Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this concurrent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 439. Introduced by the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson, this bill honors the participants of the ``Red Ball Express'', an Army Motor Transport Brigade that served during World War II.

The Red Ball Express was the code name of a huge convoy operation which began on August 21, 1944, to provide provisions and

supplies to American and Allied soldiers fighting their way across Europe following their successful landing at Normandy.

The convoy system stretched from Normandy to Paris and eventually to the front of the northeastern borderland of France. The 82-day convoy got its name because the route that was used was marked with red balls.

Members of the Army Motor Transportation Brigade that comprised the Red Ball Express were constantly on the road. An average day for these dedicated troops meant 900 fully loaded vehicles driving around the clock. These trucks often traveled during the night in blackout conditions at speeds higher than 25 miles an hour to meet the growing demand for food and supplies, all while facing constant threats from ground ambushes and aerial bombing by the enemy.

What is most remarkable about the Red Ball Express are the soldiers who served in this brigade. Nearly seventy-five percent of the drivers were African-Americans who were denied the opportunity to serve in combat units, and whose families and loved ones were being denied the very freedoms and rights that they were fighting for in Europe.

Yet, these patriotic Americans persevered and succeeded. Many stories were written about their achievements, and their ability to overcome obstacles. These dedicated soldiers truly ``shocked and awed'' all those who depended upon them. At the peak of the Red Ball Express a round trip took nearly 54 hours and stretched nearly 400 miles to the First army.

When the Red Ball Express ended in mid-November 1944, over 412,000 tons of fuel, ammunition, food and other essential supplies had been delivered to troops on the front line. The success of the American and Allied offensive in France was due to the achievements of these outstanding soldiers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution that honor the members of the Red Ball Express for their service during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the prime sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, to reiterate, I do also urge support on our side of the aisle for H. Con. Res. 439.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the young men and women who have given their lives while serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A monument now stands in our Nation's capital to recognize the service and sacrifice of our service men and women during World War II. The long-overdue monument comes at a time when our Nation is reminded each day of the painful reality of war--not everyone returns home. The 2nd Congressional District of Washington state that I represent has not stayed immune from this reality.

This coming Memorial Day I will join with veterans of wars past to honor those who did not return home--including the four young men from the 2nd District who gave their lives for this nation during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

On Memorial Day, today, and every day, I honor Air Force Staff Sergeant Juan M. Ridout of Oak Harbor, Washington; Army Private First Class Kerry D. Scott of Concrete, Washington; Army Specialist Justin W. Hebert of Silvana, Washington; and Army Specialist Nathan W. Nakis of Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

You will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas Kenneth Clark Loggins was born in Everett, Washington, on January 7, 1948 and is now professionally known as Kenny Loggins; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins has become one of the most world-renowned singers/songwriters and guitarists of his time; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins has enjoyed a music career that has spanned more than three decades; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins has sold over 20 million albums worldwide; and, he has attained 12 Platinum Plus albums and 14 Gold albums; and

Whereas the music of Kenny Loggins has spanned many genres, earning both the respect of his peers and a widely-diverse fan base; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins has earned a reputation of historical importance in the field of film music for his creative contribution to movie soundtracks; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins is active in environmental and social projects; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins tirelessly gives his time, talents, and resources to benefit these organizatons and his community; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins is well respected and admired throughout the entertainment industry for his enormous impact on the world of music; and

Whereas Kenny Loggins is loved and appreciated by his family, friends, and devoted fans; and

Whereas in the month of August of 2000, Kenny Loggins was the first recipient of the Hollywood Film Festival's Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting Award; and in that same month, he also received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and

Whereas in August 2003, Kenny Loggins' fans launched a year-long Celebration in tribute to the longevity of his outstanding music career; and

Whereas the United States Congress now wishes to recognize Kenny Loggins for his many accomplishments.

Whereas it is the overwhelming consensus of all concerned parties that Kenny Loggins is much deserving of this honor.

Therefore, I, Rick Larsen, Member of the Congress representing the Second Congressional District of Washington State, do hereby hold up Kenny Loggins for great honor and recognition and declare the month of August to be Kenny Loggins Appreciation Month.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States Congress to be affixed this 22nd day of April 2004.

Mr. Chairman, I want to rise in support of H.R. 3550, but I do want to note that this bill barely scratches the surface of America's transportation needs. At $275 billion, this bill is certainly a lot, but it is only slightly more than an inflationary increase over TEA 21. Furthermore, at this amount, the United States loses out on almost 4.8 million new jobs in Washington State. Specifically, my State could lose out on thousands and thousands of jobs as a result of the funding level in this bill.

In a year when millions of Americans are looking for work, this does not come close to helping the thousands of Americans get back to work. I hope as this bill moves through this House and to conference, we can pursue a funding level that will meet the needs of our transportation systems and help provide job opportunities for more Americans.

Having said all that, I surely want to thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young); the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri); and the ranking members, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), for their work on this bill, which has helped out the Pacific Northwest.

Specifically, TEA LU doubles the funding for the Ferry Boat Discretionary program. The Puget Sound is home to the largest ferry system in the country, and these funds are vital to the Washington State ferries' efforts to service and replace aging vessels. I look forward to working with all of you in conference to increasing these funds in order to keep America's ferry systems afloat for years to come.

In addition, the bill includes funding for projects of national and regional significance. The Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, damaged by an earthquake in February 2001, is threatening to collapse and shut off the transport of goods from ports in Washington State to locations all across the country. So I hope we can further improve this new and exciting program.

In conclusion, I want to say that I hope the final version of this legislation will make very clear that the existing high-priority corridors continue to be eligible for funding. I also hope that the House conferees in this legislation will make every effort to strike the restrictions in the trade corridor provision approved by the other body limiting freight corridor only to multi-State corridors.

Mr. Chairman, again I want to thank the committee leadership and the committee staff for their hard work on this bill, and I look forward to working with all of you on these issues as the bill moves forward.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a man with a distinguished record of community service in the state of Washington. R.H. Anderson is set to retire after an exemplary career that has spanned six decades. His colleagues and friends know him as Andy. The people of the Second Congressional District also know him as a dedicated public servant who has worked to improve the quality of life for thousands of residents and businesses in Washington State.

A graduate of Seattle's Lincoln High School, Andy began his career as a photojournalist. He began learning about the world of politics as a student at the University of Washington when he was assigned to cover the HUAC hearings being held in Seattle.

Andy developed a love of radio and began spending time at a local jazz station. Soon he was doing odd jobs such as pulling records for late night disc jockey Bill Apple at KRSC, a radio station in Seattle. Apple soon recognized that Andy had real talent and a tremendous voice for radio. Andy began doing some news stories on the air, unpaid at first, before landing a job on the 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. slot.

Andy was then hired at Seattle radio station KVI, which had a jazz format at the time, as a temporary replacement for their regular disc jockey. Upon the return of the regular broadcaster, Andy found a niche at Everett station KRKO, where he was hired as a newscaster. His love of politics had been ignited while covering the HUAC hearings, and Andy was delighted to be covering the political world.

Andy began working at Bellingham radio and television station KVOS in 1955. He was on the cutting edge of the television era, and began covering politics and elections on camera. Andy could finally show his community the political universe that he had been describing with his voice for nearly a decade. In 1956, KVOS hired a young radio announcer by the name of Al Swift. Andy and Al formed a close friendship during their work together.

In 1965 Andy worked in Canada as an assistant to the president of Canawest Film Productions, an arm of KVOS. Andy wrote scripts and produced feature films, commercials, and corporate films. Andy moved back to Bellingham in 1976 and back into his role as news director after Al Swift left KVOS to work for Representative Lloyd Meeds.

Andy set up a major news organization at KVOS TV. His efforts brought a sizable viewing audience to local news programming, providing a great lead-in audience to the CBS evening news. The news department ran soundly under Andy's direction until 1983, when KVOS was sold and the news department eliminated.

Andy's old friend Al Swift, meanwhile, had been serving as a Member of Congress since 1979. Swift's District Manager, Bill McDonald, had passed away and Al Swift hired Andy as his new District Manager.

While serving as District Manager for Congressman Al Swift, Andy was instrumental in creating the PACE (now NEXUS) lane for frequent travelers between the United States and Canada. This expanded trade and reduced waiting time at the border. Thousands of individuals and businesses benefited from Andy's involvement in bringing rapid travel between the two nations.

After Congressman Swift chose to retire in 1994, Andy began a consulting business that he successfully ran for several years. Andy then retired but still maintained a burning desire for public service.

After I won election to Congress in 2000, I asked Andy to come out of retirement to join my team. For the past three years, he served as director of my Bellingham office, representing me in the northern area of my district. His tireless and outstanding efforts on behalf of the people of Washington's Second Congressional District are legendary and will be truly missed.

Andy's career in public service can be measured not only in economic benefits, but also in the amount of improved quality he brought to the lives of those in the region. He was always available to answer a question, investigate and solve a problem, and to champion programs to help the residents of Washington state.

Mr. Speaker, Andy's friends, colleagues, and family are holding numerous gatherings to celebrate his great career. I am honored to pay tribute to Andy Anderson, a true friend and a dedicated public servant. His direct work with the public may be ending, but the public will always know the impact of his service. The achievements of Andy Anderson will be felt for many decades due to his passion for improving the lives of his fellow residents. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Andy on his fine career and his unwavering commitment to Washington State, and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1588, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member, for their hard work on this bill. I must, however, express my deep reservations with regards to what I see as the inadequacy of the concurrent receipt provision. This Congress is expanding concurrent receipt to only 30 percent of disabled retirees. Where is our commitment to all of our veterans? Congress must not forget those veteran retirees who will still be denied their hard-earned retirement pay. All veteran retirees give at least 20 years of service to this country. They have stood ready to serve in times of war and times of peace. This country owes them more than a tax on the disability compensation.

I fear the partial phase-in of concurrent receipt will create two classes of veterans: those who will continue to suffer under the disabled veterans tax and those who will be deemed disabled enough to receive their compensation. Their sacrifice and service was equal. Congress should treat them with the same equity with which they served. Whether being drafted into service or volunteering, every disabled veteran was prepared to give their last full measure. Each was prepared to demonstrate the ultimate commitment; yet Congress cannot even muster for them half a loaf.

Mr. Speaker, as we head home to observe Veterans' Day, this is no way to honor our veterans. To divide veterans into the haves and have-nots is not befitting the sacrifices they made. They gave our country 100 percent, whether in times of war or peace; and they deserve 100 percent of what they earned.

In closing, I will be supporting H.R. 1588, but also will be supporting the Marshall motion to recommit to expand concurrent receipt to all of our disabled veterans.

Mr. Speaker, let the Record show that although I voted ``no'' on rollcall 548, my intention was to vote ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Kirk

Mr. Speaker, the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas and the appointment of Ahmed Queria as his replacement as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority has fully thrown off course the Road Map to Peace.

Two months ago I traveled to Israel as a member of the largest Congressional delegation to ever visit Israel. While there, I had an opportunity to meet with both then Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. At the time, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority were struggling to implement the Road Map requirements.

Abbas's humble welcome to the delegation belied a history of being one of Yasser Arafat's right hand men in the Palestinian Liberation Organization's past terror campaigns. This history makes it all the more interesting that Silvan Shalom, Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, told us that it was official Israeli policy to take actions to enhance the credibility of Abbas within the Palestinian Authority.

Abbas's message to us was a recounting of key issues that impact the Road Map peace process. He argued that the security fence, which he referred to as a wall, should be dismantled. However, when pressed on this issue, he conceded that the fence might be less of an issue if Israel built it on non-West Bank lands. He argued that Israel's announcement that they would release 545 political prisoners, in addition to those 248 released before the Akaba summit, was inadequate. His sentiment echoed Arafat's claim that the release was a fraud.

What Abbas failed to explain is that the Israeli government's difficult decision to release prisoners was not a required element of the Road Map peace process. The Israeli government took this step unilaterally and specifically as a confidence-building measure for the peace process and to help enhance Abbas's credibility.

Abbas's third issue was the continued presence of Israeli forces in Palestinian settlements and cities in the West Bank. Recent suicide bombers have come from these cities. The Israeli government's position is that, short of a Palestinian Authority effort to dismantle all terrorist infrastructure, Israeli troops will be present in the West Bank.

Finally, the issue of terrorist infrastructure hung out there. The most important action that Abbas could have taken to silence all of his critics is the step necessary during the now dead temporary ceasefire to dismantle the infrastructure supporting terrorist groups like Hamas and others. The number one obstacle to that step was Yasser Arafat, a picture of whom hung over the meeting as a constant reminder of who was really in charge.

We drove back to the bus for the 90-minute ride back to Jerusalem for our meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharon met us in his office within the large government complex located on one of the many hills in Israel's capital.

Sharon's message was simple: For real peace, Israel is ready to make painful compromises. He noted that Israel is a small country but has a determined people.

He went on to echo Minister Shalom's earlier comments that Israeli policy is to enhance Abbas's credibility, and he went on to point out recent changes the Palestinian Authority have implemented. He noted that incitements, or the agitating of anti-Israeli opinion, have decreased. He emphasized that, except for the recent shooting north of Bethlehem, the temporary ceasefire had held.

Sharon cautioned, however, that the Road Map peace process would not move forward to the next phase without completing the current phase in full. What he emphasized the most was a full cessation of terror. Sharon noted that Arafat's strategy of terror has not changed, and Arafat continues to undermine every step that Abbas takes.

Thinking back to the Abbas meeting, the Palestinian Authority's Prime Minister expressed his sincere belief in two main goals for his government. First, a rule of law must exist for all Palestinian people. Second, it is his goal to have one security force. This was important because there are currently 13 separate security forces, ten of which Arafat controls.

I bring this up because two things strike me most about this pair of meetings. Both men have a vision for their people. Sharon's vision is a vision that most Jews have, an Israel for the Jewish people with secure borders living in peace with its neighbors. Abbas's vision was not expressed as clearly but was still there: a state for Palestinians living securely under the rule of law.

Abbas's resignation and the seeming resurrection of Arafat now mean these visions are on hold. If the Palestinian Authority cannot have leadership that is willing to wrest itself from the hold of Arafat and terrorist groups, then Israel must continue to defend itself from suicide bombers. As a strong supporter of Israel, however, I believe the United States has a responsibility to help Israel take steps forward--not backward--including improving the average Palestinian's quality of life. I am no supporter of Arafat. But, honestly, hints at efforts to assassinate Arafat took the peace process backward in the eyes of many. I applaud the foreign minister's efforts to back away from the statement made by the deputy prime minister.

I am much less hopeful now than I was just two months ago about the short-term prospects for peace and resolution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. However, I am more certain now than ever that the United States must stay involved for there to be any success of the Road Map or any long-term future peace process. The ground rules may have changed with Abbas's resignation but our interests have not.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edward) for bringing this motion to instruct to the floor today.

Today, I met with Corporal Jeremiah Olsen, a soldier from Coupeville, Washington, which is in my district. Corporal Olsen will be awarded the Silver Star medal by the President for his heroic actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Corporate Olsen and his fellow servicemembers have fought bravely, and they have represented our country honorably in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and around the world on our behalf. They deserve our respect and our thanks. For this reason, I think it is important that we pass an extension of the pay increase that we authorized earlier this year.

In April, Congress provided a temporary increase in imminent danger pay and the family separation allowance that will both expire at the end of this month. In addition, we authorized a monthly increase for family separation allowance that helps military families pay rent, pay for child care, or

pay for other expenses while their loved ones are away. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services and as a representative of thousands of service men and women, it is my view that we need to do everything we can for our troops and their families.

The Senate-passed defense authorization bill provides an increase for all of our troops in imminent danger, increases the family separation allowance provisions, and makes these increases permanent. The House bill, in my opinion, does not go far enough. The motion to instruct conferees to accept the Senate provision is an important step forward toward providing our troops the compensations they deserve, and it provides it to all of our Armed Forces.

In my view, our women and men in the military are not paid enough as it is. Now that we are asking them to risk their lives away from their families and asking their families to bear the burden while they are away, we should not cut their pay off. Corporate Olsen and all the other service men and women deserve more than that.

So I urge my colleagues to pass this motion to instruct conferees and make it clear that this Congress supports our women and men in the Armed Forces and thanks them for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the women and men on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

For nearly ten months the sailors on board the Lincoln have been engaged in protecting our homeland. During their deployment--the longest deployment for an aircraft carrier in 30 years--the crew served courageously and selflessly. The brave women and men aboard the Lincoln have been embraced by a thankful nation.

Having just returned from the Lincoln's homecoming celebration, I can say without a doubt that the City of Everett and Snohomish County are happy to have the sailors home. While seeing them on national television gave me and our nation hope, seeing them in person with their families was even more inspirational.

I want to thank every one of those sailors today for their service, and I also want to thank their families for their service, even though it is a different kind of service. The sailors and their families sacrificed for this country. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

While our technology and know-how far surpassed our opponent's, the true success of Operation Iraqi Freedom was due to the women and men who volunteered for this service. Their commitment, dedication, bravery, and willingness to serve are what define our military might.

To those who served on this historic sailing of the USS Abraham Lincoln, I say: You have done your job and you have done it well. Our nation thanks you.

I am honored to be their Representative in Congress. I thank the Speaker for allowing me to speak on the floor today.