Brian Bilbray

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, the American people were promised a climate change bill that would address the emissions problems. The problem is that their greatest threat to the environment and the economy from the so-called cap-and-trade bill was the smoke coming out of the back-room deals that were cut to create this monster that's being called cap-and- trade. Frankly, I will just tell you the whole concept that when we had a chance to get government out of the way and build new zero emission generating facilities to be able to provide clean energy for the economy and for the environment, instead of that, this Congress decided to drop the cap and tax, tax, tax. And anyone that's worked on emissions issues will look at this bill in the future and say how could somebody with a straight face go back to their district and say that this bill is going to clean up the environment and help the economy? It is going to continue the pattern of a massive emission while we get the economy driven down. There is no cap in this bill, only taxes.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Thank you. I appreciate the gentleman from California for bringing this item up. Mr. Speaker, one item I would like to discuss is the issue of our neighbors to the south. Every country in Central America has taken on the issue of free trade with the United States. And at great political risk, their political leaders have been willing to step forward and say, for the prosperity of the hemisphere, we must cooperate and work together, not just militarily, not just through aid, but through that long-term relationship of trade. And it is sad to see that while they have the political bravery to do the right thing for their economies and for their citizens, our political system stands frozen in our tracks. Speaker Pelosi refuses to bring forward the agreements that their leaders have been brave enough to step forward and support.

Mr. BILBRAY. I appreciate that. You can imagine the frustration of somebody that sits down with you, negotiates in good faith, give and take, comes down to an agreement, and you tell them, go over and get your country to support it, and then we will go over and get ours, and you go ahead and do your part, you expend the political capital, you're brave enough politically to ask your people to support a proposal, and then you turn around with your partner, who asked you to agree and to move this agenda, to sit there and stonewall and refuse to even allow a vote, that kind of stab in the back with our partners. And these are not partners, Mr. Speaker, that are far away. These are our neighbors to the south. These are people that not only we, but our grandchildren and our great grandchildren are going to be living with for centuries to come.

Mr. BILBRAY. Colombia is a good example of somebody who is brave enough to take on the drug cartels, was brave enough to take on the extreme leftists in their continent and be able to be brave enough to be an American ally. And for us to stiff-arm them and to basically punish them, it appears, for being a friend, who in the world will want to risk themselves of being an ally of the United States? This is the example we're setting. Moving on from Colombia, Panama is really a time-sensitive issue. Mr. Speaker, while we sit here today, Panama is moving forward with an aggressive program to rebuild the Panama Canal, one of the greatest, if not the largest, expenditures that Latin America has seen in our age. We are sitting on the sidelines while Panama is moving and looking to build this new project. And can you imagine at the turn of the last century if America had sat back and allowed other countries to be able to take advantage of the economic opportunities, if Teddy Roosevelt had ignored the challenge of Panama and Central America, where we would be today and how history would be different. Today, the Panamanians are building the canal. They want to buy Caterpillar equipment. They want to buy John Deere tractors. They want to see Bechtel and American companies come down there. They want to create American jobs because they want to have a full prosperity zone down there working with us to build the new canals. While they're waiting to move forward, our political system in this city is stiff-arming them again, freezing them, and doesn't have the political bravery to do the right thing and allow a vote on a proposal that they were brave enough to move forward to. So anyone who's listening to us and is looking at those factories that could be buying tractors, bulldozers, equipment, could be getting the contracts for the canal, just remember, it's your political process here in Washington that's freezing it out giving China and giving people from Iran, giving the rest of the world the leg up to get jobs out of the Panama Canal while Americans are being obstructed.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I submit the following: Requesting Member: Congressman Brian Bilbray Bill Number: H.R. 2996--Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Environmental Protection Agency, State Tribal Assistance Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Carlsbad, CA Address: 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008 Description of Request: I received an earmark of $500,000 for the Vista-Carlsbad Interceptor project (VC4), consisting of wastewater pipeline improvements project, including the construction of a new 24- inch HDPE forcemain, the trenchless rehabilitation (lining) of the existing 24-inch forcemain and refurbishment of pipeline appurtenances. VC4 is one of a number of joint wastewater projects between the cities of Vista and Carlsbad. VC4 is one of two pipelines that convey all of the wastewater from the City of Vista to the Encina regional wastewater treatment facility. In April 2007, the 24-inch ductile iron pipeline ruptured creating a significant sewage spill into the Buena Vista Lagoon. The 2,400 foot long 24-inch diameter pipeline receives flow from the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista. This is the only year of funding needed to complete this aspect of the project. The cities of Carlsbad and Vista will provide the remaining funds required for the project directly.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I submit the following: Bill Number: H.R. 2647--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 Account: OPAF, Line 12 Legal Name of Requesting Entity: California National Guard Address of Requesting Entity: 9800 Goethe Road, Box 42, Sacramento, CA 95826 Description of Request: I received an earmark of $4 million to upgrade the Eagle Vision III system which is operated by the 147th Combat Communications Squadron, in San Diego, California. In October of 2007, San Diego suffered through one of the worst wildfire disasters in California history. With thousands of homes lost and hundreds of thousands of lives changed, the California National Guard requested upgrades to Eagle Vision, the San Diego based system that has already proven itself as an asset for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, CAL Fires/OES, and the Army Strategic Command. The Eagle Vision III system directly and indirectly supported the 2008 Midwest Flooding, Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, and Ike and has participated in numerous military exercises. To augment the current system, this request seeks to provide resources for an increased imaging system that will provide higher resolution images, with more frequent access to images for first responders, while at the same time allowing for image data collection through clouds, haze and smoke. These capabilities are essential for the military and will be critical to the San Diego region for combating natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and hurricanes.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, as someone who has spent a decade regulating air pollution, I look at this bill, of what I can read of it that is presented, and come to the conclusion that the greatest threat to the environment seems to be all of the smoke coming out of the backroom deals that appear to have been made to put this package together. People may talk about the aspects of clean coal. Clean coal is as logical as safe cigarettes, and that is trying to be sold in this document. I have to say, in all fairness, what I see here is a huge tax scheme that doesn't fulfill the mandates that the U.N. Convention on Climate Change set as a minimum. In fact, it not only does not fulfill the need of the environment; it does it 5 years late and short. So it is late and short on this task. Madam Speaker, we have seen legislation come over this floor before. Twenty years ago this body approved a snake oil called ethanol and methanol and MTBE, and today, we still don't have the bravery to admit the mistake and correct it with this bill. We continue the past mistakes. The difference between the mistake we did with methanol and ethanol is the fact that it will take 150 years to correct the mistake that Congress is about ready to do if we pass this piece of legislation. I look forward to having to spend the next 100 years having to try to correct this mistake.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I submit the following: Requesting Member: Congressman Brian Bilbray Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Department of Justice, Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Carlsbad Address of Requesting Entity: 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008 Description of Request: I received an earmark of $300,000 for the City of Carlsbad to construct the first Joint Fire and Police training center in North San Diego County, providing an unparalleled opportunity for first responders to train together and deliver enhanced and coordinated safety for the citizens of our region. Regional public safety collaboration will result in better training, yielding stronger and more coordinated responses by fire, police, public works, FBI, DEA and other North County law enforcement agencies. This project will also better prepare a coordinated, unified response to large-scale disasters and fires in the region. Requesting Member: Congressman Brian Bilbray Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Byrne Justice Assistance Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Escondido Address of Requesting Entity: 201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025 Description of Request: I received an earmark of $200,000 for the Escondido Police Department to fund new Mobile Data Computers. Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) enhance emergency communications and support electronic messaging between police vehicles. Officers are dependent on this technology to be responsive to emergencies and have the necessary information to operate safely. Vehicles with new MDCs will increase officer communications and enable them to interface with Escondido's new CAD system with its GPS feature. During a large, regional emergency (e.g. a wildfire scenario) the Emergency Operations Center and 911 dispatch center will be able to visually determine where every Police and Fire unit is located and position them more effectively. The Police Department currently maintains approximately 160 Mobile Data Computers. About 40 percent of these are three to four years old and are used beyond the manufacturers warranty period. Although these MDCs are still in the field and functioning, they are very costly to maintain. Not surprisingly, the successful deployment of the mobile laptop computers also has created a demand for increased access to new applications (e.g. Automated Field Reporting) and regional law enforcement databases (e.g. ARJIS, CLETS), which puts a strain on these older mobile computers. Pushing these older mobile computers to the edge of their limits makes it difficult to maintain the reliability necessary for public safety operations. More importantly, some of the desired applications (ARJISNet, SDLaw, CalPhoto, new CAD system) simply cannot be accommodated on the older existing MDCs. Requesting Member: Congressman Brian Bilbray Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Byrne Discretionary Grant Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: San Diego County, District Attorney Address of Requesting Entity: 330 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 Description of Request: I secured $200,000 for the San Diego County District Attorney's Gang and Drug Crime Investigation and Prosecution unit. This proposal for $200,000 is consistent with the statutory purpose and goals of the Byrne Discretionary Grant Program. Investigation and prosecution of drug and gang-related crime in the District Attorney's Office is manpower-intensive. A substantial number of cases brought to the office come from Federal law enforcement, often due to the inability or unwillingness of the U.S. Attorney's Office to take certain cases. Deputy District Attorneys work hand in hand with Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate narcotics trafficking activity, much of which originates in Mexico. These investigations, many of which involve technically and legally complex wiretaps of extraordinary scope and duration, require an ever- increasing number of Deputy District Attorneys, as narcotics traffickers, and the attorneys they retain for their defense, become more sophisticated. Requesting Member: Congressman Brian Bilbray Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: COPS Technology Grant Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of San Diego, Sheriff's Department Address of Requesting Entity: 9621 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, CA 92123 Description of Request: I secured $1,200,000 for the San Diego County Sheriff Department's Regional Communications System Upgrade. This proposal for $1,200,000 is consistent with the statutory purpose and goals of the COPS Technology Discretionary Program. The Sheriff's continued vision is to increase and improve data sharing, automate officer alerts and notifications, improve disaster preparedness, and deliver more intelligence to officers and first-responders. The Sheriff's Department, with assistance from Federal and local agencies has, over several years, undertaken technology projects targeting this vision. These enhancements provide law enforcement with rapid access to critical information and knowledge with less human intervention producing quicker results with greater accuracy. This phase of the SDLaw Infrastructure Program will expand the search and aggregation of intelligence from even more data repositories, add additional business logic, further automate data mapping and workflow, further improving visualization of the information resulting from this convergence of data from State, Local, and Federal systems and now with the inclusion of County justice case management systems.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Today I urge passage of the bill designating the facility of the United States Postal Service in Laredo, Texas, as the Laredo Veterans Post Office. Madam Speaker, the deeds, accomplishments and the many services of the individuals of Texas who have served our Armed Forces are written in the archives of American history. Their deeds and these military personnel occupy an important role in our own history; and in this regard, the citizens of Texas and the city of Laredo set a high standard for courage and for service for those of us in this country. Today I ask that we honor these brave Texans for their service and commitment and heroism in defense of America, thus designating the United States post office in Laredo in their honor. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2300 Scenic Drive in Georgetown, Texas as the ``Kile G. West Post Office Building.'' Kile Grant West was born on July 12, 1983, in Pasadena, Texas. He was an all American guy who enjoyed Texas country music, a good barbeque, football, and his friends and family. He was known as a goal orientated individual who from the very early age of four, when he started playing army, knew he wanted to join the military. Always a team player, he played four sports at Hutto High School where he learned leadership and the ability to succeed in a group. Lieutenant West attended Blinn Junior College his freshman year and transferred to Stepehen F. Austin State University where he joined the SFA ROTC program as a junior and simultaneously became a sergeant in the National Guard in Lufkin. He was also very active on campus as the secretary of Delta Chi Fraternity where he was asked to serve as president, but he declined to focus on his military career. After graduating from college in 2005, he was assigned to Fort Hood and was deployed for Iraq on October 3, 2006. While stationed in Iraq, Lieutenant West was promoted to 1st lieutenant on Memorial Day, 2007. Sadly, that was the last day of life for this brave young soldier. During combat action in Abu Sayda, Iraq, Lieutenant West died while attempting to rescue the flight crew of a downed aircraft. As a result of his heroic actions on that day, May 28th, 2008, he was awarded the Army Bronze Star for Heroism and the Purple Heart. The citizens of the United States and Lieutenant West's family and friends will forever be proud of this man who stood and fought so bravely for his country. With gratitude for his bravery and sacrifice to his country, I ask all members to join me in supporting H.R. 2422, so his memory, like those who served before him, will not be forgotten.

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the great State of Texas (Mr. Carter).

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 2470, legislation to have the United States Post Office Building located at Port Charlotte, Florida, designated as the Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Boehm Post Office. Mr. Speaker, there are many accomplishments that Lieutenant Commander Boehm made as he served this country in many ways, as the gentleman from Massachusetts has pointed out. But for me personally, as somebody who grew up in a neighborhood full of United States SEAL team members, the San Diego area and specifically the Coronado area, I would just like to say that Commander Boehm is going to go down in history as a man who transformed what was the UDT, basically the Underwater Demolition Team, transformed that concept into what we know today as the SEALs. I think today that we need to take this action not just for the commander, but for the men that serve every day as SEAL team members out there that you will not hear about. But their deeds are great and many. But we don't hear about them, mostly because so many of them are covert. I have to say that from everything, from saving the victims of piracy to defending our camps around the world, the SEALs have proven their value to this country. Commander Boehm made this possible, and I think that is why it's so appropriate that we join today in naming this post office. Today the Navy SEALs are known around the world, but when the commander started, nobody even hardly knew what a UDT member was. And largely because of Commander Boehm, we can thank the entire service that we know now today as the SEALs. I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in honoring Commander Boehm by recognizing his many life achievements, his valor, his contribution to the armed services of the United States and, particularly, through his participation in the creation of that group the world knows as the United States Navy SEALs. I reserve my time.

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I will yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention today the many outstanding achievements of Patrick Hurley, the outgoing president of the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club. Patrick's leadership during the 2008-2009 Rotary year has contributed significantly to the Hi-Noon Rotary Club, the community of Carlsbad and the mission of Rotary. During his tenure, the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club sponsored Interact, a youth service club; RYLA, a youth awareness leadership conference; a Christmas party and provided meals and gifts to needy elementary school children; cosponsored the Oktoberfest fundraiser that benefited the Carlsbad Women's Resource Center and the Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club and completed a very successful golf tournament which funded scholarships for Carlsbad high school students; provided mentors for the City Stuff Program, a program that exposed school children to the workings of city government; promoted literacy by providing dictionaries for English and Spanish speaking elementary school children; provided over nine hundred books to the Jefferson Elementary School students, and provided financial support to our military personnel and their families. In addition, under President Patrick Hurley's leadership the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary and its membership completed a number of other projects. These projects included providing volunteers to help maintain public and private property, provide food and clothing for the needy and homeless, and assist in the distribution of food, clothing and toys to needy Carlsbad families in conjunction with the Carlsbad Christmas Bureau, and through the Gazebo project, a city landmark structure was refurbished and relocated for public enjoyment. In the international arena, under President Hurley's leadership, a team of Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotarians joined with others and traveled to Mexico to build a house for a needy family: a badly needed ambulance was provided and refurbished for the City of Mazatlan, Mexico, and through our support of the Paul Harris Foundation, we co-sponsored numerous other humanitarian projects all over the world including the effort to eradicate polio world wide, and providing funding for the Micro-banking project enabling third world countries to develop entrepreneurial skills and become self sufficient. I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the many fine achievements of Patrick Hurley. Without question, his leadership and fine work of the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club are worthy of recognition by the House today.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Chairman, I stand in support of the gentleman's amendment. I think it's a commonsense amendment on government oversight. We saw how there was an inconsistency with the stated purpose of protecting not only the public in general but also our employees. We also saw that there was a degree of, let's just say, insensitivity to the fact of allowing individuals the decency to be able to protect their own health. Let me just say this to the author: I think that this issue also kind of addresses a problem that we didn't talk about in our committee, which is the public relations concern that has sort of trumped good common sense and public health, and I think that we should make this clear with your amendment: Now you have got a supervisor who may be concerned with, if somebody wears a mask, I might get a complaint, and I don't want to put up with that kind of heat. With your amendment, the supervisor may say: If I get a complaint, I have the ability to point to a congressional directive here, and I have the reason as to why I can protect myself-- by allowing the employee to make this call himself on behalf of his own public health. I say this, Mr. Chairman, as a former public employee: It serves not only the public health of the employee, but it also serves the administrative structure because it eliminates and basically reduces the degree of threat they have of being attacked for allowing the employee to have that. I think the heat should stop here. I think the buck stops here. I think we set the example. I appreciate the gentleman for proposing this amendment. I would like to point out that this is the kind of bipartisan cooperation we have in government oversight, and I am very proud of it. I am very proud to support your amendment, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, on this Memorial Weekend, when we remember the sacrifices of the men and women who fought for our freedom and democracy, I would like to call my colleagues' attention to a powerful essay that appeared in the Japan Times last month. It was written by one of my constituents, Dr. Lester Tenney who is a survivor of the Battle of the Philippines, the Bataan Death March, a ``Hell Ship,'' and a Mitsui coal mine. He recalls that at his first prison camp, the Japanese commandant turned to the American prisoners of war (POWs) and told them that they were ``lower than dogs'' and ``they (the Japanese) would treat us that way for the rest of our lives.'' Then he said, ``We will never be friends with the piggish Americans.'' Yet the Japanese commandant who belittled this brave American was wrong. The United States and Japan have become friends and close allies, a result we welcome. Dr. Tenney's anger has been tempered by the many Japanese people who have welcomed him to Japan. Personal friendships and common goals heal many wounds. Most important, Dr. Tenney reports an important development in US- Japan relations that cements the trust between our people. This year, the Government of Japan has apologized finally and officially to all former POWs of Japan. The Japanese are also considering including the American POWs in a program for peace, friendship and exchange. I hope that they will follow through with this. It is this spirit of reconciliation and remembrance that makes this American Memorial Day so significant. The End of the Long March (By Lester Tenney) Carlsbad, CA.--Sixty-seven years ago this month, on April 9, 1942, I was surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. At my first prison camp, the Japanese commandant turned to the American prisoners of war (POWs) and told us that we were ``lower than dogs'' and ``they (the Japanese) would treat us that way for the rest of our lives.'' Then he said, ``We will never be friends with the piggish Americans.'' For a long time I thought he was right. But we have both changed. This year, I welcomed the Japanese government's first official apology to the American POWs, 63 years after our liberation. If my fellow soldiers or I had known the consequences of being a POW of the Japanese, we would have fought to the death. After three long months of jungle fighting against a better-equipped invasion force, the American and Filipino troops were starving, sick, exhausted and out of ammunition. At surrender, we were immediately forced to march 105 km through the steaming Bataan Peninsula without food, water, medical treatment or rest. Today, the Bataan Death March is remembered as one of the worst war crimes of World War II. I will never forget my buddies who were shot simply for trying to get a drink of water; crushed by a tank for stumbling; bayoneted just because they could not take another step; or forced at gun point to bury alive the sick. I bear a deep scar where a Japanese officer on horseback brought his samurai sword down on my shoulder. Those who survived the Death March faced over three years of unimaginably brutal imprisonment. Many, like me, were herded into ``Hell Ships,'' packed shoulder to shoulder without food or sanitation and shipped to factories, mines and docks across the Japanese Empire. The survivors were literally sold to private Japanese companies to work sustaining wartime production. I dug coal in a dangerous Mitsui Corporation-owned mine. Like all POWs, I was overworked, beaten, humiliated and starved. The damage and suffering we endured from these companies' employees were comparable to, and sometimes worse than, that inflicted upon us by the Imperial Japanese military. Among World War II combat veterans and former POWs, those who were prisoners of the Japanese have the highest percentage of post-traumatic stress disorders. To say the least, we POWs had and still have intense feelings about Japan. Yet the Japanese commandant who belittled his American captives was wrong. The United States and Japan have become friends and close allies--a result we welcome. My anger has been tempered by the many Japanese people who have welcomed me to Japan. Personal friendships and common goals heal many wounds. Our unfortunate history came largely to closure in a personal meeting with the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. and his wife last November. I was finally able to tell a Japanese official my story. He heard of my humiliations, saw my scars and learned of my Japanese friends who have helped me overcome my POW trauma. I asked for the ambassador's help in requesting three things from his government so that justice is achieved for POWs: (1) an official apology; (2) an appeal to companies to apologize for their wartime use of POWs; and (3) a reconciliation project. In December, the ambassador wrote me with news for which I have waited decades. His letter said that Japan's government extends ``a heartfelt apology for our country having caused tremendous damage and suffering to many people, including those who have undergone tragic experiences in the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island in the Philippines.'' This acknowledging gesture was followed in February by a Cabinet-approved statement to a member of the Diet that extended the apology to all ``former POWs.'' It is the first official apology specifically to mention POWs or any particular group hurt by Imperial Japan. We POWs accept these long-sought apologies and now ask Japan to state them for all to hear and understand. I trust that my two other requests will be fulfilled soon. It has taken nearly seven decades, but Japan's recognition of its mistreatment of POWs attains historic justice and brings fullness to the U.S.-Japan relationship. A future of a peaceful alliance is what we really wanted in the first place.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to join with my San Diegan colleague, Mr. Filner, in supporting H.R. 678. This is really one of those regulatory guidelines that doesn't work and that doesn't address the issue at hand. HD is one of those situations where the regulation is absolutely absurd and inhumane. The fact is that for most people 2 years of waiting may not now be very much, but for those with HD it could be a death sentence. I am honored to join with my colleague in the movement to address this inequity and deficiency in our regulation. I am happy to see that there are going to be Members joining us in correcting this situation. I thank you, Congressman, for taking the lead on this. Again, I guess it's really important to show that community and citizen involvement does matter. I would like to point out, as my colleague did, that Alan Rappaport and Misty Oto have worked tirelessly at trying to address this issue. I urge my colleagues to join with me and with, most importantly, my chairman, Bob Filner, in sponsoring this bill. Hopefully, we'll be able to bring up H.R. 678 as soon as possible.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Dr. Stuart Cohen on his term as the 138th President of the San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS). As America faces the difficult challenges of addressing health care reform, it is reassuring that there are leaders like Dr. Cohen in positions of influence to help our nation craft policies that will bring quality and accessible health care to all Americans. The San Diego County Medical Society, representing over 8,000 physicians in San Diego County, is a non-profit organization founded in 1870. SDCMS is chartered by the California Medical Association and affiliated with the American Medical Association (AMA). The mission of SDCMS is to promote the science and art of medicine, the quality care and wellbeing of patients, the protection of the public health, the betterment of the medical profession, and the adjudication of ethical relations to its members, as well as the provision of education to its members in scientific, social, legal, and medico-economic aspects of medical practice. Dr. Cohen received his medical degree in 1981 from the University of Manitoba and served his internship and residency at the Health Sciences Center at Children's Hospital in Winnipeg, Canada. Dr. Cohen is board certified in pediatrics and has been a member of Children's Primary Care Medical Group since 1996. Dr. Cohen has been an active member of the San Diego County Medical Society and the California Medical Association since 1988 and the American Medical Association since 1994. He has served on numerous committees as a CMA delegate, an AMA delegate, as well as the SDCMS Board of Directors, Executive and Finance Committees and the San Diego Physician magazine Editorial Board. Dr. Cohen is also a member of numerous medical societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics--San Diego Chapter and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Cohen is well respected by his peers as evidenced by the fact he was selected as a San Diego ``Top Doctor'' for the last four years. On a personal note, I have benefited immensely from Dr. Cohen's wise counsel on how to craft effective health care policy for all San Diegans. Let history show that this year will be the year Congress makes progress on health reform. Americans are demanding we put partisan differences aside and devise a health care system that covers all Americans, puts patients first and ensures the highest quality. With influential leaders such as Dr. Stuart Cohen leading the fight, I feel confident Congress will craft sensible health care policy.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the service of Henry ``Hank'' Nordhoff to both the biotechnology and life sciences communities of San Diego, as well as to Gen-Probe, from which he is retiring after serving fifteen years as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Hank is nearly peerless when it comes to the contributions he has made to the life sciences community of San Diego and I wish him well in his retirement. The state of California is far and away the leader when it comes to the life sciences industry. With over 2,000 companies employing 271,000 people and generating $20.3 billion in salaries and wages, California is the gold standard for science and biotechnology that the rest of the country tries to emulate. San Diego is the crown jewel in the California crown with 36,600 employees in the life science community in San Diego County at more than 500 companies, including traditional biotech, medical device, diagnostic and technology companies. Atop that mountain stands Gen-Probe, led by Mr. Hank Nordhoff. Hank joined Gen-Probe Incorporated in July 1994 as president and CEO. Following the spin-off from Chugai Pharmaceuticals in September 2002, he was also appointed chairman of Gen-Probe's board of directors. Hank contributed greatly to the innovation that defines Gen-Probe, and that is embodied in more than 480 patents the company has been issued around the world. Gen-Probe's business is devoted to nucleic acid testing (NAT). NAT is the science of identifying diseases accurately and rapidly by detecting genetic fingerprints that are unique to an infectious microorganism or a cancerous tumor. Gen-Probe's pioneering and innovative role in NAT has been broadly recognized--culminating in the company receiving the 2004 National Medal of Technology, America's highest honor for technological innovation, for developing molecular tests that protect America's supply of donated blood from HIV, hepatitis and West Nile virus. On a personal note, I have had the privilege of working closely with Hank on a number of life sciences issues since coming back to Congress in June 2006. Hank has been a trusted advisor as part of my science and technology advisory group and I have come to rely on his wise counsel on everything from patent reform to personalized medicine. It is no surprise to me to know that he has been named as one of San Diego's most admired CEOs. Hank is a true visionary and his work will continue to shape the landscape of San Diego's biotechnology community long into the future. In short, Hank is a successful business executive, employer, statesman and philanthropist, and I wish him well in his future retirement endeavors.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to commend my constituent Adam Lambert for his amazing journey on Season 8 of Fox's American Idol. Every week Adam has entertained the American public with his artistic renditions of American classics, from Johnny Cash's ``Ring of Fire'' to Led Zepplin's ``Whole Lotta Love.'' His performances are inspiring young people everywhere to work hard, aim high and follow their dreams. With still two more weeks of the competition to go, I join with the people of San Diego, California to wish Adam the best of luck. As one of Adam's favorite artists, Lenny Kravitz once said: ``I just need to know that I did the very best I could and that I was true to myself.'' Adam, we will be rooting for you and looking forward to your next unique and creative performance.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of one of San Diego Counties most beloved citizens, Mayor Mickey Cafagna. Mayor Cafagna lost his battle to cancer on Saturday, April 11, 2009, and I urge my colleagues to join me in commemorating the life of this devoted public servant. Mayor Cafagna has had a long history of serving San Diego County. In addition to being a successful businessman, he was elected mayor of Poway, served on the Poway City Council, was chairman of the Regional Solid Waste Association, and represented the city of Poway on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) since 1998, serving two years as Chairman of the Board, where I had the privilege to serve with him. A consummate family man, Mayor Cafagna is survived by his wife Sharon of 43 years, his two children and five grandchildren, who were the light of his life. Mayor Cafagna was widely known and respected for his goodwill to all, his ability to bring people together with warmth, humility, and good sense of humor. His accomplishments both personal and public are to be commended and I can say that he will be sincerely missed by the people of San Diego County, especially in the beautiful city of Poway. It is with immense gratitude that I commend Mayor Cafagna for his long and distinguished service on behalf of his constituents and county. His humor and easygoing personality will be greatly missed by all who worked with him. However the stories and warm memories of this larger than life man will be shared by many. I urge my colleagues to join me in commemorating the life of Mayor Mickey Cafagna.

Mr. BILBRAY

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, this bill is one that is balanced in time and in effort. At a time when snow packs on Sierra Nevada are very low, at a time when the fact that the water supplies for Southern California have been cut off dramatically through a court order restriction or outright abolition on pumping in the Delta area of the San Joaquin Valley because of the endangered delta smelt, and especially due to the fact that this problem has run into Hodges, those of us in the Federal Government can take a little bit of responsibility here, seeing the fact that a major contributing factor to the pollution problem in this lake was our procedure in the Endangered Species Act, though meaning well to preserve the species, took time that created the problem. And let me explain to you what happened here. The lake lowered to a level where habitat for the least Bell's vireo was able to grow on the dry land during that time. When authorities realized that this was going to become a problem, they were not allowed, because of the permitting process for what had been designated a habitat that was great for the least Bell's vireo, an endangered species at that time, now threatened, but basically to explain it is the process took so long that the lake raised back up, flooded out this habitat, and now that habitat is decomposing and polluting the waters of Lake Hodges. No one meant this to happen. There was no intention by either the environmental agencies involved or by the local community to address this issue. It was just as our regulations go, we create these less- than-appropriate situations. This bill is one that not only recognizes the responsibility of the Federal Government to the problem, but really is one where the local community is saying we will take on the great majority of the responsibility of addressing this issue. For every dollar of Federal funds that is committed under this bill, there will be $3 of local funds to address this. And this is not an issue that only affects the 50th District, my district, and a small section around Lake Hodges. The entirety of Southern California is desperate for the massive amounts of water--not massive--but large amounts of water that is not safe to drink at this time. I think this is a good cooperative effort. The local community has said we will match you 3 to 1. We will hold harmless the fact that the procedures didn't work out like we would all like it to do, but we will be able to make available very safe drinking water in a very environmentally, friendly way. And that's basically one of those things that I think we can look to as Federal representatives of cooperating, not doing something for the local community but helping the local community do itself and addressing concerns and problems that we might have been part and parcel involved, sticking to our responsibility as long as the local community is willing to stand up and take care of theirs. With that, I would ask passage of this bill, Mr. Speaker. I think it's one of those, as the chairwoman for the committee pointed out, it's a reasonable, balanced approach. And when we talk about a 3 to 1 match, a local, I think we have got a very strong statement here that the Federal Government is willing to participate, especially when a community is willing to match us 3 to 1 for a situation that everyone agrees no one was without fault on this.