Steve Chabot

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. I just would like to respond with one thing. We had a letter here which I thought was by the National Taxpayers Union which said a lot of interesting things, but one thing I would like to read from it says: ``The more U.S. taxpayers are forced to support unnecessary and economically dubious programs such as the MAP, the less credibility our Nation has on adhering to free trade principles.'' I think even though the Europeans do it does not necessarily mean that that is right. Oftentimes, that means it is not the policy to follow. I think the United States should set an example. I think this program should be defunded.

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

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would just conclude by making a couple of points. Although supporters of the program some years ago changed the name, it was MPP, the Market Promotion Program, to MAP, the Market Access Program, and made some other cosmetic adjustments due to pressure from taxpayer watchdog groups, the basic concept and the cost to the taxpayers remain basically the same. The government is dipping into the pockets of hard-working individuals and promoting private corporate entities. Well over $1 billion has been spent on this program over the last number of years, and studies by the GAO indicate that the MAP program has no discernible effect on U.S. agricultural exports. Further, it basically gives money to companies that would undertake this advertising without the government doing it. I want to again emphasize I think it is good that these companies advertise and that they sell overseas, but rather than doing it with taxpayer dollars they ought to do it with their own dollars. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, each year the timber industry is subsidized by millions of taxpayer dollars for logging in the Tongass National Forest, approximately $750 million over the last two decades, so that is three- quarters of a billion dollars. Each year more taxpayer subsidized logging roads are built to extract timber and each year the road maintenance backlog gets more expensive. It is about $900 million right now. That is on the existing roads which are already there. Established in 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Tongass is our Nation's largest forest, about the size of West Virginia. Located along Alaska's southeastern coast, it is often referred to as America's rainforest. It is home to abundant wildlife, bald eagles, grizzly bears, wolves and salmon, as well as old growth trees such as the giant Sitka spruce, western hemlock and yellow cedar. There are 3,579 miles of official Tongass forest road. That is enough road to drive across the country and part of the way back. Even the Forest Service acknowledges that existing roads are sufficient to satisfy local demand for roaded recreation, subsistence, and community connectivity needs. I know there is some concern about the importance of logging roads to fight fires, but I want to emphasize that this is a rainforest. They receive 200 inches a year in rainfall, and, therefore, wildfires are much less likely there than perhaps in the West where it would be much dryer. Mr. Chairman, this is a simple, straightforward amendment. It would restrict only logging roads subsidized by the American taxpayer in the Tongass. It does not prevent the timber industry from building their own roads. It does not prohibit the Forest Service from constructing roads needed to access the forest for management. It does not prohibit taxpayer-funded recreational roads and trails. I know there are some that would have you believe differently, but this amendment has nothing to do with the roadless rule. It has everything to do with good government. This amendment is not an attempt to take away jobs from Alaska. In fact, between 1996 and 2002, Tongass-related timber jobs fell from 1,559 to just 195 jobs. That means that taxpayers are subsidizing each timber job, that is those 195, to the tune of about $178,000 per job. So a subsidy of $178,000 per job, about four times the median U.S. household income. Alaskan timber revenues have declined by 50 percent since the mid- 1990s. The two pulp mills built at taxpayer expense in the Tongass have closed. Despite massive taxpayer subsidies, Alaskan timber continues to decline. That said, this amendment does not stop timber companies from continuing to log off the roads already built at taxpayer expense. In fact, the Forest Service has a supply of approximately 10 years worth of timber remaining off current roads if logging levels remain the same. As much as 30 percent of Tongass timber contracts go unsold annually. As many as half of the contracts that are sold only have one bidder. This means taxpayers spend millions of dollars for the Forest Service to build roads and plan sales to access timber that often they cannot sell. Those that they do sell, sell at below-market rates. Mr. Chairman, I support logging in our national forests when it makes sense, when it is economically viable. I believe our forests should be actively managed so they be as healthy as possible, but while we need to be good stewards of our forests, we must also be good stewards of the American people's money. The Forest Service put out a Question and Answers document on the Tongass on April 12 of this year. In it the Forest Service states that ``profitability is a poor yardstick for evaluating the performance of the national forest timber sale program.'' The Forest Service then cites its belief that ``timber sales also provide many benefits beyond the revenues earned.'' An example of these benefits, the Forest Service went on to say, is ``the additional income that accrues to the individuals and businesses'' involved. Mr. Chairman, if that is not an endorsement of corporate welfare by a Federal agency, I do not know what is. It is time to restore some common sense and fiscal discipline to the Tongass timber program. I urge my colleagues to stand up for the American taxpayers and support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, how much time do we have?

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, we will reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of the time. The allegation has been made that we could not do any of the management things on roads. The wording itself says none of the funds may be made available in this act, may be used for planning, designing, setting or construction of the forest development roads in the Tongass National Forest for the purpose of harvesting timber by private entities or individuals.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment. The Chairman pro tempore. The clerk will designate the amendment.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the time on this amendment be limited to 20 minutes, 10 minutes pro and 10 minutes con.

Mr. CHABOT. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. CHABOT. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to join my many colleagues in offering best wishes to our great friend, Ambassador Chien-Jen Chen of Taiwan as he finishes his tour of duty here in the United States and returns home. C.J. Chen has a long and distinguished career in public service. A highly-respected academic, he still holds the position of Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Diplomacy at National Chengchi University. Prior to his appointment as his nation's representative to the United States, Ambassador Chen served in the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China, rising to the position as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Immediately preceding his current assignment, he served as Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Minister. I had the opportunity to attend a farewell reception for Ambassador Chen yesterday evening here in the Capitol--an event sponsored by the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate. The bipartisan participation in the fond farewell was a great illustration of the wonderful friendships C.J. has nurtured while serving his country here in Washington. As C.J. prepares to return to Taiwan, I want to offer my thanks to him for his professionalism and his friendship. The people of Taiwan should know that they have been ably served by an outstanding diplomat. We will miss him and we wish him well.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in opposition to this proposed constitutional amendment. Every person who has ever served in this House in the over 200-year history that we have existed as a country, every person has been elected. Not one has been appointed. When one reads our Nation's founding document, it soon becomes clear that the right to elected representation was the very core of its significance and its lasting value. No constitutional amendment that allows appointed representatives would be consistent with the very essence of our Nation's reason for being and, for that reason, I oppose such amendments, including this one. James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 57, ``Who are to be the electors of the Federal representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor; not the learned, more than the ignorant; not the haughty heirs of distinguished names, more than the humble sons of obscurity and unpropitious fortune.'' Constitutional amendments that would allow appointed Members would deny that sacred heritage. At the Constitutional Convention, according to the notes taken by James Madison, delegate George Mason argued strongly for ``an election of the larger branch,'' that means the House, ``by the people. It was to be the grand depository of the democratic principle of this government. It was, so to speak, to be our House of Commons. It ought to know and sympathize with every part of the community; and ought therefore to be taken not only from different parts of the whole republic, but also from different districts of the larger members of it.'' It was arguments such as these that won the day when our Constitution was drafted. Constitutional amendments that would allow appointed Members would violate those principles the Founders believed were most important. James Wilson at the Constitutional Convention, according to Madison's notes, ``contended strenuously for drawing the most numerous branch of the legislature immediately from the people. He was for raising the Federal pyramid to a considerable altitude, and for that reason wished to give it as broad a basis as possible.'' Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2844, which I cosponsored and which passed the House on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, 306 to 97 right here in this House, preserves America's essential right to elected representation. This amendment, however, would override H.R. 2844 and deny the core of America's founding principles and, for that reason, I strongly oppose it.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the achievements of two outstanding groups of young women from my District. Both happen to be from Mount Notre Dame High School. This past fall the Mount Notre Dame golf team registered its second consecutive Ohio State championship with an impressive 23-stroke victory over Cincinnati rival Ursuline Academy. The Cougars dominated, finishing 16 strokes better than their previous year's State title performance. Not to be outdone by their classmates, Mount Notre Dame's basketball team was crowned Ohio State champions with a convincing 59 to 44 win over Chaminade-Julienne. The victory topped off a perfect 28 and 0 season and propelled the team to a number two national ranking in the prestigious USA Today poll. It gives me great pleasure to recognize the continued success of Mount Notre Dame High School, its coaches and administrators, and these young women who serve as ideal role models for future generations of high school student athletes. Congratulations, Mount Notre Dame.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Following the horrific attacks on September 11, it became evident that Congress had to act in case there was a catastrophic event that literally jeopardized the ongoing government. We handled this in many different ways. There was a working group. We held a hearing in my subcommittee, the Subcommittee on the Constitution, should we go the constitutional amendment route or statute. I became convinced the statute was the best way to go to ensure directly elected representatives in this body. I would urge my colleagues to continue to make this the people's House, where we are all elected by the people, and nobody is appointed by Governors or anybody else.

Mr. CHABOT

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

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to recognize several of the staff who have been instrumental on bringing this forth today. On the majority side, I would like to recognize Sarah Tilleman and Dennis Halpin for their very hard work; and on the minority side, I would like to recognize and thank Paul Oostburg and Bob King for their service and the hard work they have put in to make this possible today. Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend my colleague from Ohio, Sherrod Brown, for his persistence in pushing for Taiwan's observer status at the WHO. For many years he has successfully advocated for legislation to move this issue forward, and I want to congratulate him on his current efforts to do so. I would also like to thank the Chairman of the Committee, my good friend from Illinois, for moving this legislation forward and to other members on his side of the aisle for their support. Mr. Speaker, by battling the spread of infectious diseases and increasing the quality of health care to the global community, the World Health Organization makes a significant contribution to America's national security. As we meet today, the World Health Organization is attempting to prevent future outbreaks of the deadly SARS virus, implementing new strategies to stop the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS virus, and teaching the developing world how to stop the transmission of tuberculosis. Mr. Speaker, the fight for quality health care around the globe will never cease. As a result, the WHO and its member countries must look for help from every nation, and from every people, to strengthen the work of the organization. Unfortunately, strong and consistent opposition from the Chinese Government has repeatedly stopped the people of Taiwan from contributing to the work of the WHO. I appreciate the willingness of President Bush to support Taiwan's bid for WHO observer status. But I fear that those who work for the President at the White House and the State Department are unwilling to make a concerted effort to make Taiwan's observer status a reality. While it is true that active, not simply passive, support for Taiwan's bid will upset Beijing, we must first focus on promoting America's own national interest. It is true that observer status for Taiwan will not come easy. Beijing holds sway over many WHO members. But the facts in support of Taiwan's case are clear, and support will undoubtedly build over time with active American engagement. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is one of America's strongest allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and is a beacon of democracy for people around the world. Taiwan also has the money and expertise to make a significant contribution to the work of the World Health Organization. The case for Taiwan at the WHO is clear, and I hope that the Bush Administration will actively seize on this critically-important matter. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4019.

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

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), for his leadership in this effort to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit held by the World Health Organization in May of each year. My colleague has spearheaded this campaign for many years, and I am pleased to join him once again. I also want to thank Brett Gibson of the staff of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), who has done a great job working on this issue. The people of Taiwan have a great deal to offer to the international community. It is terribly unfortunate that while Taiwan's achievements in the medical field are certainly substantial, and it has expressed the repeated willingness to assist both financially and technically in World Health Organization activities, it has not been allowed to do so because of the intransigence of the Communist Chinese Government. It is a travesty that during times of crisis, such as the 1998 entovirus outbreak in Taiwan that killed 70 children and infected hundreds and hundreds more, the World Health Organization was unable to help. When an earthquake in 1999 claimed more than 2,000 lives, we learned in published reports that the Chinese Government, whose belligerent insistence that Taiwan be denied a role in international organizations, demanded that any aid for Taiwan provided by U.N. organizations and the Red Cross receive prior approval from the dictators in Beijing. And when the SARS outbreak killed so many in Taiwan last year, the PRC objected to WHO assistance for its neighbor. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has stated that the people of Taiwan deserve the same level of public health as citizens of every nation on earth, and we support them in their efforts to achieve it. We can show that support by adopting this legislation that would authorize the Secretary of State to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health assembly and introduce a resolution in support of observer status. This legislation also makes permanent the reporting requirement mandating an account of our government's efforts at the assembly and the steps the Secretary will take to endorse and obtain observer status at the next meeting of the assembly. In the face of the AIDS pandemic, the threat of bioterrorism, and vicious infectious diseases like avian flu, the need for international cooperation in public health matters has never been more critical. But despite the danger of health threats stalking the world's population, 23 million residents of the island of Taiwan continue to be banned from participation in and cooperating with the work of the World Health Organization. Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Organization is not simply a political question, it is a question of humanity. It is an injury to the lives and well-being of the Taiwanese people, and a lost opportunity to defeat disease, humanity's common enemy. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that demands we put aside narrow political considerations in the interest of human welfare. It demands the attention of the international community, and it demands the attention of the United States. Beyond these humanitarian considerations that would apply to people anywhere in the world if granted observer status at the World Health Organization, Taiwan would be uniquely positioned to help strengthen the infrastructure of the international public health system. The damage from the potential exclusion from World Health Organization does not stop at the island's shoreline. Taiwan's continued forced isolation from the world health community stands to impact the health of all of the countries in East Asia and the greater international community. Diseases do not recognize political boundaries, a fact demonstrated during the 2003 outbreak of SARS, as I mentioned previously. Taiwan's highly trained medical personnel, outstanding medical facilities and respected scientific community would be a tremendous resource to global health professionals working to combat disease. Furthermore, despite its arbitrary exclusion from the World Health Organization and the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, Taiwan has made generous financial contributions to international efforts to improve public health throughout the world, including a $1 million donation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In the context of such compelling arguments for Taiwan's participation in the global network of medical information and organizations represented by the World Health Organization, its continuing exclusion is illogical and dangerous. It is a reality that has been perpetuated through the threats and posturing of the People's Republic of China, a government whose outrageous behavior during last year's SARS epidemic clearly demonstrated an unwillingness to act responsibly in safeguarding the health of citizens on the mainland or Taiwan. It is my hope and that of other cosponsors of this legislation that our government will take vigorous steps to immediately right this wrong. This legislation calls on the head of the American delegation at the World Health Organization to speak out forcefully on the floor of the World Health Assembly in support of the right of the people of Taiwan to meaningful participation in the international public health community. The manager's amendment contains a modification on the bill as introduced. It extends beyond calendar year 2004 the authorization for the Secretary of State to seek observer status for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly and to report to Congress on the same. I would conclude by thanking the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and his staff for leadership on this bill, and also the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), who are cochairs of the Taiwan Caucus. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4019) to address the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization, as amended.