grant program altogether if the volunteer nondiscrimination language was included. Their position didn't even budge when we offered to compromise by simply calling for a study on the issue.

Volunteer fire departments are vital in protecting small communities, especially in rural areas like my hometown of Addison, Michigan. Volunteer firefighters are incredibly selfless, putting their lives at risk for no reward greater than the knowledge that they are making their community a safer place to live. Many career firefighters actually get their start as volunteers, only joining a paid department after they have attained a basic level of training and experience.

It is unfair that any volunteer would be told that he or she must choose between a job and volunteering to protecting their friends and neighbors. They should be able to provide their invaluable skills, knowledge and expertise to their hometown departments without harassment and retribution from employers. Eliminating volunteer firefighters would compromise safety in thousands of communities across the country like my own that simply do not have the resources to maintain anything but a volunteer or combination fire department.

And yet a provision that would have protected these noble public servants was unacceptable to our counterparts on the other side of the Capitol. What compelling argument was it that convinced them to risk reauthorizing the fire grant program? How did they become so intractable as to be willing to turn their backs on a program that they have a strong history of supporting, even over a study?

The International Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF, established the position that the Senate conferees ended up adopting. The IAFF opposed passage of H.R. 4107 because of the volunteer nondiscrimination provision. This isn't surprising seeing as their own constitution prohibits members from volunteering.

I think they figure that if you get rid of all the volunteers, municipalities will be forced to hire new full time union members. Maybe this makes sense to union lobbyists in Washington, but it doesn't seem fair to the thousands of career firefighters that choose to volunteer out of a sense of civic duty, and it reflects poorly on the Senate conferees who sided with the IAFF over rank and file firefighters and the interests of public safety.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Science be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 5245) to extend the liability indemnification regime for the commercial space transportation industry, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5245.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2608) to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2608 authorizes two important interagency programs to coordinate the federal government's efforts to mitigate the loss of life and property from earthquakes and windstorms. I'd like to thank Congressman Neugebauer for all of his hard work and effort as the author and driving force behind the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. I'd also like to thank Congressman Lofgren for helping me craft the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program reauthorization and shepherding it through the legislative process.

Damaging earthquakes are inevitable, however infrequent they may be. Total annualized damages from earthquakes in the United States are estimated to be about $4.4 billion in direct financial losses. The 1994 Northridge earthquake in California (magnitude 6.7) was the most costly in U.S. history, causing over $40 billion in damages.

Further, all or parts of 39 states are within zones where the probability of an earthquake occurring is great. Recent research indicates that areas in the eastern and central United States are at greater risk of earthquake occurrence than earlier evidence indicated. The threat from earthquakes is constant and far reaching. Indeed, earthquakes are clearly not just a state or regional problem, but a nationwide problem, demanding nationwide mitigation. Accordingly, the federal government mitigates earthquakes through the comprehensive National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, also known as ``NEHRP''.

Over the past week, significant earthquake events in California and Washington have garnered our attention and concern. NEHRP-supported monitoring equipment managed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the national Science Foundation have resulted in an unprecedented harvest of data from both the Mr. St. Helens volcanic activity as well as the 6.0 Parkfield Earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. This information will undoubtedly lead to important advances in our understanding of earthquakes, and ultimately in our ability to prepare for and respond to them.

But much room for improvement still exists. Our vulnerability to earthquakes continues to increase. Widespread developments still occurs unabated in areas of high seismic risk. Despite the existence of new knowledge and tools produced by the program, development, adoption, and enforcement of pertinent building codes have been incremental and slower than expected. The private sector has not had adequate incentives, and state and local governments have generally not had adequate budgets, to adopt NEHRP innovations.

It is clear that NEHRP needs to be strengthened. Several aspects of program leadership and coordination continue to be an ongoing problem. Knowledge and awareness of these needs within the Office of Management and Budget, relevant appropriators--and even to some degree NEHRP agencies--has been too low. Many outside of the small community of earthquake interests are unaware that this coordinated effort even exists. These factors are addressed in the legislation before us today.

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Science,

Washington, DC, October 8, 2004.

Hon. Don Young,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I appreciate your support for the Senate

amendment to H.R. 2608, the National Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004. As your letter

indicates, the Senate amendment includes provisions from both

the House version of H.R. 2608 and H.R. 3980, the National

Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004.

I agree that by permitting this bill to be brought before

the House and not objecting to its passage by unanimous

consent, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

does not waive its jurisdiction over certain provisions of

H.R. 2608, as amended by the Senate.

Thank you for your consideration regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Sherwood L. Boehlert,

Chairman.

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

Washington, DC, October 8, 2004.

Hon. Sherwood Boehlert,

Chairman, Committee on Science,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Boehlert: I understand that H.R. 2608, the

National Earthquake Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of

2004 has just passed the Senate and incorporates provisions

contained in H.R. 3980, the National Windstorm Impact

Reduction Act of 2004.

I note that in Title I of H.R. 2608, as amended by the

Senate, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management

Agency is directed to: ``operate a program of grants and

assistance which would enable States to develop preparedness

and response plans, prepare inventories and conduct seismic

safety inspections of critical structures and lifelines,

update building and zoning codes and ordinances to enhance

seismic safety, increase earthquake awareness and education,

and encourage the development of multi-State groups for such

purposes.''

As you know, both of these measures contain provisions

within the jurisdiction of the Transportation and

Infrastructure Committee. I recognize your desire to bring

these important matters before the House in an expeditious

manner and I, therefore, do not object to passing them by

unanimous consent. By agreeing to this, however, the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure does not waive

its jurisdiction over H.R. 2608, as amended by the Senate.

I would appreciate it if you would place a copy of this

letter and your response in the Congressional Record when the

bill is considered on the House Floor. I would also like to

incorporate into this letter, by reference, the letter

included in the Record when the House of Representatives

considered H.R. 3980 on July 7th and 8th, 2004.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Don Young,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2608.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 2292) to require a report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 2760) to limit United States assistance for Ethiopia and Eritrea if those countries are not in compliance with the terms and conditions of agreements entered into by the two countries to end hostilities and provide for a demarcation of the border between the two countries, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2760.

Mr. Speaker, the reason we are here is to make clear to the world that we are not going to have military conscription right now for active military duty.

I introduced a bill last year, H.R. 3598, because I think we need to seriously discuss the understanding of the military of a greater number of our population. I think we need to look at volunteerism in this country; and with terrorism threatening us for the immediate future, there is a need for that education, that training, maybe even basic military training, but not combat service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to proceed with my 5 minutes at this time.