Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. I rise in opposition because the author of this bill is from the great State of California. This bill cuts $850 million out of the State budget, a budget that is already bankrupt. That bankruptcy affects every school district in California, every city and county in California, every hospital in California, every police force and fire department in California.

How can Members say at a time when these States are in such financial need we are going to help them by pulling the rug out from underneath them? This tax cut is the worse thing that could happen to the State of California, and it is shameful that a Republican from California is offering it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to read some headlines from my state of California. These

are just from the last few days, but they are illustrative of the kinds of headlines that we have been seeing across our state during the past year: ``Parents scramble to save popular school programs'', the San Francisco Chronicle, May 8th; ``San Jose faces service cuts, fee increases: Budget plan calls for loss of 231 jobs'', San Jose Mercury, May 3rd; ``Budget anxiety--California's teachers worry about layoff'', Los Angeles Times, May 6th; ``Financial crunch hits extra hard'', Monterey Herald, May 4th; and ``Proposed Section 8 changes feared'', Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 2nd.

Across the state of California, both statewide government agencies and local municipalities are feeling the crush of the approximately $35 billion budget shortfall. The state is looking for help. We are asking, much like New York City did in 1975, for help from our national leaders. And, much like Ford did in that day, the President and Republican leaders here in Congress are sending a message to California: G.O.P. to California: Drop dead.

The so-called ``stimulus package'' proposed by Representative Thomas calls for--depending on who you listen to--somewhere between $300 and $500 billion in tax cuts. Included in this package is legislation that would do away with taxes on dividends.

What the President and the Republicans, and even Representative Thomas, a California, have not told you is that this elimination of taxes on dividends will not just affected the amount of revenue coming into the federal government, it will also affect the amount of money collected by the states. The Legislative Analysis office of the State of California has calculated the State will lose approximately $850 million in income tax revenues if dividends are no longer counted as taxable income. $850 million. This will only serve to increase the budget gap that already exists. I am fairly certain the returns to individual California as a result proposed will not be as great as the losses the entire state.

Unlike the Senate proposal. Thomas' proposal does not include any direct assistance to the states. In fact, the President is seeking to cut funding entirely to programs that have been beneficial to California.

The COPs program has been a wildly successful program in the state of California, which provided 437 more police officers on the streets in California last year. What does Bush do? He eliminates the funding from his proposed budget.

The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program assists California in jailing alien criminals. What does Bush do? He eliminates the funding in his proposed budget.

Section 8 housing funds for low-income citizens, administered by the HUD, has provided millions of families into housing across the nation. Sure, it's not a perfect program, but the President would like to see the states administrater the program instead. He claims this will save the Federal government money--but it he at all concerned with the costs, administrative and otherwise, but will be passed onto the states as a result?

There is not one penny in this legislation to assist the states. There is not one shred of hope for the state of California, or the nearly 250,000 people who are unemployed, in this bill. How can anyone in the California delegation allow our state to suffer? How can you present them with this kind of legislation and not offer them any kind of assistance? I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill and allow the Democratic substitute to be debated--which includes $40 billion in direct assistance to the states. Otherwise, I can see the headlines now: ``State Falls Deeper into Debt''; ``More jobs eliminated''; and ``Schools closing across California.''

Let's change the headlines. Let's do it now, vote down the Thomas bill and consider the democratic alternative immediately.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Fred Levy, an extremely gifted educator who dedicated much of his life to expanding horizons for his students. Mr. Levy, an instructor at Cabrillo College for over 30 years, passed away April 9, 2003, at the age of 69. A valued teacher, husband and father, all who knew him respected Fred for his passion and sincerity. Mr. Levy is survived by his

wife, Robley Levy; three children Rebecca, Barnaby, and Elizabeth; and six grandchildren.

Mr. Levy was born in 1934 in Cairo, Egypt, where his father was working as a correspondent for the New York Times. At the age of 7, Sadie Miller, a family friend took him under her wing and fled Egypt to escape impeding Nazi troops. They went to great lengths to avoid the Nazis and eventually traveled up the coast of South America and the United States until they reached New York. Fred's parents arrived shortly thereafter, and the family remained in the city until Fred graduated from Amherst College in 1955. Mr. Levy went on to serve in the United States Army, retiring only to pursue a master's degree in poetry at Stanford University.

Mr. Levy was appointed to the Cabrillo College faculty in 1963 as an instructor in both English and speech. Immediately deemed an integral part of the staff, Fred became a much loved teacher that students would seek out for advice and support. Fred was a proactive educator and successfully introduced new academic programs to Cabrillo with the intentions of increasing the variety of subject matter presented in the classroom. Colleagues marveled at his ability to turn shy first-year students into confident university bound scholars through these programs along with his engaging lectures. Not only was Fred passionate about teaching, he also enjoyed acting and directing in Cabrillo College's theater production company. Those who knew Fred best noted that he was also a Shakespeare zealot and frequently organized trips to Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. Fred retired after a long and successful career in 1995.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my condolences to Robley and the Levy family during these difficult times. His legacy as a devoted teacher and scholar will blossom as his students apply the lessons taught in his classroom to succeed in life. Those who had the pleasure of sharing Fred's company have and will continue to benefit from his sincere appreciation of life and education.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment.

California is the most diversified, the biggest user of energy. Why did we get there? Because we said no to the oil companies, we said no to offshore drilling, we said no to more drilling, because we said yes to developing alternative energy. We developed alternative energy in wind and solar, in geothermal and biomass.

Guess what, we have private venture capital. We attracted America's brightest to develop alternative energy.

The only way we are going to solve our energy problems is to get off our addiction to oil. With the thinking on ANWR, they would drill right here in the Capitol if there was oil under this building.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to those who are silent: the many youth in our high schools who are afraid to speak of their place in our society because they are gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Today marks the National Day of Silence in which we celebrate the diversity of our population, but mourn the population's ignorance and intolerance toward that diversity.

I commend my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), for introducing H. Con. Res. 86, which memorializes the National Day of Silence. This resolution encourages each State and local jurisdiction to adopt laws to prohibit discrimination and harassment against persons of alternative sexual orientation or gender identity. This is a goal I applaud and support.

It is hard to believe that in a country dedicated to the principles of freedom and individual liberty that some persons still experience out-and-out harassment because they are not heterosexual. This is especially true of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth who literally fear for their safety at school and on the street, where they are subjected to violence, hatred and taunts.

The National Day of Silence is a way to raise awareness of this issue and to work for the justice of those most vulnerable among us: our youth. I ask you all to support H. Con. Res. 86 and to support the National Day of Silence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my strong support for H. Res. 179. The recent crackdown by the Cuban government on political dissidents is without reason or measure. The Cuban government must recognize that if it wants to become a full member of the family of democratic nations, and re-establish ties with the United States, it must abide by the fundamental rules of a democracy. At the very top of that list is freedom of expression.

I believe that the United States can assist Cuba in its move towards greater freedom and openness. The American Congress and the Administration can lead by example, by lifting the travel ban, and lifting the trade embargo. How can we advocate for greater freedom when we prevent American companies and consumers from benefiting from trade with Cuba? How can we call for greater openness when we do not let American citizens exercise

their constitutional right to travel freely, to Cuba if they so desire. America can also lead by example by avoiding needless antagonization of Cuba. Wherever they are, our diplomatic community must always act diplomatically.

Current U.S. policy towards Cuba has proved a failure. It makes no sense to continue down the path of isolation. The recent actions by the Cuban government, while reprehensible, do not change that central fact. U.S. policy should be based on U.S. national interests, not a system of rewards and punishments for good or bad behavior. In this instance, the Cuban government has behaved badly and they should be properly sanctioned for it, in America and in the world community. This resolution is an appropriate measure. I do not think, however, that it should affect policy. This should not lead to greater restrictions. To the contrary, the response should be greater exchange between the U.S. and Cuba. Greater freedom and openness will lead to a more free and open Cuban society. As we call on Cuba now to change its policy, we must also ask ourselves what we can do to have a more free and open policy. Lifting the travel and trade ban on Cuba would be a good start.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Faul, a dedicated and exceptional educator and military serviceman who served the Monterey Peninsula for over four decades. George, who was always known as Bob to his friends and family, passed away March 29, 2003 at the age of 84.

Bob and I have been neighbors and friends for years. Anyone who has lived in the close-knit community of Carmel, CA, where I was raised and still live today, can speak to the feeling of community that exists there. Through his work, many advances have been made towards providing students from all backgrounds with quality education throughout Monterey County.

Bob began his educational service shortly after World War II, traveling to community colleges to help them gain accreditation. At that time, the California community college system was growing fast to meet the demands of our returned soldiers, sailors and marines, and Bob saw a chance to make a difference. It was during his time as a guidance counselor at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia that he met his wife Pat, who has also been an active community member. Pat served for many years on the board of the Monterey Airport, and was always involved in the daily life of the students and faculty at Monterey Peninsula College. As the longest-serving president of Monterey Peninsula College, Bob immediately saw a need for greater outreach to students from underserved populations and set about creating those networks.

His service in the military during World War II helped instill that sense of public service, a feeling that he carried with him his entire life. Besides being president and a member of the board of trustees for the college, Bob served on the boards of many local organizations such as the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Monterey Museum of Art, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Carmel Bach Festival, Circle Theater and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Mr. Speaker, Bob Faul was an exceptional person, and I am proud to be able to honor him in this way. He and his wonderful wife Pat have been outspoken and energetic community members, and I wish to express my condolences to her and their son Robert on Bob's passing.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to this Supplemental Appropriations bill. I must admit that I opposed the war that this bill is funding. This war is the result of failed diplomacy. This war cost us valuable allies, and now it is costing us our lives. It will also cost us--the American taxpayer--billions of dollars.

In the last Persian Gulf war, we relied on our allies. The war cost the U.S. about $61 billion, but almost all of it was reimbursed. The amount of money in this one Supplemental--larger than the entire cost of the first Persian Gulf war--is the largest Supplemental in history. At about $75 billion, this Supplemental is larger than the entire budget of the State of California.

My opposition to the war, however, is not the principal reason for my opposition to this bill today. I oppose the bill for two reasons: First, because it leaves our first responders at home--our ``troops'' on the homefront--without complete protection. Second, I don't believe this bill addresses another emergency--repairing U.S. relations with the international community and its representative organizations, such as the United Nations and NATO.

The Emergency that this bill supposedly addresses is American security. While we must remain concerned with the impact of international affairs on American security, first and foremost, American security begins at home. Our attention as Congress, must therefore be focused on protecting the territory of the United States from attack. That was the danger we faced on September 11th. That is the apparent reason that we intervened in Afghanistan and now Iraq, and in other countries across the globe.

This bill inadequately addresses the security needs of the United States. We are spending $62.5 billion for military activities in this bill, and only $4.25 billion for ``Homeland Security''. Our troops overseas should be secure in the knowledge that their loved ones here are safe from any form of domestic terrorism.

An amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin would have addressed some of these needs, but the Republican leadership did not allow the amendment to be debated on the floor of the House.

This bill also purportedly addresses the future of rebuilding Iraq. It provides $2.4 billion for ``Relief and Reconstruction''. The sum is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the Iraqi people. We, the United States, are in the process of bombing their country, destroying their infrastructure. And when the war is over (which I hope will be soon), we will ask them to rebuild and form their country into a democracy. This bill provides more money for another airline bail-out than it does to provide the foundations of an Iraqi democracy.

Moreover, the money for reconstruction in Iraq--which is supposed to cover a huge range of activities including health, education, transportation, rule of law, agriculture--comes with no apparent structure or oversight. The post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq can provide the U.S. an opportunity to rebuild its frayed alliances with the international community, an opportunity to work with the United Nations and to strengthen its credibility, credibility that was undermined by the unilateralist approach the Administration has taken previously towards Iraq. This bill shows no vision of an international civilian administration in post-conflict Iraq, one that will be crucial to winning the peace. This task, as has been demonstrated in Afghanistan, could be far more difficult than a successful war campaign.

My vote today is in no way a vote against American troops in the field. Their safety is foremost in my thoughts; I hope that they will return quickly to safety of their homes. My vote, rather, is a vote against the priorities of this Administration and the Republican majority, priorities that place an offensive war abroad above defensive protection at home. Priorities to place short-term, unilateral quick- fixes over international solutions which are sustainable in the longer- term.

This vote is about current U.S. foreign policy and about what direction we are heading in. I think that we are supporting the wrong priorities and are heading in the wrong direction, and that is why I am voting against this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the League of United and Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and in particular the local Monterey County LULAC Council 2055 LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic community organization in the United States. LULAC Council 2055 reflects that tradition and has enjoyed a distinguished 25-year history of community service.

LULAC Council 2055 has worked cooperatively and collaboratively with a wide array of people, organizations, and businesses to promote and advance the economic, educational, political and civil rights of the Latino population of my Central California district. Mr. Speaker, as many people from my district and in this body are aware, I am a firm believer in the power of collaboration to achieve great ends. I believe that LULAC Council 2055's continuous activism and partnership with other neighboring organizations is one example of the power of teamwork.

For the past 5 years LULAC Council 2055 has raised more than $100,000 in scholarship money for deserving high school students. In November 2002, the League worked to pass several important local school bond measures that will bring $30 million to middle schools in Salinas, California. In the upcoming years, middle students will learn in new, renovated, and modernized classrooms. This will mean great progress in relieving student overcrowding. Along the same lines, LULAC Council 2055 helped pass a bond measure to renovate Hartnell Community College, which serves the people of the Salinas Valley.

LULAC Council 2055 continues to work with various civil rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Rights Coalition; Coalition of Minority Organizations; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; Salinas Action League; and the United Farm Workers of America to achieve equality, justice and peace for all people.

Furthermore, LULAC embraces diversity by organizing social and cultural events for the Latino community such as the Orgullo Latino Dance, Cinco de Mayo, 16-de septiembre, and Teatro Campesino night.

I applaud the efforts of LULAC and those who support their mission to advance and maintain the rights of the Latino community as well as others. Mr. Speaker, I hope that all my colleagues will join me today in applauding the 25 years of public service that LULAC Council 2055 has brought to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in ``shock and awe.'' I am in shock and awe of the courage and bravery that our military women and men have shown overseas in the fight to liberate Iraq. They fight our fight, and they do it without question because their Commander-in-Chief asked them to.

I rise today also in ``shock and awe'' of the actions this past Thursday on the House floor. Late in the night, the budget resolution passed by the skin of its teeth, but those teeth still cut deep. They cut deep to the tune of $14.6 billion in unspecified cuts to mandatory veterans' benefits programs with $463 million of that coming in the next year. Ninety percent of those cuts come from cash payments to service-disabled veterans, low income wartime veterans and their survivors. Montgomery G.I. Bill education benefits, vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs for service-disabled veterans, and subsidies for VA home loans also face cuts at the very time when troops fight through sandstorms and fierce enemy resistance. While at war, their benefits are stripped down to avoid ``waste, fraud and abuse.'' Do government programs helping low-income veterans or service-disabled veterans fall under ``waste, fraud and abuse?'' According to the Republican Leadership in the House, they do.

Along with mandatory spending, VA discretionary spending takes a tremendous cut as well: $14.2 billion over the next ten years, and 96 percent of discretionary spending is veterans' health care. Priority 8 veterans have already been declared ineligible, and co-payments will increase for pharmaceutical drugs and primary care. In reducing discretionary spending, the Republican budget prevents more veterans from receiving health care and makes room for its tax cuts benefiting the wealthiest Americans, Americans who probably don't have children in fatigues. During wartime, this is shameful and disrespectful to the military women and men who make secure the very freedom that we enjoy.

The ``shock and awe'' campaign apparently is not limited to military conflict in Iraq. It has engaged the budgetary process and threatens the ability of the U.S. government to care for its own. If we all support our troops and wish the swift return home of American daughters and sons, how can we find it in ourselves to cut funding to programs that extend a hand to the soldiers that said, ``No, you stay here. I'll go?'' There is no justice in it, and no pair of night-vision goggles will see justice in the budget passed last Thursday night.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an invaluable public servant, Mrs. Rita Bowling. Mrs. Bowling recently retired from her post as a member of the Board of Supervisors for San Benito County, which is located in my Central California District. Mrs. Bowling has been a beacon of public service who sought to make San Benito County a better place by tirelessly advocating for the principles of the county residents whom she served.

Mrs. Bowling was born in Rouyn, Quebec, Canada. She moved to Hollister, California, with her family in 1946. She has lived in San Benito County continuously since then and attended local schools. In 1964, she married Mr. Linden Bowling.

For 30 years, Mrs. Bowling began working in the insurance business, and eventually owned her own agency, reminding this community that the American dream is possible through hard work and integrity.

Mrs. Bowling not only set an example for the residents of this county, but opened doors for future generations of women when she was the first woman to serve as the Foreperson of the San Benito County Grand Jury. She sprung those doors open again when she became the first woman elected to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors in 1987. Mrs. Bowling represented San Benito County's 3rd District on the Board from 1987 to January 2003, a 16-year record of public service. Mrs. Bowling served as Chairperson to the Board of Supervisors in 1991, 1995, 1998, and again in 2002. She presided over that body with great skill and with an immense sense of responsibility to the people of San Benito County. Her decision not to seek election to a 5th term means a gain for her family, but a loss to the community. She leaves a legacy of achievement that we all can admire.

In addition to her service on the board, Mrs. Bowling participated with the San Benito County of Governments (COG) where she diligently worked to improve San Benito County's transportation infrastructure. Mrs. Bowling also served on the Veterans Memorial park Commission for nearly 14 years during which time she was instrumental in obtaining funding and community support for improvements to the park, including, ball fields and restrooms benefiting the community.

Widely respected for her uncommon common sense, for speaking with candor and clarity and for her principled stands on the issues, Mrs. Bowling never withdrew from an opportunity to speak directly to the Issues at hand. San Benito County will miss her ``Ritaisms''. All those who worked with Mrs. Bowling, share my admiration for the unmatched dignity and professionalism that she brought to her four terms on the board.

Through her enormous sense of decency, fairness, generosity, and commitment to the residents of San Benito County, Mrs. Rita Bowling has made it a better place for all residents. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to recognize Rita Bowling.

Mr. Speaker, through all the debate over attacking Iraq, it is important to remember how the threat of the United States attack on Iraq affects our youngest constituents.

Here is a letter that I just received from one such concerned constituent in my district, 7-year-old Nathaniel Smith from Capitola, California.

Dear Congressman Farr, My name is Nathaniel and I am 7

years old. I just want to say that I do not think the war is

a very good idea. War is not a good way to solve problems,

and it is a bad thing to happen in the world. It might

destroy other people's property like houses and schools.

People that are not in the war can die because soldiers might

miss.

War is dangerous for nature. The money for war can go to

schools. My school, Capitola Elementary, might close because

my school does not have enough money. Please do not have a

war.

Sincerely, Nathaniel Smith.

This youthful expression of concern eloquently captures the sentiment of so many Americans, young and old.

I would like to add my voice to that of Nathaniel Smith in urging the Commander in Chief who ordered this war to cancel it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my youngest and bravest constituents, Angel Gonzalez. Angel is California's Ambassador to Foresters Champions Across America and the Children's Miracle Network program that honors remarkable children who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges. Today, Angel enjoys the fun and games of most five-year olds, but it wasn't long ago that would have seemed impossible.

Angel was standing with his Grandmother outside the oil change shop where his Mom works in Salinas, California, when a car in one of the service bays suddenly accelerated and crashed through the closed door of the shop. Angel was hit by the car and suffered severe head trauma and internal injuries. After emergency surgery and 10 days in a coma, there were no doubts that Angel was truly a fighter. He pulled through not only because of the good work of his surgeons and nurses, but because of determination and will power. His courage and determination has been crucial in his progress on the long and difficult road of rehabilitation. Over the months, Angel has made remarkable progress, gradually regaining his speech and motor skills. Through the continuing and laborious physical therapy, Angel has maintained his positive attitude and brought a playful approach to the challenges of his continuing recovery.

Angel's recovery is a remarkable testament to his strength and perseverance and the wonderful treatment he received at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. As California's Ambassador, Angel has traveled to Washington, DC to bring hope to other children who are fighting for their health, and to recognize the important role that children's hospitals play in providing specialized care for kids. I would like to congratulate Angel on his amazing recovery and his position as an inspiring role model to all people who face adversity. I am honored to be able to recognize the resolve and support of Angel, his family, and their community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sam Karas. He passed away on February 26, in Monterey, California. He was an actor, an activist, a salesman, a storyteller, a singer, a dancer, a father, a husband and most notably, a friend. He is survived by his wife, Edie, his three daughters Penelope Lockhart, Judith Karas, and Rachel Holz, and four grandchildren.

Sam was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, by a poor family of Greek immigrants. Growing up he loved three things: ``The Shadow'' pulp novels, apple pie and basketball. Upon graduating from high school, he moved to Monterey to serve as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II. Despite lacking a college education, Sam was able to quickly rise to the rank of 1st lieutenant, and his enrollment in the armed services was the beginning of what would be a lifelong dedication to public service.

Among others, Sam served on the board of trustees of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and was one of the original organizers and board members of the Human Rights Commission. Sam also served with the California Coastal Commission, the Natividad Medical Center Foundation, the Monterey Jazz and Pop Festivals, the Wharf Theater, the Monterey Film Commission, the California Film Commission, and the Monterey Peninsula College board of trustees. In addition, the ACLU, the NAACP, Monterey County, the Sierra Club, and the Carmel Meat Company, which he founded, have honored him.

Sam started this small meat company shortly after marrying his wife Edie in Monterey in 1944, and he sometimes cooked large pots of stew for the homeless along the railroad tracks. Owning this company gave him many other opportunities to reach out to the homeless, a cause that remained close to him over the next half a century and spurred him to become entrenched in the Monterey community.

It was frequently said that Sam represented the wrong communities of Monterey County, as he was mostly concerned with issues such as poverty and health care--issues pertinent to the Salinas Valley, not the Monterey Peninsula. Sometimes the trivial complaints of his constituents bothered him, but that was Sam's character: he wanted to help the people that truly needed helping. A smooth-talking, glad- handing politician he was not. Sam often came at his opponent with disheveled hair, fraying suits and sweaters, and a penchant to comment bluntly, but he never shied away from confrontation. He had an innate sense of right and wrong, and he pursued justice doggedly. He wanted the best for everybody.

The Central Coast of California has mountains and beaches, but on behalf of this House, I wish to celebrate the life of Sam Karas: a man whose spirit made Monterey County a scenic paradise and a more just society.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John Delaware Otter. He passed away on November 20, 2002, at the age of 85, surrounded with family at his home in the Carmel Highlands. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette Weld Otter; daughters Marjorie Sue Bruneau, Nancy Clark Otter, Alice Rebecca Fontes; and sons Lee Worth Otter, John Delaware Otter Jr., and Robert Weld Otter.

John was born on November 11, 1917, in Fresno, California. Upon graduating from the School of Forestry at the University of California at Berkeley, he later completed civil engineer training, and eventually served as Captain in the 97th Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

During WWII, John was sent to work on the Alaska Highway. With the Japanese occupying parts of the Aleutian Islands, the Army commissioned a road to be built connecting the

lower 48 to Alaska so supplies could be transported to Alaska. In 1942, John, the company commander, worked through winter temperatures so low that the oil in the trucks froze in order to complete the ALCAN Highway, now known as the Alaska Highway. He continued his service in the South Pacific as an engineer.

A registered civil engineer and licensed land surveyor, John dedicated the remainder of his life to the environment of the Central Coast. He worked for the California Department of Forestry and was a board member of the California Oak Foundation, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, the Society of American Military Engineers, the American Society of Arboriculture, and the Carmel Highlands Fire District, where he was also the chairman. He is credited with devising Monterey County's first slope density formula, for determining allowable development density in the original Carmel Valley Master Plan.

While many of his accomplishments involved the forests and state parks, John loved the Pacific Ocean enough to call it his favorite ``fishing hole.'' He appreciated the marine life tremendously and that appreciation evolved into a need to protect the marine environment. Carmel Bay State Ecological Reserve existed thanks to the efforts of John, and was the forerunner to the National Marine Sanctuary.

An honest person with a great sense of humor, John wouldn't talk about himself because he was humble to the core. Once, he pulled his car over to make a phone call from a public telephone and found a dime in the change slot. He used that dime to make his call, and before leaving the booth, he reached into his pocket and replaced that dime with one of his own. He was that kind of guy, and he made people around him feel like they could be anything they wanted because he treated them with an equal amount of respect, instilling a sense of pride in the individual. Treating everyone with honor made him honorable.

On behalf of this House, I wish to celebrate the extraordinary life of ``Jack'' Otter, a man whose honesty and ingenuity made for better lands and better people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kim Heiman, winner of the 2003 Walter B. Jones NOAA Excellence Award in the Category of Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study. Her study of marine ecology and in particular the spread of invasive species has brought her well-deserved acclaim and promises to answer many scientific questions about the physical and biological changes invasive species make on marine communities.

Born in Iowa, Miss Heiman has lived in a variety of locations including Colorado and Japan. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2000 from New College in Florida. Currently she is a third year Ph.D. student in Ecology and Evolution at Stanford University and works out of Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California.

Increasing numbers of foreign species in the nation's harbors and estuaries can have detrimental effects on native habitats. Miss Heiman analyzes the spread of a marine tubeworm discovered as an invasive species in California's Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in 1994. This tubeworm species builds large, hard reefs on the muddy ocean floor, thereby creating three-dimensional structures. She examines these new structures to determine if they result in more habitats where other invasive species can live, and her preliminary results show that the worm reefs have more invasive species compared to other substrates in Elkhorn Slough. Miss Heiman also studies whether the spread of other invasive species correlates with the spread of worm reefs, and this appears to be the case in Elkhorn Slough. The importance of her work rests on the application of her results by coastal ecosystem managers struggling to fight a continued spread of invasive species. Miss Heiman's results from Elkhorn Slough thus far suggest that the spread of invasive species may be mediated by the removal of hard substrates.

Through basic ecological research, Miss Heiman continues to develop conclusions that could help curtail the spread of invasive species and possibly restore our nation's seaports and harbors. On behalf of this House, I commend Kim Heiman on her excellent graduate research in the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and her strong interest in helping answer the difficult problems that ecosystem managers face everyday.