Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3929, the Dana Point Desalination Project Authorization Act. My legislation will authorize Federal participation in a relatively small ocean desalination project that could have an enormous impact on the future development of desalination projects. As our country continues to look for new sources of water, particularly in the West, the expansion of our desalinated ocean water capability is essential. While extensively utilized in other parts of the world, most notably in the Middle East, the U.S. has only recently begun to consider large-scale ocean water desalination projects. There are a number of factors that have limited the viability of desalination projects. The major issues confronting ocean desalination are the cost of producing potable water and the potential negative impacts on ocean ecosystems. The Dana Point Desalination Project is not a typical ocean desalination project. The project will use a unique subsurface ocean intake system that will collect water that naturally seeps through the ocean floor. The system provides a number of benefits over traditional intake systems, including removing the negative impacts on marine life as well as potentially reducing the need for extensive pretreatment filtration. If constructed and successful, the system would remove various concerns expressed by environmental advocates as well as improve the feasibility of future ocean desalination projects. The Dana Point Desalination Project, to the best of my knowledge, is the only ocean desalination project supported by the Surfrider Foundation. Their support is a direct result of the unique subsurface intake technology that avoids negative impacts to the marine ecosystem. I would like to submit a letter form the Surfrider Foundation detailing their support for the Dana Point project for the record. The Dana Point Desalination Project could have significant regional and national benefits. H.R. 3929 simply authorizes Federal participation in the project and limits the Federal obligation to $2.5 million to assist with preliminary engineering and environmental studies. No construction dollars are authorized in H.R. 3929. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the Dana Point Desalination Project and passing H.R. 3929. Surfrider Foundation, January 10, 2006. Re Support for MWDOC Beach Well Feasibility Study. To Whom it May Concern: I am writing on behalf of the Surfrider Foundation in support of efforts by the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) to investigate the feasibility of sub-surface beach wells to supply seawater for ocean desalination. The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. In general, Surfrider Foundation believes that future demands for water supplies should first be met by fully utilizing water conservation, wastewater reclamation, and stormwater management that will capture runoff for beneficial uses. We feel very strongly that these supply alternatives combine the benefit of meeting our future water needs while simultaneously reducing polluted runoff and ocean discharges. Ocean desalination should be the lowest priority for water supply choices and only employed using the most environmentally protective methods and technology. We are pleased to see this approach to water supply alternatives reflected in MWDOC's 2005 Urban Water Management Plan. Furthermore, we are very supportive of the measured approach MWDOC is taking toward filling a limited role for ocean desalination in their water supply portfolio. Sub- surface ``feedwater'' intakes for desalination will avoid the unnecessary destruction of marine life, and disruption of healthy marine ecosystems, that accompanies open ocean intakes. We look forward to the results of the sub-surface beach well feasibility study MWDOC is proposing in Dana Point. Sincerely, Joe Geever, Southern California Regional Manager.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the resolution (H. Con. Res. 366) to congratulate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the 25th anniversary of the first flight of the Space Transportation System, to honor Commander John Young and the Pilot Robert Crippen, who flew Space Shuttle Columbia on April 12-14, 1981, on its first orbital test flight, and to commend the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and all those supporting America's space program for their accomplishments and their role in inspiring the American people.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall). (Mr. HALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 366.

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

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on April 12, 1981, two American heroes, Commander John Young and Pilot Robert Crippen, were strapped into their seats in the Space Shuttle Columbia and took off into history, orbiting the Earth for 54 hours, 20 minutes, and 53 seconds. This was the boldest test flight in history. The space shuttle was the first reusable spacecraft to be flown into orbit without the benefit of previous unmanned orbital test flights, and was the first spacecraft to land on a conventional runway at Edwards Air Force Base in my home State of California. Like the explorers Lewis and Clark who explored our great Nation and who opened up the West, John Young and Robert Crippen opened a new era of human exploration beyond our planet Earth. Now, as we move forward with the vision for space exploration, the successful return to flight of the space shuttle represents the first step toward going to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Today as a Nation, we want to pay tribute to the National Space and Aeronautics Administration on the 25th anniversary of the first flight of the space shuttle. We want to honor Commander John Young and Pilot Robert Crippen, who flew the first Space Shuttle Columbia, on April 12- 14, 1981, on its first orbital test flight. We want to commend the men and women of NASA and our aerospace industry for the roles they play in inspiring the American people. This is what provides the inspiration to our next generation to study math and science. This is what keeps our Nation competitive. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), a champion of America's space program.

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

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 541 commends the great American ingenuity and level of excellence represented by our National Laboratories, particularly the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), whose work is so consistently stellar that it is often taken for granted. American John Hall, who is one of the three scientists sharing the Nobel Prize for Physics, is the third NIST scientist to win a Nobel Prize. He is sharing the Prize for Physics with American Roy J. Glauber and German Theodor W. Haensch. Their studies reversed the earlier belief that the quantum theory of the behavior of particles did not describe the behavior of particles of light. These scientists, in fact, have changed the modern understanding of the behavior of light. Their discoveries could allow better GPS systems, better space navigation, and even better digital animation. The 2005 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was won by American Robert H. Grubbs, from Southern California's California Institute of Technology, American Richard R. Schrock, and Frenchman Yves Chauvin. They made great breakthroughs in their work with olefin metathesis. This is a chemical reaction describing the changing of bonds between atoms. Their work has great commercial potential in areas like pharmaceuticals, the biotechnology industry, and the foodstuff industry. The great work that these scientists produce contributes to our competitiveness and to our great standard of living. I want to commend all of these outstanding scientists for their contributions to physics and chemistry and to the Royal Swedish Academy of Scientists for their recognition of their achievements, and to NIST and its laboratories who have supported research that strengthens our global competitiveness through the development of groundbreaking technologies.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan amendment which will strengthen the Office of National Drug Control Policy's, and in turn our nation's, efforts against methamphetamine--the deadliest and most devastating drug that faces our communities today. As a founding member and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, commonly know as the Meth Caucus, I have seen our Caucus membership enrollment grow just as the meth epidemic has grown. From a couple dozen Members representing Western states in 2001 to 140 today, the Meth Caucus membership hails from all regions of this country and across the political spectrum. Even the Senate has established their own Meth Caucus which is modeled after the House caucus. Each of these Members recognize the meth epidemic that is ravaging our communities on so many levels--from its toll on individual users, to the significant social costs it thrusts onto our law enforcement, prisons, hospitals, social and child welfare systems, and the environment. As Mr. Chabot stated, the amendment, through commissioned studies and reports, will provide information critical to assisting the Administration and the Congress in developing necessary and up-to-date policies to address the meth epidemic. In addition, the amendment would create an online National Methamphetamine Information Clearinghouse to serve law enforcement and the broader community with a forum for sharing of ``best practices'' information regarding successful anti- meth programs and activities. These measures will only strengthen the reauthorization bill and ensure that the Federal response to the meth epidemic does not waver. I would like to express many thanks to Congressman Souder for his support on this amendment. He has been, with his staff, relentless in their work to improve federal drug control policy and I appreciate their readiness and eagerness to involve the Meth Caucus in their activities. I also want to thank Congressman Chabot and his staff for shepherding this important amendment to the floor, and also my fellow Meth Caucus Co-Chairs, Representatives Cannon, Larsen and Boswell and their staff for their constant vigilance on this issue and their efforts to make this one of the most proactive and effective Caucus' in the House. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the amendment and the reauthorization bill.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mike Reaume for his dedication and commitment to improving the community of Corona, California. On January 14, 2006, the Corona Chamber of Commerce recognized Mike for serving as the chairman of the board for the chamber during 2005. After joining the Corona Chamber in 1999, Mike quickly became an active member of various chamber committees. His involvement included work with the Website, Ambassadors, and Corona Night with the Angels Committees. While serving on the chamber's board of directors, Mike was elected as vice president, chairman-elect, and, most recently, chairman of the board. In addition to his dedication to the chamber, Mike owns an insurance brokerage firm, Reaume Insurance Services, which specializes in employee benefits for employers and individuals. During Mike's term as chairman, the chamber continued to grow in membership and develop new strategies to strengthen the relationships within the business community. The chamber exceeded the goals it set for the year by increasing membership up to nearly 1,150 members representing over 35,000 jobs in the region. Furthermore, the new members made an immediate impact by noticeably increasing the participation levels and attendance at chamber events. Community-based organizations, like chambers of commerce, rely extensively on committed and dynamic individuals who take the initiative to address important issues facing their community. Mike's dedicated service epitomizes the selfless, hard-working spirit that is the backbone of communities throughout our great nation. The Corona Chamber and the community of Corona are significantly better off thanks to Mike's tireless efforts. I want to express my appreciation for Mike's tremendous contributions on behalf of our entire community and congratulate him on the tremendous leadership he displayed as chairman of the board.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Rear Admiral Michael G. Mathis, United States Navy, for his more than 30 years of active duty service to our country. Admiral Mathis most recently served as the deputy commander for Test and Evaluation at the Naval Sea Systems Command and he retired on January 26, 2006. For over two decades, Admiral Mathis shaped the Navy's strategic planning of surface ship combat systems, from electronic warfare and tactical data systems to advanced radars and several generations of surface-to-air missiles. He is the rare combination of leadership at sea, exceptional engineering and scientific accomplishments, and success as a program executive and program manager. Serving tirelessly as a Navy and Joint leader, including as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Chief Engineer, Admiral Mathis kept the spotlight on the RDT&E required to meet the Department of Defense's current and future needs. In his many years as the leader of the Surface Navy's acquisition professionals, as well as the Navy's senior expert in advanced and future weapons systems, Admiral Mathis instilled pride in generations of naval officers and civilian engineers. A strong proponent of technical proficiency in naval officers, he promoted the Navy's advanced science and engineering degree programs for junior officers. Admiral Mathis's inspirational leadership and management of the 22,000 men and women of the Naval Surface Warfare Systems Command during wartime has directly contributed to the tremendous record of success in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the fielding of thermobaric weapons and innovative Force Protection advances developed in his warfare center laboratories. He put the weapons and tools in the hands of the warfighters when they were needed. Most recently, his talents and dedication to our warfighters were further put to use by our country as he served in the Joint Staff as Deputy Director, J-8 for Force Protection. Throughout his career, the Navy's leadership selected Admiral Mathis for a series of key positions to mold the technical direction of the Navy's Theatre Missile Defense program. His foresight, vision, and management decisions led to the development and continuing success of missile defense programs vital to our Nation's defense. Key among his assignments was as the Director, Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Organization, where he was responsible to the Chairman and Secretary of Defense for evaluating systems and emerging technologies to determine the optimum mix of surveillance, fire control systems, and the associated battle management system to counter aircraft, cruise missile and ballistic missile threats to our Nation. More than just a leader providing the technical punch for the global war on terror, Admiral Mathis has focused on maintaining our Nation's technological edge in future weapons systems. He is the senior advocate and leader for the RDT&E in laser and directed energy weapons, inspiring industry and government engineers to solve engineering challenges and ensuring our next generation of warfighters has the weapons needed to win. He has championed the need for battle force, joint, and coalition interoperability and warfighting capabilities, serving as the Single Integrated Air Picture System Engineer for the Chairman, JCS, and Commander, Joint Forces Command. He also led the development of the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense roadmap, and to identify joint solutions to surveillance and command and control challenges. As the Joint Staff lead for Interagency Homeland Air Security issues, Admiral Mathis most recently worked in close cooperation with USNORTHCOM, NORAD, the Services, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Homeland Security. On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to express my appreciation for his dedicated service and I wish him well in his retirement from the Navy.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Ali Sahabi for his dedication and commitment to improving the community of Corona, California. The Corona Chamber of Commerce honored Ali by presenting him with its 2005 ``Citizen of the Year'' award on January 14, 2006. Ali is currently the President of SE Corporation, a privately held, California-based land planning, entitlement, and development firm. For nearly 18 years, Ali Sahabi has been an active member of our community, devoting a tremendous amount of time and effort to causes greater than his own. After spending much of his youth in a middle class family in the country of Iran, Ali was sent to Michigan to live with an uncle and aunt at the age of thirteen. After graduating high school, Ali and his brother drove to California, where they lived in a small apartment with their grandmother and another uncle. In California, the two brothers worked at a variety of odd jobs and Ali, always the entrepreneur, began trying his hand at different kinds of small business opportunities including sales. He became a print broker and opened his own printing business in downtown Los Angeles. Ali finished his bachelor's degree in business management at Pepperdine University, which he had been working on in the evening, and sold the print shop. Later, Ali obtained his Master of Real Estate Development degree from the School of Urban Planning and Development at the University of Southern California. Throughout his career, Ali has undertaken a number of development projects across Southern California including industrial, multi-family residential and commercial retail projects. He has been instrumental in implementing innovative planning solutions and environmentally sensitive development plans for the Dos Lagos mixed use development in southwest Riverside County, making it a true model for sustainable development. Ali is an active and leading proponent of local and regional collaboration and the stewardship of natural resources, establishing and endowing the Blakeley Center for Suburban Sustainable Development at UC Riverside. Through his vision and tireless efforts the Center has contributed to forming alliances across jurisdictional lines bringing individuals, local governments and communities together to address major issues that represent significant challenges for entire regions and communities. Locally, Ali somehow finds time to play a significant role in a number of non-profit and community-based organizations. He serves notably on the Board of Directors of the Children's Spine Foundation and the Corona Regional Medical Center Foundation, Governor's Mentoring Program, and is active with the American Cancer Society, YMCA, At Risk Children's Angels, Boy Scouts, and ICUC among others. I want to express my appreciation for Ali's tireless efforts on behalf of our entire community and congratulate him on receiving this award.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Boehlert for his leadership and guidance, for the great job in making sure that we are here today, and I certainly want to thank Ranking Member Gordon and Ranking Member Udall for their leadership and support, also. I want to commend the Members of the Science Committee on both sides of the aisle for a job well done. I also want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) for his guidance and assistance and all his staff working together diligently for long hours to assure that this NASA authorization bill could be accomplished this year. This is the first time since the year 2000 that NASA has had an authorization bill and we have been able to complete it. This bill provides the agency with the rules and tools they will need to succeed. This is a crucial time for the agency as it is going through a major transition. Our bill represents the first time that the President's Vision for Space Exploration has been fully endorsed by both Houses of Congress. When the President sends to Congress his budget for fiscal year 2007, today's backing by the Congress can only help us to increase the support for our Nation's civil space program and for the Vision for Space Exploration. We also seek equivalent strategic plans for aeronautics and science parts of the budget. NASA represents only seven-tenths of 1 percent of the Federal budget and is an investment in our Nation's future. Even in this time of budget deficits, the United States cannot abandon NASA's research and technology and its exploration programs. It is not in the American spirit to shy away from this investment in our global leadership. This bill also authorizes for the first time a competitive prize program at NASA based on the very successful X-Prize. This program will allow NASA to award prizes for those technologies that are useful for NASA's mission. This prize program will encourage our best and brightest scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to pursue technologies that NASA will need to pursue our Nation's dreams of exploration. I am pleased that we are doing a 2-year bill through 2008, and we in the Science Committee look forward to providing oversight and authorization appropriate when needed. I want to urge my colleagues to vote yes on this truly bipartisan conference report. We owe it to the administration, to our national space enterprise and to the American people to pass this NASA authorization bill this year.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. I would like to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and Chairman King for the remarkable job they have done to bring this bill to the floor today. A mandatory electronic employment verification system must be a key component in any immigration reform bill worthy of the name. We can never gain control of our borders until we turn off the job magnet that encourages people to flout the law. If illegal immigrants know that a job awaits them in the United States provided they can get past the gauntlet of the border, no amount of border security will ever stop them. Every employee already fills out an I-9 immigration form and presents documents confirming their identify and eligibility to work. Of course, the current system does not work because the documents themselves are easily forged and cannot be checked. The system proposed today would simply require that the information on the I-9 form be confirmed. It is not discriminatory; it is easy to use and will do more to stem the tide of illegal immigration than any other single provision. Many people have commented on the mandatory employment verification system, and some comments have missed the point. This system is all about ensuring a legal workforce by preventing document fraud during the hiring process. I believe that most employers are trying to do the right thing and hire only legal workers. Unfortunately, the current employment verification system does not give the employer enough information to be confident that their workforce is legal. Forged documents easily pass through the system without a problem, which leaves the employer with dubious U.S. citizens and legal immigrants at a competitive disadvantage and encourages the mass illegal immigration America is experiencing today. Not only would this system strike a blow against document fraud; it would also reduce identity theft, a practice on the rise in the United States. Just like credit card companies can flag unusual purchases to stop identity theft, this program would flag unusual behavior. This is a good program, and this bill must pass.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have joined Mr. Gordon and Mr. Boehlert as a lead sponsor of this legislation--H.R. 798, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005. I thank Mr. Gordon for bringing this very important issue to the Congress' attention and Mr. Boehlert for steering the bill quickly through the Science Committee. I also thank the Science Committee's Majority and Minority staffs who have diligently worked together for the last two years to develop and revise this legislation. As a Co-Chairman of the 135-member Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, I know the growing meth epidemic in our country shows no deference to district or party line. This is an issue everyone can agree is wreaking havoc on communities across the Nation. As mentioned by my colleagues, H.R. 798 focuses its efforts on the procedures and standards needed to decontaminate a site where a methamphetamine lab is found so our communities can more thoroughly remediate these sites. The creation of voluntary, health-based remediation guidelines for former meth labs, crafted by the Environmental Protection Agency, will protect and ensure the health of our citizens and the surrounding environment. In my area of Riverside, California, methamphetamine production has reached epidemic proportions with many of these labs having the distinction of being labeled superlabs--these are labs that are capable of producing over ten pounds of finished methamphetamine per batch. One such lab which was seized in 2003 operated out of a barn in a rural area of Riverside County and produced over 6,000 pounds of finished product with a street resale value of over $33 million dollars. Over 4 million pounds of contaminated toxic soil had to be removed with heavy equipment, costing in excess of $226,000. Officials from the California Department of Toxic Substance Control have called this the most difficult and costly methamphetamine lab clean up in California's history. This is a distressing issue with which my region, and quite frankly, most of America is becoming all too familiar. Our State and local agencies need all the resources and tools that we can provide them within their efforts to address this epidemic. Although we are all aware that much more needs to be done to win the fight against this devastating drug, I am convinced H.R. 789 will be a good start in that fight and will be welcomed by our communities. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote yes in favor of H.R. 798 today.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Darrell Talbert for the leadership and dedication he has displayed while serving as mayor of the city of Corona, California. On November 29, 2005, Darrell's term as mayor came to a close and I want to thank him for his commitment and service. Darrell has called Corona home for as long as he can remember and he continues to demonstrate the extraordinary qualities we expect in our community leaders. Shortly after graduation from California State University, San Bernardino in 1989, Darrell co-founded Odyssey Group, Inc. and Odyssey Publications, Inc. The Odyssey Companies quickly became industry leaders in the autograph and memorabilia business. Just 5 years out of college and ready to take a more active role within the community, Darrell was elected to the Corona City Council in 1994. During his time on the city council, the city of Corona as well as the surrounding region has experienced significant growth. While this growth is surely a positive sign, it undoubtedly presents our local leaders with a number of challenges. In order to maintain the high quality of life residents come to expect, the Corona City Council has taken a number of steps to provide residents with the necessary infrastructure and services. The city of Corona has had a balanced budget in each of the years Darrell has served on the city council, and they have done so without implementing new taxes. Under his leadership and due to carefully managed fiscal budgeting, the city has added over 100 acres of new parks, implemented the Downtown Revitalization Project and successfully attracted new retails stores, businesses and nationally recognized restaurants to serve the citizens of Corona and the surrounding communities. I know I speak on behalf of our entire community in expressing my appreciation for Darrell's tireless efforts on behalf of our city. I also want to thank his wife Kimberly and daughter Haley for supporting Darrell and at times sacrificing their time with him to allow him to perform his civic duties.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the resolution under consideration poses a clear and concise policy question. Either you support the mission our troops are carrying out in Iraq or you are against it. I voted to authorize the use of force back on October 10, 2002 and today I want to reaffirm, on the record, my support for this important mission. Furthermore, I want to let all of our troops know, especially those who train and operate at the four military bases in my congressional district, that I will continue to support those strategies that will lead us to victory and stand opposed to any cut- and-run strategy. In his book, The Hinge of Fate, Winston Churchill said, ``I like commanders on land and sea and in the air to feel that between them and all forms of public criticism the Government stands like a strong bulkhead. They ought to have a fair chance, and more than one chance.'' I think that we ought to let those words sink in. They ought to have a fair chance, and more than one chance. No one ever said war was easy and any historian can tell you that anything of significant value has never come easy. The brave men and women serving in Iraq are writing the latest chapter in the history of freedom. We should look forward, continue to support our troops, and provide them with the tools and the strategy to triumph--completing their mission is the most important thing to them. It should be our goal as well. Mr. Speaker, let's show our support for this mission and embrace a victory strategy, not just an exit strategy.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a man who will long be remembered for his extraordinary leadership and the significant contributions he made to the western states of our Nation. Dennis Underwood served his country in many capacities and dedicated the better part of the past 35 years as an influential leader of water policy in the West. On November 2, 2005, Dennis passed away following a long battle with cancer. Our region collectively mourns his passing, while remembering his lifelong contributions. Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation from 1989 until 1993, Dennis most recently served as the chief executive officer and general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves 18 million people. Dennis also served as the Executive Director of the Colorado River Board of California. He worked tirelessly with the seven Basin States, the International Boundary and Water Commission, and various Federal agencies to develop and manage Colorado River water resources. The greatest challenge facing the West today and for the foreseeable future is meeting water supply needs in an atmosphere of growing population, conflicting state and international claims, and demands of environmental protection. Although Dennis most recently represented water consumers in Southern California, his leadership, ingenuity, fairness, and perseverance yielded important dividends for water users throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and other states that draw water from the over-allocated Colorado River. Mark Twain famously stated that ``whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.'' While the West has undoubtedly seen its share of water wars, I can't think of a person who had a better ability to get people to stop fighting and sit down at the bargaining table than Dennis. His wisdom, warm good nature, positive approach and--above all--sterling honesty kept all players in the Western water drama focused on finding solutions instead of persisting in conflict. Personally, I had the pleasure and honor of working with Dennis on a number of important water issues, including the sometimes tumultuous negotiations of the Quantification Settlement Agreement, which brought California's water use in compliance with its legal apportionment for Colorado River supplies. In each instance, Dennis displayed a tremendous ability to find balanced solutions that satisfied all parties. Mr. Speaker, the United States has lost a great servant, the West has lost a brilliant leader, and I have lost a dear friend. On behalf of our region, I want to convey our appreciation for all of Dennis's efforts and express our heartfelt condolences to the Underwood family, including his wife, Carmen; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Ryan Dejournett; brothers, Russell, Lawrence, Rory, Kevin, and Jeffrey; and two grandsons.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a man who will long be remembered for his innumerable contributions and the tremendous leadership he displayed in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Harley Knox was an entrepreneur, farmer, developer, and all-around community leader. Personally, he was a loyal and dear friend. Last week, Harley lost a five-month battle with bone cancer and our region collectively mourns his passing, while remembering his lifelong contributions to the Inland Empire. Harley discovered his entrepreneurial spirit at the early age of twelve, when after WWII, demand from farmers and gardeners prompted a need for fertilizer. For a fee, Harley would clean chicken coups and then sell the fertilizer to large farms and gardeners. His modest, yet successful business soon became more than he could handle alone, so he employed neighborhood kids to help him out. Later on, Harley capitalized on the increased popularity of Dichondra lawns in front of ranch-style homes and soon began harvesting his family's front yard and selling flats of Dichondra. The popularity of the grass continued, so Harley persuaded neighbors to let him buy portions of their lawns for resale. By the age of 20, he was selling Dichondra across Southern California and the family was buying land for farming the grass. A second business was born when he then began developing farming equipment to collect and process Dichondra seed. By the 1950s, Harley was president of Knox Seed Company, Inc. and moved operations to farmland adjacent to what is now March Air Reserve Base. The company expanded into producing seed for grain crops, turf grass and sod. After eventually selling the seed business, Harley focused on developing farming tools and was president of Knox Manufacturing Co. of Moreno Valley from 1977 to 1986. The firm developed high-speed produce harvesters and held patents that soon became the industry standard. In 1983 he founded the land development and consulting firm Harley Knox & Associates, which still develops industrial projects, assists with land-use regulation and attaining government entitlements. More recently, Harley was a partner in March Global Port, an industrial development on 400 acres on the south side of March Air Reserve Base. The project lists Philips Electronics and DHL as tenants and provided the region with a significant economic contribution in the wake of the downsizing of the military base. In addition to his entrepreneurial efforts, Harley served as an active member of numerous community organizations, such as the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, The Valley Group, the Riverside County Building Industry Association, the Western Riverside County Council of Governments, the Riverside Community College Foundation, and the Riverside Community Hospital Foundation. Following an appointment by former Gov. Pete Wilson, Harley served as commissioner of the California Boating and Waterways Commission. The Inland Empire is a better place to live today because of Harley's extraordinary contributions and his selfless dedication to his community. On behalf of the Inland Empire I want to convey our appreciation for all of Harley's efforts and express our heartfelt condolences to the Knox family, including his wife Donna, daughter Victoria and sons Bryan and Aaron, as well as his four grandchildren.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1713, as amended, which strengthens the Nation's nonproliferation principles and objectives while allowing NASA to meet its operational and programmatic needs with regard to the International Space Station (ISS), as called for in the President's Vision for Space Exploration. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of such important legislation with my colleagues and friends, Chairman Hyde, Ranking Member Lantos, Chairman Boehlert, and Congressman Rohrabacher. This amendment is timely. NASA must revise its agreement and contractual arrangements with the Russian Federal Space Agency quickly in order to ensure uninterrupted training beyond October 2005. The next ISS crew is scheduled to fly on the Russian Soyuz in April 2006. If this amendment is not enacted, INA restrictions will prevent a continued presence of U.S. crew onboard the ISS and limit U.S. presence onboard the ISS to Space Shuttle visits. We could lose our leadership role on the International Space Station. I know this amendment has been negotiated and discussed by many of my colleagues, who recognize the extreme importance of passing a measure which allows NASA to continue with its current role on the Space Station. I am a sponsor of this legislation and, at the same time, I have been concerned that we not be so restrictive on NASA to prevent them from doing their mission. S. 1713 as amended grants NASA the authority to procure urgent required goods and services from Russia, including crew rescue, to allow continuing ISS operations in the most safe and effective way possible. Some of these goods and services will be required from 2012 to the end of the program's operation. Moreover, ISS is an operational program that continues to evolve, requiring enough flexibility to deal with emerging issues over time. Consequently, Congress may need to address this issue again at a later date. We should be watchful as we move forward that we are able to maintain the ISS and to retain our leadership role. As the Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am mindful of the importance of a continued American presence in space. This amendment moves in the right direction by supporting those Russian entities which are compliant, while helping to solve near-term problems for NASA and its international partners. Without legislative action, NASA will have limited access to the ISS until the U.S. Crew Exploration Vehicle is ready to be deployed. I urge my colleagues to pass S. 1713 as amended as expeditiously as possible. I also salute my colleagues for bringing this important legislation to the floor in such a timely manner and plan to offer my support as we pass this legislation today in the House of Representatives.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice of support for this very important legislation, The Aerospace Revitalization Act, which I have cosponsored. I want to offer a tribute to Congressman Vernon Ehlers, a colleague from the Science Committee and Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, a colleague from my home state of California, for their insight in sponsoring this legislation. I also want to thank Chairman John Boehner and Ranking Democrat George Miller for their insight in moving this bill out of their Committee. This legislation evolved from recommendations of the 2002 bipartisan Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry report, which was chaired by the Honorable Robert Walker, a former member of this body and a former chairman of the Science Committee. In this report, a recommendation proposed that the federal government needed to respond to what the Report termed, ``the nation's apathy toward developing a scientifically and technologically trained workforce.'' This bill does just that. H.R. 758 establishes a taskforce to be coordinated by the Secretary of the Department of Labor and spanning eight other federal agencies. This taskforce includes NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Departments of Defense, Energy, Education, Commerce, Transportation, and Homeland Security. This taskforce will examine the competitive challenges to the aerospace industry's three core business units--civil aviation, military contracting, and space transportation. It will then blend the resources of the federal government to identify new aerospace workforce training and recruitment opportunities through scholarship, grant and loan programs. The taskforce will also set up alliances with the private sector and state governments to tie business, state governments, and the federal government together with the common goal of providing the technical skills needed to keep America competitive. As the Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I sponsored the NASA Authorization, which passed this House in July. Because of our Committee's like concerns about our nation's competitiveness globally, in my bill, we direct the Administrator of NASA to develop a Human Capital strategy to address our concerns about not only the size of the workforce, but the technical skill mix of this workforce. We all recognize the necessity to keep the United States competitively at the forefront. Our largest export is from the high tech aerospace industry. Our global standing is at risk if we do not keep our aerospace workforce second to none!

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and give thanks to my friend and colleague, Chris Cox. After serving in the House for more than 16 years, Chris is now taking on a new challenge by serving as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I think all of us can agree that our loss is most certainly their gain. Following the redistricting of 2002, I became the newest member of the Orange County delegation and my newly drawn district shared a border with his. Chris immediately welcomed me to the delegation with open arms and graciously introduced me to a host of local government officials, business owners, and community leaders. If anyone has spent time in his district and enjoyed its extraordinary coastal setting, they would agree that Chris must be a truly dedicated public servant for agreeing to spend so much time here in Washington. Thankfully, he possessed the will to serve in Congress and to be a leader for his county, State and Nation. During his time in the House, Chris served with distinction in many different roles. Most recently, Chris made history by serving as the first Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. In this capacity, Chris took on an unprecedented challenge and oversaw the most radical government reform in decades. As those who know Chris would expect, he was up to the task and eager to find out what was working and what needed to be fixed. Chris came to Congress in 1988 after serving as Senior Associate Counsel to President Reagan. While at the White House, Chris gained tremendous insight and invaluable experience, but I think he would tell you that the best thing he took away from his time there would be his wife, Rebecca. I know Chris will take on this new challenge with the same tenacity and vigor that he showed so often on so many important issues here in Congress. I understand Chris wisely decided to keep his home in Orange County, and I look forward working with him in Washington and enjoying the warm California sun with him in Orange County.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, reforming the Endangered Species Act is long overdue. Today the House has an opportunity to enact significant improvements to ESA that restore balance and protections to species as well as landowners. One of the most effective ways to protect species habitat is through development of habitat conservation plans. The bill improves and encourages habitat conservation plans by codifying the no-surprise policy and eliminating unnecessary red tape that required multiple consultations regarding already approved actions. These important provisions will free up limited government and landowner resources and ultimately improve conservation of species habitat by encouraging more habitat conservation plans. My district in California is home to a large comprehensive habitat conservation plan both in Riverside and Orange counties. In fact, the West Riverside County Multi-Species Conservation Plan is the largest in the Nation covering over 1 million acres of land. The plan cost tens of millions of dollars to develop, years to put into effect, and will cost upward of $1 billion to implement. Once fully implemented, 500,000 acres in western Riverside County will be set aside for species habitat. It is our responsibility to ensure when landowners and local authorities undertake an extensive planning like that back in my district, the Federal Government lives up to its part of the agreement. This bill does just that and removes unnecessary regulatory burdens that do nothing to benefit the species. I just discovered in the Miller-Boehlert substitute that the habitat conservation plans that we put a lot of time in to work out in Southern California may be put at risk. That would be very, very difficult for areas that spent large amounts of money to put this into effect, not to mention time. I want to make sure that we defeat the substitute, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for working with me to include language that improves habitat conservation plans.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res 450, the resolution under consideration.