Shelley Berkley

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, for the last 20 years the Nevada delegation, Republican and Democrat, have fought to keep the Yucca Mountain Project from becoming a reality. What is the Yucca Mountain Project? 77,000 tons of toxic nuclear waste being transported across 43 States to be buried in a hole in the Nevada desert where we have groundwater issues, seismic activity, and volcanic activity. The President when he approved this said that his decision was based on sound science. Sound science? There were 294 unresolved scientific and technical issues. There is no canister that can safely store this radioactive waste, and we have a court decision that says that rather than a 10,000-year standard for radiation there should be a 300,000-year standard for radiation. Now, as of yesterday, the new Secretary of Energy has come forward and disclosed that the scientific documentation for Yucca Mountain has been falsified. It is about time that the rest of the country knew what the Nevada delegation knows and has been saying for 20 years. This is not based on sound science. It is based on sound politics. I have urged the Secretary of Energy to appoint an independent body to investigate the science. We know now it has been falsified. It is wrong. This is a bad project and I urge the President to rescind his order to Yucca Mountain and stop this project now.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my colleague from New York. It boggles my mind that the United States provides any funding to the Saudi kingdom. With all of its oil and all of its wealth, it is nothing short of insanity. It is no secret, in spite of what the last speaker said, that the Saudi regime is a leading exporter of terrorism worldwide; it is a leading financier of terrorism worldwide. The thought that one cent of American money is being spent in Saudi Arabia is an insult to every American taxpayer. The Saudis continue to declare to the world that they are a progressive-thinking nation and they are our partners in the global war on terrorism. That is what their PR firm says, anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is our partner in peace? Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. That did not happen by accident. This is the same Saudi Arabia that has the worst record for religious tolerance on the planet, the same Saudi Arabia that exudes racism and anti-Semitic hatred. Our partners in peace? How shameful for the United States. The Saudis claim that they are prosecuting terrorists. Who are they kidding? Saudi efforts to prosecute terrorists are inept at best and more accurately nonexistent. If they are doing anything in Lebanon, it is for themselves, not for the people of the United States of America. I ask everyone to support the Weiner amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, this Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic train bombing in Madrid, Spain. The resolution I have introduced with Mr. McCotter expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives to the families of individuals killed in the bombing. It also expresses solidarity with Spain and all other countries that have been attacked during the Global War on Terrorism. These bombings were the worst acts of terrorism ever experienced in Spanish history--killing 191 individuals and injuring almost 2,000. They also marked the deadliest terrorist attacks in Europe since the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Much like our own September 11th, the March 11 attacks were senseless acts of violence perpetrated by terrorists against innocent civilians. This was nothing more than an attack against freedom and democracy-- perpetrated by cowards bent on turmoil and destruction. While we have had our differences with the government of Spain over the last year--it is important that Congress reiterate its support with the people of Spain. The war on terrorism is a global conflict that knows no boundaries and does not distinguish between civilian and soldier. We have experienced its destruction first-hand, and we must stand in unity with others who have also felt this tragedy. The relationship between the United States and Spain remains strong, and Spain remains an important ally in the war on terrorism. The Madrid bombings were a direct attack on this peace-loving government and its democratic principles. I am deeply saddened by this senseless loss of life, and join my colleagues in expressing our most sincere condolences to the victims, their families and the people and government of the Kingdom of Spain.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today proudly in support of House Concurrent Resolution 63, authorizing use of the Capitol Rotunda on May 5 of this year for a ceremony sponsored by its United States Holocaust Memorial Council to observe the Days of Remembrance for victims of the Holocaust. I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for introducing this, as well as the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald), the original cosponsor of the bill. Unfortunately, she could not be here because of a prior commitment in her congressional district. The Days of Remembrance ceremony honors those men, women and children who suffered through one of the darkest periods of our history. Every year, the Days of Remembrance recalls different historical events of the Holocaust. This year's theme, ``From Liberation to Pursuit of Justice,'' commemorates the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps and the persecution of war criminals at Nuremberg, Germany. For over 20 years, Congress has approved the use of the Rotunda for this ceremony each spring and every year that I attend I am struck by the two competing feelings that I have: One, the shocking realization that man's inhumanity to man sometimes seems to know no bounds; that a mere 60 years ago, 6 million Jews were exterminated throughout the world, their only transgression being the fact that they were Jewish. But I am also struck by the incredible realization that 60 years after the most heinous episode in our civilized world's history here we still are. We are not only survivors, but we have managed to thrive. Every year those who have survived and thrived, their children and grandchildren and now their great grandchildren, gather under the dome of the United States Capitol, the very seat of power of the most important and strongest nation in the world. I am second-generation American. My grandparents literally walked across Europe to come to this country. My mother's side comes from Salonika, Greece. Prior to World War II, prior to the Nazis, there were approximately 80,000 Jews in Salonika. When the Nazis finished with those Jews, there were only 1,000 left. And I am not presumptuous enough to presume to think that my family would have been among those that were chosen to live. My father's side from the Russia-Poland border after hundreds and hundreds of years of a thriving culture and civilization were obliterated, exterminated in this Holocaust. Nobody remained. Not the towns. Not the people. Not the culture. But here we are 60 years after the Holocaust. Here I am, a Jewish American, elected to serve her community and her country in the United States Congress, standing on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, alive and free, supporting the resolution honoring those that were lost. This past January I had the privilege of attending the ceremony commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz. I attended it as part of a congressional delegation. As I walked in the freezing cold and the snow the mile from Auschwitz to Birkenau where the ceremony was taking place, we were surrounded by survivors that were in Auschwitz as children. Now in their late 70s and 80s, each one of them was anxious to talk and tell us when they had been there, what it was like, who they had lost, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, entire families obliterated. But there we were. And as we sat there for the few hours for that extraordinary ceremony commemorating that liberation of Auschwitz and the concentration camps, I was struck by the fact that it was truly a miracle that anybody had survived, because there I was sitting with four pairs of socks, boots, a hat, two pairs of gloves, four sweaters, a warm jacket and sitting under a blanket and freezing wondering how these people, how these extraordinary people managed to survive one day. Forget the gas chambers, forget the gruesome medical experiments, forget the random acts of man's inhumanity to man, the incredibility cruelty. Surviving day to day with no clothes, with no blankets, with no food is truly a testament to those people who managed to survive. The ceremony we are authorizing today honors Holocaust survivors and those lost loved ones. It will also serve as a reminder that we must continue as a civilized people to battle hate and prejudice and violence and demand justice and humanity to all. It does not matter culture, ethnicity, religion, color of our skin. We all deserve to be treated as human beings with dignity. We must not allow this tragedy to ever be repeated again. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of this concurrent resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind words and urge passage of this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Ms. BERKLEY. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, while I do not intend to object, I would like to give the chairman the opportunity to explain the resolution, and I would also like to acknowledge the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) for having introduced this resolution.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the Congresswoman from Nevada, I am pleased to support H. Con. Res. 5, which provides for the acceptance of the statue of Sarah Winnemucca, presented by the State of Nevada, for placement in the National Statuary Hall Collection. It also allows for the use of the rotunda of the Capitol on March 9 for a presentation ceremony for the statue. The Nevada legislature designated Sarah Winnemucca as Nevada's second statue in 2001. The Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs and Nevada's Women's History Project raised the funds necessary to make this statue a reality. The statue of Sarah Winnemucca will join Nevada's other statue and will be the 99th statue in the overall collection, the eighth statue of a woman, and the fourth statue of a significant American Indian. Benjamin Victor sculpted the bronze statue of Sarah Winnemucca, which depicts Sarah as a young woman with her hair falling to her waist; a shell flower, for which she was named, in her outstretched right hand; a book under her left arm; and wind fluttering through her dress. The statue encompasses a sense of movement in order to signify the energy that Sarah Winnemucca had throughout her life. Sarah was born in Nevada in the Northern Paiute Tribe in 1844. She was the daughter of Chief Winnemucca and the granddaughter of Chief Truckee. Sarah's Paiute name meant ``shell flower,'' and according to Nevada folklore, one of Sarah's happiest memories was celebrating the Festival of Flowers every spring when she and all the girls named with flower names would go to see if their flowers that they had been named for were in bloom yet. By the time Sarah was 14, she had learned five languages, three Indian dialects, English, and Spanish. When she was older, she used these talents as an interpreter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Army. Sarah spent her life as a champion of the Paiutes in Nevada and across the country. In 1879 she went on a nationwide speaking tour to teach people about the Indian culture and the difficult life on the Indian reservations. Trying to bridge two seemingly incompatible cultures, Sarah gave more than 400 speeches to publicize the injustices suffered by the Paiutes and met with high officials in the American Government, including President Rutherford B. Hayes, to improve the horrendous conditions of Indians living on the reservations. Eventually, Sarah received many promises from our government to make improvements for her people. Unfortunately, our government broke those promises, causing many of her own people to lose confidence in her. On Sarah's East Coast speaking tour, she secured thousands of signatures on a petition calling for the promised allotment of reservation land to individual Paiutes. Congress passed a bill to that end in 1884, but once again our government did not live up to its commitments. Sarah, however, never gave up. In 1883, this extraordinary woman wrote a book, ``Life Among the Paiutes,'' which was the first book ever published that was written by a Native American woman. Do keep in mind that while she was publishing this book, women were not even allowed to vote in this country. ``In Life Among the Paiutes,'' Sarah wrote about western history from the perspective of the American Indian. Sarah was also a dedicated teacher to the Paiute children and established Nevada's first school for Indian children called Peabody's Institute near Lovelock, Nevada. Unfortunately, the school closed within 2 years when Federal funding failed to come through. On October 17, 1891, Sarah died of tuberculosis at the age of 47. Sarah is remembered in Nevada for her dedication and her strength. She was an author, a teacher, a translator, a negotiator and a spokeswoman for her people. I am proud that Nevada is sharing her legacy with all Americans and international visitors to our Capitol. It is with great pride that I helped sponsor this resolution. The people of the State of Nevada are very proud and very excited about this and are looking forward to the dedication. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this concurrent resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the $651 million included in the President's budget for the Yucca Mountain project. An increase in funds for the Yucca project that is consistently riddled with problems is ridiculous. Last year the Department of Energy faced insurmountable hurdles it was unable to overcome, resulting in its failure to submit its license application on time. The second highest court in the United States ruled that the Yucca Mountain radiation standards were inadequate to protect the health and safety of the American people and that the EPA knowingly ignored the scientists' recommendations. We are talking about the harmful effects of radiation being underestimated by a mere 290,000 years. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to its credit, refused to rubber- stamp an electronic database required for licensing the Yucca repository, and expressed serious concerns about the lack of information supplied in the license application. Instead of dumping even more money into a $9 billion hole in the Nevada desert, we should be investing in clean, renewable energy sources and moving toward energy independence. Instead, the President is slashing critical funding for renewable energy while adding $651 million to the Yucca Mountain debacle. Fraud, waste and abuse in government, look at the Yucca Mountain project. It is the poster child.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nevada Federal Credit Union (FCU), located in my district of Las Vegas, for its efforts to support our troops abroad by providing them outstanding financial services. Patriotism can be demonstrated by soldiers and civilians alike. As a show of support for our troops, Nevada FCU is refunding all savings and checking related fees for new and existing members who are actively serving in a designated war zone. This benefit represents an excellent example of what we at home can do for those who put their lives on the line, and I hope that other financial institutions will follow suit. Nevada FCU, with over 82,000 members, has a commitment to providing the best service, rates and products to its membership. From its modest beginnings in the 1950s, Nevada FCU has flourished into the largest credit union in my State with the understanding that community involvement begins at home. I applaud Nevada FCU and its President and CEO, Brad Beal, for their ongoing commitment to their customers, this country and to those who bravely serve it.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to participate in floor proceedings on January 25-26, 2005 as I was in Poland as part of a Congressional Delegation to the ceremonies honoring the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. As a result I missed rollcall votes 8-13. On rollcall No. 8, passage of H. Con. Res 16, congratulating the people of Ukraine for conducting a democratic, transparent, and fair runoff Presidential election on December 26, 2004, and congratulating Viktor Yushchenko on his election as President of Ukraine and his commitment to democracy and reform, I would have voted ``Yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 9; regarding commending countries and organizations for marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and urging a strengthening of the fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, and anti-Semitism, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 10, Crowley of New York Amendment No. 2 to H.R.. 54, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 11, Crowley of New York Amendment No. 3 to H.R. 54, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 12, a motion to recommit H.R. 54, to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide reasonable standards for congressional gold medals, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 13, H.R. 54, to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide reasonable standards for congressional gold medals, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I join millions of NASCAR fans in honoring the extraordinary achievement of an outstanding son of Nevada, Kurt Busch--the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion. Born in Las Vegas, and a graduate of Durango High School, Kurt developed his racing skills at age 14, driving Dwarf Cars to victory at a speedway in nearby Pahrump, Nevada, earning the title of Rookie of the Year in the State Championships. Still a teenager, Kurt won honors as Rookie of the Year for his exciting exploits racing in the Legend Cars Nationals, and shortly thereafter was awarded the same title for his tremendous performance in the Late Model Stock Southwest Series. By 1998, Kurt became the youngest NASCAR Touring Champion with a record- setting victory in the Featherlite Southwest Series. My favorite raceway, and one of the world's greatest speed venues-- the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is Kurt's home track, where he accelerated his drive to the pinnacle of NASCAR in just four racing seasons. His exciting racing style and ``go for it'' attitude truly reflect the spirit of Las Vegas, from where he hails. In 2001, as part of the legendary Roush racing team, Kurt was recognized as NASCAR's Rookie of the Year, setting the stage for a fabulous string of victories and top-10 finishes in 2002 and 2003. This year, Kurt and the Roush team more than lived up to Nevada's State Motto: Battle Born. With Kurt at the wheel, the team overcame a staggering gauntlet of bad breaks during their dramatic run for the NEXTEL Cup, including a blown motor, blown tires, wheels falling off, spin-outs, and crashes. Despite tire and wheel problems in the final race, which would have sidelined lesser teams, Kurt, beating the odds in true Las Vegas fashion, piloted Number 97 to a thrilling finish for the Roush crew, winning the NEXTEL Cup. At just 26 years of age, Southern Nevada's own Kurt Busch has reached the top of America's most-watched sport. It is a pleasure to recognize in the Congressional Record the great performance of a great competitor from Las Vegas, Nevada, the 2004 NEXTEL Cup Champion, Kurt Busch.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Congresswoman for her courtesy and her help with this legislation. I rise today in strong support of the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004. I would like to thank Senator Reid and Senator Ensign and my House colleagues, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for their tireless efforts in reaching a compromise on this bipartisan legislation that is important to all Nevadans. I would also like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for his leadership and especially acknowledge the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), a truly good friend who worked with the Nevada delegation to reach this compromise. The Nevada delegation worked diligently with the people of Lincoln County, the environmental community, wilderness groups, ranchers and officials in southern Nevada to carefully craft this piece of legislation. While every group did not get every provision they wanted in the bill, this is a compromise we are all proud of. This bill is well-balanced. It will help Lincoln County flourish and create economic opportunities for its citizens. Lincoln County officials and residents will be able to develop their community and expand their financial base. Protecting Nevada's environment is very important to me, and this allows for development without jeopardizing Nevada's precious resources. The Federal Government owns over 98 percent of the land in Lincoln County. This restricts vital economic growth for the area. Allowing for private development will give the people of Lincoln County a way to increase prosperity for themselves and their children. The Bureau of Land Management will only auction off approved lands. Lincoln County will use the proceeds from land sales to preserve parks, trails and natural resources Nevadans utilize and the natural beauty Nevadans have grown to love. Nearly 770,000 acres of land will be designated as wilderness. This will protect treasured sites important to Native Americans in Nevada and rich in archaeological artifacts such as petroglyphs. The Nevada desert is also home to many species of wildlife, such as the sage grouse and desert tortoise. Nevada is facing an unprecedented challenge as a result of a 5-year drought affecting the Colorado River Basin. This bill provides for additional water resources in southern Nevada which are desperately needed. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. I appreciate their support and their help.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, the Duelfer report submitted by the chief U.S. weapons inspector to Congress yesterday confirms what we already knew: Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction, no nuclear weapons, no weapons programs. There is no evidence that Saddam Hussein had a plan to recruit or the capabilities to rebuild his arsenal of chemical and biological weapons. Yet, George Bush, Dick Cheney continue to mislead the American people by ignoring the facts and trying to justify the invasion of a nation that we now know posed no imminent threat to the United States. It is bad enough that we went to war based on the worst intelligence in this Nation's history. What is shameful and unforgivable is that the President who led us into this unnecessary war refuses to acknowledge our profound mistake and take responsibility for it. The smirk, the swagger, the unbending stubbornness of this President has worn thin in the face of the reality of what is going on on the ground in Iraq. It is time that we elect a President with true leadership characteristics who will not lie to the American people and who can restore the respect and honor we once enjoyed in the world community.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, are we better off today than we were 4 years ago? If you live in Nevada, the answer is no. The number of Nevadans living in poverty has increased by 11,000. The family income in Nevada has dropped by $1,511; 82,000 Nevadans lost their health insurance. There are now 400,000 Nevadans who live every day without health insurance. They pray they do not get sick. Those who are lucky enough to have health insurance saw their premiums go up by an average of 3,229. What working family can afford that? Gas prices in Nevada are the highest in the Nation; 26,717 Nevadans filed bankruptcy in 2003. That is a 48 percent increase since Bush became President. Nevada has the strongest economy in the United States. So if people are suffering in the State of Nevada, can you just imagine what is going on in the rest of the country. After 4 years it is time for new leadership in the White House who will fight for all Nevadans and who will fight for you.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004. I would like to thank Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Porter, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Pombo, and the members of the Resources Committee for their diligent work on this bipartisan legislation that is important to all Nevadans. The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act is the result of the cooperation and support of the entire Nevada delegation. This carefully crafted piece of legislation strikes a delicate balance between encouraging economic development in Lincoln County, protecting Nevada's environment, and managing essential natural resources. The Federal Government controls over 98 percent of the land in Lincoln County. Allowing for the private development of a portion of this land would provide for an increase in economic growth in Lincoln County. Property taxes collected would be reinvested to maintain critical government services and improve infrastructure and recreational opportunities within the County. Proceeds from land sales will also be reinvested to preserve and manage parks, trails, and natural resources, and pay for development of a multi-species conservation plan. This comprehensive legislation will aid in the preservation of our natural resources and public lands in Lincoln County. Nearly 770,000 acres of land will be designated as wilderness, and thousands of acres in Lincoln County will be protected to create more parks and trails for future generations. I am extremely pleased that the Mount Irish, Big Rocks and Mormon Mountain areas were included as wilderness designations in the final version of this vital legislation. These sites are rich in archeological artifacts and wilderness designation provides the necessary protection for these treasures. I recognize the importance of ensuring that environmentally sensitive lands are protected. Under this legislation the Bureau of Land Management will complete a full environmental impact statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Another provision provides the Secretary of the Interior the authority to set aside 10,000 acres of the land to be auctioned for potential cultural and natural resource issues that may arise. This sensible piece of legislation will provide an economic boost to the communities of Lincoln County and protect and promote Nevada's unique natural areas while providing exciting opportunities to sustain future growth in our great State.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Democrats unveiled a new blueprint for the future, our New Partnership for America's Future, a plan that will move our Nation in the right direction by promoting prosperity, national security, fairness and opportunity, as well as supporting our communities and demanding accountability. I want to focus today on national security. Nevada has the highest percentage of National Guard troops deployed in Iraq, 40 percent of Nevada's National Guard. Over 1,500 Nevada National Guard and Reserve troops have been deployed overseas. These brave men and women are our next generation of veterans. Republicans have not kept their promises to our current veterans, and I have no confidence that we will be able to do any better for these new veterans. Republicans refuse to end the Disabled Veterans Tax. Instead, they passed a plan that fails to cover over 5,000 disabled veterans in Nevada. Democrats will keep our promises to our veterans and will keep America safe with a strong military, sound diplomacy, resources for our first responders and heightened security for our ports.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to share some of my thoughts with my colleagues, because I thought when President Bush took office, he promised to maintain the projected budget surplus. He promised to pay off the national debt and help the middle class working Americans. Instead, what I have seen is his policies have led to record deficits, increased Federal debt, and have put a squeeze on the middle class. These failed policies burden all Americans and endanger the future of hardworking families in Nevada and throughout this Nation. When President Bush took office in January of 2001, the Congressional Budget Office projected a 10-year, $5.6 trillion surplus. Because of the irresponsible and failed economic policies of the Bush administration and the congressional Republicans, we can now expect a 10-year $3.5 trillion budget deficit. This is a $9 trillion, dare I say it, dare I use the word, flip-flop. This year's deficit alone is a record $422 billion, the largest deficit in this Nation's history. We have gone from one of the largest budget surpluses in our Nation's history to the worst deficit our Nation has ever seen. And it does not matter what these neoRepublican economists are now saying. The facts are deficits matter. Federal deficits directly affect every American. Higher deficits mean increased interest rates, higher car payments and rising mortgage costs. If the deficits continue the way they are, mortgage rates could go back to where they were in the 1980s, through the roof, making the dream of American home ownership virtually impossible for working families in this country. If interest rates rise by just 1 percent, 1 percent, homeowners will pay an additional $1,200 in interest payments every year for a typical $150,000, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. Mountings deficits have also increased the Federal debt. The Federal debt was $6.7 trillion at the end of 2003. By the way this administration is going, the debt is going to be over $14 trillion in another 10 years. The Bush administration's solution to this skyrocketing debt, just raise the national debt ceiling for the third year in a row. So what does an increase in the Federal debt mean to the people we represent? This year, Americans will spend $159 billion, an average of $4,400 per family, to pay the interest on the debt. Our constituents, the good people of Nevada, South Carolina and Virginia, want to spend their money on something else other than paying off the national debt. How about paying down their credit cards? How about paying their own student loans or house payments? And how far is this President willing to go? How much more will this President drain from American families. How long are we going to put up with his fiscal foolishness and irresponsibility? The Bush administration and congressional Republicans have had plenty of opportunities to fix this financial mess. They have not. They have refused to require spending offsets for new tax cuts as well as for new spending. We call this PAYGO, and it is essential to restoring this country's fiscal health. In the 1990s, PAYGO led to budget surpluses and the largest economic expansion in this Nation since World War II, and it is hard to imagine responsible leaders rejecting this proven and successful budget policy. PAYGO, what is it? It is simple, we do not spend what we do not have. You pay as you go. It makes sense to everybody else except President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress. This administration and this Republican Congress are failing American families by failing to address our growing deficits. The first of 77 million baby boomers will be collecting Social Security benefits in less than 4 years and Medicare in less than 7. We should be preparing now by saving more and getting our Nation's economic house in order. Are we doing it? No we are not. President Bush and the Republican Congress are closing the door on a house on fire. They are running up the biggest deficits in history, no planning, no savings, no economic strategy, just reckless, foolish borrowing and spending. To make matters worse, the Bush administration and Republican leaders are pushing for new tax cuts for corporations and for people who do not need more tax cuts. New tax cuts are not the solution. In 2004, this past year, 46 percent of Nevada taxpayers, the people I represent, received a tax break of less than $100, and what did Nevadans get for this $100? Since President Bush took office, health care costs for families have risen $793; college tuition and fees have increased over $1,200; and gas prices have gone up an average of 33 percent. The average Nevada family now spends $495 more this year on gas than they did when President Bush took office. A $100 tax break barely dents the skyrocketing cost of living. It is time for President Bush and Republicans in Congress to address the enormous financial burdens these growing deficits are placing on us. It is time to stop turning a blind eye to the burdens their failed policies will place on our children. It is time the American people hold President Bush and the Republican Congress accountable. I do not know what we have to do to make the American public wake up and see what is going on because night after night, day after day, we stand here, and we tell the American public what is going on and what is going to happen, and until we realize the seriousness of these deficits and the foolishness of this administration's fiscal policy, I fear that we are going to be in a world of hurt when this is all over.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Hayworth amendment. Tribal nations have established commercial gaming enterprises because of the economic prospects and to improve the living conditions of their tribal members. Before gaming, many of these tribes had little or no economic development and next to nothing on their lands to provide a foundation of commerce. If you had come to Las Vegas when my family came to Las Vegas over 4 decades ago, you would have found similar circumstances. A remote place in the Nevada desert with virtually no economic activity. My community looked to gaming, and now Las Vegas has one of the most vibrant economies in the United States. The key to Las Vegas' success is a strong relationship between labor and management. As a result, our casino workers have good-paying jobs, good benefits, good working conditions. Workers at tribal gaming facilities deserve the same. The National Labor Relations Board ruled it has jurisdiction at casinos operated by American Indian tribes. This decision ensures that the rights of all workers in this country, including those working on tribal lands, are protected. Las Vegas is a shining example of why such an atmosphere of respect between employees and employers strengthens the entire community. I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment which is one- sided and jeopardizes ongoing discussions between those parties impacted by the ruling. Rather than resolving the situation, this amendment may only cause deterioration in efforts to come to mutually beneficial solutions. The NLRB has ruled and this Congress should not overturn that ruling.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important victory for the people of Nevada in our 20-year struggle against becoming the Nation's nuclear waste dump. Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously upheld its decision that radiation standards for the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain were not based on sound science and would not protect the health and safety of the American people. In ruling for Nevada, the court found that the Bush administration deliberately set radiation standards for Yucca Mountain that were not in keeping with the findings of the National Academy of Sciences as required by law. The Academy reported to Congress in 1995 that waste stored at a repository would remain deadly for 300,000 years or more, and concluded that radiation standards for the Yucca Mountain project should reflect these scientific standards. Rather than incorporating the findings of the National Academy of Sciences when crafting safety guidelines, the Bush administration ignored the law, ignored the science, and knowingly ordered the EPA to draft a radiation standard not based on the science, but an arbitrary period of 10,000 years. The gap between the science and the EPA standard? A mere 290,000 years. The court's ruling voids the radiation standard established by the Bush administration and is the latest in a series of setbacks that have clouded the future of Yucca Mountain. These include the lack of funding in Congress, a refusal by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to certify an electronic database required for licensing the repository, and a lawsuit filed by the State of Nevada challenging a portion of the administration's transportation plans for Yucca Mountain because they do not meet necessary NEPA standards. On their own, any one of these issues is significant enough to stop the Yucca Mountain project in its tracks. But the nuclear industry has friends in the White House and is in control of Congress, and they are gearing up for a fight. The administration's only option for addressing the court's ruling is to have the EPA revise the radiation standards to reflect the danger identified by the National Academy of Sciences. Such a standard will require that the repository isolate waste for 300,000 years or more. Yucca Mountain cannot possibly meet this science-based standard. The nuclear industry also knows that this court ruling would doom plans to ship nuclear waste to Nevada. They are already planning a push in Congress to waive the requirement that radiation standards for this repository conform with the science. Changing the rules in the middle of the game seems to be standard operating procedure for this Congress. Putting politics over the safety of those people I represent and denying Nevada the protection of our courts and our court system of checks and balances is something this House of Representatives has done before. It must stop. Changing the law will allow the administration to continue to railroad Nevadans by allowing Congress, not the National Academy of Sciences, to determine radiation standards for Yucca Mountain. There is not one Member of this esteemed body who knows anything, not one thing, about radiation standards or how to store nuclear waste safely at Yucca Mountain, not for 3 minutes, much less 300,000 years. Will Congress choose a 10,000-year standard? 5,000? Maybe Congress in its infinite wisdom is going to opt for no radiation standard at all. When it comes to Yucca Mountain, there is no limit to the hoops this administration and Republican leaders in this House will jump through or the lies and misrepresentations they will tell to move this project forward. I say to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, there will come a time in the near future when you will be asked to decide whether politics or science should prevail in establishing radiation standards for Yucca Mountain. I urge you to respect the role of the courts in its decision determining the EPA did not follow the law, and respect the right of those who live in Nevada to challenge the notion that Yucca Mountain is safe. Science, not politics, should guide this Nation's policy on nuclear waste disposal. That is what George Bush promised when he first campaigned for President in the year 2000, and that is what he said when he came to Nevada just 3 weeks ago. He said he would respect any court ruling against Yucca Mountain. The courts have spoken. Now it is time for the President to act on his promise as well. The second highest court in the Nation has spoken. Work on licensing Yucca Mountain cannot continue until a new radiation standard is crafted that incorporates the work of the National Academy of Sciences. The President ought to stop this folly and stop it now and demand that the EPA comply with the U.S. Court of Appeals decision. As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of our Nation. Waiving a science-based radiation standard to expedite this project means waiving the health and safety protection that we have promised all of Americans. The last time I checked, the great State of Nevada is in the United States and deserves the same protection as any other State.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, it has been 3 years since the 9/11 attack on our Nation. Are we safer than we were before 9/11? Are we safe enough? The 9/11 Commission has done its job; now it is time for Congress to do ours. Homeland security is still pitifully underfunded. Our police and firefighters are struggling to cope with the dual responsibilities of homeland security and traditional public safety in law enforcement. The Bush administration has foolishly underfunded first responders and port security. The administration has failed to include a single dollar in its budget for rail or transit security. First responders in southern Nevada tell me that we must direct more resources to those on the frontline on our war against terrorism: police, firefighters, hospital personnel. Given the President's plan to transport thousands of shipments of deadly radioactive nuclear waste across the country, it is imperative that the President plan to protect these proposed mobile Chernobyls from the possibility of a terrorist attack. Yet we have done nothing to ensure that our rail lines are safe. Republican leadership has failed to come forward with a meaningful homeland security plan. They failed to address the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and they failed to provide for the needs of our first responders. This Congress needs to act now in order to protect the people of this great Nation.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, Republican leadership still does not grasp the importance of reducing our Nation's deficits. Instead, they continue to focus on misplaced priorities. Our Nation faces record deficits, and we ought to tackle the real problems that deficits pose. Deficits put a strain on the economy. They threaten Social Security and force families to bear the burden of our Nation's debt. Over the next 6 years, Nevada families will pay on average more than $20,000 out of their own pockets to help cover the cost of the national debt. Instead of dealing with this, the Republican leaders have chosen this week to focus on legislation that would erode the separation of powers by removing Federal court jurisdictions to review challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act. It is incomprehensible to me that Republican leaders have deemed this the pressing issue when millions of Americans have no health insurance, we still have not passed a transportation bill, and our deficits are skyrocketing out of control. Let us focus on what is really important to American families, attack rising deficits with sensible approaches and let us let all of this extraneous nonsense go by the wayside where it belongs.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I especially want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) for introducing this amendment which I have supported year after year. I rise in strong support of this amendment. The very idea that we are giving any funding to the Saudi kingdom with all of its oil, with all of its wealth, is nothing short of astounding. It boggles my mind. Not only is this a regime that allows terrorism to exist, they have exploited it worldwide. Not only have they exploited terrorism, they are the leading financiers of terrorism. The thought that one cent of American money is being spent in Saudi Arabia is an insult to the memory of those who died in the attack on this Nation of 9/11. Let us never forget that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Knowing this, knowing this fact, did the Saudi Government express one word of remorse, of regret to the families of the 9/11 victims? Not one word. The Saudis are constantly declaring to the United States that they are our partners in peace. Partners in peace? Are we talking about the same Saudis that support and encourage and finance terrorism, the same Saudis that exude racist and antiSemitic hatred, the same Saudis that allowed terrorists to escape after killing 16 westerners at a Khobar resident tower compound, the same that have the worst record on the planet when it comes to religious intolerance and discrimination? These are our partners in peace? The Saudis claim that they are vigorously prosecuting and persecuting terrorists. Who are they kidding? Saudi efforts to prosecute terrorists are inept at best and, more accurately, practically nonexistent. Since 9/11 not a single Saudi donor of funds to terrorist groups has been punished, not a single one. Is supporting the Saudi royal family the best use of American taxpayer dollars? Absolutely not. I do not want my taxpayer dollars going to the Saudis, and I do not want anyone else's. Let us pass this and send a strong message to our so-called partners in peace that they are with us, or they are against us.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, last week the second highest court in the United States ruled that the proposed radiation standard for the Yucca Mountain project is inadequate to protect the health and safety of the American public and that the EPA knowingly ignored scientists' recommendations when formulating the standard. The Federal Court of Appeals found that the EPA blatantly disregarded the findings of the National Academy of Sciences that radiation levels will reach their peak in 300,000 years, and instead set a 10,000-year radiation standard. The gap between the science and the standard, a mere 290,000 years. This ruling is the latest proof that the Yucca Mountain project is not based on sound science. When recommending the site to Congress, President Bush knew this radiation standard was not in keeping with scientific findings. Candidate Bush promised that he would not send nuclear waste to any proposed site unless it was based on sound science. President Bush reneged on his promise, ignored sound science, misled the people of the State of Nevada and approved the Yucca Mountain project. Thankfully, the court ruled in favor of science and the people of the great State of Nevada.