Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 171, I inadvertently voted ``aye'' when I meant to vote ``no'' and I would like the Record to so state that had I voted correctly, I would have opposed the Hefley amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the Federal budget should be about meeting responsibilities and setting priorities that will help move America toward a better future. Unfortunately, the Republican Leadership has failed yet again to draft a balanced proposal that meets America's needs. Instead their Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res 376) is a testament to misguided priorities--underinvesting in education, the environment, the economy, and out Nation's veterans, while providing tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and multiplying the Federal deficit to its highest levels ever.

The Republican budget matches the President's cuts in education by slashing $2.2 billion from the Department of Education. This is the second consecutive year in which the Republican Leadership has cut Federal education funding. The Administration's own initiative, No Child Left Behind, is now underfunded by a total of $40 billion since its passage 5 years ago. While the cost of higher education is almost unaffordable for middle-class American families, the Republican budget cuts the Perkins Loan program by $66 million.

The environment also gets short shrift in the Republican budget. The budget resolution cuts the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by $199 million, including a cut to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The National Park Service, perennially underfunded by the Administration and Republican majority, is cut by $102 million. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which funds important programs for the Central Coast like the Bay Watershed Education and Training (BWET) Program and the National Marine Sanctuary Program, is cut by 6 percent.

H. Con. Res. 376 provides $228 billion in tax cuts that primarily go to the wealthiest of Americans. While tax cuts to the rich are extended for 5 years, Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) relief, which affects millions of middle- income taxpayers, is only extended for a year. In addition, the budget resolution increases our already huge deficit. Over the next 5 years, the budget resolution counts a total of $1.2 trillion in the Social Security trust funds to partially offset these record deficits. This is sham accounting and saddles our children and grandchildren with huge debt.

As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with oversight over the Veterans' Administration, I am deeply concerned about Republican cuts to veterans' health care. H. Con. Res 376 proposes spending $6.6 billion less on veterans programs over the next 5 years, while the U.S. fights a global war on terrorism. We are a nation at war, and our men and women in uniform are making extreme sacrifices. Yet, the Republican Budget Resolution increases fees for TRICARE, the military health care program: Fees for retired officers will triple, double for retired senior enlisted personnel and increase by 40 percent for junior enlisted retirees.

The American people deserve better. I will support the Spratt budget substitute that fully invests in education, the environment and the economy and truly reflects the values of the Central Coast of California.

Mr. Speaker, with today's vote on the ``Tax Relief Act of 2005'' (H.R. 4297) conference report, the Congressional Republican Leadership is planning, once again, to give huge tax cuts to the wealthiest one percent of Americans, while leaving 99 percent of Americans with little to no tax relief, a federal government hamstrung by deficits and a future generation saddled with monstrous debt.

I would like to insert into the record a chart from the Tax Policy Center that outlines how much Americans would actually save under this bill. These numbers clearly spell out the priorities of this Republican Leadership:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 90, Conveying the Sympathy of Congress to the Families of the Young Women Murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Encouraging Increased United States Involvement in Bringing an End to These Crimes. I am a cosponsor to this important resolution and would like to thank Representative Solis for introducing this legislation.

For over thirteen years, a stones throw from the U.S. border, almost 400 women and young teenagers have been brutally assaulted and murdered. A disgraceful number of these murders have still not been resolved and many perpetrators still roam free, attacking other innocent women.

Family members of murdered women have worked tirelessly to try to bring justice to their daughters, wives and sisters. They have often faced great odds and opposition from local Mexican officials, yet have continued to fight for the truth and work to try to prevent future atrocities by bringing the rule of law to Cuidad Juarez and Chihuahua. My heart goes out to these families for their losses, and I urge the FBI, the U.S. State Department and all levels of the government of Mexico to reinvigorate their efforts and work to do all that is possible to bring justice and closure to these horrible tragedies.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Eshoo and I rise today to honor the 109th Anniversary of the Abalone Connection, a treasured connection between two Pacific regions, the Monterey Bay and Minamiboso of the Boso Peninsula of Japan. Both regions are centrally located on the Pacific Coasts of their respective regions and share not only the beautiful scenery of the Pacific Rim, but also the abalone fishing culture and the business that developed because of the abundant marine life found in the sea along their coastlines.

In 1897, Gennosuke and Nakajiro Kodani of Minamiboso, and Alexander M. Allan of Monterey partnered to create the first successful deep- water abalone diving business in the East Pacific. Mr. Allan firmly defended his Japanese partners and employees through the tense period of anti-Japanese sentiment in California during the early part of the 20th century.

Their partnership brought a steady stream of highly skilled Minamiboso abalone divers back and forth across the Pacific, bringing Japanese technology and culture to the Monterey Bay Region and taking back American culture to Japan.

Furthering the connection between Monterey Bay and Japan, in the 1990s, historians on both sides of the Pacific began reconnecting the ties between the Monterey Bay Region and Minamiboso that were interrupted by World War II.

In recognition of these connections, on September 3, 2005, the citizens of the Boso Peninsula held a Symposium, titled ``A Bridge Across the Pacific: The Spirit Connecting the Southern Boso Peninsula and Monterey Bay, California,'' which was dedicated to ``giving a peaceful world to our children''. It exemplified the ongoing historic relationship of cooperation begun by the Gennosuke and Nakajiro Kodani and Alexander M. Allan.

Inspired by the Boso Peninsula Symposium, a group of Monterey Bay Region residents decided to hold a similar celebration in Monterey, California to celebrate the 109th anniversary of the connections between the Boso Peninsula and the Monterey Bay Region, as well as the contributions made by the citizens of each region to the history of the other.

Mr. Speaker, we're proud to honor the Abalone Connection as it celebrates its 109th anniversary. After more than a century, the Abalone Connection remains a source of pride for the Monterey Bay Region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional courage demonstrated by Officer Carter Jones, Reserve Officer Scott Christie, and Deputy Stefan Fish on February 2, 2006. The circumstance in which this heroic act was carried out is indeed incredible and it is my privilege to honor the selfless actions these officers performed.

On February 2, 2006, these three individuals assisted in a pursuit of a wanted parolee trying to evade arrest. The wanted parolee was driving a stolen vehicle and had an extensive criminal history, including weapon and narcotic violations.

Officer Jones and Reserve Officer Christie pursued the suspect as he dangerously attempted to evade arrest. Eventually the suspect crashed head-on into another vehicle, engulfing it in flames and pinning his own vehicle against the victim's car.

The suspect had managed to escape from his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. The initial officers on the scene physically apprehended the suspect, despite his continued efforts to resist their arrest. They removed the suspect from the area due to the intense heat of the burning vehicle, only to return moments later to rescue the victims. Deputy Fish attempted to open the victim's cars doors but could not due to its precarious position. As smoke quickly filled the car, Deputy Fish used his baton to smash the rear window. Immediately, Deputy Fish, Officer Jones, and Reserve Officer Christie rushed in and successfully evacuated two children; a 7-year-old girl and her 5-year-old sister; and two adults.

Mr. Speaker, Officer Jones, Reserve Officer Christie, and Deputy Fish risked their lives to rescue four innocent people. Without their quick response under extreme emergency conditions, this incident could have turned

deadly. Their exceptional efforts are admirable and I applaud them for their courage and dedication under pressure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to give voice to those who are silent: the many youth in our high schools and middle schools who are afraid to speak out of their place in our society because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning their sexual identity.

Today marks the 10th National Day of Silence in which we celebrate the diversity in our society, but acknowledge a deep-seated intolerance toward that diversity.

In my district, several efforts are being made to turn the intolerance into tolerance. The Watsonville YMCA has added a group called Latinas y Lesbianas y Aliadas. It is one of the few programs in the Nation dedicated to reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community, which has not historically had access to such support systems. I hope this becomes a national movement.

I am also proud to represent several Shoreline Middle School eighth graders who have been nominated for the Queer Youth Leadership Awards. These brave students have worked to end homophobia and discrimination, making their school or community a safer place for people of all walks of life. These students are joined by their families, but should not be alone in their efforts.

For this reason, I join my colleague Eliot Engel in cosponsoring H. Con. Res. 86 which memorializes the National Day of Silence and encourages each State or local jurisdiction to adopt laws to prohibit discrimination and harassment against persons of alternative sexual orientation.

Madam Speaker, I am very concerned about Iran's nuclear power program. I am extremely opposed to any attempts by the Administration to preemptively strike Iran. We must work multilaterally to bring Iran back to the negotiation table and into compliance with the Nonproliferation Treaty.

While the government of Iran continues to defy international pressure to conform to the NPT, unilateral military action against Iran is not the solution. The repercussions and unintended consequences of a U.S. military attack on Iran are terrifying to contemplate. I personally do not believe that a military strike on Iran would advance U.S. or regional security. I am afraid it could create a backlash against the U.S. that would be a more serious threat than a nuclear Iran. Congress has the constitutional responsibility to debate the commitment of troops or military action, and the obligation to the American people to have an up or down vote before the Administration takes any steps towards military engagement.

The solution to the Iranian problem lies in diplomacy. The Administration needs to work with other members of the U.N. Security Council and gain a strong coalition of support for a diplomatic solution. I urge my colleagues to join me in calling on the Administration to find peaceful means of ensuring Iran's compliance with the NPT.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible career of one of my constituents, Jean Burns Slater, of Hollister. Jean is retiring as superintendent of San Benito High School after a 34-year career in education. I believe that education is critical to the strength of our Nation. The children who are in our schools now will be leading our country before we know it. I am grateful to Jean for her hard work in this department.

In Jean's 3\1/2\ years as superintendent of San Benito High School, she has made great improvements to the district and kept a strong focus on the well-being of her students. She has improved the lines of communication between the district, staff, students and the community. She has brought about the introduction of a leadership team and a superintendent's advisory council for parents who choose to take an active role in their children's education. She understands that the people in the community need to have a voice in the education of their youth, and she is confident that this has been achieved in her district.

In addition to this, Jean has worked with the board of trustees to improve the health of her

students through the introduction of a new wellness policy which includes strict dietary reform. Reform such as this throughout the district will not only help to curb the growing childhood obesity rate, but will also help to improve the performance of students in the classroom. I believe the central coast is an ideal area for the implementation of a policy of this type. We produce an abundance of fresh produce within our district and if students are eating what we are growing right here at home, complying with these new regulations will be a simple, healthy undertaking.

I commend Jean on her contributions to her district and her tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for the children who are the future of our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and congratulate Mr. John Wheeler of Carmel, California. Next week, Mr. Wheeler will be honored as the Small Business Person of the Year for California.

Mr. Wheeler has succeeded through ingenuity and hard work to turn Peninsula Pure Water, Inc., into a very successful business in 8 short years. With the help of a Small Business Administration-backed loan, Mr. Wheeler bought a bottled water company in 1998 with just 50 customer accounts and 70 daily local deliveries and grew the operation into a business with 24,000 customers, and a net income of $275,000. Beyond his resourcefulness and sheer determination, Mr. Wheeler has shown himself to be a model employer, personally training all new hires and offering to pay half of their tuition costs if they attend college.

Small businesses continue to be the engine of both the Californian and U.S. economies. The success of entrepreneurial businessman like Mr. Wheeler reminds everyone that the American dream is still alive and well. I again congratulate Mr. Wheeler on his well-deserved award as the Californian Small Business Person of the year and wish him much success as he continues to expand Peninsula Pure Water, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedicated work and inspiring courage of Curtis Reliford. Mr. Reliford's life story reflects the best of the American Spirit and reveals the incredible generosity to our nation's people.

Mr. Reliford experienced a troubled youth in his native Louisiana. In his early years, he was lured down the self destructive, illusionary path of drugs, alcohol, and money, all resulting in dead ends and unhappiness. Twenty one years ago, after much contemplation and perseverance, Curtis decided to move to California, with the hope of creating a better life for himself. In Santa Cruz, CA Curtis has found himself by aiding those who need a hand. He is an active member of the NAACP, and created his own business as a landscaper, a skill he used, and will continue to use, in Hurricane destroyed New Orleans. Through strong determination, great self-sacrifice, and enduring dedication, Mr. Reliford began his long healing process. He believes, and has proven, his calling to aid those who require and ask for assistance.

The fruits of Mr. Reliford's life transformation have been truly spectacular, not only benefiting our local community, but touching people's lives on a national level. Mr. Reliford is a small business owner and has started a non-profit community support group ``Brothers teaching Brother.'' Most recently, Mr. Reliford has turned his sights back on his native Louisiana. Due to his selflessness, Curtis has been awarded the Jefferson Award from the County of Santa Cruz. His commitment to the assistance of others is inspiring. He also shows no signs of stopping.

After witnessing the devastating destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Reliford, inspired by his daughter's proclamation of ``Daddy, you can do anything!'' decided to focus his nurturing spirit on the people devastated by Katrina. He began taking donations in Downtown Santa Cruz, in order to raise funds for those who lost their homes. Enough was collected to make a life altering trip down to Louisiana. Mr. Reliford has now completed three relief trips to the Gulf Coast, but he believes his work will not be complete until every person who lost their home receives full assistance. Mr. Reliford is setting up a new organization, ``Follow Your Heart Action Network'', dedicated to bringing continued help to people in the South.

Mr. Speaker, it is people like Curtis Reliford that make the United States the great country that it is, and it's truly an honor for me to represent individuals like Mr. Reliford. The service of local members of the community is an asset to this nation, and I applaud Mr. Reliford's contributions. Curtis Reliford's dedication to advancing the condition of human welfare throughout our nation has had a positive impact on countless individuals, and for that reason I rise in honoring him.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my strong objection to the House Republican Leadership combining two separate emergency supplementals into a single bill. The response to Hurricane Katrina and the Iraqi war deserve separate debates and significant oversight and deliberation.

The human suffering that our neighbors along the Gulf Coast experienced and continue to experience seven months later cannot be underestimated. It will take a sustained federal and state, public and private commitment to help those affected get back on their feet. While I support a long-term reconstruction of the Gulf region, I cannot in good conscience vote for this bill.

I strongly believe we need better oversight of supplemental funding bills, particularly those that fund ``the long war.'' There were excellent amendments offered on the floor today that I supported that should have passed if Congress had been exercising its Constitutional oversight role. For instance, I supported an Iraqi contracting amendment and one to prevent permanent bases in Iraq. We cannot become occupiers.

On this third anniversary of the war, our soldiers, our national guard, their families and all Americans deserve better than platitudes from

the Administration. I have repeatedly called for greater Congressional oversight and an exit strategy, while recognizing that our troops have done an excellent job, despite often lacking sufficient body armor or equipment. I welcome the President's statements that troops will be drawn down by the end of the year, but I believe that our soldiers are being placed in an untenable situation, and need to be brought home as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition today to H. Con. Res. 354.

Last year, students at the University of California at Santa Cruz in my district organized a demonstration protesting the Department of Defense's ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy and the presence of military recruiters to campus. How did DOD respond? They sent someone to spy on the protest and deemed the participants, students exercising their constitutional rights, a ``credible threat''! .

Our country was founded on the principle that its citizens have the authority to disagree with their government. As Edward R. Murrow said, ``We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.'' Unwarranted domestic spying is the kind of extreme DOD reaction that concerns me if military recruiters are allowed unfettered access to campuses across the Nation.

The Republican leadership may be eager to endorse the recent Supreme Court decision requiring higher education institutions to provide access to a Government agency that practices blatant discriminatory practices, but my constituents and I are not.

Conditional Federal funding may be constitutional, but discrimination in all practices should not be.

Congress should be working to encourage civil rights and non- discriminatory practices, not endorsing a decision that forces universities to disregard their own values and the constitutional rights of their students. Equating equal opportunity employers with a Government agency that abides by the discriminatory ``Don't ask, don't tell'' policy is unreasonable and unjust.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Monterey Civic Club which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Monterey Civic Club was founded in 1906 with the purpose of working to improve, beautify and promote the welfare of Monterey and help preserve its rich history. Looking back, I would like to applaud the work they have done over the past 100 years, and I look forward to the work they will continue to undertake in the next 100 years.

The Monterey Civic Club is located in the ``House of the Four Winds'', a historic adobe built in the 1830s by Thomas Oliver Larkin, the first and only American Consul to Alta California. This house has undergone many uses, including: a store under Governor Alvarado during the American occupation, headquarters for Secretary of State H.W. Halleck, and the location of the first Hall of Records for the State of California. The Monterey Civic Club bought this historic adobe in 1914 and restored it. Today, ``The House of the Four Winds'' is home to what is believed to be the oldest women's clubhouse in continuous use in the United States.

Since its inception, the Monterey Civic Club has undertaken several projects and donated thousands of dollars to local charities dedicated to improving the quality of life in Monterey. Among its accomplishments are: building a bridge over muddy Del Monte Avenue in 1907, participating in adobe tours, maintaining and preserving the historic ``House of the Four Winds'', and the paintings and articles of historical significance located therein. Another of the club's beneficial endeavors is the lively and traditional ``El Baile de Los Cascarones,'' a pre-Lent ``Cascarone Ball'' held annually since 1939. The ticket sales from this traditional Spanish ball go to local charities and maintenance of the adobe.

Mr. Speaker, it is organizations like the Monterey Civic Club, with their dedication to preserving and improving the character of our local communities that make life unique in this vast and beautiful nation of ours. A distinct sense of identity is created by building upon local heritage, creating pride in the community. It is this sense of local pride that influences people to get involved in their communities, initiating the type of citizen service that our democracy depends on. The Monterey Civic Club's 100th anniversary is a commendable achievement, and I salute the club's numerous accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Not This Time Vets, a Santa Cruz County organization dedicated to ensuring the well being of veterans, both from previous and current conflicts. The organization was created in response to the indifference and hostility Vietnam soldiers faced as part of the Nation's criticism of the war. A non- profit organization, Not This Time Vets is committed to honoring the service and sacrifices of veterans in Santa Cruz County as well as show appreciation for citizens currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world.

Not This Time Vets has demonstrated its appreciation to our veterans by drawing attention to their honorable service as well as advocating on their behalf in regard to preserving veterans' benefits and programs. For the estimated 18,000 veterans in Santa Cruz County, Not This Time Vets works to pay tribute to military service through organizing celebrations, informational events and advocating for effective veterans' support policies. On May 21, 2005, Not This Time Vets sponsored a parade in Santa Cruz, which drew an estimated crowd of 2,000 people. Those in attendance enthusiastically showed their support for veterans of all eras. While Americans may differ in their view of current and previous conflicts, we all need to honor the young men and woman serving this country, past and present. This is a universal point of agreement that Not This Time Vets keeps front and center.

Mr. Speaker, we know military service is a valuable and difficult sacrifice. Organizations like Not This Time Vets provide important services to our communities and veterans by providing a forum through which recognition, respect and appreciation can be demonstrated to those who have served our country. While no gesture could ever remove the scars inflicted by war, Not This Time Vets hopes to heal those physical and emotional wounds by publicly recognizing their service and bringing to light the tribulations they still endure. I applaud Not This Time Vets for the services they have provided to veterans in our community and their intentions to spread their message of healing and appreciation throughout the country.