Lois Capps

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Yes, there are; and I would be happy to discuss it further.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would continue to yield, I would have to be assured that the other pieces for having a local say would be there as well. But lengthening it to the 45 days would be more in compliance with the way it is now.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, if there were the kind of local processes that are in place now in NEPA to allow for that full discussion and have alternatives that are available for the public to have an input.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4513. Like many Members, I applaud the topic of the legislation. I support wind, solar, and other clean renewable energy projects. They are a critical part of a clean energy future. But renewable energy projects could have adverse impacts on the environment and also on public health if they are not sited, designed, or operated properly. This needs to be a part of the topic. It is about a local voice in having a say in what happens. That is why projects, whether they are clean or renewable or whatever kind of project it is, must be subject to a full environmental and public health review as required by the National Environmental Protection Act, or NEPA, a process which results in a better project. With all due respect to the Chair of the committee, H.R. 4513 seeks to remove this requirement of having a local voice in the process. Under the bill, any Federal agency would be exempt from considering alternatives when assessing the environmental impact of a project. It would virtually eliminate input from local communities, States, and the public by allowing only a 20-day comment period and only allowing comments on the proponents' proposal. Under current law, interested parties have 45 days to comment and analyze the environmental effects of alternative locations and actions of a project. The bill's intentionally broad definition of renewable energy leaves the door wide open to waivers for environmentally harmful projects, such as some solid waste incineration, hydroelectric projects, or LNG terminals and pipelines, not just on public lands but everywhere according to the OCS. While I salute the fact that this bill recognizes renewable energy development and its importance, it fails to ensure that environmentally important renewable energy development occurs in a timely manner, in the right locations, subject to the terms that fully protect the public's interest, and through a process that ensures ample public input and trust. Mr. Speaker, let us make sure that all energy projects meet environmental and public health standards. I urge a ``no'' vote on H.R. 4513.

Mrs. CAPPS. That is one step. I would defer also to the ranking member and an ability to work that out.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan for yielding to me. I want to welcome back our distinguished colleague from Louisiana and note that his old fire is still with him, and that is a pleasure. I do rise in strong opposition to this legislation and to the rest of these ill-conceived energy bills. This much-vaunted Energy Week is not about enacting solutions to our energy problems. It is about election- year politics. The Republican leadership wants to look as if it is doing something about these record-high gas prices. If they were serious about addressing this and a myriad of other energy issues, we would not be addressing this bill today. This bill, Mr. Speaker, is a monstrosity. At a time of record-high deficits, the bill itself costs a whopping $31 billion. At a time of record-high oil industry profits, the bill would shovel billions in taxpayer subsidies to these very companies. At a time of record-high gas prices, this bill would actually raise gas prices, but that is not all. The bill drills holes in the Clean Water Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; NEPA, the National Environmental Protection Act; and the Coastal Zone Management Act. It lets MTBE producers off the hook for groundwater contamination their product caused, and it gives these same companies $2 billion of our constituents' money to get into a new line of work. What a deal. Mr. Speaker, as we know, this is the same bill that passed this House last November and was thankfully not brought up in the Senate. The American people owe a debt of gratitude to the other body for stopping this awful bill last year. This House should follow such a good example and kill it today. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to be present for the following rollcall votes and would like the Record to reflect that I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 229--``yes''; Rollcall No. 230--``yes''; and Rollcall No. 231--``yes''.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation as they celebrate their 30th anniversary of service to our community. The Santa Barbara Jewish Federation contributes to the entire Santa Barbara community through their educational programs, art exhibits, festivals, and other programs. The mission of the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation is to create and advance a cohesive Santa Barbara Jewish community by promoting identification and connectedness to the Jewish community, generating mutual respect amongst Jews of different practice, promoting cooperative relationships among the Jewish organizations and promoting positive relationships between the Jewish community and the community at large. The Santa Barbara Jewish Federation promotes charity and justice in all that they do. The Santa Barbara Jewish Federation contributes to the community by helping to care for those in need, helping elders live in dignity and they work to build respect and trust among religious and ethnic groups. In their mission statement, the Jewish Federation stresses the Hebrew Phrase Tikkun Olam, meaning ``healing the world.'' The work that is done here in Santa Barbara helps not only our local community, but sets a positive example for all. Their work truly goes a long way in helping to heal the world. I have been honored and privileged to attend the Federation's ``Super Sunday'' telethon to raise funds for all of the critical programs they provide to our community throughout the year. I am pleased to help commemorate the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation for all the wonderful, positive ways they contribute to the community as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, it is important that the House of Representatives is considering the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act, or STOP Stroke Act, today. As my colleague from Mississippi has just said, this bill is past due and it is time for us to act today. Right now stroke is the number three killer in the United States and it is one of the major causes of serious disability. Each year more than 700,000 Americans suffer from a stroke, as has been said, and 170,000 people die from a stroke every year. Of national significance, nearly 4\1/2\ million Americans are stroke survivors today, at tremendous cost personally to families, to all of us. And as has been said, this is a very personal story. Whether it is Senator Coverdell or my father-in-law, each of us is involved in the story of stroke. But what makes this so heartbreaking is the fact that many of these deaths and disabilities can be prevented with the treatments available today. As cochair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, it is our goal to improve that disparity. If a stroke victim can get quick treatment within 2 to 3 hours of the onset of symptoms lives can be saved and many disabilities can be avoided or curtailed. But fewer than 3 percent of stroke patients now receive the state of the art medication, and only one in 10 stroke patients are monitored by a neurologist. Sadly and tragically, most Americans cannot today identify the signs of strokes, and many emergency room technicians are not trained to recognize and manage its symptoms. That is why I am proud to introduce the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act, or STOP Stroke Act, and I am so pleased to work with my colleague, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering). I am very proud also to be associated with the work of Senator Cochran, Senator Frist and Senator Kennedy on this important legislation. The bill creates a stroke prevention and education campaign. This campaign, much needed, will be a national multi-media awareness effort to promote stroke prevention and encourage stroke patients to seek immediate treatment. We will also establish the Paul Coverdell Stroke Registry and Clearinghouse in the law, and this program will collect data about care for stroke patients and foster the development of effective stroke care systems, streamlining the response time and the response efforts. The bill provides for medical professional development to make sure our health care providers are up to date on the newest and best treatments and technologies. And finally, the STOP Stroke Act creates a pilot program to provide grants for Statewide stroke care systems, so that States can develop and implement stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation systems. The various States then would be able to use these resources to improve telehealth programs, train emergency medical services personnel, identify stroke care, treatment, and rehabilitation centers and create a system to set standards of care for stroke patients and develop and evaluate their stroke care systems. Passing this bill will be a great step forward for stroke care in this country. It has the potential to help millions of Americans avoid stroke and/or better cope with its effects. It is a good example of what bipartisan negotiation and compromise can accomplish. I want to take a moment to thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering) for this leadership on this issue. He and his staff have been strong partners in this effort. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) for his early support, as well as the former chairman, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the ranking members, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for all their efforts on this bill's behalf. I make a point of thanking our counsel Cheryl Jaeger on the gentleman from Texas' (Mr. Barton) staff and counsel John Ford on the gentleman from Michigan's (Mr. Dingell) staff, and my own staff member Jeremy Sharp for the many hours of work put into this effort. It is very important I believe to thank the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association and the many members of the STOP Stroke Act Coalition for their efforts to get this passed. The members are as follows: American Academy of Neurology American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation American Association of Neurological Surgeons American College of Chest Physicians American College of Emergency Physicians American College of Preventive Medicine American College of Radiology American Heart Association/American Stroke Association American Occupational Therapy Association American Physical Therapy Association American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology American Society of Neuroradiology Association of American Medical Colleges Associaiton of State and Territorial Chronic Disease Program Directors Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education Boston Scientific Brain Injury Association, Inc. Congres of Neurological Surgeons Emergency Nurses Association Genentech, Inc. Johnson & Johnson National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems National Stroke Association North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology Partnership for Prevention Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Stroke Belt Consortium It underscores for us all that there is cooperation within the constituency of health care providers and now it is time for us to become partners in this effort. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill and move this process forward.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 664 honoring the late Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan. I was proud to add my name as an original cosponsor of this resolution. The former president was devoted to his country and will long be remembered for his service to America. My heart goes out to his family during this time of loss. President Reagan was also a long time member of our Santa Barbara community. Santa Barbara County was home to the spectacular mountaintop ranch the former president and first lady affectionately referred to as the ``Western White House''. President Reagan carried with him traits characteristic of California's Central Coast--a sunny disposition and optimistic outlook--to Washington and to the world. His ``morning in America'' slogan changed the tone of politics in our Nation's capital and enabled him to work in a constructive bipartisan manner on a number of important issues. The Reagans should also be commended for the strength and honesty they demonstrated during their long struggle with Alzheimer's. Their example brought much needed attention to the challenges facing millions of American families that deal with this affliction every day. And their ongoing commitment to this disease is demonstrated at the various Alzheimer's research, awareness, and prevention efforts around the country. On the Central Coast, for example, The Ronald and Nancy Reagan Family Fund provides grants for respite care services for Alzheimer's patients in Santa Barbara County. Today I join my colleagues in celebrating the service of the late President Ronald Reagan. The best honor we can bestow upon him is to carry on his optimistic spirit and faith in the American people for generations to come. That is what Ronald Reagan--a great American and great Californian--would have wanted.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Easy Lift Transportation as they celebrate their 25th anniversary of providing transportation services to the disabled and elderly in the Santa Barbara area. Easy Lift Transportation is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to helping the disabled and frail elderly live independently while remaining in their own homes. Easy Lift has been providing wheelchair accessible transportation services in southern Santa Barbara County since 1979. Beginning with one motor home in 1979, Easy Lift Transportation has grown to operate eighteen vehicles, eighteen hours a day, 363 days per year. Easy Lift Transportation provides door-to-door transportation to individuals in the communities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. Easy Lift Transportation is preparing to serve its one-millionth rider. They currently provide over sixty thousand rides a year. In addition to helping many Santa Barbara area residents gain independence by ensuring that they can get to doctor's appointments and other events, Easy Lift helps the broader Santa Barbara community as well. Easy Lift Transportation provides transit services and driver training to other non-profit organizations in the Santa Barbara area. I would like to commend Easy Lift Transportation of Santa Barbara for their work and congratulate them on their twenty-fifth anniversary of operation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a very special resident of the 23rd Congressional District, Ann Rudolph, as she retires from Hollister School. As Office Manager, Ann has touched the lives of countless Hollister School students, parents and faculty over the past 18 years. One of the Principals who worked with Ann described her as the centerpiece of the school. Her caring nature and generosity extended well past her job description as she corralled stray dogs, helped paint office walls and provided after-school academic assistance to students in need. In addition to providing countless hours of her time to school projects and to helping each student succeed, Ann assisted in jog-a- thons, created a scholarship fund for sixth grade science camp and contributed to the school band. Ann provided for the Hollister School community as if each child were her own. She valued every individual, working with parents and teachers to make each student's experience at Hollister the best it could be. When talking about Ann to students, one might hear a story of Ann waiting until late afternoon with a student until her parents arrived, or inviting a child to her home for after school tutoring. In addition to her extensive work with the students, Ann also assisted members of the Santa Barbara community by washing all of the school's unclaimed ``lost and found'' clothes so that they could be given to needy families. Ann Rudolph has served the Hollister School community in so many ways over her 18 years of employment. She has touched the lives of many and will be missed by each parent, teacher and student who had the privilege of knowing her. Dedicated and devoted people like Ann are what make our community so special. I wish Ann the best as she begins retirement and thank her for all that she has done.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 417 and in recognition and gratitude for the lifetime of service provided to his country by Central Coast resident and Tuskegee Airman, Mr. Art Hicks. The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of brave Americans who volunteered to become this country's first African-American military pilots. These courageous men flew airplanes for their country in the war against fascism, while enduring and waging their own struggle against racism and segregation here at home. Despite the predictions of many defenders of segregation that the Tuskegee Airmen would end in failure, they developed a record of unparalleled skill and courage. One hundred fifty brave Tuskegee Airmen were lost during training or combat, but they destroyed more than 1,000 German aircraft. Unbelievably, despite flying over 200 bomber escort missions during the war, they never lost a single bomber under their escort. No one exemplified the honor and service of the Tuskegee Airmen more than Art Hicks. He was born in Georgia in 1922 and grew up under the dark cloud of segregation and its daily dangers, indignities, and humiliations. During World War II, he volunteered to become a Tuskegee Airman. He eventually served 28 years in the military, retiring in 1971. But after the War, he continued to encounter the racism that also greeted so many of his fellow comrades. In 1989, nearly single-handedly, he fought and won a battle to remove a barrier to integration at the Elks Lodge and eliminate a stain from this venerable and honorable institution. Doubtless fueled by the same courage and commitment to fight wrong that had propelled him to sign up to be a Tuskegee Airman some four decades earlier, Mr. Hicks fought to eliminate the rule that allowed any three members of the Elks Lodge to block admission of potential members. In many cases, this rule helped to continue a pattern of exclusion based on race or religion. Mr. Hicks began a local letter-writing campaign, was eventually joined by the NAACP, and saw the rule abolished at the Elks national convention later that year. Mr. Speaker, the Tuskegee Airmen exhibited bravery, skill and sacrifice for their country, while often facing mistreatment from the society they were defending. They showed the best of America, and we are all so proud of their accomplishments. I am privileged to count one of them among my neighbors on the Central Coast of California.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. This Memorial Day is particularly poignant as hundreds of thousands of brave American service men and women are serving their country and putting their lives on the line in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Our service men and women--including many from my community on the Central Coast of California--have left their homes, jobs, and families to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq. While we honor those who are currently serving and pray for their safe return home, today we remember and pay tribute to the Americans who have fought and given their lives for us, from Lexington and Concord to the beaches of Normandy, the jungles of Vietnam, the mountains of Afghanistan, and the desert of Iraq. Every casualty on the battlefield is a blow to our nation, but we are mindful that it is an unspeakable loss to the family and friends of the one who has been lost. We know too that the qualities embodied by our fallen soldiers-- heroism, honor, bravery, and sacrifice--cannot always be of great comfort to those who knew them best. My thoughts and prayers are especially with the loved ones of fallen soldiers who hail from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties on California's Central Coast. The very least the Federal government can do for those who did their duty and served our nation is to provide them quality health care and retirement benefits. This is our duty. Today, we pause and remember those who have died to preserve American values. We honor those who fought, and who fight today to protect American freedoms. I will do everything I can to keep our troops safe and to preserve the quality of life of our veterans. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this endeavor.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, the President recently said that he unambiguously opposes oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida, but 2 years ago, he proposed weakening the very law that Florida and California used to protect their valuable coastlines from new drilling. Then the President threw his support behind an energy bill that undermines the bipartisan agreement against new drilling off Florida, California and other coastal States. Now the President is considering a report from the National Petroleum Council, a group composed mainly of energy executives, which has recommended drilling off Florida, California and coastal States. Mr. Speaker, these actions show how out of step the President's policies are with coastal communities. By contrast, Senator Kerry has a long record opposing offshore oil drilling. He passed legislation to impose a moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, blocking oil and gas companies from drilling in environmentally sensitive areas; and he has sought long-term solutions that make sense for energy development and that balance environmental protection and economic growth. Mr. Speaker, the President should be supporting policies to protect our valuable coastal communities. In short, he should be doing what Senator Kerry is doing.

Ms. CAPPS

Ms. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary accomplishment by one of the Central Coast's finest educational institutions: Santa Maria High School (SMHS). I am delighted to report that SMHS will receive the College Board 2004 Inspiration Award for its steadfast commitment to fostering student success in one of America's most socioeconomically challenged communities. To meet each student's personal needs, the staff has been deeply involved in developing a variety of innovative methods to reach students and improve learning and success in a diverse and dynamic setting. A distinguished panel of Inspiration Award judges selected Santa Maria High School based on the school's success in increasing the number of student's preparation for college. While many SMHS students are children of migrant farm workers who never had the opportunity to graduate from high school, a ``can-do'' attitude permeates the school. Santa Maria's 3,650 students learn in a facility designed for 1,800. Despite the portable classroom trailers used to accommodate the overflow, students and teachers go about their business of learning and teaching with great spirit and determination. Mr. Speaker, historically this school had its share of struggles, including poor achievement and gang activity. The transformation of SMHS began a decade ago. SMHS embarked on an action plan that included career exploration initiatives, the creation of a college center, and partnerships with businesses and community leaders. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I have a personal connection to this school. One of my legislative aides, a proud SMHS graduate, serves in my Washington office and helps with the important issues of the 23rd Congressional District. In closing, I want to affirm my support for SMHS, and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the school on its receipt of the College Board 2004 Inspiration Award. This Monday will be a very proud day in the beautiful mosaic we call Santa Maria.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Alex Madonna of San Luis Obispo, California, in my district. Alex died on April 22, leaving a hole in the heart of his wife of 55 years, Phyllis, and in those of his large and devoted family. He will truly be missed by the people of San Luis Obispo County, and throughout the Nation. Alex Madonna was a second generation American whose grandparents emigrated from Switzerland. A self-made man who was guided by a strong work ethic, Alex made his mark building and paving highways throughout the state and in numerous building projects. During World War II, Alex used his construction skills as a soldier in the Army Corps of Engineers. A champion of the agricultural community, Alex was also known as ``the host from the coast'' at the Madonna Inn, a landmark in San Luis Obispo. In addition to his numerous business accomplishments, Alex Madonna was also a philanthropist of legendary proportions. Alex Madonna's generosity to the people and the organizations of San Luis Obispo is part of history. Nearly everyone in town has a story about a donation that Alex and Phyllis have made to our community. San Luis Obispo will be wearing pink on Thursday, the day of Alex Madonna's funeral. The church will be packed with people wanting to say goodbye to a man whose life can be summed up in these words: determination, hard work and a great heart.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Rape and sexual assault affects women, children, and men of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. I commend the work of local organizations to end this type of violence. The importance of these issues is illustrated by statistics that indicate that there were 10,176 forcible rapes reported in 2002; and that the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that over 70 percent of rapes are never reported to police; and that one in three women, one in four girls, one in six boys and one in eleven men will be victims of sexual violence at least once in their lifetimes. While one person, organization, agency or community cannot eliminate sexual assault on their own, we must work together to educate our entire society about what can be done to prevent sexual assault, as well as to support survivors and their significant others, and increase support for agencies providing these services. Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center has led the way in Santa Barbara in addressing sexual assault by providing 24-hour hotline services to survivors and their significant others, responding to emergency calls, offering support and comfort to those impacted by sexual assault during medical exams, criminal proceedings, and empowering those impacted by sexual assault to chart their own course for healing. Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center has set an important example of how forging collaborative relationships between service agencies and organizations improves the quality of service for those most profoundly and directly impacted by sexual violence. Ending sexual assault in Santa Barbara must include active public and private efforts in collaboration with Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, including dialogue about what sexual violence is, how to prevent it and how to help survivors connect with crucial counseling and support services. As a nurse, I understand firsthand the importance of education as it pertains to healthcare and to the prevention and elimination of sexual assault. I commend the efforts of the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center as they work to educate our community and provide crucial services to victims and their family members and significant others. I want to express my strong support for all programs aimed at the elimination of sexual violence and hereby proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commend Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. on their 40th anniversary. Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. promotes family planning and healthy, responsible reproductive and sexual behavior through the provision of high-quality, comprehensive educational, counseling, medical and referral services. Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. promotes public understanding, acceptance and support for reproductive choice and family planning services. They provide these important services to everyone who needs them, regardless of their ability to pay. Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. promotes public understanding of global problems that stem from population pressures and encourages support of programs working toward solutions to these problems. More than 52,000 reproductive health care visits are provided annually to more than 20,000 low-income women, men and teens. Planned Parenthood should be commended for their outreach to underserved populations and for their provision of care in an unbiased and accepting environment. The advocacy efforts on behalf of clients that Planned Parenthood provides, ensures that women and families continue to have access to the full array of reproductive health care services. I celebrate Planned Parenthood's forty years of dedicated service to this community. Professional and peer educators provide sexuality education to promote healthy sexual attitudes and responsible sexual behavior to more than 66,000 teens, young adults and parents annually. As a nurse I understand firsthand the importance of proper health education. I commend Planned Parenthood for providing such a critical service. In closing, I want to affirm my support for Planned Parenthood, as we join in commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. in order to focus public attention on the importance of promoting family planning and responsible choices so that each person may make an educated choice about the future.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, the budget before us does not reflect the values of this country, particularly in the area of health care. More than 40 million Americans are uninsured, according to Kaiser. Children, including unborn children, and pregnant mothers are particularly hard hit by this crisis. But instead of trying to do something to help hard-working people, instead of acting to shore up what little health care low-income, working Americans have, this budget wastes resources and cuts important funding. We can all agree that when budget deficits are soaring, we cannot afford to throw money down the drain on inefficient proposals, but this President's proposal to offer $70 billion in tax credits to working poor people is a waste of taxpayer dollars. According to experts, it is going to help only 5 percent of the uninsured. We could spend this money more efficiently to help far more of the uninsured. Instead of squandering the taxpayers' money on an inefficient tax credit, we should direct Federal resources to expanding already existing public programs that have proven effective. The Republican budget, however, cuts $2.2 billion from just such a program: Medicaid. Medicaid currently provides health care to 52 million Americans, including 39 million low-income children and their parents. This is nearly one in four children in this country. It is a critical source of acute and long-term care for 13 million elderly and disabled. Without Medicaid, the ranks of the uninsured would be almost double what they are today. Now, with the economy on life support and the ranks of the uninsured growing, sustaining Medicaid makes even more sense. Last year we provided, in a bipartisan fashion, an extra $10 billion to States facing fiscal crises to preserve Medicaid coverage. And today, States are still in financial crisis. The National Conference of State Legislatures projects that States are going to face a $35 billion shortfall as they face 2005. Many have already made severe cuts in Medicaid, and many others are preparing to do so. But instead of acting to shore up Medicaid and protect health care for a quarter of our Nation's children, this budget cuts billions from those efforts. These cuts are opposed by the bipartisan National Governors Association, the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Nurses Association, Cancer Society and many other groups and organizations. In fact, AARP's letter to Congress says, ``AARP has serious concerns about proposals to reduce Federal Medicaid funding. Arbitrary reductions in Medicaid would be particularly harmful at this time, as those who rely on this program are already losing access to care just as States continue to wrestle with budget shortfalls and adjust to the loss of temporary assistance provided last year.'' Twenty-nine of our colleagues from the other side of the aisle wrote to the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Nussle) on March 9 asking that these cuts be removed, but they were not. We cannot afford to cut Medicaid now. Such cuts would hurt low-income children, parents, pregnant women, the elderly, and disabled. What do we stand for in this place? The budget of the Democratic Party is superior by comparison. Instead of cutting $2 billion for Medicaid, our budget would provide $8 billion over 10 years to expand Medicaid and to fund the bipartisan Family Opportunity Act, allowing families with disabled children to buy into Medicaid to get critical health coverage. I urge our colleagues to show their support for health care for hardworking Americans. Vote against this resolution and support the Democratic alternative.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, the Republican budget does ignore critical environmental and public health needs. For example, the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency would reduce actual spending by hundreds of millions of dollars from the fiscal year 2004 enacted level. For one thing, this means less money will be available for ensuring safe drinking water. EPA has documented a huge unmet need for improvements to our Nation's water infrastructure. As our population grows, our existing water infrastructure will reach the end of its lifespan, and each year we fall further behind. The response to these documented huge unmet needs is to cut funding by $822 million. The Republican budget also fails to reinstate the expired Superfund tax levied on corporations. As a result, the polluter-pays principle is abandoned and the corporate polluters will not be held accountable for their actions, leaving taxpayers to foot the entire bill for the cleanup of many hazardous waste sites. It sounds like a tax levy to me. The Republican budget also leaves thousands of communities on the hook to clean up leaking underground storage tanks. Never mind that the leaking underground storage tank program, the LUST fund, is paid for at the pump by all of us. It has $2.4 billion in it, yet this budget asks for only $73 million to clean up leaking tanks, even though there are 136,000 confirmed releases where leaking tanks and MTBE are contaminating the ground water and drinking supplies. It is a pathetic response. Finally, the budget calls for fewer brownfields grants than authorized by the new law signed 2 years ago. Contamination is hampering redevelopment efforts in thousands of our communities. And while States have begun addressing the brownfields problem, the Republican budget fails to provide Federal assistance to jump-start these efforts. We can no longer shortchange the American people when it comes to protecting our health and environment. So the Democratic budget fully funds the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, restores funding for cleanup of leaking tanks and brownfields, and we make polluters pay for cleaning up toxic sites, not the taxpayer. Mr. Chairman, good environmental policy is also good for the economy. The Democratic budget recognizes that the public has a right to clean air, safe drinking water, and a well-preserved environment. So I urge a ``no'' vote on the Republican budget and a ``yes'' vote on the Democratic budget.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I rise against the President's budget and the Republican budget because of their lack of attention to the need of the uninsured with no health care.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this resolution. Our troops should not be a pawn in a political power play. This resolution is not a simple statement of support for the incredibly valiant work of our men and women in Iraq. It is a cynical, political tool to further the agenda of the Bush Administration during this election year. This resolution was pushed through the House of Representatives without input from a single Democrat. I wanted to vote for a resolution that truly recognizes the sacrifice of our troops and the importance of living up to our commitments to them, but the Republican leadership would not allow a vote on any other measure but their own. I refuse to bow to the politization of the grave matter of our young people at war, and for this reason I voted against the resolution. Let me be clear: our troops deserve our qualified support as they serve our Nation in such dangerous circumstances. But that support must be more than empty words, it must be in promises kept. I would have voted today for a resolution that reiterated our commitment to providing our troops with the body armor and armored vehicles they need to keep them safe, to immediately address the intelligence deficiencies that continue to put our troops in further danger, and to insist on a clearly articulated strategy for post-war occupation and exit of Iraq. This alternative resolution I supported included provisions to eliminate the disparities in pay between our active duty military and the National Guard and reservists, and provide the health care and benefits our wounded veterans need when they come home. But the Republican majority never allowed for a vote on this fair-minded alternative. Last week I sat in the Budget Committee and watched in shock as the Republican members of the Committee voted on party lines to reject a ``Support Our Troops'' amendment that would have raised funding levels for the military by $2.5 billion. This money would have been spent on family separation pay, imminent danger pay, education funding for military school children, and TRICARE military health coverage for reservists, and military housing programs. How can we look our troops in the eye and tell them Congress rejected actual funding that would help them and their families through this difficult time, but instead passed a relatively meaningless resolution of our support? This is unconscionable. I also strongly object to the clause in today's resolution claiming that the ``world is safer'' as a result of the Iraq war. Mr. Speaker, I disagree. Iraq is still in chaos. American soldiers, international diplomats, and Iraqi civilians are being killed every day. And the Administration is still a long way from pacifying Iraq or setting up a stable government. The Administration made claims that Iraq was a base of International terrorism and that turned out to be false. Our troops deserve better than more empty words from Congress. On the one-year anniversary of the start to this misguided war, they deserve to be supported with sound policy, real dollars, and the commitment to bring them home safely.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 519, a resolution honoring the victims of the December 22, 2003, San Simeon earthquake and paying tribute to the law enforcement, emergency personnel, and many local leaders who provided assistance to citizens throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for introducing this resolution and for bringing it to the floor of the House today. It has been a privilege for me to work with him to help get the central coast back on its feet again. Mr. Speaker, earthquakes impact all segments of the communities they strike: Individuals, businesses, and public services such as police, fire, hospitals, and schools. In the days following this earthquake I was very moved by the devastation in San Luis Obispo County and in northern Santa Barbara County. The earthquake registered 6.5 on the Richter Scale and was felt from San Francisco all the way to Los Angeles. I know what it was like to feel it strongly in my fourth floor congressional office building as I was meeting with constituents at that very hour. Even though the earthquake lasted only seconds, it left behind destruction that will take months, if not years, to repair and rebuild. The greatest tragedy, of course, is that time will not undue the loss of life of two people caused by this earthquake. Two women perished when a clock tower collapsed in Paso Robles. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the friends and families of these victims. More than 50 people were injured as a result of the earthquake. There was extensive damage to residential properties, to historical and public buildings, and to public utility structures. I have received numerous calls and letters from constituents who have suffered major losses to their businesses. Total costs and damages to the counties of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara are expected to exceed $300 million with reports of more damage coming in daily. Mr. Speaker, residents and local authorities are continuing to rebuild their lives after this earthquake. I was pleased the President heeded calls from Governor Schwarzenegger, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), and me and declared San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties Federal disaster areas as a result of the December 22 earthquake. Federal funding and loan assistance is essential to help businesses and individuals rebuild their lives and get their lives back on track following this, such a devastating earthquake. However, I remain disappointed that the Governor's request that Santa Barbara County's Federal disaster area declaration does not include individual assistance programs. It only limits the support from the Federal Government to the businesses involved. In northern Santa Barbara County, especially in the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe, homeowners are still suffering from the impact of this earthquake and its after shocks. Updated damage assessments have revealed that northern Santa Barbara County residents suffered much more loss than was originally estimated. My office will continue to work with all businesses and all families affected by the earthquake to ensure that they have access to loans and other assistance that could help them recover as quickly as possible. Work has already begun to make sure that the hundreds of Federal historic properties are preserved and retrofitted to provide safe and accessible work in public spaces. This is a critical component of creating communities where our families and businesses are safe, healthy, and that the economy is secure. State and Federal agencies, including the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, FEMA and the Small Business Administration all have been working closely with local officials to give them all the support that they need. And I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to them as well as to the first responders, to the rescue workers and to all of the volunteers, so many of them, everyone who took great risk to themselves to search the wreckage for their fellow citizens. They did an extraordinary job. I also want to commend the city, the county, and State workers and utility crews who worked around the clock to restore power, water, and other important services to our communities. Critical functions such as emergency centers, fire stations, police stations and hospitals were functioning right after the earthquake. We do not want to think about what would happen in such an event, but when it does, we are all heartened by the way that people pull together and work together from every level, particularly the volunteers who leave whatever they were doing aside and step right up to the plate. They cannot do it without the assistance of local, State, and Federal support. The San Simeon earthquake was a shocking reminder to people who live just about anywhere in California that we are prone to earthquakes and should do whatever we can to prepare. Preparing for an earthquake can be as simple as making an earthquake preparedness kit with first aid supplies, extra food and water, and clothing. I encourage all Californians to take this step. This may be a lifesaver in the next quake. Mr. Speaker, as I said, people on the Central Coast are returning to their lives as they once knew them before the earthquake. The earthquake may have shaken our foundations, but it, once again, proves the strength of our communities and our unshakable resolve to help each other out during times of tragedy. I urge immediate adoption of this resolution to pay tribute to the lives we lost that day and to honor all of those who stepped in, stepped up to the plate, to help their neighbors to get through such a difficult time.