Duke Cunningham

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, the thing, I guess, that irks me the most, some of the Members on the other side come from the liberal left. They do not support the military. They vote against defense bills. They vote against defense supplementals, which protect our men and women and gives them the equipment and things they need to survive to do their job and come back alive. Many of these same Members give a cry for the veterans that we want to increase above budget, we want to increase that, because they know they vote. We want them to come back alive. When the Democrats had control of this House, they cut the military COLAs. They cut veterans' COLAs. They increased Social Security tax. They increased the tax on the veterans and the military. And cut their health care, VFW and American Legion chastised the Democrats because they not only just level funded it or reduced it, they gutted it. And I still have the articles in my office about how the Democrats did not come up to speed on the health care for the veterans. Since we took the majority over the last few years, we have increased health care over 60 percent. Subvention was my bill for the military, TRICARE for everybody. Another thing last night where they said, well, the Republicans did not vote to take care of our National Guard, they sign a contract, Mr. Speaker. When one goes into the National Guard or Reserve, they are a citizen soldier. They sign up and they are working in a business and they get your health care through the business or they sign up with private insurance. My colleagues on the other side want socialized medicine. They want single-payer, government controlled system. If the government gets involved in that, all of a sudden we are up around $5-plus billion, and the private sector will not provide for it. And they tried to use it as a political pawn. It sickens me. I am military retired, and I have health care, and so do our veterans in an increasing manner.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Has he ever been in active duty military?

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, has he ever been in the Reserves?

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I thought not, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I have. And I thought not.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, summon up my courage? I do not think I have to question anybody to summon up my courage. I am a combat veteran, I was shot down in Vietnam, I was shot, and you do not tell the enemy what you are going to do, because you put those people at risk. Mr. Chairman, it is interesting that as a combat veteran, I spoke to literally thousands of other combat veterans, and it is amazing the differences of their opinions versus liberal politicians. Our kids over there are proud of what they do. Yes, I want them back. I wanted to get out of Vietnam just like anybody else, but I did not want to leave before the job was done. I do not want the over 1,700 men and women that have died in Iraq to die for nothing. And if we go ahead and tell the enemy what we are going to do, we put those kids at risk. I just think it is wrong. From my experience in the military of 20 years, it is wrong, what the gentlewoman is trying to do. She has good intentions. But I will tell my colleagues that if we let folks know what we are going to do, I say to the gentlewoman, it is going to put those men and women at risk, and I think it is wrong. I urge opposition to this amendment.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to salute and wish a hearty farewell to Major Bill McCollough of the House Marine Corps liaison office. In the midst of a career in the field and leading troops around the globe, Bill was selected by the Marine Corps leadership to serve as a Congressional Fellow in 2002. Representing the Nation's largest Navy-Marine Corps complex, I had hoped to get a military fellow with the right mix of brains, brawn, and ability to ``get things done'' to help me better serve the San Diego community. I met Bill, and knew I had found the right fit. Bill worked a number of sensitive military issues for me with great skill and finesse. So our office quickly rewarded him with an expanded portfolio, including domestic issues of critical importance to my district. Major McCollough impressed me with his professionalism, his good will and dedication to family and Nation. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work with him and his family. As he returns to Camp Pendleton, and likely another tour in the Middle East soon, I wish Bill, his wife, Caroline, and sons, Hunter and Jack, the best of luck and a fond farewell. They know they will always have a family here in Washington.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, most of my colleagues that support this bill are from the pro-choice field. I come at it from the pro-life section. A lot of times I disagree with my colleagues because I think in some cases they would go further, and a fact that many people will not take under their wing is that many of these stem cells are going to be thrown away, either cryogenically they deteriorate and they throw them away, or a woman says ``I don't want to keep them for 1,000 years'' and they discard them. They literally throw them in the toilet. Now we can save life. They say there is no good to be done. Animal studies have shown that work with the spinal cord, heart and others have been successful. We have not done it on humans. If you take a look at some of the blood diseases with bone marrow used, that is stem cell. And we have hope in the future. I met a young man that had AIDS at NIH, and he only thought about dying. He said, ``Duke, all I need is hope to survive.'' This gives that hope, and I think it has promise.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, a family invests their embryos. They are not going to save them for 1,000 years. Some of those embryos cryogenically deteriorate so they are going to discard those embryos. Others are just thrown down the toilet because someone does not want them anymore. Those are the embryos that we can use for stem cell research, only the ones that are going to be thrown away. If there are 400,000, then we will use 400,000. If there are only 10, we will use 10 unless they can be adopted, which I also support in this bill. People say that there has been no research. If you take a look in animals, they have actually saved spinal cords in animals, in heart, in Alzheimer's, but they just have not done it in humans. There is potential, both for adult and embryonic stem cell. I have been here 15 years and I am 100 percent prolife, 100 percent. This is an issue of life to me. I had a 6-year-old in the committee that said, Duke, you're the only person who can save my life. Do you have a child with diabetes? Do you have a child with other diseases that could be prevented? Then you would support this. I am for life and I am for the quality of life, but I do not want another 6-year-old to die. I opposed the California bill. It went too far. I do not support cloning, but I want to save life. We are this close to stopping juvenile diabetes. There are other embryos that are tainted so bad that you would not implant those and they want to study those so that they can stop those childhood diseases. But you cannot look a child in the eye when the only chance they have to live is this research.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today that will authorize the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to continue to participate in the construction of the North San Diego County Area Water Recycling Project which also includes, as a new component, Phase II of the Olivenhain Water Treatment Plant. This project is very important in the overall water supply plan in my Congressional District and I am proud to offer this legislation that will assist in its further development. The North San Diego County Water Recycling Project is a regional cooperative effort by the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, the Leucadia County Water District, the City of Carlsbad and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District. When completed, the project will add up to 5 billion gallons annually to the San Diego region's local water supply. With years of drought, exploding growth rates and California's reduced intake of Colorado River water, this recycled water has become vital to the region and it is extremely important that the project is completed to its full potential. In addition to the benefits to the San Diego County region, numerous federal objectives are advanced through the development of the North County Water Recycling Project. The project will directly reduce the surrounding region's demand for imported water from the environmentally sensitive California Bay/Delta and will help California live within its 4.4 million acre-feet allocation of water from the Colorado River. The project will also reduce the amount of effluent discharged into coastal waters and advance D.S./Mexico border environmental initiatives. The legislation I offer today will increase the overall authorization ceiling for this project from $20 million to $35 million within the Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI program. It is important to note that the majority of the funds necessary to construct this project are coming from local sources which represent a heavy financial burden on local agencies. Federal participation will help make this innovative water supply project a reality. Mr. Speaker, I ask that this legislation be given prompt consideration.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I am not an extreme environmentalist. I am a conservationist. And that is why I find it difficult, most of the time on fighting some of the people who are speaking against this amendment, that I find myself allied with them on this particular issue. Most of the time we quote studies. The first thing we do is see who did the study, who paid for it, and what is their agenda. The National Academy of Sciences is neither pro-business nor pro-environment. They are pro-science, and they are peer reviewed. The National Academy of Science: Gas and oil exploration will, not may, will, cause irreputable damage to the environment and to the economy off the coast of California. I understand the gentleman from Texas. I trained with the Navy in Texas. Their beaches are not pristine like Florida and California. That is why all of their folks come to California for the good weather and the nice beaches, and we want to keep it that way. We want them to come back to California. But I want to tell the Members something. The moratorium that we have had has protected the shorelines. During the gas debate, I talked about Batigitos Lagoon and our beaches. A lot of our economy is based on tourism. I heard, well, it is just the oil tankers leaking in Long Beach or it is seepage. It is not. The National Academy of Sciences said if we drill those new leases, then it is going to cause irreputable damage. They have slant drilling, but when they have the technology to stop the damage, I will be along with them. Nancy, my bride, and I walk along the beaches. That is what we do for fun with the kids. I have walked at Long Beach. And it took me 2 weeks to get the oil off of my Jack Russell terrier, and the bottom of our feet. We have to use kerosene. That is what we are trying to protect. And if they want to do something, I read where an oil company from the United States had a $12 billion profit the first quarter. I am pro- business, but I am not for pro-rip-off, and that is what we ought to look at in the cost of gas.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I would like to associate my comments with the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps). The proponents of this say that it is oil and gas. We are not talking oil. If you want to poke a hole in the ground in Oklahoma or you want to do it in land or even in ANWR, where they have the technology not to cause the spills, that is fine. I will support you, or clean coal, I will support you. I understand the plight the farmers have with the cost of natural gas and the fertilizer problem that they have. I will work with the gentleman on that as well. They say, well, let us do it in the Gulf of Mexico, so we are going to do to Mexicans what we want to do for us? If you poke a hole in the Earth, you are going to get oil up. I do not know if you have ever come to Long Beach, you better bring kerosene with you if you go on our beaches. Because you take your dog or you walk along those beaches, the bottom of your feet are solid oil. You go poking holes in that, the economy of California is critical to tourism. We have the best beaches, better than Washington State. We have the best weather, and we invite you to come spend your money in California, but you are not going to come if we start poking holes in the bottom of the Pacific along the coast as the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) says. I know the heart and the effort of the gentleman that is offering this amendment, and I know why he is doing it and I empathize with him, but it would destroy the California economy and environment as well as our beaches. We have got beautiful lagoons. We have got the most beautiful lagoons in the world, and wetlands. I am not an extreme environmentalist, but those are, no kidding, true wetlands; and the National Academy of Science says whether you are drilling for oil or gas off the California coast, you are going to, not maybe, you are going to hurt the wildlife, you are going to destroy those lagoons, and then we are going to end up like Long Beach with oil all over our beaches and hurt our economy. So I oppose the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the chairman's efforts and especially the efforts of his staff to increase the number of Border Patrol agents above the amount requested by the President. As he could see, Members on both sides of the aisle have spoken to this issue over and over. I serve as a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and may I have his commitment to work towards achieving the target of Border Patrol agents of 2,000 authorized in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2005 and also recommended by the 9/11 Commission?

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding couple in the 50th Congressional District for their commitment to public higher education in general, and for business education in particular. Ken and Carole Markstein have pledged $5 million to the College of Business Administration at Cal State San Marcos. Their gift will be used to complete the new business college building by providing upgrades, furnishings, and technology; to assist in faculty recruitment and retention efforts; to provide scholarships for students; and to fund future program development. Their gift will greatly enhance the University's ability to serve the students and the local business community by enabling the College to provide the highest quality education possible and develop future programs responsive to the needs of the region. The College of Business Administration houses the largest number of students at Cal State San Marcos. In 1974, Ken Markstein graduated from Cal State University at San Jose with a B.S. degree in Finance. After completing his degree, he joined Markstein Beverage Company as the Accounting/Computer Manager. In 1975, Ken became Vice President of Markstein Beverage Company Union City, and in 1976, he was promoted to Vice President/General Manager. In 1978 he moved to Markstein Beverage Company in Oakland as President and General Manager. In 1987, Ken and his brother purchased Mission Distributing in San Marcos, California, where he became President and CEO. Markstein Beverage Company is a wholesale beverage distributor, employing more than 120 employees, with 120 fleet vehicles and sales of approximately $50 million per year. The Marksteins have been engaged with Cal State San Marcos for a large part of its short history. In 1991, they established one of the first scholarships for business students. In 1996, Ken agreed to serve on the Business College advisory board, and in 2002, agreed to become part of the university's Trust Board. With the beginning of construction of the new business building and with the arrival of a permanent dean of the college, Ken and Carole began to see the importance of a strong program for business students being developed in their own backyard. In particular, they saw the need to recruit and retain outstanding business faculty, and began to talk to the university about ways in which they could make a significant difference to the business community in the region. When Ken's father, who had started the family business, died in 2004, Ken decided to use part of the inheritance in this way--to honor his father by helping the future of business professionals in North San Diego County. Ken is not only a product of the Cal State System, but a believer-- calling it ``the backbone of California's higher education.'' He believes in the goals of the university and in doing what he can to make those goals a reality. Ken married his childhood sweetheart, Carole, in 1975, and they have two college-aged children. Like her husband, Carole is also part of the community and gives her time and talent to the establishment of the San Pasqual Academy--a residential campus for high school foster care adolescents. On May 11, 2005, the California State University Board of Trustees unanimously voted approval of the recommendation, Resolved, By the Board of Trustees of the California State University, that the business building (Building 13) at Cal State University San Marcos, be named Markstein Hall. It is an honor for the business college to carry the family name of this outstanding, civic-minded couple, as it is for the 50th district to honor them today with these remarks to the Congressional Record.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I have been flying wing on the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) for about 14 years, and he has always got me home safely. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and his wife are out at Bethesda in the hospitals every single day taking care of our troops. There is no better team than the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) to make sure that our men and women are safe. I have another great friend in the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). And if we were back in the times of Troy, I would be Achilles, and he would be Hector, and we would cross swords, but we would respect each other. And there is one area, Mr. Obey, when you mentioned homeland security we can seat those swords. The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) is working on the abuses of the homeland security money. That is being taken on. I think we can work in a very bipartisan way to make sure that that happens. I would like to thank the chairman for the border issues, that we have been able to secure our borders with this bill and provide for border patrol. Many of us have been working on this for years. And the Speaker has granted us that at the first must-pass bill we can bring this forward.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am not a member of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, nor have I ever been, nor do I ever want to be. I think we need to laud the members on both sides of that Committee. The other side knows me as being very frank. I speak an open mind. My perception of the rules changes, and I think the perception of many of my colleagues, is that they were made because we felt there were partisan attacks against our leadership. I know most of the members on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, and I consider them friends. Even during the time of Newt Gingrich, I thought the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct did a credible job, but we felt that David Bonior was being partisan. We also felt that part of the Democrat leadership was directing partisanship on this committee. Now, maybe the rule was wrong, but we think also the partisanship is wrong. Using Mr. Hoyer's words, if we want a truly effective ethics committee, and I believe in my heart that most Members in this body want that, so I hope that that can happen. I pray that that can happen because we do not want a Hatfield-and-McCoy scenario. It would do disservice to this body.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Efficient Energy through Certified Technologies and Electricity Reliability (EFFECTER) Act of 2005. I am joined in this effort by a diverse coalition of my colleagues including Mr. Markey of Massachusetts, as well as Senator Snowe of Maine and Senator Feinstein of California. This bill is a more developed version of the EFFECTER Act that Mr. Markey and I introduced in April 2004. With the President's Energy Plan currently stalled in the other body, we believe that this bill can deliver on one of the less controversial issues when it comes to energy policy--energy efficiency. I support the President's Energy Plan and voted in favor of H.R. 6 when it came before this body for final passage. It is my hope that this fine legislation will implement a desperately needed energy policy in this country. My constituents in San Diego suffered through the Energy Crisis during the summer of 2001. The aftershocks of the rolling blackouts and outrageously high energy prices are still being felt. Gas prices in California are currently the highest in the country at over $2.50 per gallon. We risk another major blackout and continually soaring fuel prices if we choose to wait before enacting a long term energy policy. My constituents, and all the American people, need solutions now. I am introducing this bill in an effort to pass a portion of our long-term energy plan that can produce results now. In our legislation introduced last year, Congressman Markey and I created legislation that would give builders and consumers a reason to construct housing and purchase equipment that not only saves the consumer money in the long run, but also helps save energy. We have taken this idea and have put it into this bill along with other cost- saving provisions. This legislation offers tax incentives to encourage the production and sale of technologically advanced, energy-efficient buildings and equipment. The incentives will reduce peak power demand, which can diffuse the risk of blackouts and high electricity prices. Peak power shortages cost California $15 billion in 2000 alone. These tax incentives are performance based, not cost based. One dollar of federal tax incentives for energy efficiency offered today will not be paid until January-April 2005, but manufacturers will respond to the incentives by investing in production facilities for more efficient products immediately. This will promote the creation of competitive markets for new technologies and designs that are not widely available today, but have the possibility of being cost effective to the consumer in the future. This bill will have the government lead by example by cutting our own energy bills by upgrading our building energy efficiency standards and purchase specifications, and reauthorizing federal Energy Savings Performance Contracts, which allow private companies to partner with the government for mutually beneficial cost-effective energy savings. Finally, it includes mandatory electricity reliability requirements that address directly the failures that caused the east coast blackout of 2003. This bill increases the security and reliability of the electric grid, while reducing natural gas and electricity prices by cutting the demand for natural gas and electricity in the near term, as well as in the longer term. Grid security is improved by adopting mandatory standards for operation. The EFFECTER Act seeks to address two key power supply issues-- electric reliability and natural gas prices. Reducing peak electric demand not only eases pressure on the electric grid but also reduces utility demand for natural gas, a major factor that has led to higher prices. Over the next ten years, this legislation can produce natural gas savings of over 3.3 quads annually--over 12 percent of total gas use; and peak electricity savings of 145,000 megawatts--equivalent to 350 new power plants of 400 MW capacity. Mr. Speaker, please join me in supporting the EFFECTER Act which will help reduce energy needs and provide for a cleaner environment. Let's respond to our country's desperate needs today, before we have another energy crisis.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent Quincy Bock of Senior Troop #1107 as she receives the honor of a Gold Award from the Girl Scouts. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout may earn. It is not an honor given lightly. The young women who receive this award must demonstrate leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment. Quincy Bock exhibited all these skills with her Gold Award Project, a Resource for Refugees, for The Nile Sisters, a non-profit organization that helps refugee families become self-reliant through education and support. Quincy successfully created three databases and produced two pieces of literature for The Nile Sisters to use in helping refugee families. The databases Quincy designed and the training she gave the organization will greatly increase the organization's efficiency. In addition, the pamphlet she created has already generated a number of donations and offers of assistance. Because of Quincy's direct contribution, The Nile Sisters will be able to better serve refugee families seeking a better life here in America. I am proud to recognize Quincy Bock's achievements. She is a shining example of the promise of the next generation. She has already set what I hope is the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. I congratulate Quincy and her family on this momentous occasion.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I am opposed to my friend's amendment, and he is a friend, he is a good friend. I have not had a chance to speak on the floor, but I thought this fit right in line with environmental justice. When many of us came in 1990, the Clean Air Act came up. And I remember Mr. Daschle, who is no longer with the other body, standing up and talking about how good MTBEs were. None of us knew. I saw a special that showed how bad MTBEs are, and that they are poisoning our waters in many communities. They should be removed. But when the Government asks any industry to do its bidding, and it does that, then I think that the government should protect that individual, whatever the company is, because it did what the government told it to do. Now, I think what we should do with this is push forward, help with the cleanup, and fight and do everything we can to get MTBEs out of our system and out of our groundwater. The gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) did that in 1996, and my colleagues on the other side fought that tooth, hook and nail. I was the cosponsor of the bill. When you talk about justice, let us look at why we ended up with it, where we are, and let us work together to get rid of this stuff.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize that two blue ribbon schools in my 50th Congressional District of California are being honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2004. These schools are: Earl Warren Middle School, Solana Beach, CA. The principal is Dr. Jeanne Jones, and the superintendent of the San Dieguito Unified School District is Dr. Peggy Lynch. Twin Oaks Elementary School, San Marcos, CA. The principal is Mrs. Carol Hayward, and the superintendent of the San Marcos Unified School District is Mr. Larry Maw. There are over 100,000 public and private schools in the United States and only 300 are able to be recognized as a ``National Blue Ribbon School'' by the U.S. Department of Education, including the two above in California's 50th Congressional District, and 39 in the State of California. The No Child Left Behind--Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that either demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement or are academically superior in their states. It recognizes schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance in accordance with the state assessment systems. It also rewards schools that score in the top 10 percent on state assessments. The faculty and students at Earl Warren Middle School and Twin Oaks Elementary School have demonstrated strong leadership, clear vision and mission, excellent teaching and curriculum, policies and practices that keep their schools safe for learning, expanded involvement of families, and evidence that both schools help all students achieve high standards. I am immensely proud of those involved whose outstanding and tireless work in the interest of better education has now been recognized through the National Blue Ribbon Schools program. This is particularly close to my heart, because, as a former teacher and coach, and as a father, one of my passions is improving education so that every American can have a fighting chance to achieve the American Dream. And while these two schools in my district have now been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools, the real winners are all of the children, parents, teachers and citizens who have all been challenged through this recognition to successfully improve education in all of their local communities.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose my friend's amendment. I will tell you why personally. I spent a lot of time in Saudi. They can either go the wrong way or the right way. We talk about not putting foreign troops in foreign countries. Do they have problems? Yes. But when you talk about the government itself, I know from the intelligence community, I also know how they are helping us there; but I have been into their banks where they have Canadian and U.S. and British auditors to make sure there is no money laundering. The government itself, I have met with King Aziz, I have met with the crown prince, I have met with almost every one of the Shura council, which is their Congress. The majority of Saudis support the United States. So to say that their government is against us is wrong. Are there people that preach Wahabism? Yes. But they have changed their inside curriculum. They have arrested and jailed over 1,000 Imams which preach intolerance. So I would oppose the gentleman's amendment. I did not know when we were on the floor that we had an amendment when I went over there. It really hurts people when we do things, and I think that this could hurt our relationship instead of bettering it with Saudi Arabia. I oppose the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of our President and I feel that he has done a good job in this Nation. Actually the world owes him and the First Lady a lot of support and our gratitude. Sometimes the bean counters in the White House though take a look at a program and do not look at its effectiveness and they eliminate it. Many times they have to look at a program and eliminate it if it is duplicative or wasteful or ineffective. But during the last budget process there was a program on the list that was not only effective but enhanced Leave No Child Behind and education, and the title of that was Even Start. Ask any teacher, administrator or parent that if a parent is involved in the program called Even Start and my friend, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and I have a friend named Peter Yarrow involved in that. I know I can count on my colleague to support this because we did last year. This program brings parents and it brings students together to work together. Any time you can involve parents in education the outcome is much, much better. Chairman Bill Goodling, the former Member who was then the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, ramroded Even Start. He kept it alive when it was almost fatal. This House last Congress recognized the significance of the successful program and came together, both Republicans and Democrats, and reinstated the Even Start program. The gains in low income children, their parents are well-documented in improving literacy levels and assisting parents in completing their GEDs. Quite often low income parents in our districts and the gentleman from California's (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) do not even speak English, and these parents actually come together with their children and work these programs, and we want to have it reinstated. I have faith that we are. The fact that the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) is supportive, and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), chairman of the subcommittee, are supportive, and we have commitment I believe in the Senate to do the same thing. My wife asked me to go listen to a man one year who is a good friend of the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) as well. She said, I want you to go here Peter Yarrow. I said, who is Peter Yarrow? She said, Peter, Paul and Mary, Peter Yarrow. I said, that anti-war, left-wing guy, I am not going to go listen to him, and she said, Well, honey, I support you and your events, go to this thing with me. I did, and I think the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) will admit and agree that he is one of the most caring people that we have ever met, especially when it comes to children and children's programs. Peter Yarrow has a song called ``Don't Laugh At Me,'' and he is involved also in the Even Start program, and I would submit the rest of this for the Record, but Peter's issue is that things like Columbine, if we would have encouraged these children to get together and not laugh at each other, then maybe we would not have had a Columbine. I would like to read just a few stanzas of the song that he sings. He was so effective, I invited this guy that I do not agree with in many politics, but we brought him before the Republican Conference, and he wowed the people and got support for the Even Start program. I'm a little boy with glasses, the one they call a geek. A little girl who never smiles, 'cause I have braces on my teeth. And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep. I'm that kid on every playground who's always chosen last. A single teenage mother, tryin' to overcome my past. You don't have to be my friend, but is it too much to ask. Don't laugh at me. Don't call me names. Don't get your pleasure from my pain. In God's eyes, we're all the same. Someday we'll all have perfect wings. Don't laugh at me. . . . I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall, I'm deaf, I'm blind, in a way, we are all. I'm black, I'm white, and I am brown. I'm Jewish, I'm Christian, and I am Muslim. I was born in Sarajevo. I was born in Kosovo. I was born in Northern Ireland. I was born in Africa. I'm of the Hutu tribe. I'm of the Tutsi tribe . . . I'm American Indian. I was born in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Canada, in Mexico. I was born in Vietnam, in Sudan. I was born in the United States of America. I'm very, very young. I'm quite aged. I'm Israeli. I'm Palestinian. I'm quite wealthy, and I am very, very poor. My country 'tis of thee. Oh, sweet land of liberty. It is of thee that I sing.'' There are many stanzas to this song and I challenge anyone in this room or on either side of the aisle to listen to Peter Yarrow and what he stands for and not have tears in his eyes. Mr. Speaker, I ask for the support of Even Start, and we will put it back into the budget regardless of the President's bean counters. You are very familiar with Peter Yarrow and his work. I'll summarize some Even Start talking points below. Even Start serves children 0 through 7 years old and their families. The services provided include early childhood education, adult basic education, parenting education and interactive literacy instruction (parents and children reading together). The San Diego and Poway programs are very successful and have documented significant gains in children's literacy levels as well as an impressive record in assisting parents in completing their GED. The focus is on assisting parents to be their child's first and best teacher. In addition, in San Diego we have been very successful in helping parents transition from Spanish to English thereby enabling them to be involved with their children's education as well as making them more viable in the local economy/job market. Peter Yarrow has been a great friend to Even Start nationwide--his Don't Laugh at Me program which is a character education program in schools has been incorporated in many Even Start programs nationwide. Goals of Even Start: To extend learning, enrich language development and support high levels of success for children birth to age seven and their families. To break the cycle of limited literacy, under-employment and high mobility of participating families by building literacy skills in both parents and children. To provide `simultaneous' services for families, where parents and their children learn together. This builds support for parents to succeed with their educational and employment goals, and develop habits of life-long learning for their children. To support families committed to education and to economic independence. Don't Laugh at Me (Written by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin, performed by Peter Yarrow) I'm a little boy with glasses The one they call a geek A little girl who never smiles `Cause I have braces on my teeth And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep I'm that kid on every playground Who's always chosen last A single teenage mother Tryin' to overcome my past You don't have to be my friend But is it too much to ask Don't laugh at me Don't call me names Don't get your pleasure from my pain In God's eyes we're all the same Someday we'll all have perfect wings Don't laugh at me I'm the beggar on the corner You've passed me on the street And I wouldn't be out here beggin' If I had enough to eat And don't think I don't notice That our eyes never meet Don't laugh at me Don't call me names Don't get you pleasure from my pain In God's eyes we're all the same Someday we'll all have perfect wings Don't laugh at me I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey, aren't we all Don't laugh at me Don't call me names Don't get your pleasure from my pain In God's eyes we're all the same Someday we'll all have perfect wings Don't laugh at me I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall I'm deaf, I'm blind, in a way, we are all. I'm black, I'm white, and I am brown I'm Jewish, I'm Christian, and I am Muslim I was born in Sarajevo, I was born in Kosovo, I was born in Northern Ireland, I was born in Africa I'm of the Hutu tribe, I'm of the Tutsi tribe I'm American Indian I was born in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Canada, in Mexico, I was born in Vietnam, in Sudan, I was born in the United States of America I'm very, very young, I'm quite aged I'm Israeli, I'm Palestinian, I'm quite wealthy, and I am very, very poor. My country `tis of thee Oh, sweet land of liberty It is of thee . . . that I sing.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I support the President in almost every area. But in his budget, as in last time, they took out an education program called Even Start. Former Member Bill Goodling pushed Even Start, because in Leave No Child Behind an important factor of that is encouraging and working with parents to work with their children to make sure that they are not left behind. Unlike a lot of large government programs which are dependent on individual areas and leaders that run it, Even Start, across the board, has been extremely successful. We need to eliminate a lot of duplicative programs in education, but let us not eliminate the good ones; and let us support Even Start in this House. And I would hope in the House we restore that education program.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, with the passing of Tillie Fowler, America has lost a great American, dedicated public servant, and friend to many. Ms. Fowler's distinguished career in public service started as a legislative assistant to Representative Robert J. Stephens, Jr. For the next 37 years, Ms. Fowler served our Nation in many different capacities culminating in her election as a Republican representative in Congress. I had the honor of serving with Ms. Fowler on the Armed Service Committee. I have not known a stronger supporter of national defense, those who serve in the military, and their families. After leaving Congress, Ms. Fowler remained dedicated to our country. She has done extraordinary work helping lead the commission reviewing sexual harassment at our Nation's military academies. I am pleased that we were able to continue our professional working relationship when Tillie left Congress, and that we were still in touch this year working on mutual issues of interest for the San Diego Airport Authority. Tillie K. Fowler was not just a colleague, she was a friend. She will truly be missed, by me and a grateful Nation.