Floor Statements

Under clause 2 of rule XII, bills and reports were delivered to the Clerk for printing, and bills referred as follows:

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia: Committee on Government Reform.

H.R. 22. A bill to reform the postal laws of the United

States, with an amendment; referred to the Committee on

Judiciary for a period ending not later than May 27, 2005,

for consideration of such provisions of the bill and

amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee

pursuant to clause 1(1), rule X (Rept. 109-66, Pt. 1).

Ordered to be printed.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 227) recognizing and honoring the contributions of Indian Americans to economic innovation and society generally.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 227, which I introduced to recognize the contributions to our Nation of Indian Americans, and specifically the graduates of the Indian Institutes of Technology.

After winning independence in 1947, India began building a democratic nation to provide its citizens with equal opportunities.

One of the successes of the new nation was the Indian Institute of Technology, or IIT, which was established in Kharagpur in May, 1950. Today there are seven IIT campuses across India. IITs have become synonymous with excellence in technology and engineering education.

Since the inception of IIT, thousands of graduates have sought and achieved the highest levels of professional successes in the United States and indeed throughout the world. IIT graduates are estimated to have stimulated the creation of over 150,000 jobs in the U.S. Most Silicon Valley firms have at least one IIT graduate among their top executives. In my district in Northern Virginia, we literally have dozens of IIT executives running their own companies, producing thousands of jobs. Almost all IIT alumni attribute their success to the rigorous educational foundation they received at IIT.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. has attracted more IIT graduates than any other country because we remain on the cutting edge of the science and technology fields. In recognition of IIT graduates' contributions to our Nation, the second Global IIT Alumni Conference will be held in nearby Bethesda, Maryland from May 20 through 22. The conference will attract over 1,500 attendees from all over the United States and around the world.

Mr. Speaker I am pleased that the House is recognizing the achievements of Indian Americans and IIT graduates in helping to make the United States the global leader it is. Indian Americans are wonderful ambassadors of their homeland, and they strengthen the strong friendship between India and the United States, the two largest democratic nations in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in recognition of the important contributions made by Indian Americans and IIT graduates to our national economy. I thank the House India Caucus and all the cosponsors for their support of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I just want to thank the gentleman from Illinois on the other side of the aisle for helping us bring this bill to the floor and the gentleman from Louisiana, a Rhodes scholar and one who has brought credit to his heritage, to his State, and this body by serving here.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, section 978 creates two new Senate-confirmed assistant secretary positions within the Department of Energy. This change would increase the total number of Senate-confirmed assistant secretaries in the Department from six to eight.

The Department of Energy has been plagued by management problems for years. Since 1990 GAO has designated contract management at DOE as a high-risk area for waste and mismanagement.

A recently released GAO report requested by the Committee on Government Reform confirms that DOE contract management should remain on the GAO high-risk list. Additionally, the DOE Inspector General has reported for years that the Department is not doing enough to protect its facilities and materials from threats to our national security.

While the issues that these proposed assistant secretaries would be responsible for no doubt are important issues, adding an additional layer of bureaucracy does not elevate the issue. DOE management will not improve as a result of adding these new layers. In fact, the new position could have the opposite effect by slowing down the decision- making process.

In addition to adding more unnecessary bureaucracy to the Department, this section adds to the ranks over 500 positions in the executive branch that go through the cumbersome Senate confirmation process. I have yet to be convinced that requiring positions below the secretary level through the confirmation process in the other body yields better candidates or more effective governmental administration.

Our Committee on Government Reform, which has jurisdiction over the Federal civil service and therefore the creation of new layers of bureaucracy, unanimously agreed to strike this section from the energy bill when the committee marked up our provisions last week.

Unfortunately, when the broader energy bill was cobbled together before coming to the floor, the provision was

not only reinserted, it was added to by creating two new Assistant Secretaries rather than just one.

Based on conversations with my colleague that support the creation of these new positions, this is an issue that I pledge to work with them on as the bill moves through the conference. Of the two new proposed positions, one is simply an elevation of a preexisting Senate-confirmed post within DOE, whereas the other is a brand new Senate-confirmed position.

For the time being, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I would ask that maybe the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) could yield the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) any time that he would have remaining, so that she could make a case.

The gentlewoman in opposition to the amendment has no time because the gentleman has taken her time. I have 3 minutes remaining. I can give her 2 of my minutes. If the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) can give her a couple of minutes, she can make her case against our amendment.

We will see how much time she takes. If the gentleman can see how much time she takes, and then we can give the balance to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

I have a gentleman from our side who wants to speak in favor as well. We will try to accommodate the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent each side be given 1 additional minute.

Mr. Chairman, I yield my 3 remaining minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute on each side.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I just want to say to my friends on the Committee on Science that while we continue to stand in opposition to the creation of new bureaucracy as a way to solve the problems, I think there may be some kind of middle ground, as the gentleman has addressed, and I pledge as we move forward to work with them to try to find a solution to the issue they have identified with this Assistant Secretary for the Office of Science.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

Bob received a B.S. in 1962 from American University located in Washington, DC. He joined the Smith Companies in 1959 where he served as president, chief executive officer and director until 2001. Rob is a member of the boards of directors of Vornado Realty Trust and Archstone-Smith Trust. Bob also serves as President of the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem which is home to the Kogod Institute for Advanced Jewish Research.

In 1979, the Kogod School of Business at American University was named in honor of a major gift from the Kogods.

Bob and his wife Arlene have demonstrated their deep commitment to James Smithson's vision of the Smithsonian Institution as an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The Kogods are renowned philanthropists as well as world-recognized collectors of American crafts, Art Deco and American Art. They are longstanding members of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's American Art Forum and the Archives for American Art. Bob previously has served as a member of the Smithsonian Washington Council and is currently serving as special advisor to Secretary Small on the Patent Office Building renovation project.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to express my support for the appointment of Bob Kogod as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time, and just note that I rise in support of H. Res. 188, honoring the service of America's firefighters.

Every day these Americans risk their lives to save others. Three hundred forty-five firefighters died at the World Trade Center, but what is not mentioned is that one-quarter of them were off duty. They were off duty, but those firefighters heard the call they were needed. They risked, and in some cases sacrificed, their lives in order to save others.

In America such sacrifices are a daily occurrence. Three times a minute there is a fire call somewhere in the country. Firefighters never know when that call could be their last.

This resolution is a very simple way for us to say thank you for the job you do. We honor you. You make a difference every day.

I urge its adoption.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1460) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6200 Rolling Road in Springfield, Virginia, as the ``Captain Mark Stubenhofer Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1460, the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may require.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1460, which I introduced to recognize the bravery and selfless dedication of Captain Mark Stubenhofer.

Captain Stubenhofer was born in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 18, 1974. He grew up there in the suburbs of this great capital of freedom, and he was an all-American from the start.

Mark delivered newspapers in the morning before school. He worked long after the school day ended doing homework or practicing baseball. He attended West Springfield High School in West Springfield, Fairfax County, and he attended Nativity Catholic Church nearby.

He was elected student government vice president at West Springfield and played varsity baseball. After graduation, he went on to Clemson University where he honed his leadership skills through the school's ROTC program. He graduated from Clemson in May of 1996 and immediately began fulfilling his obligation to the Army.

Captain Stubenhofer was commissioned as an infantry officer and attended both the elite Airborne and Ranger schools. He went on to serve two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During his first tour in 2003, he helped liberate five Iraqi cities. In his second tour, Captain Stubenhofer served as a company commander for the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. He was awarded numerous medals and honors, among them two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and two Army Commendation Medals.

Madam Speaker, during his final tour of duty, Captain Stubenhofer's third child was born, a daughter he asked his beloved wife Patty to name Hope. As he commented in his last phone conversation to his parents, the reason for the name was that it was hope that brought him to Iraq in the courageous

service of his country. Tragically, Captain Stubenhofer never met his daughter Hope. He was killed in combat on December 7, 2004.

Madam Speaker, we owe Captain Mark Stubenhofer, and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, a debt of gratitude that we can never repay.

While we pay homage to fallen heroes like Mark with memorials or post offices, the most fitting tribute is the enduring memory of their lives.

As Pericles, the greater orator, builder and general of Athens, said, for to famous men, all the Earth is a sepulcher, and the virtues shall be testified not only by the inscription in stone at home, but by an unwritten record of the mind which more than any monument will remain with everyone forever.

Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to forever remember Captain Mark Stubenhofer and to keep a record in our minds and hearts of the great works and sacrifices that all of our sons and daughters of the military continue to make on our behalf. Captain Stubenhofer was one of America's finest.

His deeds and sacrifices will forever be remembered by his friends and family and by a grateful community in Springfield, Virginia, who share with me their pride in having his name enshrined on our local post office.

I thank the Virginia delegation for their unanimous support of this resolution, and I ask all Members to pass H.R. 1460.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to simply urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1460.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Neal McBride for being recognized as 2005 Citizen of the Year by the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens' Associations. This special honor is truly well-deserved.

Mr. McBride has been an active member of the community within the South County region since the late 1980's. He has served as the chair or coordinator for numerous civic groups including the South Run Coalition, South County Schools Alliance, the Laurel Hill Development and Arts Center and the Cold War Museum. In addition, McBride has also served as an officer with the Federation of Lorton Communities and Newington Forest Community Association. He is director-at-large of the Occoquan Watershed Coalition, a member of the Lorton Heritage Society, a Lorton Arts Foundation Advisory panelist and a member of the Laurel Hill Planning Task Force.

In 2003, Mr. McBride was honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors with the title of ``Lord Fairfax.'' Mr. McBride, a retired health care management specialist with the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, has lived in South Springfield since 1981.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to express my gratitude to Neal McBride for all of his efforts on behalf of the Mount Vernon area. He has served his community well, truly meriting recognition. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding Mr. McBride's past accomplishments and in wishing him the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Occoquan Watershed Coalition (OWC) of Fairfax County, Virginia.

Established in 1994, the Occoquan Watershed Coalition is a nonpartisan, broad-based citizens group that works to improve communication and expand dialogue regarding major issues concerning the Springfield District portion of this environmentally sensitive region.

The coalition actively works with the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and citizen and homeowner associations to protect and improve both the environment and the quality of life of the area's residents. Specific examples of the OWC's efforts include their involvement in the closure of the Lorton Prison Complex and subsequent redevelopment of the area. The coalition also closely monitored numerous transportation decisions including the refurbishment of the Yates Ford Bridge and paving of Yates Ford Road.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the Occoquan Watershed Coalition for 10 years of dedicated service to its community. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding the OWC's past accomplishments and in wishing the program continued success in the many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Reverend Kenny Smith for his exceptional work in the Northern Virginia community as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Vienna, Virginia, and president of the Fairfax County Branch of the NAACP.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Reverend Smith received a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He continued on to Virginia Union University's School of Theology, where he graduated magna cum laude with a master of divinity degree. Reverend Smith also holds a doctor of ministry degree from Virginia Union University's School of Theology.

Reverend Smith serves as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Vienna and as an adjunct professor at the Howard University School of Theology. He is also the immediate former moderator of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association and was elected in June 2003 as Vice President of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.

During his time as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Reverend Smith has been a model of positive influence in the community. His congregation has partnered extensively with Habitat for Humanity and built several houses for needy families, contributing both labor and funds for materials. Through Reverend Smith's leadership, the church adopted Shelter House, a shelter located in Falls Church, Virginia for homeless families. First Baptist Church has provided Shelter House with toys, gifts, funding and other resources for the residents since 1990.

Reverend Smith's dedication to his community has been recognized by many awards including the Dean's Pastor's Award from the Howard University School of Theology, the Outstanding Achievement in Religion Award from the Howard University Alumni Club of Northern Virginia, the Religious Affairs Award from the Fairfax County Branch of the NAACP, and the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Northern Virginia Baptist Association. He has also been honored by Horizon Community Outreach Group, Fairfax County Public Schools, Old Dominion Bar Association, and the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission.

Reverend Smith has been an invaluable asset to the Northern Virginia community. He deserves to be commended for his work in the community and on his time as president of the Fairfax County Branch of the NAACP.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to express my gratitude to Reverend Kenny Smith for all of his efforts on behalf of Northern Virginia. He has served his community well, truly meriting recognition. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding Reverend Kenny Smith's accomplishments and in wishing him the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Delegate James H. Dillard for over 21 years of dedicated service to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Delegate Dillard has served as Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly from 1972-1977 and then again from 1980-2005. Delegate Dillard represents the 41st District in central Fairfax County. He served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957 and received a B.A. from The College of William and Mary and a M.A. in Political Science from The American University.

Delegate Dillard previously served as a Fairfax County teacher and principal and began his political career as a member of the Fairfax Education Association by working to establish a living wage for teachers in the 1960's. His strong interest in education led him to be one of the original architects of the Virginia Standards of Learning. Additionally, he was chief sponsor of legislation placing a guidance counselor in every elementary school, and has been recognized as National Legislator of the Year by the Guidance Counselors Association.

As Chairman of the Natural Resources subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Delegate Dillard initiated the largest growth in parks and conservation activities in Virginia's history. Delegate Dillard was the author and chief sponsor of the Virginia Soil and Siltation Act which protects streams and waterways from pollutants. He has also worked behind the scenes to ensure the development of the Leesylvania State Park sailing marina, one of the finest facilities of its kind on the Potomac River and has been recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to extend my best wishes to Delegate Dillard on his retirement from the General Assembly. Through his long and distinguished career Delegate Dillard has touched the lives of countless Virginians. While I know that he will be greatly missed, his retirement is well deserved. I call upon my colleagues to join me in honoring Delegate Dillard and in wishing him the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in support of S. 686. This legislation would allow either of Terri's parents to bring suit in federal court for the violation of any right under the constitution or laws of the United States relating to ``the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain Ms. Schiavo's life.

What we are doing is providing Terri Schiavo the same legal protections that we afford a convicted criminal who has been sentenced to death. A Florida judge has issued an order that will have the effect of ending Ms. Schiavo's life, so the least we can do is allow a federal court to review the matter. If we ensure murderers and rapists the benefit of a federal review, we should do it for this helpless woman.

This is a terribly difficult issue for all those involved--not just Ms. Schiavo's parents and siblings, but also her husband. I realize he would prefer Congress stay out of the matter entirely. However, the 14th Amendment states that ``no state shall deprive any person of life . . . without due process of law.'' In this case I believe it is entirely appropriate that we err on the side of caution--all we're doing is seeking a federal review of what has happened in the state courts to ensure that all constitutional rights, all of the basic protections that we afford a criminal, have been afforded to Terri Schiavo as well.

As medical technology continues to improve, we are left with many difficult questions--``right to die issues,'' therapeutic cloning and stem cell research issues. These are questions I sometimes doubt we as men and women are truly capable of answering. In these cases the only thing we can do is follow the law, and the law provides for the opportunity for federal review in cases where a person will be put to death. Thus, I believe Terri Schiavo too deserves this opportunity.

This entire case hinges on what Terri Schiavo herself would have wanted. I am aware of the cases in Florida state courts and the findings they have reached, both in terms of what they believe Ms. Schiavo would have chosen and the likelihood that new treatments could improve her condition. But in this instance I believe we should be as thorough as possible, which is why I support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I include the following exchange of letters between Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., of the Committee on the Judiciary, Chairman Peter Hoekstra of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and myself.

Committee on the Judiciary,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, March 14, 2005.

Hon. Tom Davis

Chairman, Committee on Government Reform,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Davis: In recognition of the desire to

expedite floor consideration of S. 384, ``To extend the

existence of the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial

Government Records Interagency Working Group for two years,''

the Committee on the Judiciary hereby waives consideration of

provisions of the legislation within the Committee's Rule X

subject matter jurisdiction. Specifically, S. 384 extends the

operation of the Nazi War Criminal Interagency Working Group

established by Public Law 105-267. Section 3(b) of Public Law

105-267 created certain exceptions for the disclosure of

records obtained by the Working Group. Section 3(b)(2)(A)

excepts the disclosure of information that would ``constitute

a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.'' This

matter falls within the Committee on the Judiciary's subject

matter jurisdiction under rule X(l)(l)(5)(``Civil

liberties''). Section 3(b)(2)(C) also excepts the disclosure

of information that would ``reveal information that would

assist in the development or use of weapons of mass

destruction.'' This matter falls within the Committee on the

Judiciary's subject matter jurisdiction under rule

X(l)(l)(19)(``Subversive activities affecting the internal

security of the United States''). In addition, section (3)(c)

creates an exception to the National Security Act of 1947.

This section implicates the Committee on the Judiciary's

jurisdiction under rule X(1)(1)(19)(``Subversive activities

affecting the internal security of the United States'')

Finally, Section 3(3) pertains to the disclosure of records

``related to or supporting any active or inactive

investigation, inquiry, or prosecution of the Office of

Special Investigations of the Department of Justice.'' This

matter falls with the Committee on the Judiciary's subject

matter jurisdiction under rule X(l)(l) (``The judiciary and

judicial proceedings, civil and criminal.'')

S. 384 also extends the operation of the ``Japanese

Imperial Government Disclosure Act'' (Public Law 106-567),

which expanded the scope of the Working Group to encompass

the examination of crimes committed

by the Japanese government during World War II. Section

803(b)(1) of this legislation excepts the disclosure of

information that would ``constitute a clearly unwarranted

invasion of personal privacy.'' This matter falls within the

Committee on the Judiciary's subject matter jurisdiction

under rule X(l)(l)(5)(``Civil liberties''). Section 803(b)(3)

also excepts the disclosure of information that would

``reveal information that would assist in the development or

use of weapons of mass destruction.'' This matter falls

within the Committee on the Judiciary's subject matter

jurisdiction under rule X(l)(l)(10)(``Subversive activities

affecting the internal security of the United States'').

Finally, Section 803(d) pertains to the disclosure of records

``related to or supporting any active or inactive

investigation, inquiry, or prosecution of the Office of

Special Investigations of the Department of Justice.'' This

matter falls with the Committee on the Judiciary's subject

matter jurisdiction under rule X(l)(l) (``The judiciary and

judicial proceedings, civil and criminal'').

The Committee on the Judiciary takes this action with the

understanding that the Committee's jurisdiction over these

provisions is in no way altered or diminished. I would

appreciate the inclusion of this letter and your response to

it in the Congressional Record during consideration of S. 384

on the House floor. Thank you for your consideration in this

matter.

Sincerely,

F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Paul VI Catholic High School Baseball Team on their 2004 Virginia Independent Schools Baseball Association State Baseball Championship victory.

The Paul VI Panthers of Fairfax County, Virginia won the 2004 Virginia Independent Schools Baseball Association State Baseball Championship by defeating Bishop O'Connell High School 5-0 in the state title championship game. The Virginia Independent Schools Baseball Association sponsors the highest level championship among all private schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Paul VI Panthers, runners-up in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference South Division, qualified for the state title game by defeating Bishop Sullivan High School 12-2 in the state playoffs. The Panthers then went on to qualify for the state title game by defeating St. Stephen's High School 5-3. The Paul VI Panthers completed the season with a strong 17-12 record.

The following team members are recognized for their leadership, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the entire season: Seniors--Ryne Bromley, Dan Cinalli, Sean Fitzgerald, Mike Geraghty, T.J. Guinan, Jose Herrera, Carl Kaczmarek and Jeff Manthe. Juniors--Ricky Blazquez, Scott Eastment, Chuck Evans, Alex Gregory, Justus Hogge, Trey McMenamin, Will Naylor, J.T. Richardson, and Brian Short. Sophomores--Robert Lamas, Zach Miller, Brett Moore, John Polcari, John Ralston and Scott Walsh. Student Manager--Cam Dugger. Head Coach--Billy Emerson and assistants Dave Beach, Tad Davidovich, Jeff Nolan and Tony Salgado.

The Panthers baseball team displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the regular season as well as postseason tournaments.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to congratulate the baseball team on its successful season. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding Paul VI High School for their outstanding and continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate The Women's Center of Northern Virginia and Washington DC on the 20th anniversary of its Annual Leadership Conference.

The Women's Center, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, has been a resource for women in the workplace from its beginnings. The Center's first conference in 1985 was titled ``On the Job Issues for Working Women.'' Held at the Vienna Community Center, the conference addressed four related areas of professional development: career strategy; development of management skills; networking and mentoring; and work relationships. It was at this event that the Center's hallmark program, The Information and Career Advisory Network (ICAN) was introduced. ICAN makes a customized network of professionals available to each of its participants. As the number of women in management positions grew, so, too, did the scope of the Annual Conference. Recent titles included ``The Global Community of Women,'' ``The Economic Equity of Women,'' ``Caregiving in a Time of Change,'' and ``Women Leaders, Changing the Dynamic.'' With this year's Conference, ``Women in Leadership: Your Success Portfolio,'' the Women's Center continues its legacy of relevance and diversity by addressing the multiple definitions of and opportunities for leadership now available to women.

As the scope and size of the Annual Leadership Conference grew, so did the services of The Women's Center. Founded as a counseling and educational organization in 1974, the Center now offers a wide range of services and programs addressing the psychological, career, financial and legal issues of women and families. Counseling services, including group therapy and support groups, are now offered to women, couples, families and children. The Center's Information and Referral Service, which acts as a resource gateway for local human service issues, handles about 25,000 calls a year. The Center provides over 50,000 hours of direct client services annually, with approximately 75% at reduced or no fee.

In 2004 The Women's Center was named Non-profit Organization of the Year by the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Also in 2004 The Women's Center opened an appropriations-funded, Washington, DC location. This location focuses on psychotherapy/ counseling and career-related services. Bilingual, reduced and no-fee services are provided to clients through partnerships with 12 social and human service agencies located throughout the District. The Women's Center is currently serving as the central support organization of the DC Cash Campaign, an initiative providing free tax preparation and asset-building services to the residents of Wards 5, 7 and 8 in the District.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate The Women's Center on its comprehensive range of services and unique contribution to the community. On the occasion of this 20th Annual Leadership Conference, I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging this outstanding and distinguished organization.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, let me address my friends on the other side, because they are aware of our traffic problems in Northern Virginia where we have tried to get infusions of money to take care of the second-largest traffic jams in the country, and we have arrived at something called the HOT lanes, these high-occupancy toll lanes that we are looking at for a public-private cooperation that we would use along the Beltway and possibly I-66.

This is a partnership. The Federal Government will fund part of it, but there is just not enough money in the highway bill, or at least we have not been able to get enough money out of the highway bill, if the gentleman would help on that there would be no need for this amendment, to build these extra lanes. We have the private sector coming in and building the lanes, and then the users do the tolls on the lanes, and that is how we lay asphalt. Because there is not enough

money at the State, local, and Federal levels to lay enough asphalt on these lanes; and so we are using tolls in some of these areas.

The current bill contains several provisions that make it difficult for us to collect tolls on the interstate highway without trying to decide how much money people make, and there is almost a means testing into who uses them. It is very, very difficult to determine how much you are going to collect to get your bonds, what percent are low income and what percent are high income, and so we basically knock that out of the current language in this legislation.

I support the provisions that allow the high-occupancy tolls, but I am concerned about the requirement for States to establish procedures to permit low-income individuals to pay reduced tolls. These are user fees. These are not taxes. This requirement would impose unmanageable requirements on those States who would otherwise like to make use of these tolling provisions, and in our case it is the only way we can lay down new pavement.

The Commonwealth of Virginia now seeks to use toll provisions to finance several important projects, including widening of the Capital Beltway, adding HOT lanes to I-95, and adding dedicated truck lanes on I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley. The Capital Beltway HOT lane proposal, which would greatly benefit my constituents, as an example, is a public-private partnership. In addition, the I-81 partnership is another example. These partnerships are increasingly important as Virginia and, I think, other States in the Union grapple with massive infrastructure needs that are not met, even though this bill will help toward our final results.

In this instance, the ability of tolls on a HOT lane to pay for construction has been determined by cost-benefit analysis, which would be skewed by some users not paying the full toll. As we look for these public-private partnerships to take over construction of some road projects, it is important not to set a precedent for eliminating or reducing tolls which could affect bond financing.

In addition, the cost of a bureaucracy to administer a reduced-toll program would add tremendously to the cost of operating a toll facility and I believe would provide a strong disincentive for private investment. The existence of automated tolling technologies does not address the issue. The most fundamental question is how the Department of Transportation would determine the income. It seems to me this would be extraordinarily problematic and would make tolling an impractical option.

Tolls are user fees, not taxes. There are currently no tolling facilities in the country that provide an income-based discount. Furthermore, no other highway-user expenses are regulated by the Federal Government to require discounts based on income: not the gas tax, not the price of automobiles, and not the price of auto insurance. Why do we single out tolls?

Finally, I want to make clear that while I do not think that income- based tolling is a viable solution, my amendment would not stop anybody from doing it. The Governor of Virginia does not think it is practical, but the Governor of another State might have another view, and that flexibility would remain in this legislation if my amendment passes.

Frankly, I would be interested in seeing how a State might implement income-based tolling. But this provision would amount to a considerable mandate upon the States, a mandate I do not believe we should add to their already full plate with growing transportation infrastructure needs. This just takes some of the flexibilities we are trying to employ outside the box now off the table.

So, Mr. Chairman, I would hope the House would adopt this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), my colleague and friend from Northern Virginia.

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

Let me say to my friend, if you really want to help poor people, build additional lanes of traffic and get some of

the traffic off the road so they can get onto the conventional lanes. That is what this does.

This is the only way we have found to lay new pavement in Northern Virginia, unless we can come up with billions more dollars that we cannot get into this bill. Poor people would still be able to use existing roads to get there. This will divert traffic that is currently on those roads into other lanes as well.

I agree with the gentleman in terms of the impact that this has on low-income families, but I think the current language is not the way to do it; and I kindly ask for favorable consideration of my amendment.