Joe Baca

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 21. I inadvertently gave the wrong number earlier.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American patriots who fought bravely and triumphantly in one of the most iconic battles in our Nation's history. Sixty years ago, thousands of men left their homes and families to fight for our security, liberty, and democracy. They fought, not because they had to, but because they chose to--choosing to confront an enemy they could not see, in a place they did not know. Over 450 Navy ships unloaded 75,000 American soldiers onto the tiny Pacific island of Iwo Jima and faced a blistering assault from an entrenched and virtually invisible Japanese army. Despite the massive geographical advantage of the Japanese and the loss of almost 2,500 soldiers on the first day alone, our soldiers marched fearlessly forward to meet their hidden enemy. After 36 day's, victory was in hand but not before 7,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese were killed. This image of victory over adversity is ingrained in our history through the symbolic, yet evocative image of six American servicemen planting a salvaged American flag on top of Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima. Though the battle lasted twice as long as expected, the commitment of our men and women in uniform to the ideals of freedom and peace never wavered. Their steadfast belief in themselves and our Nation remains a beacon of selflessness and sacrifice for all Americans. For those who still defend our country and those who fight for the principles upon which this Nation was founded, the men and women of Iwo Jima provide an opportunity for hope. Their actions will forever stir our hearts and rouse our belief in the human spirit. It is because of this that we will always be thankful to the soldiers of Iwo Jima.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Chairman, let's be clear--the Boozman amendment will force truck drivers to work longer hours, with less rest, putting all of us at risk. This amendment is about one thing--increasing the workday for truck drivers from 14 to 16 hours. Those 16 hours are twice the length of the average American's workday. We do not need more tired truck drivers on the road. I represent one of the largest trucking communities in this country. The Inland Empire in California is the trucking hub of all of Southern California. Let me share with you what I know. Every truck stop in Southern California, and I suspect the rest of the Nation, is full of stay-awake and other legal caffeine pills for overworked and sleepy truck drivers. Truck drivers also quietly grumble that they are increasingly forced to carry larger loads, over longer distances, with shorter deadlines. This amendment is not about flexibility; it is about rolling back safety so a few companies can increase profits. Do you know anyone who works a 14-hour day who'd rather change that to 16 hours? Who, in their right mind, really wants to show up for work at 7 a.m. and leave at 11 p.m.? What about the families and their children? What about time to sleep? The Boozman amendment is a bad idea that will endanger our families on the road and decrease the quality of life for truck drivers. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to give recognition to Dr. Donald F. Averill, Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District for receiving the Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrative Award. It is my honor to recognize Dr. Averill's leadership, dedication, extensive educational background, and his academic and administrative merits to the faculty and students of the State of California. Dr. Averill earned his doctoral degree in Educational Management from the University of La Verne. He has contributed great efforts to vocational education and educational development through teaching and administration. In addition to his 40 years of experience as professor and administrator, Dr. Averill has also served his tenure of service as Superintendent and President of Palo Verde College, President of the California Association of Occupational Administrators, Chair of the Occupational Education Coalition, Chair of a Legislative Oversight Committee on Contract Education, Chair of the Southern 30's Human Resources Exchange, and Chair of the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) Human Resources Commission. Dr. Averill carries a strong commitment to public service, clearly demonstrated by his active involvement with the people and organizations of his community. He is currently involved with over 20 regional, state, and national organizations. Due to his broad knowledge in education and understanding of legislative and educational issues, Dr. Averill is frequently asked to take the lead in areas of higher education, economic development, and community college finances. Furthermore, Dr. Averill has compiled an impressive list of community outreach, which includes his service as Co-Founder of the Orange County Technology Exchange Center, Chair of the local American Heart Association branch, Lt. Governor of Division Three for Kiwanis International, Chairman of the Board for Mary's Home, Director and Board Member of the Blythe Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Palo Verde Valley Economic Partnership, Member of the Board of Directors of the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rialto Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of California, the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, and the Work Incentive Board of San Bernardino County. Dr. Averill is an outstanding awardee to receive the Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award. His leadership, commitment, loyalty, integrity, and merits all made him a perfect candidate deserving of such a great honor. The people of San Bernardino County and of the State of California thank him for his continued service.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 27, the Job Training Improvement Act. This bill fails to improve the Workforce Investment Act and falls short of the promises our government made to provide training and career opportunities for the unemployed. H.R. 27 is fatally flawed and undermines our current national workforce policy. It eliminates various worker-training programs, rolls back protection against religious discrimination, and potentially damages the stability of important social programs. We cannot neglect the unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers of America who need ample and widespread funding for federal job training services. Despite a suffering economy and high unemployment, this bill undercuts the ability of our government to provide for these vital workers and erodes Congressional authority and accountability over workforce funds. Under the provisions of H.R. 27, funding will be shifted from WIA partner programs to pay for the WIA infrastructure and core services costs. This transfer will weaken vital programs such as TANF, adult education, unemployment insurance, child support enforcement, and veterans employment programs. Why would we threaten these vital social programs by passing a flawed bill that does not even assure more training would result from the transfer of funds? H.R. 27 also contains explicit discriminatory provisions. By repealing long-standing civil rights protections that were signed into law by President Reagan, this bill allows job-training providers to discriminate on the basis of religion. Since 1982, these provisions have been included in the bill and received bipartisan support. We cannot allow this gross inequity to tear at the fabric of a fundamental American principle--the inalienable right to fair and equal treatment under the law. This is why I strongly support Congressman Scott's amendment that will restore these basic civil rights and my faith in our legislative process. We cannot allow ourselves to drastically depart from previous workforce policy by eliminating worker training programs, destabilizing essential social programs, and writing discriminatory provisions into law. This so-called Workforce Investment Act is not an acceptable or responsible proposal to provide needed services to our nation's unemployed. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no on final passage.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition of S. 5, the so-called ``Class Action Fairness Act.'' This bill will send the majority of class action suits from State to Federal courts, making it more difficult for people who have been unfairly hurt to collect compensation for their injuries. Federal courts are already overwhelmed by a large number of drug and immigration cases, and they don't have the time or the resources to deal with complex issues of State law. This bill has it all wrong. Instead of punishing individuals who pursue frivolous lawsuits, this bill will punish innocent people who have been wrongfully hurt. This bill is a payoff to large companies and special interests. It takes rights away from consumers in order to protect drug manufacturers, insurance companies, HMOs and negligent doctors. There is no accountability on their part. It is not ``frivolous'' for an innocent person who has been harmed through no fault of their own to seek compensation for their injuries. When a child is disabled or maimed by a preventable error, it is not frivolous to seek damages from the company responsible for the injury. This is a bill that's going to significantly harm small consumers who want to hold large companies accountable for defrauding them. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on S. 5.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 310, a bill that would increase the fines the Federal Communications Commission can impose for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane material. The level of violent and sexual content in all forms of media has reached a point where Congress has no choice but to act. The proliferation of indecent content in the media continues not only through television and movies but also through video games and the Internet--mediums that our children now have easier access to. A growing body of evidence suggests that these messages can be harmful to a child's development. As Democrats and Republicans we must continue to work together to address these issues. That is the only way we will be able prevent our children from being needlessly exposed to violent and sexual content. The failure of the FCC to adequately scrutinize Spanish-language radio broadcasts for indecent content has been particularly troubling. In the last decade alone, the number of Spanish-language outlets in television and radio nationwide has nearly doubled. With this growth comes an increasing necessity to improve the FCC's ability to enforce its decency standards in an increasingly diverse market place. The Spanish-speaking community is no less deserving of protection from blatant indecency than other audiences. As the co-chair of the Congressional Sex and Violence in the Media Caucus with my friend and colleague, Congressman Tom Osborne, I believe that we must prevent violence by and against children through legislation, education, outreach and advocacy. I hope that other Members of Congress and the public will continue to work to protect our children from obscene and inappropriate media. I commend Congressman Upton and Congressman Markey for their sponsorship of this bill and support its passage.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition of this bill. It does nothing to make America safer. It is simply anti-immigrant legislation placed under the mask of homeland security. The bill will prevent States from giving licenses to undocumented immigrants. It will not prevent terrorists from obtaining identification forms. All of the 9/11 hijackers were in this country legally. In fact, allowing immigrants to have licenses actually improves homeland security by allowing our government to track who is in our borders. This bill will also raise insurmountable hurdles for refugees seeking asylum and will deport victims of persecution into the hands of their persecutors. Proponents of this provision claim that we need to tighten asylum laws, yet, they cannot pinpoint a single terrorist given asylum in the United States. This bill will also require the completion of a fence on the Mexican border, waiving environmental laws in California. This fence is a complete waste of money and resources. People will go over it, under it and around it to enter our country. Our immigration system is a broken system that needs to be fixed. We need reform that provides hardworking people of good character with a real path towards citizenship. But this bill is simply a Band-Aid on the problem that will not provide lasting reform.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased that Congress has recognized the important role that Catholic schools play in our community by bringing House Resolution 23 before the House floor. As a proud Catholic, I know the impact that faith-based education can have in our society and have witnessed it first hand in my district. Schools such as the St. Thomas Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, California, are highly regarded for their academic and athletic excellence, as well as the life-changing opportunities they provide to their students. Under the leadership of Bishop Gerald Barnes, the San Bernardino Diocese school system has invested in the future of our children by providing them the educational tools to succeed. Catholic schools in our Nation's education have been paramount in teaching the values that we as parents seek to instill in our children. They are sources of goodwill and arbiters of moral values, providing strong foundations for young people. Their curriculums are often full of programs in character development and community service. Catholic school graduates exhibit a wide variety of qualities that will not only help them in their careers but also in their family and community lives. It gives me no greater pleasure than to support this resolution today honoring the contributions of Catholic schools and I commend Congressman Kennedy for his sponsorship. I also ask and pray for the quick recovery of Pope John Paul II, so that he may continue to lead the Catholic Church and help oversee the Catholic school system and their good works.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to a great civil rights pioneer; a man who provided vital social and political commentary on our nation at a time when it was unwelcome to do so. Above all Ossie Davis was an activist for social equality. He believed vigorously in the tenets on which our nation was founded: freedom, justice, and that all men are indeed created equal. Ossie Davis passed away last year at the age of 87. With his passing our nation lost not only a leader of the civil rights movement but also one of the preeminent playwrights, authors and actors of the African American community. Over his 50 years in the entertainment business, Ossie Davis wrote various plays, television shoves and movies, shedding necessary light on the challenges facing the African American community and race relations in the United States. He was a champion for the disenfranchised, providing a voice for those who could not speak out and inspiration for those seeking a better life. Ossie's theatrical achievements and unabashed commentary on the civil rights movement led to him receiving the Silver Circle Award from the Academy of the Television Arts and Sciences in 1994, the National Medal of Arts in 1995, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actor's Guild in 2000. He was also honored by the Kennedy Center in 2004. Through his proactive participation in the entertainment industry, Ossie Davis exhibited a deep resolve to highlighting the struggle for equality in the African American community and, in so doing, changed the direction of our nation. I commend Congressman Conyers on awarding Ossie Davis this well- deserved medal. His contributions to the African American community and our entire nation should not go overlooked.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, while many manufacturers have been cutting costs by relocating overseas or contracting to foreign companies, one small flashlight manufacturer has decided to stay put in the U.S.A. Right now that company is in danger and needs our help. Mag Instrument, maker of the Maglite flashlight, filed for a reissue patent in 1990 but was not approved until 2003--13 years later. The delay in that 2-year extension led to countless foreign manufacturers copying the design, flooding foreign markets with their knock-offs ever since. The Maglite patent expires this year. If we let that happen we can expect a flood of knock-offs here in the U.S.A., jeopardizing 900 American jobs and a great American product. Today, I am proud to introduce legislation to extend the patent for the Maglite flashlight for an additional 2 years. The Maglite flashlight is not some fancy medicine or artificial heart, but nonetheless represents American innovation and the ability of one man to turn a great idea into ``the American dream.'' The Maglite is a beloved tool of police officers, firefighters, and E.M.T.'s nationwide. Military units often replace their service issue flashlights with Maglites. Engineers at the USS Cole credited this flashlight with helping them to save lives and to keep the ship from sinking. That is why I am proud to introduce this legislation today along with 10 of my colleagues, and the support of the National Association of Police Organizations, its 52 affiliates and my hometown police organization, the San Bernardino County Safety Employees' Association. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me by cosponsoring this bill. We need to make sure our police officers and first responders have this nearly indestructible American-made steel flashlight instead of a fragile foreign knock-off flashlight made of aluminum or plastic. We need to keep the seal ``Made in the U.S.A.'' on this great all- American flashlight.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request that the attached letter, requesting excuse from the floor on January 6, 2005, be published in the Congressional Record. I have also submitted the letter to Leader Pelosi's Office. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, January 6, 2005. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader, Washington, DC. Dear Leader Pelosi: I respectfully request to be excused from the floor, today, on legislative business. Were I able to be present on the floor today, I would vote to ensure that the electoral will of the people is respected in every state. If there is any perceived electoral irregularity, those who have been aggrieved must be afforded the opportunity to have their concerns redressed, in the appropriate manner and forum, as expeditiously as possible. The hallmark of our Democracy--lasting and cherished for over two centuries--is that we respect and abide by Constitutional principles. The right of franchise, purchased with the blood and toil of our civil rights leaders, must not be idly relinquished. We must fight to make all voices heard in that noble and great enterprise that is America. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Sincerely, Joe Baca, Congressman.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to express my deepest regrets over the loss of my friend and colleague, Bob Matsui. My thoughts and prayers are with the Matsui family--especially Doris, Brian, Amy, and Anna. Our country has lost a great leader. Bob Matsui personified integrity and passion. He served California and America with great conviction and dedication to his beliefs. Bob Matsui was an inspiration to all Americans. Although he was taken to a Japanese American internment camp at only 6 months old, he never gave up his dedication to bettering our great country. He later became a leader of the movement for redress of Japanese-Americans interned during World War II. Even though much time had passed, he still sought justice for all Americans. Bob Matsui also fought tirelessly for America's senior citizens. As ranking member of the Social Security Subcommittee, he worked diligently to protect seniors' retirement funds He strongly opposed risky schemes to privatize Social Security and worked to make seniors aware of the faults of these plans. As chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Bob Matsui passionately believed in the message of the Democratic Party, and dedicated himself tirelessly to spreading that message. Bob Matsui is an inspiration to all Americans. His strong desire to serve his community and his country led him to become one of the most beloved leaders of this Congress. Bob Matsui will be missed by his country, his community, his family and his friends. He will long be remembered as a great American statesman.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rules package that we have before us today. It is outrageous that my Republican colleagues have placed before us a rules package that at best lacks integrity, and at worst is completely unethical. As the highest body of elected officials in our country, we should be held to the highest ethical standards. But instead, my Republican colleagues have opted to put before us a rules package that actually lowers our ethics standards, so that they may promote their own agenda, at whatever cost. This rules package makes it far more difficult for ethics investigations to take place. By requiring a majority of the ethics committee before an investigation can even begin, we are in great danger of diminishing the integrity of our great institution. With this new rule, the majority party can effectively block any ethics investigation of a member of their party. This is an abuse of power. And it's not just Democrats who oppose this plan. Americans across the country have expressed their opposition to this plan. My Democratic colleagues and I have a better plan that will strengthen the ethics rules to improve congressional accountability and to make sure that legislation is properly considered. The Republican plan fails to close a loophole that allows legislation to be considered before members have read it. Last year this led to the passage of a provision that would have let the Federal Government deeply invade citizens' privacy by reading their tax returns. I am appalled that the Republicans have failed to include the Democratic provision to tighten this loophole. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the resolution, so that we do not allow this rules package to become law.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today, I will be reintroducing the Southern California Groundwater Remediation Act. This legislation is a long-term solution to help cities in Southern California remove perchlorate from their drinking water. Formerly H.R. 4606, this legislation passed the House of Representatives in September of 2004. Today, I pick up the fight to clean up perchlorate groundwater contamination and protect the health of Southern Californians. Perchlorate groundwater contamination remains a crisis in Southern California. This includes my hometown of Rialto, California. Perchlorate is a main ingredient in rocket fuel. It has been found in drinking water supplies in 40 states, including California. It has been linked to thyroid damage, and may be especially harmful to infants and developing fetuses, and the 1.2 million women of childbearing age in San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange Counties. It could also be harmful to those with weak immune systems, such as seniors and AIDS patients. There is a legal and moral obligation to provide safe and healthy water. Today, these obligations are in jeopardy. The hardworking families in these areas are not at fault and should not have to pay for this problem. We must protect these consumers. Southern California, and particularly the Inland Empire, has been greatly impacted by perchlorate. Perchlorate has been detected in 184 sources in the counties served by the Santa Ana River watershed. There is a perchlorate plume in the Inland Empire in California that is seven miles long and growing every day. It has affected 82 wells in San Bernardino County, and jeopardized the water supplies of 500,000 residents who rely on the Colorado River. The economic burden on these communities is almost as much of a concern as the potential health effects. The bill authorizes $50 million in much-needed assistance. It is modeled after a successful program in the San Gabriel Basin in Southern California that has also suffered from perchlorate-polluted water. And it is similar to H.R. 4459, a bill introduced by Richard Pombo in the 108th Congress that deals with perchlorate in Northern California, and passed the House last September. I urge my colleagues to support this urgent bill for Southern California, so we can tell these communities that help is on the way. I would like to thank Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congressman Ken Calvert and Congressman Gary Miller for their support of this crucial bill to the health of Southern Californians.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects and give my deepest condolences to those who have suffered through one of the worst natural disasters in history. As our nation celebrated the holiday season with our loved ones, a tragedy of epic proportions was occurring half a world away. An earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 off the coast of Indonesia triggered a massive tsunami that engulfed several countries throughout South and Southeast Asia. The total aftermath is not yet known as the number of lives lost continues to rise to immeasurable levels. Though this tragic disaster destroyed lives, families, and entire economies, it did not destroy the strength of character and sense of purpose displayed by the victims who continue to fight daily for survival. The victims of this tsunami are not alone in their struggle. Across our great Nation, Americans, together with the world community, have exhibited their generosity of spirit as they pray for the suffering families and continue to give monetary assistance to those in need. More than 150,000 people have been killed with millions more affected. These numbers are already impossible to comprehend yet countless others are missing. We are now presented with a defining historical moment as a nation and as an international community. We must share the fiscal and emotional burden that will only get worse for our brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia. We cannot under-fund, undercut, or undermine our relief efforts by failing to follow through on our promises as a government or our compassion as Americans. 9/11 will always be remembered in our nation as a time of crisis and devastation, yet also a time of perseverance and unity. We survived this horrific event because of the resolve exhibited by our Nation's people and the support received from the international community. The tragedy that has struck Southeast Asia is no less of a crisis and no less devastating. It is the responsibility of the United States and the world community to continue the aid and assistance of these countries during their time of need. During times of crises are when the integrity of a nation and its people are judged in history. I am encouraged by the overwhelming response and generosity shown by the people across this world. It is the human way to respond; it is the American way to respond.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American patriots who lost their lives on the fateful day of December 7, 1941. In the greatest defining moment of the world's most defining war in our history, over 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded at Pearl Harbor, including hundreds of innocent civilians. As costly as it was in the lives of our men and women in uniform, in military assets, and in esteem and pride, Pearl Harbor was a watershed moment for America. December 7, 1941 marked the turning point for our Nation and determined the future of our foreign policy. America changed from a Nation turned inward to a strong and unified superpower, steadfast in our commitment to champion and defend the ideals of freedom and democracy. Pearl Harbor caused our Nation to wholeheartedly commit to winning World War II, changing the course of our Nation's history and the world's future. The catastrophic loss of American soldiers led to our country becoming the America we live in today. At home and abroad, we fight for the ideals of social and political equality. This policy was founded in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and continues to be our Nation's moral compass. This day should not be remembered with hatred or bitterness. It should be a day to honor the bravery of our men and women and remembered as the day our Nation was united and our sacrifices consecrated. We learned in World War II that no single nation holds a monopoly on wisdom, morality or right to power, but that we must fight for the weak and promote democracy. These are the difficult lessons learned in 1941 and enshrined in Pearl Harbor.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. It has been over 3 years since the September 11 attacks on America. The American people cannot wait any longer for intelligence reform. I voted against the original version of this bill, because although it made strides to protect our Homeland, it failed to protect our civil liberties. I am pleased that the version of the bill before us today has fixed these problems. We now have comprehensive intelligence reform that protects our homeland and our constitutional rights. If House Republicans wish to discuss immigration reform, I welcome that debate. But that is not the task that was laid out for us by the 9/11 Commission. I am also pleased to say that this bill includes language I introduced in the Financial Services Committee to encourage private sector anti-terrorism preparedness. The private sector controls 85 percent of the critical infrastructure in this country. On 9/11 it became clear that the private sector is one of the first lines of defense in preventing and responding to terrorist attacks. There are steps businesses can take to protect office buildings against terrorist attacks, to ensure that escape procedures are in place and to speed up recovery and communications. By encouraging private sector preparedness, we are taking a giant step towards making America safer. Mr. Speaker, today we have a choice. We can either pass this bill, or we can choose to do nothing. If we do nothing, our country will be left with the same intelligence system that failed us on September 11. The same intelligence system that allowed terrorists to live in our country unnoticed for months, plotting an attack on Americans. This is unacceptable. We cannot allow another September 11 to occur. We must pass this legislation today. We owe it to the families of the 9/11 victims, we owe it to America, and we owe it to ourselves. My only regret about this legislation is that it has taken us 3 years to pass it.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request to be excused from the floor, on Monday, December 6, 2004, on legislative and personal business. I will be present on Tuesday, and the balance of the week, and I will be able to participate in the key votes that are expected during that time. The reason for my absence on Monday is that I have been invited--as a proud parent, and Congressman from the Inland Empire--to attend the swearing in of my son, Joe Jr., as a member of the California State Assembly. This moment is very significant, because this is the same seat I held when I represented the Inland Empire in the state Assembly. I am sure you will join in my immense pride and joy I have as a father, on this historic occasion--one that reflects the continued ascendancy of Hispanics into leadership ranks, as well as the political coming of age of the next generation. I understand that, at present, leadership has no plans to being up on Monday the 9/11 Implementation Act, and Democrats are not whipping attendance for the suspension items on Monday, but I remain in ongoing communication with, and at the disposal of, the Democratic leadership team, should the situation change. I also have been informed that he repeal of the Taxpayer Persecution Act will be undertaken through the suspension process this evening. Like you, I was disturbed that the Republicans gave their staff the power to scrutinize Americans' tax returns, without safeguard, and I was even more outraged that this provision ended up in a bill that no one had read, hastily brought to a vote under martial law rules. If I were present, I would vote to strip this provision out of the appropriations bill, by voting ``yes'' on H. Con. Res. 528. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 528 and to express my deep concern about this Congress undermining our democracy. The taxpayer persecution language in the appropriations omnibus was an abuse of Congressional power. This language would allow members of Congress and their staff to read the tax records of any American and disclose the information. Unfortunately, this provision is just one more example of an abuse of power by the majority party of this Congress. The process that the Republican majority has resorted to is the reason that such outrageous provisions were approved. The Republican majority has used martial law to speed through legislation without giving members the change to read it over. Democracy suffers when members of Congress are given only a few short hours to read thousands of pages of law and it is the American citizen who must bear the burden of our actions. Democracy suffers when the minority is denied a seat at the table and the chance to be a part of the process. It is not the Members of Congress who lose out. The American citizens they are here to represent are the ones who lose out. The taxpayer persecution language is a frightening example of a Republican majority that is willing to oppress the minority, undermine democracy, and cast the shadows of Big Brother. Rule by the majority of the majority is not a democracy. Mr. Speaker, I speak out in frustration of a Republican party run government that seems to have little regard for the elected representatives of half of this country, and even less regard for the American citizens they represent. When our founding fathers created the United States Congress this was not what they had in mind. We need to bridge together the widening divisions in our country. We need to begin by bringing comity and bipartisanship back to this chamber, and in so--to the Nation. We must not allow our legislative process to fail us again.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of S. 437, the Arizona Water Settlements Act. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 885, the House version of this landmark bill that resolves critical water issues facing Arizona and Arizona tribes today. Congress authorized the Central Arizona project 35 years ago. Today, S. 347 offers resolution for water use in Arizona, providing additional water supplies to resolve tribal claims and accommodate rapid population growth. Among other improvements, this bill designs a solid system and infrastructure to provide Arizona tribes with affordable water. After many years, tribes in this region, such as the Gila River Indian Community, will be able to retain and maintain their water rights without continuous years of court battles. Everyone has the right to clean, abundant and affordable water--and our first Americans are no exception. The Arizona Water Settlements Act will be considered the largest Indian water settlement in U.S. history, and this was obviously no small task. The bill is strongly supported by appropriate state agencies, the entire Arizona delegation, the Gila River Community, the Tohono O'odham tribe, and a number of diverse Arizona interests. I commend the Arizona delegation and the Democratic and Republican staff for working through their differences for a polished bill. I look forward to seeing this bill become law, and the positive changes it will make for Arizona's water supply in the future.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory and tribute to the late William M. Burke, who passed away recently after a brief illness. Mr. Burke was Founder and President of the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, established in 1975 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian educational organization that allows college students from all around the country and the world to have access to academic internships in Washington, D.C. To those who knew him on and off the Hill, Mr. Burke was an indefatigable leader, brimming with vision and ideals--a mentor, a teacher, a friend, and, most importantly, the source of inspiration to countless young leaders. The institution that he built and nurtured has earned a lasting and enduring place in experiential education. Under Bill Burke's leadership, the Washington Center educated thousands of young people from the United States and abroad, and achieved great respect in the academic, business, nonprofit, and legislative communities in its 30 years of existence. Bill Burke shaped the Washington Center into an institution to mentor, nurture, and develop leaders in politics, the nonprofit sector, media, business, and other fields. It was Bill's desire that our young people learn those values that are important in our future leaders: self-respect, selflessness, dedication, ethics, courage, teamwork, and the highest standards of work. He believed that it is important for young people to discover that they are already leaders, and that they inherently possess qualities that they can take back to their communities and college campuses, whether they are from a village in Mexico, a small town in our heartland, or a big city. He saw that the world was full of possibility and promise, opportunity and optimism, and that we can change it, one person, and one neighborhood, at a time. Mr. Burke passionately believed that an interchange between our young people is essential in furthering understanding, here and abroad, and in giving people the tools to develop their communities, block by block. He said that it was important for a kid from Kansas to meet a student from Kenya, and a student from Mexico to meet peers from Canada and California, and see that our differences are not that vast, and it is our great commonality of purpose that unites us. He grasped the importance of experiential education in international development, and at the time of his death, the Center was well on its way to establishing programs where students go back to their communities with the skills and contacts to better people's lives. Mr. Burke was a master presenter and motivator. He used to look at a sea of young people, and proclaim that they should get to know the person sitting on their right and the person on their left, because, Washington is a small town, brimming with former interns, and you can never tell for whom you will be working, and who will make a difference in the world! He had an encyclopedic knowledge of all of the personalities of Washington, and he could inspire students with his vast knowledge of who, at one time, had served an internship. He was known to name some important leader, and finish the comment with: ``And they were an intern!'' Mr. Burke tirelessly championed the involvement of members of Congress and the executive branch, corporate CEOs, foreign dignitaries, media luminaries, leaders in philanthropy, nonprofit leaders, state legislators, and college and university presidents, and the Center's 33,000 alumni in various aspects of the Washington Center. Bill Burke's innovation and singular belief in the importance of providing college students equal access to the Washington Center led to the development of such programs as Women as Leaders, Minority Leaders Fellowship Program, Diversity in Congress Program, NAFTA Internship Program, Internship Initiative for Students with Disabilities, Native American Program, Americas Program and the Washington Center's growing international programs. In addition, in order to assure accessibility of programs regardless of the students' economic background, Bill Burke perseveringly sought philanthropic partnerships for scholarship support for the students who participate in these programs. A native of Norwood, Massachusetts, Mr. Burke earned a Master's in Education from the University of Massachusetts, his Bachelor of Science in Management from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and an Associate's degree in Accounting from Norwalk Community College, Norwalk, Connecticut. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Law from Richard Stockton State College. He once remarked that he loved every job he had ever held. Mr. Burke is survived by his wife, Sheila McRevey Burke, and two children, Barry and Reavey. We offer our condolences to Sheila, Barry, and Reavey, and to his colleagues, friends, and the thousands of former students who were touched by this good man's life and example. And so, Mr. Speaker, we say: in the loving memory of Bill Burke, we salute him. May the Lord bless and keep him close, and may his family and numerous friends find comfort in the knowledge that his legacy and life's work go on.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2828, the Water Supply Reliability and Environmental Improvement Act, also known as CALFED. I am a proud co-sponsor of this legislation. After 10 years of hard work and endless negotiations, we present the final CALFED product to Congress. The California delegation has proven our commitment to the people of California that they are ensured a reliable water supply. I want to congratulate Senator Feinstein and Chairman Pombo for completing a top priority for California. Their hard work is much appreciated. I would also like to thank Chairman Ken Calvert and Ranking Member Grace Napolitano of the Water & Power Subcommittee for their hard work on CALFED as well. CALFED is the link needed to ensure the quantity and quality of water in California. And it is crucial to the future of my home state of California. Without out clean water, or enough water, there can be no development of jobs or housing. And without clean water, my children and grandchildren, or any child, cannot enjoy normal, healthy lives. I sincerely believe CALFED will become a blueprint for water plans in other areas of the country. CALFED increases the amount of water conservation, recycling and desalination projects. This will help ease the burden that perchlorate has placed on our water supplies. Perchlorate groundwater contamination, combined with drought or other conditions, highlights the need for these water conservation projects. The combination of perchlorate and drought caused my hometown, Rialto, California, to declare 2 water emergencies in one year. With 15 wells in 3 towns in my district being shut down because of perchlorate, serving clean water has become difficult. CALFED also provides the means to respond to rapid population growth. With a growing population, there is a growing need for more water delivery and storage. California has a population of 36 million, and expects to increase to 50 million in the year 2020. We know we cannot rely solely only on the Colorado River anymore for water use--we have no choice. We know we cannot wait until California reaches a water crisis to pass CALFED legislation. H.R. 2828 is a must for California. I urge my colleagues to support CALFED and allow California the clean and reliable water sources it needs.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4520, the Job Creation Act. This bill is guaranteed to do one thing--send American jobs overseas. It is unconscionable that Congress would give a tax cut to companies that send American jobs overseas. Corporations have outscourced three million jobs overseas, and have been rewarded with a tax break for doing so. We should be passing legislation that creates high-quality jobs here in America. Why continue to expand tax policies that threaten the American worker? Under President Bush, America has lost 1.7 million private sector jobs. This calculates into a ``jobs deficit'' of nearly 8 million jobs in the last 42 months. Manufacturing has been especially hard hit, with 2.8 million jobs lost, amounting to one out of six manufacturing jobs. President Bush says things are getting better, but most of those jobs created in recent months are temporary jobs, seasonal jobs, and even part-time jobs, most of which do not normally have health and retirement benefits. These statistics are fact, not rhetoric. The response from the White House to these statistics is equally upsetting. Gregory Mankiw, President Bush' top economic adviser, wants to reclassify fast-food workers as manufacturing employees. Trade is important, but we need trade and tax policies that promote a balance of both economic development and employment. A quarter of the economy of California is based on trade, but a quarter of Californians are now eligible for food stamps. It's about balancing economic and human needs in our country. The GAO, Boston Consulting Group, Economic Policy Institute and many other groups have come to the same conclusion--promoting the outsourcing of jobs is bad for America. While the White House celebrates recently quarterly GDP growth, the fact is that most of it has been fueled by consumer debt and liquidation of home equity. That is hardly a solid foundation for growth. The time for sophomoric economic policies has passed. Outsourcing may produce lower consumer costs, but what good is that if Americans don't even have jobs. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill simply on the outsourcing component.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, times are hard, and this Republican Congress and the White House are oblivious to it. Middle class families are being squeezed from every direction. And what have Republicans done about it? Nothing. Before President Bush took office, 22 million new jobs had been created. Since then, over 1.7 million jobs have been lost. Instead of creating new jobs, Republicans gave tax cuts to companies that send jobs overseas. When President Bush took office, the number of uninsured Americans had dropped for the first time in 12 years. Now, 45 million Americans cannot afford to get sick because they have no health insurance. Four years ago, we had a $236 billion budget surplus. Now, thanks to tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, the national credit card is maxed out. Meanwhile, over a thousand Americans have died in Iraq. American families be warned, if the White House doesn't send your jobs overseas, they'll send your kids.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4606, the Southern California Groundwater Remediation Act. First of all, I would like to thank our minority leader and our majority leader for supporting this bill. Our majority leader happened to go in the Inland Empire to see what is going on in that area, and I appreciate that. The Southern California Groundwater Remediation Act is a long-term solution to helping cities in Southern California remove perchlorate from their drinking water. Perchlorate groundwater contamination has become a crisis in Southern California. This includes my hometown of Rialto in California. Perchlorate is a main ingredient in rocket fuel. It has been found in drinking water supplies in 40 States, including California. It has been linked to thyroid damage and may be especially harmful to infants and developing fetuses and the 1.2 million women of childbearing age in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties. It is also harmful to those with weak immune systems, such as seniors and AIDS patients. There is a legal and moral obligation to provide safe and healthy water. Today, these obligations are in jeopardy. The hard-working families in these areas are not at fault and should not have to pay for these problems. We must protect the consumer. Southern California, and particularly the Inland Empire, has been greatly impacted by perchlorate. Perchlorate has been detected in 182 sources in the counties served by the Santa Ana River watershed. There is a perchlorate plume in the Inland Empire in California that is 7 miles long. It has affected 20 wells in San Bernardino County and jeopardized the water supplies of 500,000 residents. The economic burden on these communities is almost as much of a concern as the potential health effects. H.R. 4606 authorizes $50 million in much-needed assistance. It is modeled after a successful program in the San Gabriel Basin in southern California that has also suffered from perchlorate-polluted water. And it is similar to H.R. 4459, a bill introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) that deals with perchlorate in northern California and passed this House last week. I urge my colleagues to support this urgent bill for southern California so we can tell these communities that help is on the way. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) for their support of H.R. 4606 and for moving this legislation forward quickly.