Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join with my colleagues, Representatives Edward Markey and Jay Inslee, in offering an amendment to H.R. 2419. Our amendment eliminates funding for the new Spent Fuel Recycling Initiative, and redirects this $15.5 million to energy research.

The legislation we are debating today directs the Department of Energy to conduct a new Spent Fuel Recycling Initiative, putting the United States on the path to reprocessing of spent nuclear reactor fuel. This new Initiative was not included in the President's budget request, and is over and above the existing research program on nuclear fuel reprocessing. It is a radical measure that moves the United States from research to actually undertaking nuclear fuel reprocessing. The Initiative has two linked elements: moving existing spent nuclear fuel away from commercial reactor sites to centralized interim storage, and initiating a reprocessing program for this fuel.

Reprocessing creates a plutonium-based of fuel for nuclear reactors that is easier to use in nuclear weapons. The United States is currently working to prevent other countries from reprocessing nuclear fuel, because a country that is reprocessing nuclear fuel can easily divert this material to make nuclear weapons.

Reprocessing spent nuclear fuel would be a major departure for U.S. nuclear policy, and could set back our efforts to stop nuclear proliferation around the world. If the U.S. Congress votes to initiate a reprocessing program, U.S. nuclear proliferation policy will be directly contradicted.

Such a step must not be taken lightly, with no hearings, no authorizing legislation, no public input, no analysis of the implications for nuclear proliferation, not even an analysis of the cost to taxpayers. We must not proceed with such a major step without all members having sufficient time and information to consider what they are voting for.

The Markey-Holt-Inslee amendment leaves intact the President's request to increase to $70 million the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative, which includes research on nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies. Our amendment removes the new, additional $15.5 million Initiative to consolidate and reprocess spent fuel.

The Markey-Holt-Inslee amendment redirects the $15.5 million to three important and successful energy research programs, all of which have less funding in H.R. 2419 compared to fiscal year 2005 appropriations:

$8.5 million to the Industrial Technologies Program, which shares the cost of research with industry to make U.S. industry more energy efficient;

$3.5 million to the Distributed Energy and Electricity Reliability Program, which funds research and development for smarter, more flexible, and more efficient electricity generation through the development of distributed energy generation and combined heat and power technologies; and

$3.5 million for State Energy Program grants, a program that for every federal dollar has produced over $7 of annual energy savings.

Mr. Speaker, this month our nation pays tribute to the contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including immigrants, refugees, and natives. More than 13 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, representing a diverse community of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, make their homes in the United States. Their unique contributions enhance the moral fabric and character of our great country.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is a fast- growing minority group in the United States. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are making valuable contributions to every aspect of American life--from business to education to science to the arts. For example, there are now more than 900,000 AAPI-owned small businesses across the country.

As we celebrate the significant progress made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, it is right for us to honor the memory of great leaders of the AAPI community who have passed away recently, and by far one of the greatest was our own Congressman Bob Matsui, who despite imprisonment in an internment camp during World War II, never lost faith in our country, and went on to become a national champion for all of America's seniors. We miss Bob dearly, but the voters of California have blessed us by sending his wife, the Gentlelady from California, Ms. Doris Matsui, to carry on his wonderful legacy in this body.

In memory of Bob Matsui and other great figures in the history of our nation, it is only fitting that this year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is ``Liberty and Freedom for All.'' In my own district, we have our share of emerging leaders from the Asian community, including my friend Shing-Fu Hsueh, the mayor of West Windsor, who is a model public figure. Like Bob Matsui, Shing-Fu Hsueh is a believer in the American ideal, that anyone--regardless of religion, race, or gender--can realize their dreams for themselves and their children. Unfortunately, the faith of every member of New Jersey's Asian community in that American ideal has been sorely tested recently.

You see, on the very eve of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, two talk show hosts--whose program airs on one of the largest stations in New Jersey--made a most obnoxious, insulting, and despicable series of anti-Asian statements.

Last month, these shock jocks verbally demeaned Mr. Jun Choi, a Korean-American running for mayor of Edison, New Jersey, mockingly asking their listeners ``Would you really vote for someone named Jun Choi?'' They then preceded to say that ``Americans'' should govern our towns, counties, and country--as if Jun Choi, Shing-Fu Hsueh, and the thousands of other hard-working, tax-paying, and participating people of Asian heritage are not real Americans.

I could cite even more examples from this outrageous broadcast but I refuse to demean this House by repeating some of the other language that these two radio racists used. I'm extremely disappointed that the management of the radio station in question, 101.5 FM, has not issued a written public apology to Jun Choi and the entire Asian community. In my judgment it is the absolute minimum they should do, and I also believe the station management should pledge never again to allow such racist rants to be aired on their station.

Mr. Speaker, as the Asian Pacific American community continues to contribute to our society and grow in influence--poltically, economically, and culturally--I am pleased to say that Americans like Jun Choi, Shing-Fu Hsueh, and Doris Matsui are indeed taking leading roles in our self-governing country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 149 which celebrates the 57th anniversary of the independent and democratic State of lsrael. Today we remember and pay tribute to the creation of the State of Israel. The United States took only eleven minutes after Israel had been declared a state to officially welcome her into the community of nations. For the last 47 years the United Stated and Israel built a unique and strong and special relationship.

The creation of the State of lsrael was a bold step in May of 1948. The first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, once said that, ``courage is a special kind of knowledge: the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.'' It is from such courage that Israel was formed and it is that that continues to maintain Israel as a vibrant and strong democracy today. We can all learn examples from the struggles that the citizens of Israel have endured and the grief they have overcome to remain a democratic outpost in the Middle East.

Yet, much work remains unfinished. We all remain troubled by the continued violence in the Middle East and we all continue to pray for a peaceful end to the years of violence and terror. The United States and our citizens learned all too well about the effects of terrorism on an early morning in September of 2001. In that one day, the nations of the world rallied to our side, offered aid, and pledged to assist us in any way possible. Yet, sadly, events like that September morning have been frequent occurrences in Israel. This fact can to easily be lost as the continued violence and terror is pushed off the front pages of our news papers and out of the nightly news on TV. That is why it is important now, more than ever, to remember and support our strongest and oldest ally in the Middle East.

I am proud to join with my colleagues today to reiterate our continued strong support of Israel, its right to defend itself and its people from terrorism, and to focus on the special relationship that exists between our two nations. I have had the pleasure to travel to Israel on a number of occasions, and these visits have only reinforced my strong conviction that the United States needs to remain a strong partner of Israel and remain actively engaged in negotiating a peaceful and equitable agreement between the parties to this conflict.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution in celebrating the 47 years of Israel's existence as a beacon of democracy and hope in the Middle East. I also celebrate today the daily courage exhibited by the citizens of Israel and want to express my personal commitment to Israel at this important milestone in its history. I look forward to future anniversaries, and to the day when Israel and her citizens can live in peace without the need for courage against fear.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Greta Kiernan, who has served the State of New Jersey in a multitude of capacities for more than 40 years.

Having known Greta for a number of years, I can personally attest to the tremendous contributions she has made during her career as a public servant. From her introduction to politics as a member of the Bergen County Democratic Committee in 1963, Ms. Kiernan has distinguished herself by virtue of her exemplary leadership and commitment. She has served as a key aide to several members of the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly, a legislative liaison to New Jersey for the New York / New Jersey Port Authority, a principal staff member for the Low Level Radioactive Waste Siting Board and a principal staff member in the office of the Congressional Representative of the 12th District. Ms. Kiernan continues to build a political legacy. She was the first Democratic woman to serve in the New Jersey State Assembly from Bergen County. Elected in 1978, Ms. Kiernan represented what was then New Jersey's 39th District.

A woman of political acuity, skill, and expertise, Greta Kiernan is also known for her loyalty and kindness. A mother of four and grandmother of eleven, Ms. Kiernan is an avid collector of political memorabilia and artifacts. Her collection includes a rare copy of the minutes of the 1947 New Jersey Constitutional Convention, an extensive treasury of books on the political history of New Jersey (signed by their authors), and countless buttons, bumper stickers, and hats. Her wit and quiet charm are boundless, and she has earned the trust and admiration of so many.

Greta Kiernan roles have ranged the gamut of public service, but her values and dedication have remained constant throughout. An inspiration to citizens of the State of New Jersey, Greta Kiernan has contributed significantly to the life of her community. She has earned our heartfelt appreciation and respect for her efforts. I ask my colleagues to join me in giving her this recognition.

Madam Chairman, I rise to express my disappointment with the Interior Appropriations bill that we are considering today. I am concerned with the lack of funding for many important programs, and am particularly concerned with the Appropriation Committee's decision to zero out funding for a federal program that is important to my state and the nation--the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been instrumental in assisting local and state government's preserve such vital open spaces is the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This program was established in 1965 to address rapid overdevelopment by increasing the number of high quality recreation areas and facilities and by increasing the local involvement in land preservation. To achieve this goal, the fund was separated into two components, one portion of the fund serves an account from which the federal government draws from to acquire land and the other portion is distributed to states in a matching grant program.

New Jersey has been active in seeking grants from this program and has received funds from the LWCF that were used to preserve treasures such as the Pinelands National Reserve and the Delaware National Scenic River. In addition, LCWF has provided more that $111 million in state and local grants to build softball fields, rehabilitate playgrounds and to expand state parks.

Unfortunately, in recent years funding for the state side part of this program has been insufficient. In fact, this program was zeroed out in the mid-1990s. In 1999, I joined Representative McGovern in restoring funding for this program. Since then funding for the program has risen to 91 million in Fiscal Year 2005, I am dismayed that the Interior Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2006 has once again zeroed out funding for the state grant portion of the program. I am fully aware that we are working under a tight budget and that many programs in this bill receive a significant reduction in funding, but I believe that it is unnecessary and unwise to strip this program of all funding.

Urban and highly developed regions will suffer the most from the elimination of the LWCF state grant program. The LCWF matching grant program has proven to be a successful way to overcome the high cost of living that makes land acquisition and renewal projects costly in these regions. Elimination of this program will leave local leaders without the financial capital necessary to enhance the quality of life in their communities.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, ``The Nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.'' Although the citizens of New Jersey and this nation have demonstrated their enthusiasm for this program, this bill fails to meet their commitment to our future.

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the Slaughter/Shays/ Dicks/Leach/Price amendment.

Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Slaughter- Shays-Dicks-Leach-Price Amendment to provide much needed funds for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This is a long overdue and a modest funding increase to build programs that use the strength of the arts and our Nation's cultural life to enhance communities in every State and every county around America. The additional funds provided through this amendment would keep intact the very successful Challenge America program, which brings the arts to rural communities and inner-city neighborhoods whose limited resources don't always allow for community arts programs.

In 2004, the Challenge America program provided grants to towns and cities in 99% of congressional districts for jazz and blues festivals, showcases for regional musicians and artists, and public-private partnerships that bring the arts into local schools. Dozens of studies have demonstrated the significant positive effect of arts education on students' academic performance, self esteem, and behavior, and the Challenge America grants are an excellent mechanism to bring the arts to students who can greatly benefit from that exposure.

Similarly, the NEH serves to advance the Nation's scholarly and cultural life. The additional funding contained in this amendment would enable NEH to improve the quality of humanities education to America's school children and college students, offer lifelong learning opportunities through a range of public programs, and support new projects that encourage Americans to discover their storied and inspiring national heritage.

It is clear that increasing funding for the arts and humanities is among the best investments that we, as a society, can make. They help our children learn. They give the elderly sustenance. They power economic development in regions that are down and out. They tie our diverse society and country together.

Will the projects that would be sponsored by this increase in funding help defend our country? Probably not, but they will make our country more worth defending. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1279, the gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act. I am disappointed that

the majority has chosen to address a very serious problem with unrealistic and potentially damaging solutions.

Gang activity is a very real and dangerous problem. In my own district, gangs pose a severe threat to the youth in many communities. Just yesterday, I spoke at length with a constituent whose son has suffered permanent and irreversible brain injury from a beating at the hands of a local gang.

There is much that Congress can and should do to help keep our youth out of gangs and strengthen our law enforcement efforts against gangs. Gangs are tough and gang members often do not respond to mild measures. We should increase the resources available to gang prevention, intervention, and suppression programs, such as the Juvenile Delinquency Protection Block Grant (JJDPBG). These programs have been very effective in helping youth make the correct decisions with regard to gang activity.

We should increase the resources available to our public schools. All too often, youth join gangs because they feel that it is the only option available to them. By helping our teachers, administrators, and school systems, we can show them other, more promising, options.

We should oppose the reduction or elimination of programs that put police officers on our streets. Since 1994, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program has funded 4,806 additional police officers and sheriffs deputies to prevent crime in New Jersey. It has allowed New Jersey to spend $45 million on crime-fighting technologies. We should be having a serious discussion about why this successful program warrants an 80 percent cut in the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2006.

Unfortunately, this legislation proposes ineffective and damaging solutions to this serious problem. Mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines discount mitigating factors in crimes and are discriminatory towards people of color. It is time to give up the Congressional fascination with mandatory sentencing. It does not work. It may make the legislator feel good, but it hinders the judicial process, and most important it does not stop crime or deter criminals.

Also, diverting youth to the adult criminal justice system does nothing to deter crimes. In fact, youth tried and sentenced as adults are much more likely to commit violent crime after being released. Further, I am concerned that H.R. 1279 provides no exception for youth who have mental health problems and may not be competent to stand trial as adults.

I am happy that Congress is addressing this issue, which has affected so many communities across New Jersey and the country. Serious crimes like murder, assault, and rape at the hands of gangs and criminal enterprises clearly deserve our attention. However, this bill proposes solutions that do nothing to deter youth from gang membership or strengthen the law enforcement presence in our communities.

I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 1279.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Leslie Burger, who was recently elected president of the American Library Association. Ms. Burger will serve for two years, as president-elect from July 2005 through June 2006, and then will take over as president of the ALA until 2007.

The American Library Association is a Chicago-based organization with more than 64,000 members. Established in 1876, the ALA offers leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of libraries and librarians, to advance learning and guarantee access to information for everyone.

Leslie Burger is well prepared to serve as president of the ALA. She received a master's degree in organizational behavior from the University of Hartford, and a master's in library science from the University of Maryland--College Park, following graduation from Southern Connecticut State College. During her already accomplished career, she has continually fought to enhance and modernize libraries. Through her work at the Library Development Solutions, a firm which she founded over 10 years ago she has been a leader in integrating technology and developing new programs to keep libraries around the country up to date.

Leslie has been the director of the Princeton Public Library since 1999 in my district in New Jersey. Leslie was instrumental in securing funding for a new library in Princeton which opened over a year ago. She is a tireless worker in raising support (and funds) for the new building and services for the library. She has spent time working the ``front line'' of the library, where she works with patrons of all ages. She has reached out to underserved individuals by implementing new programs such as computer instruction in multiple languages and diverse cultural programming. Leslie also served as president of the New Jersey Library Association from 2001-2002.

Leslie has great plans for the future of the ALA. She hopes to improve salaries for librarians and other library workers, as well as modernize libraries so they are well equipped for the new technologies of the 21st century. She plans to fight against proposed library closings and cutbacks and extend the Campaign for America's Libraries. As president of ALA, she will ensure equal access for all individuals to library services and continue to develop diverse educational programming for patrons.

Leslie Berger has worked hard providing important services to residents of Central New Jersey. I am sure all my colleagues join me in congratulating Leslie Berger on her election as president of the American Library Association. I have no doubt that she will continue to be a great advocate for libraries and library workers nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor five outstanding individuals, Eric Chang, Harrison Hsu, Aditya Panda, Zhengyang Zhang, and Alex Zozula who competed in the 2005 National Science Bowl representing East Brunswick High School. These five students exemplify the true academic spirit and scientific drive that our country needs as we enter the 21st century.

Since 1991, the National Science Bowl, through the sponsorship of the United States Department of Energy, has brought together more than 100,000 high school students to promote serious study of all fields of science, from biology to physics, from botany to astronomy. These students have prepared throughout the year for the regional elimination tournaments, where only the best-prepared and most scientifically- minded teams move on to the National Science Bowl.

The team of five, under the guidance of coach and teacher Paul Kimmel won their regional elimination tournament held at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

As a scientist, I cannot stress enough the importance of science and math education. Science provides a bridge that connects all aspects of our lives. These disciplines form the basic building blocks that make up our knowledge of the world around us. Science and math education is the key to guiding future generations in their understanding of an ever changing world. Through programs such as the National Science Bowl, America's youth is exposed to this vital branch of learning in a way that sparks their interest and promotes serious study in these fields.

Part of this year's Science Bowl featured a Model Fuel Cell Car Race, where teams were able to build a model car powered by hydrogen to compete in a speed race or a king-of-the-hill climb. The participating students also had the opportunity to attend presentations by well known scientists that covered important scientific issues of today. The five exceptional students from East Brunswick team gained valuable knowledge from their participation in this year's Science Bowl that they will surely share with their fellow peers.

It is also important to acknowledge the parents, mentors, friends, and family who have helped these students succeed in their academic efforts. I applaud the Science Department at East Brunswick High School for preparing these exemplary students.

I congratulate the members of the East Brunswick High School science team for their successes and wish them the best of luck in their future scientific endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the students of East Brunswick High School that recently won the national finals for the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program. The participating students from East Brunswick High School, after winning the statewide competition, represented New Jersey in this year's final. Through their hard work and determination, the national finals competitors earned the opportunity to visit and compete in our nation's capital. East Brunswick High School was the defending champion and I am proud to say that they have achieved this high level of excellence again this year. They won because they are articulate, have presence of mind, and can think on their feet, and because they know the U.S. Constitution inside and out.

The students of East Brunswick came a long way to earn the right to compete in Washington. To participate, every student needed to learn about a variety of concepts ranging from the philosophical origins of the Constitution to its role and interpretation in today's society. After spending countless hours reading primary and secondary sources, the students created a four minute presentation to answer the question posed to them about the Constitution. The students then formulated their own opinions, which needed to be defended during six minutes of questioning from judges. The judging is based on the students understanding of constitutional principles and their knowledge of both historical and contemporary issues. At the national competition, the judges are practicing lawyers, college professors, as well as current and former State Supreme Court judges.

The education of our youth about our democracy and the meaning and importance of our Constitution is imperative. As important as it is to have a basic knowledge of the laws and interpretations of the Constitution, it is equally as important to understand the reasons for which they were created. Every United States citizen should know and understand these fundamental principles, and through participation in this program, the students from East Brunswick High School have accomplished just that. These competitors serve as examples to students throughout the nation as to what one can achieve with an in-depth knowledge of the tenets of our government. These students are our future leaders and the next generation that will continue to defend democracy and uphold the Constitution. I know these students, and while I admire their knowledge and intelligence, I admire even more their passionate dedication to our American ideals.

The participating students from East Brunswick competed against more than 1,200 students from across the country. This program was created by The Center for Civic Education in 1987 and over 26 million students have participated in it. The goal of the program is to educate high school students on the importance of continued civic involvement. These exceptional students met here in Washington from April 30th to May 2nd to display their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and its founding principles.

I would like to congratulate the students of East Brunswick High School, who are: Rajiv Agarwal, Elliot Chiu, Yan Cui, Aditi Eleswarapu, Michael Genson, Stephanie Horowitz, Frances Huang, Manisha Johary, Michael Kofstky, Kevin Kuo, Sam Lau, Alexandra Palmer, Resham Patel, Mark Pruce, Panwan Punjabi, Caroline Rana, Natalie Rana, Sana Sheikh, Allison Sorkin, Ilana Stern, Eric Struening, Lauren Volosin, and teacher Alan Brodman.

These names themselves suggest such a diversity of origins and heritage that it calls forth our national motto ``E Pluribus Unum''-- from many we are one. That these students devote themselves to learning about our system of self-government that is the key to our greatness is inspiring.

I am so proud of these young constitutional scholars and wish them luck in all their future endeavors. May these exceptional students continue to understand and uphold democracy.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. While I rise in support of H.R. 366, I must point out that we are reauthorizing a program that the President proposed eliminating. I hope we can help him see the importance of this program. It is unfortunate that the President has attempted to undermine these programs through proposals for spending cuts totaling nearly $700 million since he took office. We have lost nearly 2 million private sector jobs in the last 4 years and hundreds of thousands of American jobs have been outsourced to other countries. Unfortunately, the budgetary approach of this administration and the majority here, I would say, is to shortchange students and workers rather than to invest in them.

I would like to point out a couple of things that are missing in this bill. The gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) and I offered an amendment before the Committee on Rules that intended to stem the tide of outsourcing of American manufacturing jobs. Specifically, the amendment would establish a Federal fund for local programs that would give American manufacturing workers additional skills and educational training through competitive grants to States. Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules would not allow this amendment.

I am also concerned about the elimination of separate authorization for Tech-Prep. Tech-Prep combines and coordinates secondary and postsecondary vocational education activities into a coherent sequence of courses.

I am pleased that the bill includes some things and I would like to mention two: one is eligible recipients may use Perkins funds to provide information and referrals to students regarding the availability of services such as transportation and child care which would enable students to enroll and take full advantage of the Perkins programs. I am also pleased to mention a point that was addressed by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) which is that this legislation includes programs to acquire math and science skills.

So although I rise in support of this legislation, I still think we can do better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 218, supporting the sixth annual National Charter Schools Week and honoring the outstanding achievements charter schools have made.

As a former educator, I understand the importance of charter schools. These schools are educational laboratories, as they allow students to learn and grow in a non-traditional sense. Charter schools are an alternative to public schools that allow for trial, experimentation and development. With a freedom to employ innovative techniques, charter schools, year after year, continue to provide academic excellence and prepare our youth for higher education, the workforce and their future.

The State of New Jersey has 52 approved charter schools. These schools serve nearly 14,000 students statewide in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2004, 16 applications were filed in New Jersey for new charter schools with hopes of openings in 2005 and 2006. Many of these applications are for schools in some of New Jersey largest cities, including Newark, Camden and Jersey City.

My district is fortunate enough to have eight exceptional charter schools that offer students a diverse educational opportunity, rigorous curricula, and an outstanding learning environment.

One of these schools, the Princeton Charter School in Mercer County became the first charter school accredited by the American Academy of Liberal Education in April of 2002. In addition to this esteemed recognition, the Princeton Charter School was also recently named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon school. This award is given to schools that meet the national goals and high standards of educational excellence.

Another school in my district, the Greater Brunswick Charter School in Middlesex County will be the subject of a documentary film that will feature the middle school students who have worked hard to develop a class project based on the Buck Institute's model for project based learning. This documentary will be produced in conjunction with the Buck Institute for Education, the Rutgers University Center for Media Studies, and the George Lucas Education Foundation. The documentary will be available online through the George Lucas Education Foundation website.

I applaud the students, teachers, administrators and parents of charter schools for all of their hard work and commitment to the educational community of charter schools. Charter schools continue to grow in number in New Jersey and across the country, offering students an exceptional educational opportunity with room for innovation and development.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert Minehardt, a distinguished educator at Shrewsbury Borough School, on his retirement after forty years of dedicated service to educating up to three generations of local families.

Robert Minehardt has become a vital part of the Shrewsbury community as he has held nearly every leadership position available to a teacher. Since beginning his career in 1965, he has taught fifth and sixth grades, as a general education teacher and then as a science teacher. Mr. Minehardt has also served as vice-principal for more than 10 years, and also, for a short period as the acting superintendent. He has been the Shrewsbury's Title I director, summer school director, the T&E director, the teacher-in-charge, and the assistant to the superintendent. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Minehardt was also active for several years as a coach to the boy's basketball team, supervisor to intramural sports, and coordinator for the CPR program with Shrewsbury's local first aid squad.

Inside the classroom, Mr. Minehardt had a passion for science concentrated in the areas of oceanography and space exploration. Most notably, his interest led him to advocate for the development of the schools' science program. He organized trips to the beaches of Sandy Hook, NJ and formed the in-school science club program.

As a resident of Shrewsbury since 1968, Robert Minehardt attended high school at Red Bank Regional High in Little Silver, NJ. He then went on to achieve his undergraduate degree at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ and continued his graduate education at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Mr. Minehardt returned to Shrewsbury to raise his family including his two sons, Adam and Todd. Both boys attended Shrewsbury schools and were even taught by their father. Currently, Robert Minehardt and his wife, Maggie Minehardt, live in Fair Haven, NJ, where he volunteers as a fire fighter.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire 12th district of New Jersey, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Robert Minehardt on his retirement, and we wish him the best in his move to Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I voted against the FY2006 Concurrent Budget Resolution that was reported by the House Budget Committee and narrowly passed the House on a 218-214 vote last month. I did so for a variety of reasons.

First, President Bush and the majority party in this Congress want us to keep borrowing against our future and that of our children, and perhaps their children. The budget deficit for this year is a record $427 billion. We added $114 billion to the deficit in February, the first time it has ever gone over $100 billion in one month. This is how we have added more to the national debt in the past four years than in the prior two centuries of our nation's history. Therefore, a vote in favor of this budget resolution is a vote for more ``borrow and spend'' policies that are responsible for our country's current fiscal plight.

Second, the House-passed budget plan shortchanges many Americans who are most deserving or in need of help, including our veterans, children, and elderly. At the same time, it slashes funding for many of our nation's important priorities--education, healthcare, AMTRAK and alternative transportation and energy initiatives, homeland security, environmental protection, job training, research and development, and small business innovation.

Let me cite a few glaring examples.

The House-passed budget cuts veterans' health care by $14 billion below what is currently needed over the next five years. These cuts can only be achieved by imposing new fees for veterans's healthcare, or by reducing veterans' benefits such as disability pay, pension benefits, or education benefits.

It actually cuts funding for education programs by $2.5 billion for next fiscal year relative to Fiscal Year 2005, and $38 billion over the next five years below what is needed to maintain the status quo. It actually matches the budget President Bush sent to Congress last month, which called for the elimination of 48 education programs worth $4.3 billion. These cuts will include $1.3 billion less for vocational education, as well as less funding for elementary, secondary, and college aid programs.

It also fails to protect and strengthen Social Security. It calls for spending every penny of the Social Security Trust Fund surplus to continue to help finance record deficits and continued tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Unlike the alternative budget plan I voted for, the House-passed budget plan contains no budget enforcement mechanisms to protect the current surplus Social Security Trust Fund. Instead, President Bush and the supporters of this budget resolution advocate a Social Security privatization scheme that would weaken Social Security upon which so many elderly and disabled Americans depend just to make ends meet. In fact, there is not one cent in the House-passed budget plan to meet any of the $754 billion price tag needed between now and 2015 to create private accounts.

Third, the House-passed budget resolution is incomplete and misleading. It does not address the ongoing costs of the U.S. military occupation of Iraq and the war on terrorism. Then, the budget also invokes an assumption that economic growth will reduce deficits. In fact, it fails to show any deficit figures at all after 2010. Budgets should not be based on wishful thinking.

How is that we confront both increased deficits and serious program cuts in the same budget? Because the majority party in this Congress continues to push tax cuts for those who need them the least. The results are growing inequity in American society and mounting anxiety in financial markets.

I believe this Congress can and should make better choices and adopt a much more balanced and fiscally responsible alternative budget plan-- one that more closely reflects the values of most Americans, the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, and the aspirations of our children. That is why I voted for the alternative budget plan offered by my colleague, U.S. Representative John Spratt of South Carolina. Had it been adopted, it would have insisted upon more fiscal discipline with budgets that pay as you go this year and beyond. It would have offered more help and hope for all Americans to achieve greater financial security. That means investing more in the American people and in deserving programs to help create good-paying jobs, improve education, lower healthcare costs, make college more affordable, grow small businesses, keep faith with our veterans and military families, protects our homeland, and promotes environmental sustainability.

In so doing, we could build upon what has worked in the past when our economy was growing by leaps and bounds and creating millions of new jobs, as recently as the 1990s. We could abandon the fraud of supply- side economics, once and for all, step up, and reassert control over shaping our preferred economic future--one that offers more good jobs, a higher standard of living, and real economic opportunity for all of the American people. Sadly, this budget resolution takes us farther down the wrong track.

If we want to strengthen our economy again, in the future, if we want to create new, good-paying jobs for all of our people, and promote broad-based, sustainable economic development, then I believe we must become more creative and provide more support from the public and private sector for cutting-edge research and development. We have to stop borrowing and spending. We have to stop eating our seed corn. We have to provide increased and more sustained support from the public and private sectors for basic research and development.

Up to now, America has always been a nation of explorers, creators, and inventors. We need to regain that edge and ride a new wave of research and follow-on commercial development into a new age of economic growth and prosperity. But the budget resolution approval in the House last week does none of this. The supporters of the Republican budget plan don't want to keep faith and invest in the American people, increase federal support for research, development, and entrepreneurial drive, and rebuild American competitiveness in the global economy. If they did, they could not in good conscience have voted for the skewed priorities of the recently-approved budget resolution and the Draconian, counterproductive cuts it will dictate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Laird & Company on its 225th Anniversary as a family, owned and operated New Jersey business located in Scobeyville, New Jersey. Laird & Company is the oldest licensed distiller in the United States and is most well known for its famous Applejack.

The history of Laird & Company is very rich. The company can trace its origin back to 1698 when William Laird moved to Monmouth County, New Jersey from Scotland and began making Scotch by using one of the most abundant resources in the area, apples. He made this brandy for his own family, friends and neighbors.

During the Revolutionary War, Robert Laird served under George Washington and during the Battle of Monmouth, the Laird family would supply the troops with Applejack. Washington enjoyed Applejack and personally requested the recipe to produce his own. To this day, Washington is the only non-Laird family member to know the secret Laird's Applejack recipe.

During Prohibition, the company was able to survive by selling sweet cider and applesauce. Since the Prohibition, Laird & Company has produced roughly 95 percent of all Applejack apple brandy sold in the United States. Laird & Company halted their production of Applejack during World War II to aid in the war effort by converting their plant to dry and dehydrate apple pomace for pectin and other products.

Laird & Company was recognized by the New Jersey State Senate in 1964 as the ``oldest native distilled spirit beverage in the United States.'' The plant in Scobeyville, New Jersey is the oldest operating distillery in the country and it produces close to 1.5 million cases of distilled spirits annually.

I rise today to commend Laird & Company in its 225th year as a family owned and operated business with a deep history. I applaud the service that Laird & Company has made to the individuals and communities of Central New Jersey and the country.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I am offering an amendment to the energy bill for a study of the potential for fuel savings from information technology. This will help businesses and consumers and, really, the country at large.

Suppose you are driving to work. Today, you can listen to the radio and get some traffic information. You can use that, occasionally, to avoid delays. But what if you had something in your car that was giving you real-time information that would say, turn right now and save 10 minutes, and you could use that every day? You would save time, fuel, and money. Multiply that by the millions of people commuting doing the same thing, and it adds up to a real difference in our fuel use.

I mean, how many times have you driven around the block looking for a place to park? Suppose you had a system in your car that told you where the open parking spots are and how to get there?

Mr. Chairman, this is not Buck Rogers stuff. This is not so far fetched. Information technology is cheap. The electronic systems are inexpensive and easy to install, but we have not really looked at them systematically. So where my legislation talks about Web-based real-time transit information systems, or congestion information systems, or carpool information systems, do not think of them as systems; think of them as saving time so you can get home to read a bedtime story to your kids or get to work not quite so frazzled and save money.

Suppose you thought about taking a bus to get across town. Nowadays, you pretty much face the prospect of standing at the bus stop hoping the bus comes along, wondering if the bus will come along, wondering when you will get to work. What if you had a monitor, maybe on your cell phone, maybe at the bus stop that would tell you what the schedule is, where the bus is now, and when the bus will be at your stop? You could even check before you left your house.

These kinds of things are here today, not widely installed; but they could be. My amendment simply calls for a study of the energy savings that would come from such things. I think it is straightforward and will be attractive to people all over the country, to businesses, to individuals, to cities, and of course to those who care about our energy usage; and I urge its passage.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, how much time remains?

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the energy legislation that we are debating on the House floor today.

As an energy scientist who spent nearly a decade working at one of the nation's premiere alternative energy research labs I understand the complex and challenging nature of moving toward sustainable energy sources. Having served in this body for more than six years, I understand the difficulties in balancing competing interests to obtain a policy that benefits the nation. Unfortunately, rather than providing a productive and clear vision that leads this nation towards energy independence, this bill subsidizes oil and gas companies and eases environmental regulations and fails to put the U.S. on the right path.

This legislation sets a dangerous precedent by allowing the destruction of one of our national treasures to extract a minimal amount of resources. The very essence of the Arctic Refuge is that it is a pristine and untouched ecosystem. This unique environment serves as a critical breeding or migratory habitat for over 200 species of animals including polar and grizzly bears. Arctic wolves, and endangered species like the shaggy musk ox. This legislation completely ignores the precious nature of this land and instead provides yet one more opportunity for oil and gas companies to expand their operations. If this legislation is approved all Americans will lose something special and irreplaceable.

There are some good points in this bill. It does authorize increases in research on efficiency and renewable energy in future years. And I would like to thank my colleagues for accepting my amendment for a study of fuel savings from information technology for transportation.

But the good points of the bill are far outweighed by the bad. Instead of investing in cleaner, long term solutions, this bill brushes aside our nation's future energy needs in order to provide nearly 8 billion of taxpayer dollars to the oil, gas and other traditional energy industries to promote short-term, polluting energy sources. These tax incentives should not be going to industries that are thriving, but should be used to invest in our future by increasing research funding for alternative energy sources such as wind energy, fuel cells and fusion.

Everyone knows that we have a serious energy problem in this country. Our dependence on foreign oil affects not only our economy but also our national security. We will never drill our way to independence domestically. Yet we have an energy bill that is stuck in the past that yet again seeks to drill a little deeper, in a few more places.

We need a responsible and sustainable approach to addressing our nation's energy needs. On behalf of the residents of the 12th District, I pledge to continue to work toward the development of a balanced, comprehensive energy plan--one that finds environmentally friendly, sustainable ways to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and slow the degradation of our planet.