Floor Statements

Before I give my prepared remarks, I'd like to say that one of the reasons that I am so supportive of the Democratic proposal is because it does not have nuclear energy reliance which has a nuclear waste problem that no one has been able to solve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important legislation which will help our Nation move towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

This bill provides necessary tax incentives for electricity produced from renewable resources, including wind, solar and geothermal. These incentives will provide badly needed assistance to clean renewable energy companies in my home State of Nevada and throughout the country that are working to diversify our Nation's energy portfolio and clean up our environment.

Power from the sun and wind and geothermal are unlimited. And these

entrepreneurs are ready to build and expand our renewable energy resources as soon as we in Congress give them the tools they need to move forward.

Energy independence is not just an environmental issue or an economic issue, it's a national security imperative. We pay exorbitant prices for oil from countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, who support and finance terrorism and terrorist attacks on America and our allies. We must stop funding both sides of this war on terror. By encouraging the development of renewable energy and energy independence, this bill helps move this country in the right direction.

Our Nation has only 3 percent of the world's oil reserves, and yet our energy future is being held up on the fantasy that we can drill our way out of our energy problems.

Mr. Speaker, we need to move ahead and grow our clean energy resources instead of relying on old 20th-century technologies like nuclear, that is not clean or safe or inexpensive, or industries like oil that pollute our air and contribute to global warming to satisfy our Nation's energy needs.

Let's invest in our energy future by supporting this good piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the WestCare Foundation, headquartered in Las Vegas, which is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year.

The WestCare story begins in 1973, the same year that saw the launch of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In that year, a residential treatment program called Fitzsimmons House, or ``Fitz House,'' was begun in Las Vegas. Adopting the therapeutic community treatment modality, Fitz House focused on long-term care for hard-core adult male heroin addicts. Within a few years, WestCare responded to the community's need for expanded substance abuse and mental health treatment and made available services to women and individuals abusing drugs other than heroin.

By 1981, the Fitz House program had expanded to include adult outpatient and day treatment services, as well as substance abuse education. Within 3 years, they acquired what is now known as the Youth Residential Program for Adolescents, and one year later they added a day treatment component for probationers and parolees. Collaboration with Juvenile Court Services and the Nevada Association of Counties led to the establishment of the Regional Family Resource Center in 1986 to provide crisis intervention, substance abuse assessments and referral/ placement services for youth and families. In the following year the agency that began as Fitzsimmons House officially adopted the name of WestCare.

By 1992, WestCare had extended its focus on special populations to include school-based substance abuse education and prevention for Hispanic youth. Soon neighboring states were beginning to take notice. After meeting with a group of citizens from the tri-state region of Laughlin, Nevada/Needles, California/Bullhead City, Arizona, the Colorado River Region Youth Service Project (CRRYS) was established in Mohave County, Arizona to address gaps in services for youth corrections and child welfare referrals. Ironically, the program was based in a facility originally constructed to conceal a 10,000-square foot marijuana-growing operation shut down by the DEA.

That group of citizens from the tri-state region would become the first in a series of local boards which oversee WestCare's community- based agencies. That pattern was soon repeated in Fresno, California when WestCare assumed the fiscal and clinical management

of The Third Floor. Originated in 1974, the program provides critical substance abuse treatment and prevention programs as well as support services for the homeless and families in need--over 3,000 persons annually--and is currently one of the largest community-based programs in California.

From there, WestCare expanded its efforts to the other states now covered by its work (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada and the Virgin Islands.) Now, under the direction of its national leadership, over 1,100 dedicated staff members provide care at 74 service sites. But Nevada retains the distinction of being home to the WestCare Foundation National Office.

Today, the WestCare Foundation is a national non-profit organization with a depth of experience in providing the full continuum of substance abuse and addiction treatment services, including a broad array of health and human services, in both community-based residential and outpatient treatment environments. Specializing in those historically considered difficult to treat, the WestCare family of organizations provides quality substance abuse treatment services to adults, children and families throughout its service areas.

Madam Speaker, I know you share my excitement and pride in the work of West Care and join me in congratulating them on 35 years of exceptional service in the community.

Mr. Speaker, despite the disaster of the Bush-Cheney energy plan, House Republicans continue to insist on the same old energy policy that favors bigger profits and more breaks for Big Oil. Rather than working across the aisle to provide much-needed relief at the pump, House Republicans have blocked every effort to responsibly invest in renewable energy and take the one action that would have brought down gas prices immediately, releasing oil from the government's own stockpile.

This week House Republicans will have an opportunity to prove that they really do support all-of-the-above energy strategies. We hope to bring a comprehensive energy package to the House floor that promotes efficiency, conservation, invests in renewable sources of energy, and responsibly increases domestic supply by opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf to drilling.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have a choice to make this week. They will stand by their own words by supporting this legislation or they will once again support Big Oil.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlelady for yielding to me and for her leadership. And I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley) for his leadership on this and so many other issues, and my dear friend, Mr. Bilirakis, who has done such a remarkable job in the time that he has been in Congress.

I rise today as a proud cosponsor of this resolution, but I am deeply troubled that it even needs to exist.

It is often said that a society can be judged by the values that they teach their children. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to say that there is no more fitting commentary on Hamas and its principles than the shocking hate-filled television programming they broadcast to indoctrinate their children. For those who still believe, contrary to everything else, that Hamas is merely a political organization or a social organization, they should look no further than their television sets to see a Mickey Mouse look-alike teaching children how to wear explosive belts, or Bugs Bunny teaching children to kill and even eat Jews. This is absolutely outrageous uncivilized behavior. And far from laying the groundwork for peace, Hamas is sowing the seeds of yet another generation of terrorists who value martyrdom and death above all else. Instead of protecting their children, they are putting them in harm's way.

Indeed, just this weekend during a cease-fire with Israel, Arab media reported that Hamas is continuing to conduct military exercises in residential areas. It is just further troubling evidence that they are all too eager to put their children in the line of fire. Instead of teaching their children mathematics and geography or really enjoying a Mickey Mouse and a Bugs Bunny character, they teach their children how to fire missiles and maximize casualties, and using cartoon figures to do it.

I submit to you today that true peace will only come to the Middle East when terrorist organizations like Hamas stop indoctrinating their children with hate, stop treating their children as cannon fodder, and start building a positive, stable future for their children.

I urge support for this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to say farewell to the Skentaris Family, the operators of the food service in the Ford House Office Building, and to thank them for their fifteen years of outstanding service to the United States House of Representatives.

Jordan Skentaris, the patriarch of the family business, came to the United States through Ellis Island from Greece on April 17, 1955. Jordan began his food service career in New York City and eventually settled in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where his family operated restaurants for 30 years. In January 1993, Jordan, his lovely wife Soula, and their wonderful

children--daughter Artemis and son Christopher--began their service to the House in the Ford House Office Building. Their unwavering commitment to serve the needs of every customer to the fullest extent possible no matter who they are--and regardless of their political affiliation--has endeared them to Members, House staff, Capitol Police and visitors. This was particularly evident as the Skentaris family made sure their customers and employees were taken care of during 9/11 and anthrax. Since the Ford Building was closed for weeks following the anthrax attack, this was no easy task, but they persevered and found a way to keep continuity of service without missing a beat to the customers and community they so value.

Many times we hear people say that Capitol Hill is a family. I would like to say that the Skentaris family has not only been part of the Capitol Hill family, they have become my family. Many of the customers who pass through the cafeteria daily are greeted by name. Jordan, Soula, Artemis and Christopher can be proud of the level of service they provide to their customers each and every day.

On behalf of the entire House community, we bid a fond farewell to the Skentaris family and extend our deepest appreciation for their dedication and outstanding contributions to the U.S. House of Representatives. We wish them much success in their future endeavor at the Voice of America where I, my staff and hundreds of others will follow them--not only for their delicious food, but for the warmth and considerate service they provide to all who enter. They will be sincerely missed.

I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I rise tonight in support of this bill. I want to thank Chairman Edwards and Ranking Member Wamp for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of this Nation's veterans, and for including report language on veterans burial benefits.

I'm deeply concerned about the eroding value of plot allowance and burial benefits provided to our Nation's veterans. Because the benefits are not indexed to inflation, their value continues to diminish each year. As a result, families and State veteran cemeteries have been left to cover the increasing costs of burying their loved ones. The VA simply must assess the need to increase the plot allowance of burial benefits to cover the same percentage of burial benefit costs that were covered in 1973 when these benefits were first initiated.

I appreciate the fact that the chairman has included the report language in the report the need for increasing burial benefits for our veterans.

I'm also pleased that the committee recognizes the importance of veterans' mental health and substance abuse services. This is an issue of great importance to me. I had a constituent by the name of Justin Bailey. He volunteered to serve this Nation, he was sent to Iraq, he served with honor and distinction. And when he returned, he developed a substance abuse problem. At the suggestion of his parents, he checked himself into a VA facility, and even though he was suffering from a substance abuse problem due to PTSD and other mental health issues, he was given more medication while he was in the VA facility. And he ultimately ended up overdosing while he was in the care of the VA.

Unfortunately, Justin is not an isolated incident. There are thousands of young men and women returning from service overseas that come back with a mental health problem or substance abuse problem or PTSD. I'm very delighted that this committee and Chairman Edwards have recognized that this is a crisis and this bill increases funding for mental health and substance abuse services for our veterans.

Again, I want to thank Chairman Edwards and Ranking Member Wamp for recognizing the importance of these issues, and I would like to urge my colleagues to support this legislation without reservation and without continuing to add on things that do not belong in this bill and are not germane.

Let's stand up for our veterans, and let's stand up for them this evening.

I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Ellsworth, for giving me a few moments of his time in order to sing the praises of Nevada's National Guard. I particularly want to thank my colleague from Nevada, Dean Heller, for having the good sense and good taste to introduce this resolution honoring our National Guard. I am very grateful to him for that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution and in deep gratitude to the members of the Nevada National Guard who have made so many sacrifices to serve our country and my home State of Nevada.

Since 9/11, more than 1,850 of our soldiers have mobilized to support the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's 64 percent of our Nevada Guardsmen deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. As we speak, 263 Nevada National Guard members are serving on active duty in support of a number of operations around the world, with 136 of them currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These brave men and women have had to endure years of separation in long and difficult tours of duty overseas. Their service takes an enormous toll on them and their families, and this resolution is just a small token of our appreciation. Some of them have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for that we will forever be in their debt and the debt of their loved ones.

I want to highlight the actions of just one of these brave soldiers. Specialist Douglas Pierce of the 221st Cavalry was recently presented the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in Iraq on June 3, 2007. Specialist Pierce was providing escort security when his convoy came under attack. After escorting the convoy out of danger, Pierce returned to the area under enemy fire to provide medical aid to wounded soldiers. He didn't have to go back into the area, but because of his brave action, one of the soldiers he assisted is alive today and recovering at Walter Reed Hospital.

I am also proud that this Congress is giving back to those like Specialist Pierce who have served our country so bravely. We recently updated the GI Bill for the 21st century, increasing education benefits for those who have served since 9/11, including reservists and members of our National Guard. We have once again restored our promise to our veterans by guaranteeing a 4-year education for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and providing members of the National Guard with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace. And, at long last, we have finally given the same benefits to our National Guardsmen as we have long provided the rest of our Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, the debt we owe to our soldiers can never be fully repaid, but I hope this Congress, and I'm confident that this Congress, will continue to support them as much as we possibly can.

I urge support for this resolution. Before I yield back, I want to thank my colleague from Nevada once again, Mr. Heller, for introducing this resolution. I appreciate it, and I know the Guardsmen and their families do as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate once again the anniversary of Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, beginning in 1974, lasting up to the present time. The division of Cyprus has wreaked havoc on the island nation and left its Turkish- occupied section in disarray. It is cruel that the Cypriot people should continue to be subjected to this conflict.

Two summers ago, we were all pleased to see the two sides reach a major breakthrough in the troubled history of this divided island. After years of conflict, both sides committed themselves to the reunification of Cyprus based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and political equality. By agreeing to these principles, they recognized the status quo is unacceptable and that continuing it only hurts Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Now, the two parties have set up working groups and committees so they can begin implementing the agreement they reached in 2006. In just a few days, Cypriot President Christofias will meet with his Turkish counterpart, Mr. Talat, when they will review the progress of these working groups. It is my hope--and I believe my colleagues share in my feeling--that the two sides will soon be able to begin full-fledged negotiations, leading to a final status agreement and the removal of all Turkish troops from the island. Last fall, this House expressed its support for these efforts by unanimously passing H. Res. 405, of which I was a proud cosponsor.

Madam Speaker, we urge the two parties to move forward in their discussions and, at the same time, we urge the international community to step back and allow the Cypriots--and the Cypriots alone--to make the decisions affecting their future. No one can force an agreement on them.

Mr. Speaker, I want to especially thank Chairman Frank for doing an extraordinary job on behalf of the people of the United States of America through this piece of legislation.

I have a statement that I would like to submit for the Record. But I want to make a few additional comments.

This legislation may be the single most important piece of legislation that I will vote on for the people that I represent. One out of every 122 homes in my congressional district is in foreclosure. The home builders aren't building; the Realtors aren't selling; the construction workers aren't working. That is contributing to a higher than the national average unemployment rate in my congressional district.

Now, I have heard my colleagues on the other side of this bill talking about this is a boon to speculators, and how sharks are going to be taking undue advantage of the provisions of this bill. This is not what I am seeing in my district.

I am seeing desperate Americans, people, our neighbors and our friends, losing their home. They are worried. They are looking to their government to get some relief. This legislation provides that relief. I support it without qualification.

The American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act will strengthen the Nation's mortgage and housing situation in a number of important ways.

The bill takes steps that will both improve the current housing situation and strengthen oversight to prevent similar problems in the future. This is especially important for Nevada, which has experienced the highest rate of foreclosures in the country for well over a year.

This bill modernizes and improves the FHA and the GSEs to better measure risk and provide stricter oversight and includes proposals to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The bill will help a significant number of families in danger of losing their homes by allowing the FHA to insure up to $300 billion in refinanced mortgages.

The bill also includes important tax provisions such as the $7,500 first-time homebuyer refundable tax credit and a new standard deduction for property taxes in 2008.

I am hopeful the combined effect of the provisions of this package will be to alleviate the current housing crisis and help put our Nation's economy on stronger footing.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I want to thank Chairman Berman for yielding some time, and my dear friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congresswoman from Florida, for being the prime sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the victims of the July 18, 1994, attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Argentina. I remember being rocked to my very core when I learned of this unprecedented and ruthless attack against innocent members of the Jewish community in Argentina when I first learned of it 14 years ago.

This vicious attack, which killed 85 innocent people, has been linked strongly to Hezbollah and to the government of Iran. We know all too well that Iran's saber rattling has become far more alarming of late. Hezbollah is gaining strength in Lebanon and anti-Israel, anti-Jewish groups have threatened Jewish targets all over the globe.

It is therefore vital we do everything we can to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice. With this resolution, we applaud Argentina's efforts and urge our own President to provide law enforcement support to the government of Argentina. We also call on the Saudi regime to stop turning a blind eye to this growing threat and choose to help, rather than hinder, those who are fighting terrorists in their Middle East neighborhood.

Lastly, and perhaps most important, we ask all the nations of the western hemisphere to stand together in calling Hezbollah what it truly and really is, a terrorist organization, and not just a political party.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I urge support for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2176.

I believe this bill will lead to an unprecedented expansion of off- reservation Indian gaming by offering a blueprint to any Indian tribe that wants to circumvent the laws regulating Indian gaming in order to build a casino outside the boundaries of its sovereign territory.

And let me show you, Mr. Speaker, what I'm talking about. We are looking at the two Indian reservations that have requested this special interest legislation. The land they are talking about is hardly an ancestral part of their reservation. It is 350 miles away from their ancestral lands where they already have a casino.

As a Las Vegas Representative in Congress, I do not oppose gaming. I can attest to the positive impact that gaming can have on a community. I have no problem with other communities trying to replicate the Las Vegas experience, and I support the right of tribes to participate in gaming on their reservations, as both of these tribes already do.

But the bill we are considering today is an attempt to circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, using a bogus land claim, a bogus land claim that has already been tossed out of State court and Federal court, and the result if this bill passes will be two new off- reservation casinos more than 350 miles from the lands of these two tribes.

Now, why are they coming to Congress? Because they have lost in State court. They have lost in Federal court. They do not comply with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. So what do you do if you want a casino 350 miles away from your reservation? You find a friendly Congressman to introduce special interest legislation in Congress.

How do we know this land claim is bogus? In his testimony before Congress in 2002, the chairman of the Sault Saint Marie Tribe called this land deal ``shady,'' ``suspicious'' and ``a scam,'' until his tribe partnered up with the shady, suspicious land deal, and all of a sudden switched his position.

But more than 60 tribes across this country have announced their opposition to H.R. 2176, in which Congress for the first time would allow a tribe to expand its reservation into the ancestral lands of another tribe for the express purpose of gaming.

This bill is opposed by the Department of the Interior, the NAACP, UNITE HERE, and a unanimous House Judiciary Committee. To sum up the issue: Congress is being asked to pass special interest legislation benefiting two tribes, each of which already has

gaming, based on a suspect land claim that has already been thrown out of court, so they can open casinos hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands, in direct competition with existing facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here today with Chairman Conyers and Congresswoman Kilpatrick to share my opposition to H.R. 2176. I believe this bill will result in an unprecedented expansion of off-reservation Indian gaming by offering a blueprint to any Indian tribe that wants to circumvent the laws regulating Indian gaming in order to build a casino outside the boundaries of its sovereign territory.

As Las Vegas's representative in Congress, I do not oppose gaming. I can attest to the positive impact that gaming can have on a community. I have no problem with other communities trying to replicate the Las Vegas experience, and I support the right of tribes to participate in gaming on their reservations, as both of these tribes already do. But the bill we are considering today is an attempt to circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act using a bogus land claim that has already been tossed out of both Federal and State court, and the result if the bill passes will be two new off-reservation casinos more than 350 miles from the lands of these two tribes. And beyond that, if this bill becomes law, any one of the more than 500 recognized Native American tribes can argue that they have the right to sue private landowners in an attempt to bargain for gaming somewhere else.

How do we know the land claim is bogus? In his testimony before Congress in 2002, the chairman of the Soo Saint Marie tribe called it ``shady,'' ``suspicious,'' and ``a scam.'' Soon thereafter, his tribe became a party to the deal and switched its position. But more than 60 tribes across the Nation have announced their opposition to H.R. 2176, in which Congress for the first time would allow a tribe to expand its reservation into the ancestral lands of another tribe for the express purpose of gaming.

This bill is also opposed by the Department of the Interior; the NAACP; UNITE HERE; and a unanimous House Judiciary Committee. To sum up the issue: Congress is being asked to pass special interest legislation benefiting two tribes, each of which already has gaming, based on a suspect land claim that has already been thrown out of State and Federal court, so they can open casinos hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands, in direct competition with existing facilities that have helped revitalize a major American city.

If this bill is brought to the floor, I will strongly urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise once again in strong opposition to H.R. 2176. I believe this bill will lead to an unprecedented expansion of off-reservation Indian gaming by offering a blueprint to any Indian tribe that wants to circumvent the laws regulating Indian gaming in order to build a casino outside the boundaries of its sovereign territory.

This debate is not about the right of American communities and Indian

tribes to participate in gaming. I have no problem with other communities trying to replicate Las Vegas' experience, which has been so very successful, and I support the rights of tribes to participate in gaming on their reservations as both of these tribes already do. But the bill we are considering today is an attempt to circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by using a bogus land claim, a bogus land claim that has already been tossed out of both Federal and State courts.

Now, our proponents say that we are here because we want to improve a legitimate land claim and want to have justice for our Indian friends. Well, justice has already been served. This bogus claim has been thrown out of Federal court and State court.

The result, if this bill passes, will be two new off-reservation casinos more than 350 miles from the lands of these two tribes. And 350 miles is a very substantial amount. It is from Washington, D.C. to Cleveland, Ohio. And beyond that, if this bill becomes law, any one of the more than 500 recognized Native American tribes can argue that they have the right to sue private landowners in an attempt to bargain for gaming off their reservations. Let's circumvent the Indian gaming laws, come directly to Congress, and Congress can end up spending all of our time approving Indian gaming casinos on every street corner in every American city.

How do we know this land claim is bogus? Because the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe called it shady, suspicious, and a scam until he joined with the other tribe and switched his position.

More than 660 tribes are opposed to this legislation in which Congress, for the first time, will allow a tribe to expand its reservation into the ancestral lands of another tribe for the express purpose of gaming. This bill is opposed by the Department of the Interior, the NAACP, UNITE HERE, more than 60 tribes across the United States, and by a unanimous vote of the Judiciary Committee.

To sum up this issue, Congress is being asked to pass special interest legislation benefiting only two tribes, each of which already has gaming.

This, remember, is based on a suspect land claim that has already been thrown out of the State and Federal courts so that they can open up a casino hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands and in direct competition with existing facilities.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this very bad piece of legislation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to end this myth about competition.

How can anybody claim that the gaming casinos are afraid of competition and the free market when the tribes are playing by a different set of rules? Talk about unfair competition, the Indians don't pay taxes on their casinos, and that's why they are so successful. So I don't want to hear any nonsense about competition and fear of competition. That's a lie.

Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in honor of one of America's finest broadcast journalists and most effective community leaders, on the occasion of his retirement this month.

Robert Stoldal has achieved well-deserved legendary stature over his 41-year career at Las Vegas' CBS affiliate, KLAS-TV, Channel 8. Bob's insistence on the highest journalistic standards of accuracy, thoroughness, fairness, and aggressiveness established a clear benchmark of professional values which has been followed by hundreds of journalists, videographers, producers, and editors. Uniformly, those who have worked for Bob credit him with improving their professionalism through his guidance and the example he sets.

Bob is a good friend of mine, and he has my highest respect as a newsman and as a preeminent leader of the city we both love so much, Las Vegas. Bob has led the charge for community causes too numerous to mention, even as he has led one of America's top local newscasts for decades.

Bob and his corps of news professionals at Channel 8 and sister station, Las Vegas NEWS ONE, consistently earn the highest honors awarded by the national broadcast news industry. At the same time, Bob Stoldal worked successfully for television cameras to gain access to courtrooms; battled over the years to preserve Nevada's historical legacy; gained recognition across the Silver State as an authority on Nevada history; and, devoted himself to the growth of his alma mater,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Fostering Connections to Success Act. The provisions contained in this bipartisan legislation will benefit thousands of children and will help to promote stability and permanency in their lives.

The ultimate goal of our Nation's child welfare system is to promote safe, stable and permanent homes for America's most vulnerable children. The provisions of this bill will help to accomplish this by allowing States to continue foster care assistance for kids up to the age of 21, authorizing Federal assistance to relatives assuming legal guardianship of children for whom they have cared as foster

parents, and extending and improving the Adoption Incentives Program.

While much more remains to be done to ensure the safety and well being of our Nation's foster children, I support this legislation as a commonsense and much needed first step in the right direction.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my best wishes to Dr. Joseph Jaushieh Wu and his family. After representing the Republic of China (Taiwan) for 1 year and 2 months, the Wu's will be leaving Washington this month.

Ambassador Wu graduated from National Chengchi University in Taiwan and earned his Ph.D. in political science from Ohio State University. He taught briefly at Ohio State and later at his alma mater, National Chengchi University. In 2002, he began his government career as Deputy Secretary-General to President Chen Shui-bian. From 2004 to April 2007, he was the chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council. He is the author of a number of publications, most notably, Taiwan's Democratization, published by Oxford University Press. In April 2007, he was appointed Taiwan's Representative to the United States.

As we all know, Taiwan has been undergoing profound political changes in recent years. With his strong communication skills, Ambassador Wu has given countless briefings to administration officials, senators, representatives and the media about Taiwan's internal politics, while at the same time, deftly highlighting Taiwan's willingness to negotiate with the People's Republic without pre-conditions. He has rightly emphasized Taiwan's strong political and cultural ties to the U.S., its trade relations with us, and its cooperation in combating global terrorism.

Today our government maintains a robust relationship with Taiwan because of leaders like Dr. Wu. We consider Taiwan a democratic ally and a strong trading partner. Nevertheless, due to the lack of official diplomatic relations between our two countries, it has not been always easy for Ambassador Wu to serve as interlocutor between our two governments. Despite all the challenges, Ambassador Wu has served his country with distinction and helped to strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.

I wish Ambassador Wu and his family the very best.