Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a good friend and great American who passed away tragically on November 18, 2006. Alfie Tewfick Khalil was a native of Egypt who came to this country in the late 1960s. In 1979, Alfie joined the faculty of the Monterey-based Defense Language Institute (DLI) where he taught Arabic to U.S. military personnel. He soon stood out as a leader among the DLI faculty. In 1980, he became a shop steward with AFGE Local 1263, the union representing the DLI faculty. By 1987, he was elected president of Local 1263.

In the post 9-11 world, foreign language is a national security tool. In 2005, General John Abizaid, Commander of U.S. Central Command, testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, that the ``ability to cross the cultural divide is not an Army issue. It is a national issue. We have to be able to deal with the people in the rest of the world as the globe shrinks in terms of communication and problem solving and sharing.'' DLI plays an indispensable role in moving this defense strategy forward. But DLI can't do it without its faculty. They are native speakers of their mother languages who, like Alfie, come from the distant places all over the globe to help our Nation better defend itself.

Alfie understood this and made the advocacy for DLI faculty and staff his life's work. After my first election to Congress, I learned quickly that there were two people I needed to know at DLI: the commandant, a Colonel so and so who would retire or move on in a year or two, and Alfie, who would always be there. Alfie made his presence felt in so many ways.

One of the best examples of this was his hard work on behalf of ``locality pay''--the small salary boost for Federal workers based in particularly high cost areas. Alfie pointed out that Monterey County was, indeed, one of those areas, but that the Federal Government still considered it rural so DLI faculty were paid at much lower rates. Alfie and I worked together for more than 3 years to secure a decision by the Office of Personnel Management that Monterey County-based civil service workers deserved locality pay. This hard work on Alfie's part has helped DLI attract and retain the best language teachers in the world.

Alfie was about more than pay at DLI, however. He was about professionalism. That became clear in the recent fight to keep DLI off the base closure list. Alfie was a never-ending resource to my office and the BRAC Commission. He provided information and statistics on the level of expertise and depth of training of the DLI faculty. With this information it was easy to make the case that DLI could not be recreated anywhere else--that it was dependent on and unique to the talent of the Monterey area. Alfie was a key player in keeping DLI open and in Monterey.

Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for the entire House in sharing our most sincere condolences to Alfie's family both here in the United States and in Egypt and to his extended family of students and colleagues throughout the DLI community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, Army SSG Gene Arden Vance, Jr. Staff Sergeant Vance was tragically killed in action while serving in Afghanistan in 2002. Though I never had the honor of meeting Staff Sergeant Vance, I am saddened by his loss and want to share my own condolences and those of this House with his family, friends, and comrades.

Staff Sergeant Vance, Jr. was born on 30 November, 1963, in Frankfurt, Germany, the son of an Army Special Forces officer. He enlisted in the Army in 1981, after graduating from Oceana High School in Oceana, West Virginia. He served in a variety of posts from Germany to Monterey, finally leaving active duty in 1990. In 1992, he enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard, and graduated from the Defense Language Institute's (DLI) Persian-Farsi Basic Course in 1998. He reentered active duty immediately following September 11th, 2001, and he deployed to eastern Afghanistan with the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in February 2002.

On 19 May, 2002, Staff Sergeant Vance's patrol was ambushed by Taliban fighters in the province of Paktika, Afghanistan. Although critically wounded in the initial attack, Staff Sergeant Vance continued to translate battlefield intelligence for Afghan forces in the area, directing them out of danger. His calm actions and command of the situation saved the lives of two fellow Americans and as many as 18 Afghani soldiers, and helped to defeat the enemy ambush. For his actions, Staff Sergeant Vance was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a ``V'' for valor in combat, the Purple Heart Medal, and the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal.

His actions in combat represented the highest level of bravery and professionalism of the American soldier. His actions also represent the unique heroism of the military linguist. In the conflicts that our nation now finds itself in, languages and their key role in understanding and influencing the cultures that they speak for, are essential to our national security. That is why I feel it is so fitting that the Army has dedicated a new barracks building at the DLI in honor of Staff Sergeant Vance, where his service can stand as an example to the current generation of linguists who are the key to prevailing against the terrorism and instability that threaten America.

On a personal note, I am doubly touched because as the Member of Congress who represents California's Central Coast, I worked hard to secure the funding to construct the barracks building that will bear Staff Sergeant Vance's name. At the time, I was simply working with the DLI leadership to help improve the living conditions for their students. I can't overstate now how proud I am that this building will now bear witness to the heroism Staff Sergeant Vance and in his name, all military linguists who will serve in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to commemorate the Defense Language Institute's 65th anniversary, and to honor its generations of distinguished faculty and students, without whom the freedom and security we enjoy would not be possible.

On November 1, 1941 the DLI (then, nameless and clandestine) commenced its first class in San Francisco, not in a classroom or, much less, at a university. Rather, the crown-jewel of American language instruction and our greatest asset to national security was born in an abandoned airplane hangar.

Sixty students, most of whom were second-generation Japanese- Americans, along with four instructors, undertook an unprecedented exercise: to formally train in the language and customs of our enemies for the purposes of translation and intelligence gathering. Their resulting successes in the Pacific theater paved the way for the modern DLI--an academically accredited foreign language training institution-- the largest in the world--which enjoys the prestige and renown of a world-class university.

Prominent DLI alumni include Air Force Colonel William Fife, a graduate of the Institute's Russian basic course who pioneered airborne reconnaissance during the Cold War. Glenn Nordin, also a graduate of the Russian basic course as well as the Vietnamese advisor course, served as a translator for the

Washington-Moscow hotline, as a deputy chief at the National Security Agency and as Executive Secretary of the Director of Central Intelligence Language Committee. And, more recently, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona, who served as personal interpreter and advisor to General Norman Schwarzkopf during Operation Desert Storm.

The DLI's Foreign Language Center is well situated at the Presidio of Monterey Presidio. Its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Coast make the Institute a natural destination for native- speaking language instructors of the highest caliber. In turn, DLI has greatly enriched our community by creating a locus of culture and learning.

The foreign language training the Defense Language Institute has imparted to ``the best and brightest'' of our U.S. Armed Forces has proven to be one of our Nation's best national security weapons. On March 5, 2005, General John P. Abizaid, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said, ``This ability to cross the cultural divide is not an Army issue. It is a national issue. We have to be able to deal with the people in the rest of the world as the globe shrinks in terms of communication and problem solving and sharing. So this notion of . . . training and educating people here in the U.S., of having the institutions that do it . . . is just so essential.''

``What will win the global war on terrorism will be people that can cross the cultural divide, reach out to those who want our help, and figure out how to make it happen so [those people] can help themselves. That is how we will win this thing,'' continued Gen. Abizaid. ``So we ignore the DLIs and other institutions of military education at our own peril. I very much ask [this] committee to continue to keep those places functioning, because they are national treasures.''

General Abizaid's sentiments resonate to the very foundations of the Institute and fill its halls with purpose and resolve. Cross cultural understanding coupled with the ability to communicate with our friends and enemies in their own languages will promote U.S. national security, economic and foreign policy interests, making the U.S. the leader of the global community.

I am very pleased to join the Secretary of the Army, Francis H. Harvey, the Commandant of DLI, Colonel Tucker B. Mansager, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Defense Language Institute. Monterey is proud of its rich association with DLI and we all look forward to its future success and continued growth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Anna Caballero. Anna first moved to Salinas in 1982 and started a law office specifically to provide excellent legal representation for working people. She promptly became active in town, and due to her immense enthusiasm she was quickly recognized as a community leader. She served on the city council for 7 years, including 4 years as Vice Mayor. In 1998 Anna was elected as the first female Mayor in the 126-year history of the city of Salinas, and has hence served 4 terms.

During her tenure as city Mayor, Anna was a driving force in improving life for the people of Salinas. Some of her most successful projects were the diversification of Salinas's economic base, improving the affordability of local housing, the redevelopment of historic downtown Salinas, and ensuring the permanent funding of the Salinas library. The key to her success was her innate ability to sit people down, get straight to the issue and have them reach a consensus. Furthermore, Anna used her talents to streamline the Mayor's office and develop partnerships with neighborhoods, parent groups, labor groups, school districts, local businesses and the greater Salinas community.

Anna's accomplishments in the community have not gone unnoticed. In 1996, Anna was honored with the ``Athena'' award for ``entrepreneurial excellence'' by the Salinas Area Chamber of Commerce, the most prestigious honor the Chamber can bestow upon a fellow businessperson. In 2000, the Monterey Country Lawyers Association granted Anna the Justice Ribbon Award, the Association's highest award for members who bring distinction to the legal profession through commitment to public service.

Anna has continued to reach out to the community. She is an avid volunteer coach for local baseball and soccer teams. She works with the Mexican-American Women's National Association, ``MANA'', to raise scholarship money for young women continuing to higher education. Anna is also an Executive Director of the non-profit Partners for Peace, dedicated to developing multi-disciplinary partnerships, which share community resources to bring about community change.

Mr. Speaker, I rise once more to applaud Anna Caballero's many accomplishments. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to congratulate her on her successful career, and express my sincere gratitude for her commitment to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of my good friend Marland ``Marley'' Lyle Holte, who was admired by many for his commitment to better the lives of the residents of San Benito County. Marley passed away Saturday, September 16, 2006 at the age of 80, but left a long history of community service. Holte moved to Hollister in 1966 where he was a teacher at R.O. Hardin School for several years before becoming its principal. He served in that position, and later at Rancho San Justo School, for a total of 18 years. Although he retired from teaching in 1987, he never really retired. He started a new vocation in the real estate business and in 1994 opened Crown Realty. That same year, he won election as mayor of the City of San Juan Bautista.

Marley was a familiar face in the community for decades, thanks to his efforts on behalf of the local youth, minorities and particularly the homeless. Friends remember him as a modest person who was reluctant to take credit for his good deeds. Marley served as President of the San Benito County Little League; Commissioner of Hollister's Parks and Recreation Commission; Director of the San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce; Member of the San Juan Bautista Planning Commission; President of 33rd District Agricultural Fair Board; and Chairman of the San Juan Bautista Rotary Club.

Marley founded the Community Assistance Program and provided free dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He started the Christmas dinner tradition about 20 years ago after he and his wife decided to combine their money and feed the needy instead of buying gifts for each other. Several years later they started organizing Thanksgiving dinners as well. The Holiday Dinners began in 1985 and have continued ever since. The annual dinners, which have more than doubled in size since their inception, are funded entirely by donations from area businesses and residents. Holte said the success of the dinners is the result of widespread community support.

Marley was well-liked by many for his ability to build consensus and transcend political, cultural and personal borders. He earned the admiration of the Latino community for his good deeds and was elected President of the San Benito County League of United Latin American Citizens, where he served in that position for 5 terms. Many in the Latino community referred to Marley as the ``Norwegian-Latino'' because of his love of the culture, music and most of all, its people. In addition to serving on nearly every local community organization, Holte had piled up an astounding collection of accolades, including ``Realtor of Year'' in 1993 and the LULAC ``Outstanding Man of the Year'' Award in 1996.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the wonderful things that my good friend Marley gave to all of us. He will be missed by many including his son, Dan. His departure fills us with sadness but his outstanding work is an example to the generations that come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Anna Caballero. Anna first moved to Salinas in 1982 and started a law office specifically to provide excellent legal representation for working people. She promptly became active in town, and due to her immense enthusiasm she was quickly recognized as a community leader. She served on the city council for seven years, including four years as Vice Mayor. In 1998 Anna was elected as the first female Mayor in the 126 year history of the city of Salinas, and has hence served four terms.

During her tenure as city Mayor, Anna was a driving force in improving life for the people of Salinas. Some of her most successful projects were the diversification of Salinas's economic base, improving the affordability of local housing, the redevelopment of historic downtown Salinas, and ensuring the permanent funding of the Salinas library. The key to her success was her innate ability to sit people down, get straight to the issue and have them reach a consensus. Furthermore, Anna used her talents to streamline the Mayor's office and develop partnerships with neighborhoods, parent groups, labor groups, school districts, local businesses and the greater Salinas community.

Anna's accomplishments in the community have not gone unnoticed. In 1996, Anna was honored with the ``Athena'' award for ``entrepreneurial excellence'' by the Salinas Area Chamber of Commerce, the most prestigious honor the Chamber can bestow upon a fellow businessperson. In 2000, the Monterey Country Lawyers Association granted Anna the Justice Ribbon Award, the Association's highest award for members who bring distinction to the legal profession through commitment to public service.

Anna has continued to reach out to the community. She is an avid volunteer coach for local baseball and soccer teams. She works with the Mexican-American Women's National Association, ``MANA'', to raise scholarship money for young women continuing to higher education. Anna is also an Executive Director of the non-profit Partners for Peace, dedicated to developing multi-disciplinary partnerships, which share community resources to bring about community change.

Mr. Speaker, I rise once more to applaud Anna Caballero's many accomplishments. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to congratulate her on her successful career, and express my sincere gratitude for her commitment to the community.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the bill. I represent some beautiful communities in California: Carmel, many of you know, Pebble Beach, Santa Cruz, communities that have built their aesthetics around regulation. And I sat as a county board of supervisor having to manage these recollections.

The author of the bill is right. We have eminent domain. When there is taking, you get compensated. What his bill is about is protecting developers at the expense of property owners. This is going to decrease property values. Decrease property values.

Because you get them to pay for every kind of regulation. Now, all of us know that when you get a benefit, you do it with a responsibility. You get a driver's license, but that does not allow you to drive over 65 miles an hour. In this case, you would have to pay someone, because they bought a car that can go 100 miles an hour, you have to pay them the difference between 65 and 100.

That is what this kind of bill is about. What is the taking? Is it requiring that the trees be left standing? Is it required to have a little bit of a setback? This bill injures property values and should be defeated.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of California's most distinguished historians, Mr. Jacquelin ``Jim'' Smith Holliday II. Jim Holliday was a teacher and author, and was much sought after as a lecturer throughout the State of California.

Jim was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1924. He attended Midshipman School at Northwestern University and was commissioned as an officer in the Naval Reserve. During World War II he served aboard the escort carrier USS Santee in the Pacific theater. After the war he attended Yale University, graduating in 1948 with a major in history. Graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley brought him to California, where he received his Ph.D. in 1959.

His professional career was rich and varied. He was a research fellow at the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, assistant director of the Bancroft Library in Berkeley, executive director of the Oakland Museum of California, associate professor of history at San Francisco State University, associate editor of American West magazine, and lectured at Monterey Peninsula College. As executive director of the California Historical Society, one of his most notable accomplishments was the creation of a large traveling photographic exhibit depicting the story of 110,000 Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II.

Jim is remembered especially for his books on the California Gold Rush. The World Rushed In, published in 1981, and Rush for Riches: Gold Fever and the Making of California, published in 1999, helped Americans to understand the complex drama of the gold rush and its effect on a later urban, industrial America. PBS film producer, Ken Burns, stated, ``No one writes better of California's irresistible past; I am a huge fan.'' I hosted Jim's talks on his books at the Library of Congress.

Jim was also prominent in local activities. As a resident of Carmel, California, my own home town, Jim served on the Forestry Commission and was a trustee of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation. He was one ofthe founders of the Carmel Residents Association, and in 2001 was named Carmel's ``Citizen of the Year.''

Jim was married twice; his first wife was Nancy Adams, with whom he had three children: Timothy, Martha, and William. He is survived by his second wife, Belinda Vidor Jones.

Jim Holliday was often controversial; his opponents remember him as fierce and outspoken. His friends remember his great energy, generosity, and loyalty to principles and friendship. It can be said of him that he made an art of life--and of history.

I recall Jim being one of the persons who symbolized the California saying: ``Bring the Men to Match My Mountains.'' His voice was deep and strong, like the California ocean. His choice of words, big and bold like our Redwoods and his passion for life, universal like thunder.

Mr. Speaker, Jim Holliday lit up the room whenever he walked in--his passing will leave a void, but his works, will fill the gap. We are proud to call him our friend and will sorely miss him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Dan Albert, who is retiring this year after serving as the mayor of Monterey since 1986. His long career represents success, accomplishment, and community service. Dan served on the City of Monterey Parks and Recreation Commission for several years. He is a former member and Chair of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), the one local position that he and I have both held. He was elected to the City Council in 1979 and elected Mayor in 1986, and is now in his tenth term.

But length of service is not everything. When first elected to the City Council, Monterey was in the economic doldrums. The fishing industry was depressed, the tourism industry was moribund and local military economic activity was under constant threat. What a difference 26 years of real leadership makes. Last year the BRAC Commission reaffirmed the indispensable role that Monterey plays in supporting the Defense Language Institute and Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey is the center of a thriving regional tourism economy. Its convention center, its Window on the Bay Park, aquarium, and coastal recreation trail all draw and enrich visitors from at home and abroad. The City of Monterey is a national model for the participation of its citizens in neighborhood preservation and enhancement. All of these trends, and many others, have Dan Albert's quiet leadership at their center. It is a legacy that has made a permanent mark on Monterey.

Dan's previous career spanned 37 years as a teacher at Monterey High School, where he coached the varsity football team for 23 of those years. He and his wife, Joanne, are lifetime residents of the city and both attended Monterey High School. They have four grown children and ten grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am certain that I have not heard the last from Dan, as I expect he will remain an active member of the community, but I do want to wish him and his family the best as they enter this exciting new chapter. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to congratulate the accomplishments of Dan Albert and express my sincere gratitude for his commitment to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 4th Annual Sea Otter Awareness Week, September 24-30, 2006, sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife. This week-long event provides the opportunity to broadly educate the public about sea otters, their natural history, the integral role that sea otters play in the near-shore marine ecosystem and the conservation issues they are facing. The work done by such groups as Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Sea Otter, The Otter Project, and The Ocean Conservancy to recover the southern or California sea otter has raised public awareness and helped protect this important species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Greatly due to their efforts, Governor Schwarzenegger recently signed California Assembly Bill 2485 into law to codify the protections for this important species.

The southern sea otter population has increased considerably from less than 100 otters in the 1930's to more than 2,500 today, though still significantly less than what is necessary to consider the population stable. Since otters continue to face many direct and indirect threats to their full recovery, I introduced H.R. 2323, the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act. I am also working with my colleagues to secure funding to support a continued and complete recovery of the population.

In the past, one of the main threats to the species was the killing of the animals for their fur. However, the decrease in their population that we have seen in recent years is increasingly due to indirect hazards (e.g., non-point pollution, pathogens, entrapment in fisheries gear) that are being identified. Such realizations support the need for continued research and preventive measures to respond to these issues, while continuing to ward against the direct killings/takings that still occur.

The decline of southern sea otter populations not only has impacts on the species itself, but also affects other marine populations and the surrounding ecosystem. For instance, the demise of sea otters allows their prey sea urchins to proliferate unchecked, which leads to the alarming overgrazing of kelp beds--one of the oceans nursery grounds for many marine animals. In particular, research shows that the absence of sea otters has a direct link to the sharp decline of kelp along portions of California's coast. Sea otter research also has proven to be an effective method of monitoring toxins and diseases in the marine environment, both of which can affect the health of humans and other wildlife.

The presence of the California sea otter has become an icon of the state's coastal environment and culture, and these charismatic animals bring significant tourism revenue to Californian coastal communities. Protecting them is not only directly advantageous to the otter population, but also fosters indirect benefits on a greater scale.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the many accomplishments of Defenders of Wildlife and other non-profit environmental organizations, working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, researchers, fishermen, state and federal agencies, schools, and many other institutions and individuals, who devote tremendous effort to protect and recover the southern/California sea otter. Sea Otter Awareness Week is just one of their many activities geared towards honoring and saving this species, and I am proud to be associated with this vital work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of the Salinas Women's Club, which recently commemorated its 100th year of existence. In the century that it has been around, the Salinas Women's Club has contributed greatly to the progress that the city of Salinas has enjoyed through its amazing fundraising abilities and true compassion for the welfare of this city. This organization has helped in several ways, from funding important and needed amenities to awarding scholarships to young people to cleaning up the streets.

The club was founded on August 25, 1906 by a group of active Salinas ladies whose main areas of focus were civic affairs, current events, and public health. The club immediately focused on an overall community need, a library. After circulating a petition for the library, the club pushed the City Council to support and approve the funding for the project. The ladies of the club raised the funds from a variety of events. They held dances, plays, and talent shows, and they sold flower arrangements. By 1915 they had raised the funds and also acquired a grant to build the library.

Because of the success of its first project, the Salinas Women's Club thrived. The club continued to develop community projects such as tennis courts and playgrounds. And in 1923, it funded its own building to be the site for meetings and to be an open environment for all those who wish to express their views about the community in which they live.

The Salinas Women's Club has done so much for the city of Salinas in its one hundred years that the city is indebted forever. This club began the Exchange Student program, which helped to further the cultural aspect of the town. It helped in the founding of Meals on Wheels, and fundraised for the National Steinbeck Center. It promotes music and the arts, and always is willing to help those in need. They entertained soldiers at luncheons and fought against the pollution of the city.

Mr. Speaker, the Salinas Women's Club has contributed so much to the city of Salinas and the surrounding community; I have only scratched the surface of its beneficial and compassionate dedication. I commend the Salinas Women's Club for all that it has done in its one hundred years, and I hope that it will continue for another hundred years with the same service, attitude, and contribution to the community.

Mr. Speaker, as the original sponsor of H.R. 5323, I commend the House far adopting the Proud to Be An American Citizen Act.

I want to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers of the Judiciary Committee for their support of this bill, as well as Mr. Hobson of Ohio for his original co-sponsorship.

H.R. 5323 provides authorization for Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) to support community citizenship ceremonies. A similar provision was enacted into law in the 1996 immigration reform bill, but has since expired.

CIS reports that more than 28,000 new citizens will be sworn in at 133 citizenship ceremonies around the country. These ceremonies are marked by Democrats and Republicans alike. Not only have many of us participated in these ceremonies, but throughout the years, so have President Bush, Madeline Albright, Ronald Reagan, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

H.R. 5323 recognizes those immigrants who have played by the rules and been through this country's rigorous immigration screening process. Legal immigrants have earned their citizenship after years of waiting, high fees, learning English, and a passing grade on a citizenship test. The culmination of this all is taking the Oath of Citizenship.

Every year in my district around the 4th of July, I host a Citizenship Ceremony. This past year, 120 immigrants from China, Fiji Island, Algeria, Canada and other countries took their Oath, and sang our National Anthem and America the Beautiful in a community wide celebration.

Just this month, CIS and the Department of the Interior's National Park Service announced a partnership to welcome new citizens to the U.S. via national parks. In the last week, citizenship ceremonies have been held at Ellis Island National Park in New York to Yosemite National Park in California.

All of us can look back to our own families and find the first generation immigrants. Let us welcome new citizens as we would have wanted our ancestors to be welcomed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Plantronics of Santa Cruz, California on being recognized as one of the ``Top 25 medium companies places to work for in America'' by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This honor is bestowed only upon the most deserving companies in the country who meet high standards of employment.

Plantronics is a hardware company from Santa Cruz that specializes in lightweight headsets and is the market leader worldwide. The company was founded in 1961, and was the first to introduce the lightweight communication headset in 1962, and in 1969 a Plantronics headset carried Neil Armstrong's first words from the moon. Plantronics have remained on the cutting edge of headset technology ever since it's founding and continue to raise the bar in the field.

Each of the companies recognized by SHRM is dedicated to communicating clearly with their employees and encouraging their workers to voice their opinions. In addition, these companies provide generous salaries and benefit packages. In return, their employees are motivated and invested in the organization, making these companies some of the most successful medium-sized businesses in their industries.

Plantronics is known to have flexible hours for its employees, allowing them to take time to participate in exciting activities that Santa Cruz has to offer such as surfing, cycling, and hiking. They have a subsidized on-site cafeteria which serves locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables. Importantly, Plantronics is active in the community, and contributes to local service organizations.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to acknowledge Plantronics for their recognition as one of the best places to work in the country and I wish them continued success.

Mr. Speaker, how long will the Republican Majority continue to bring to this House Floor piecemeal legislation that purports to fix the immigration crisis in our country?

H.R. 4830, H.R. 6094 and H.R. 6095 are not real reform. In fact, these bills are largely a repacking of previously enacted bills dressed up to look like the Republicans are serious about immigration reform. Higher monetary and sentencing penalties, more enforcement and the usurping of du process are all tactics that have been tried throughout the years and have brought us to the situation we find ourselves today. The American people are being duped into thinking these three Republican bills will prevent illegal immigrants from entering our country. I cannot in good conscience vote for these three bills not because I don't want to stop illegal immigration but because they are hollow authorizations without any funding to implement them. What we should be voting on and what I would support is the implementation of the 9/11 Commission immigration recommendations which I have voted for seven times in Committee or on the Floor. Those seven votes would have authorized and funded thousands of new immigration agents and detention beds. Instead we are voting to impose a HUGE unfunded mandate in our local law enforcement by deputizing them to be first line immigration officers. If the leadership in the House and Senate want real immigration reform, they need to fully fund all the immigration agents, detention officers as called for by the 9/11 Commission report.

I do not support illegal immigration and believe that anyone who enters the US in violation of U.S. immigration laws should be penalized. But our country is in need of an immigration policy that accounts for the fears 9/11 instilled, in addition to the hope that immigrants bring to our nation.

Immigration reform should include family reunification, asylum and refugee admissions, and employment-based immigration. It must be compassionate and humanitarian and strike the delicate balance between American jobs, border safety and national security interests. H.R. 4830, H.R. 6094, and H.R. 6095 do none of this.

I urge a ``no'' vote on these bills.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 65.