Lois Capps

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in very strong support of this bipartisan resolution to continue that good work of the House Democracy Assistance Commission. As a member of the commission, I want to thank our cochairs, Representatives David Price and David Dreier, for the excellent job that they have done in leading us. I want to thank our current and former staff, John Lis, Tommy Ross, Lara Alameh and Robert Lawrence, who have worked very hard to make the commission successful with its work. Madam Speaker, the House Democracy Assistance Commission was established in the last Congress as an instrument for this House to share some of the lessons we have learned over 200 years about making democratic government work. The commission has tried to impart these lessons to countries around the world now embarking on this hopeful path. Members of the commission have visited a number of countries struggling to find their way in a more open system of government, eager to have our partnership with them in this endeavor. We have hosted representatives from many of these same countries here in Washington and in some of our congressional districts. For example, I hosted members of the Indonesian delegation in my district, and I have traveled there, and to East Timor, to Macedonia, to Afghanistan. During these visits, we discussed with our counterparts the basic workings of government, everything from the importance of constituent relations to the value of setting budgets, from the roles of minority and majority parties to the importance of public health programs. We don't tell them how they should make their governments work, but we do try to explain how we have made it work in this country; and we have done so in a bipartisan and really even nonpartisan manner. Madam Speaker, this year the House will have before it many important tasks. I believe very few are as important to the well-being and future of our country as helping to establish stable democracies around the world. The House Democracy Assistance Commission will try in its small way to advance that goal, to bring us a more peaceful and just, well- governed world. I urge the House to pass this legislation and let us continue our work.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to support this Revolution congratulating the University of California, Santa Barbara men's soccer team for winning the NCAA Division I National Championship. Along with my colleague Elton Gallegly, I am thrilled to have this opportunity to congratulate every player, coach, alumnus, faculty member and supporter of UCSB. On December 3, 2006, the UCSB Gauchos captured the National Championship by scoring two goals against the University of California, Los Angeles. This is UCSB's second national title in school history. While all the gauchos played their hearts out, I'd like to acknowledge two stand-out performances. Sophomore Nick Perera scored a goal and assisted on Eric Avila's game-winner on his way to earning All-College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Tournament honors. Junior Andy Iro, despite playing through an injury, helped keep UCLA at bay and was named the All-College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player. While the beginning UCSB's season was plagued by inconsistent play, the Gauchos fought to recover, winning 10 of their last 11 games, including 6 straight in the tournament. Coach Tim Vom Steeg, a UCSB alum, and his staff, Greg Wilson, Neil Jones, and Erick Foss, deserve tremendous praise not only for their impressive leadership in the 2006 season but also for leading the dominating Gauchos to their second NCAA National Championship game in 3 years. Coach Vom Steeg's colleagues were so impressed with his coaching abilities that they named him the National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Coach of the Year, the most prestigious award that a Division I soccer coach can receive, for the second time. Mr. Speaker, while the men's soccer team is a great example of the excellence the University produces, there is much more to celebrate. As many of you know, my husband Walter was a professor of Religious Studies for more than 30 years at UCSB. Through his experiences as a professor, and my own as a graduate, I have watched the university rightfully gain national attention. The university currently has five Nobel Laureates on faculty and was recently ranked in the top 15 best public schools in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report. And with a breathtakingly beautiful campus, it's no wonder that the men's soccer team and the university can attract such notable talent from all over the world. If any of my colleagues ever find themselves on California's Central Coast, I encourage you to stop by this beautiful campus and see for yourself all that it has to offer. And of course, don't forget to catch a soccer game at Harder Stadium. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution. Go Gauchos.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act. Today, our economy relies on fossil fuels for energy. We must simply change that. President Bush admits we are addicted to oil, and this addiction is harming our country. The best way to beat this addiction is to stop using so much oil and gas by reducing demand, promoting renewables, and developing alternatives. Since America is not exactly awash in oil and gas, reducing our dependence upon them would be good not only for our environment but for the economy and our national security as well. To be honest, though, we have to do more than just talk about the potential that renewables and alternative energy has for this country. We have to put in place more funding for programs to bring these energy sources to market. We have to make changes in energy policy to encourage their use. And that is exactly what H.R. 6 does. In the debate on the floor today, the minority side has described H.R. 6 as a takings. So let me remind all of us that when the House considered and passed the Jindal-Pombo OCS drilling legislation last June, 2006, no Republican Member challenged the conservation fee as a breach of contract or a taking. In fact, the Committee on Resources report on that legislation, H.R. 4761, states, and I quote, ``this new fee addresses the mistakes made in leases issued in 1998 and 1999 where price triggers for royalties were not included in the lease without violating contractual obligations of the United States.'' Mr. Speaker, Americans want real meaningful solutions to our Nation's energy challenges. Big Oil has received more than its fair share of handouts. It is time we put taxpayer funds to more productive use. Let us pass the CLEAN Energy Act.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding and for his leadership on this issue which is so important. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation to reduce interest rates for student loans. In my previous careers, I spent years teaching and caring for students from all walks of life. I have seen firsthand the value of quality education for all students. A lack of good education hurts not only today's students and tomorrow's workers, it hurts our country's efforts to remain competitive in an increasingly global market. Madam Speaker, college is not for everyone, and not everyone needs a degree to achieve their goals, but no one should be denied an education simply because they can't afford the cost of tuition or because they fear being overburdened by tens of thousands of dollars in student loans over the years. We have all seen the rising cost of education; 41 percent increase in the last 6 years alone. Students today graduate with greater and greater debt, which not only hamstrings them but also makes it hard for occupations that need highly skilled graduates but can only afford modest salaries. For example, nearly 32 percent of graduates pursuing teaching careers can't afford to repay their student loans on a starting teacher's salary. And if new graduates can't afford to work in the careers where we need them the most, like teaching, nursing or in social work, then all Americans will suffer. By passing this bill, students starting school this year will be saving an average of $2,490 a year and by 2011 we will be saving students an average of $4,830 over the life of their loans. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5. Help our students pursue their dreams and build our country.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Thank you, Chairman Dingell. Mr. Speaker, I believe that today in the House of Representatives there is no one here who would dispute the fact that the large pharmaceutical companies have raked in record profits under the Medicare prescription drug plan we are currently seeking to improve. Today, in this vote before us we are facing a clear choice. We can continue to reward these companies, or we can consider our constituents, our frail seniors, those with disabilities, many of whom are still struggling to make heads or tails out of Medicare part D that we seek to improve. Common sense tells me that the big drug and insurance companies wouldn't be so adamantly opposed to this bill if they didn't fear that it would result in actual price reductions. Common sense also tells me we should take every possible step to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and this bill can achieve that. There is precedent for the Federal Government obtaining good discounts for prescription drugs; our seniors know that, and they believe it. Don't be fooled into believing that this bill might somehow leave seniors losing access to important medications. The bill explicitly prohibits the government from establishing formularies. It is going to also address one of the biggest challenges still facing our seniors, the fact that they have to decide every December which plan they will choose, hoping that it will offer the cheapest price for drugs that they are going to take for a whole year. The problem is that not everyone takes the same prescriptions from one January to the next; and reducing prices across the board will ensure that when a beneficiary's doctor changes their prescription halfway through the year, their new medication will also be available at a lower cost. I urge all of my colleagues to think about our seniors, think about those with disabilities. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4. Fulfill a promise to serve the best interests of the constituents, not the best interest of profit-hungry big business.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. I have been so proud to be a part of the bipartisan effort to advance federally funded stem cell research and commend the tireless work of the bill's cosponsors Diana DeGette and Mike Castle. It is evident that we will pass this bill today, but we know that hurdles remain before the measure is signed into law. Along the way, opponents of this legislation have been spreading mistruths about what embryonic stem cell research entails and what its promises are. How many times have we heard here on the floor today the claim that this research involves the creation of life in order to destroy it? So I reiterate again, the bill explicitly states that only embryos created for in vitro fertilization that would otherwise be discarded and are being discarded every day can be used for this type of research and only with the explicit consent, permission given explicitly by the donors; and also that no Federal dollars are used in the extraction process. It is important above all that we enact this Federal legislation even for a State like mine, California, which does have stem cell research, because we need in this Nation the highest ethical standards which is what the Federal legislation can do. By allowing research to make use of embryonic stem cells slated to be thrown out, we are in fact giving purpose to this. And of course through this research lives will be saved for millions now suffering from debilitating illnesses. Today, we have also been hearing the argument that adult or amniotic stem cell research alone will be enough, but this is not the case. The world's leading scientists concur that all stem cell research should be conducted together in order to maximize the benefits. Our President himself has stated his desire to put the United States at the forefront of science and innovation. Getting him to sign this bill is one way to make that happen. A vote against H.R. 3 would be setting us back even further and would let other countries get much further ahead of us in the effort to cure the world's most chronic and devastating diseases. So I urge my colleagues to vote enthusiastically in favor of H.R. 3.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today we will fulfill an important promise to the American people by authorizing ethical embryonic stem cell research. Millions of people across our Nation and around the world will be paying close attention as we affirm our commitment to finding cures for diseases that have touched all of us: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and many more. I have been truly touched by letters of hope from constituents and from organizations representing those suffering from illnesses that may eventually be cured through stem cell research. And our Nation's leading scientists are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to make the United States the world leader in this groundbreaking research. As Members of Congress, we are blessed with the opportunity to take such an important vote that will pave the way to saving lives. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3 today and be part of this monumental effort.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2. As cochair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, I am so proud to stand with many of my colleagues, as we repeat over and over today how vital this legislation is for women across this country. Women lag far behind men in terms of earnings. Nearly two-thirds of all minimum wage workers are women, many raising children. This bill translates into over 9 million women who will benefit from a long overdue increase in their take-home pay. It is abominable that for the past 10 years we have sat by and watched the cost of everything skyrocket. Health care, child care, food, rent, anything you could think of, except for wages. Minimum wage earners often are single moms and have been forced into longer hours, more jobs, more time away from their families, which, too often, has its own set of unfortunate consequences. It is time that we all vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2. Take a great step forward towards achieving economic equality for women. Indeed, the benefits will be there for all Americans.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1, the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act. I am pleased that in the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, the Democratic leadership is taking up legislation of enormous importance: how to make our Nation safe from future terrorist attacks. As a Nation, we must work harder to close the security gaps that still exist. For example, we know that transportation systems are a frequent target of terrorist attacks. In fact, one third of the terrorist attacks that take place around the world's largest transportation systems. As many have observed, our Nation's security is only as strong as our weakest link. This bill will help strengthen some of our weakest links, especially with respect to security at our ports. Today only about 5 percent of the more than 11 million shipping containers destined for the United States are inspected or scanned. We cannot own or control the entire global trade network, but we can and should ensure the security of containers destined for this country. Security experts agree that nuclear weapons, or bomb-making materials, could easily be smuggled into the country under the current regime. Beyond the human toll, an attack on or through our ports would have a dramatic economic impact and could bring the flow of commerce to a dead stop. A terrorist attack on our ports--or an attack carried out through a cargo container system--would undermine our Nation's confidence in the hundreds of thousands of containers that crisscross our country every day. I'm proud to represent one of the busiest commercial ports on the West Coast--the Port of Hueneme. The employees at the Port and the people that live and work around it appreciate that this bill will finally close this glaring security gap. H.R. 1 ensures that every container is scanned using the best available technology before being loaded onto a ship destined for our country. And it mandates a gradual implementation to ensure that overseas ports have the time to purchase and install new scanning equipment. These measures will ensure that commerce will continue to flow as these important security measures are taken. As you know, this legislation is modeled on the operations conducted at container terminals in Hong Kong, which scans 100 percent of cargo containers without impeding commerce. The cost of creating this security system is quite minimal. In fact, the estimated cost to scan a container is only $6.50--a drop in the bucket given it costs about $4,000 to ship a container from Asia to the United States. All Congress needs to do is make 100 percent scanning the policy of the United States. And this legislation would do just that To protect the security of our Nation, Congress must act to implement this recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, and the others included in this legislation, to further secure our homeland. Mr. Speaker, we continue to confront grave threats, and there is no greater priority than ensuring the safety of our country. I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to this package of bills the Republican leadership has brought to the floor. Included are many provisions that are worthy of support of this House. The bill extends important energy-efficiency tax credits, provisions so important to American families and businesses, which should be extended. The bill also prevents what would have amounted to a 5.1 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursements. That cut would be devastating, hindering physicians' ability to treat their patients. But I must vote against this package because it includes the so- called Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. That act makes this bill fiscally irresponsible. According to estimates, the bill will drain $170 billion from the Federal Treasury over the next 60 years, creating a new entitlement immediately, giving away huge amounts of revenue from offshore drilling, mostly to only four Gulf Coast States. It is a great deal for those four States, and I understand why they would support it; but what I don't understand is why any colleagues from the other 46 States would agree to it. The offshore waters of the gulf coast belong to all Americans, as do the Pacific and Atlanta Oceans, the Great Lakes, and public lands. This country has record deficits as far as the eye can see, and it is simply irresponsible to add billions more in new debt through legislation like this. Mr. Speaker, in the new Democratically controlled Congress, we can and we should craft a sensible new energy policy, one that helps Louisiana and other States rebuild wetlands and restore their coasts, and one that makes America less dependent on fossil fuels. And one that doesn't bust the budget. Sadly, this bill falls woefully short. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to this package of bills the Republican leadership has brought to the floor this evening. This bill includes many provisions that are worthy of the House's support. For example, the bill extends the Research and Development tax credit and important energy efficiency tax credits. These tax provisions are important to American families and businesses and should be extended. The bill also prevents what would have amounted to a 5.1 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursements. This cut would be devastating, hindering physicians' ability to treat their patients. And it would make it even harder for Medicare beneficiaries to have the best possible access to quality health care. I have long been vocal in my support for reforming the flawed physician fee structure so I am pleased that this provision will become law. But it is a pity that the Republican leadership has waited until the last minute to enact this provision. Mr. Speaker, I have faith that the incoming Democratic Majority will move quickly to address this and other Medicare payment problems, like the geographic practice cost index problem plaguing my district, in the 110th Congress next year. I know that I will be working hard to see these issues addressed. We simply must revamp the Medicare physician payment structure to ensure our doctors are being paid appropriately and that our patients can be assured of readily available quality health care. But Mr. Speaker, I must vote against this package because it includes S. 3711, the so-called Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. There are several reasons that I oppose S. 3711. First, it's bad energy policy. Our first steps in crafting a new energy policy should be to reduce demand and develop new alternative and renewable energy sources. We missed that opportunity in last year's misguided energy bill and sadly, this bill continues that mistake. Second, this bill is fiscally irresponsible. According to estimates, the bill will drain $170 billion from the Federal treasury over the next 60 years. It creates a new entitlement immediately giving away huge amounts of revenue from offshore drilling, mostly to only four Gulf Coast States. This is a great deal for these four States and I certainly understand why they support it. What I don't understand is why my colleagues from the other 46 States would agree to it. The offshore waters of the gulf coast belong to all Americans, as do the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Great Lakes and other public lands. Mr. Speaker, we have record deficits as far as the eye can see and it is simply irresponsible to add billions more in new debt through legislation like this. Finally, this bill will damage our environment. It will bring the 25- year-old bipartisan moratorium against new drilling off America's coasts one step closer to an end. It threatens our coastal economies with the risk of pollution and oil spills. Mr. Speaker, in the new Democratically controlled Congress we can-- and should--craft a sensible new energy policy. One that helps Louisiana and other States rebuild wetlands and restore their coasts. One that makes America less dependent on dirty fossil fuels. And one that doesn't bust the budget. Sadly this bill falls woefully short. And that's why I urge my colleagues to support the Markey-Boehlert motion to recommit. This motion would prevent the Interior Department from awarding leases to companies that are currently drilling in American waters without paying royalties. We need to bring the oil companies back to the negotiating table to close the royalty relief loophole. And, Mr. Speaker, as one of the last acts of this Congress we need to pass a clean bill that extends these critical tax credits and fixes the flawed physician fee formula once and for all.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the men's soccer team at the University of California Santa Barbara. On Sunday, this past Sunday, UCSB completed a victorious 6-0 run in the NCAA tournament and soundly defeated UCLA to claim the second Division I title in the school's history. As a proud alumna of UCSB, I know I speak for the student body and the faculty and fellow alumni of the Santa Barbara community when I congratulate the Gauchos on their momentous victory. Coach Tim Vom Steeg, himself a UCSB grad, and his coaching staff deserve high praise for their leadership in guiding UCSB to its second college cup championship game in 3 years and its first title. Nick Perera was named the All-College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player and proved to be a tremendous asset to the Gauchos during the championship game, scoring a goal and assisting on the game-winning shot. Andy Iro, selected as the All-College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, also greatly contributed to keeping UCLA at bay. The quality of UCSB's soccer program is but one example of the fine institution that is UCSB, home to five Nobel laureates, as well as stellar athletic and extracurricular activities. Go Gauchos.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to congratulate our colleague, Brad Sherman, and his wonderful new wife, Lisa Kaplan, on their recent wedding. On Sunday, I happily joined Lisa and Brad at the beautiful Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, where they exchanged their vows surrounded by family and friends. The groom, as we all know, is a fine and thoughtful gentleman who serves his constituents in southern California with great distinction, and is a dear friend to many of us. The bride is also a charming and wonderful individual. She does important work in the Office of Global Anti-Semitism at the State Department. Now, I am sorry the newlyweds must spend their honeymoon here in the lame duck session, but I know they have a more romantic trip planned in the near future. I want to congratulate Lisa's father and stepmother, Robert and Peggy Kaplan, and honor the memory of her mother, Carol Weisberg. I also want to honor the memory of Brad's father, Maurice Sherman, and congratulate his mom, my dear friend Lane Sherman. To Lisa and Brad, we wish you a life together of health and happiness. Mazel Tov.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6099 for many reasons. Most glaringly is the fact that this bill is even up on the floor to begin with. We have not passed our spending bills. We have not fixed the looming physician fee reimbursement crisis, physicians who treat pain every day. We have not increased the minimum wage. We are inflicting pain on so many hardworking Americans. We have not adequately provided for our veterans' health care. I am thinking of veterans coming back from Iraq with relentless pain and the many unmet needs. These are issues that affect millions and millions of Americans every day. Yet instead we are considering H.R. 6099, which may affect about 1 percent of the abortions performed annually in the United States and which we know will not be considered in the Senate and therefore never signed into law. We are wasting time today on a bill that is laden with rhetoric but very little science. It is opposed by many of the most reputable advocates for women's health, those on the front line of service to women and babies who would best know. This includes, as my colleague has said, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who represent medical doctors serving the health needs of American women. The legislation before us today proposes to insert narrow personal views into the private conversations between women and their doctors. As a health provider myself, I would shudder at the thought of having to communicate something that is absent of scientific consensus to patients. This is especially true when the legislation targets pregnancies that are for the most part being terminated because of health risks to the mother or fetus. Isn't that conversation already excruciating enough for a woman and her family without the government's unwarranted intrusion? I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' today on this bill both because you believe in medical integrity and also because you believe that it is our job to put America's true priorities first and foremost.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a celebrated colleague of mine in the health profession. Dr. Edward S. Bentley has been selected as the 2006 Physician of the Year by the Santa Barbara County Medical Society. His countless accomplishments truly warrant him the prestige associated with this award. Dr. Bentley began his medical career at the University of Nevada and the University of Oklahoma Medical School. He then moved to California, where he worked for the University of Southern California Medical Center, serving as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Chief Resident. In 1986, Dr. Bentley established a private practice in Santa Barbara, specializing in gastroenterology. Over the past 20 years, he has proven to be a tremendous asset to our community. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Santa Barbara County Medical Society from 1999-2005 and was president of the organization in 2004. Additionally, Dr. Bentley served as Vice President of the Santa Barbara Select I.P.A., member of the Santa Barbara Consortium on Continuing Medical Education, and delegate for the California Medical Association. He is also a member of the Santa Barbara County Medical Society, the California Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, among numerous other organizations. In addition, Dr. Bentley holds numerous affiliations with many hospitals across Southern California. Mr. Speaker, clearly I could stand up here all day and list Dr. Bentley's impressive achievements. He is a truly extraordinary doctor, citizen and esteemed member of the medical community. I am proud to serve as both his representative and colleague in health care. I would like to extend to him my most heartfelt congratulations and sincere wishes for continued success in both his personal and professional endeavors.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize LOVARC, an organization dedicated to helping Americans with disabilities find employment and live fulfilling lives. LOVARC was established in 1964 as a non-profit organization with the goal of helping those with disability. Its dedication to helping those in need is laudable and should be recognized by the United States Congress. In 1995, LOVARC was awarded a contract for two dining facilities, the Breakers and the Beachcomber, at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Since that time, LOVARC has won the Hennessey Award for the best dining facility in Space Command seven times. This is an outstanding accomplishment, and I am proud that they have served the people of the 23rd District through their work at Vandenberg Air Force Base. I am pleased to recognize the administrators, volunteers, and employees of this organization. Their efforts have resulted in the creation of jobs for many in my district, and for that I am grateful. Many Americans with disabilities now enjoy better lives due to this organization's service. I am proud of their work with the military and wish them a wonderful future in service to our community.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I don't have those numbers, but I can certainly make them available to you. Even with it being off limits to the public 5 months of the year, it is either 5,000 or 8,000 visitors that were out there last year. Part of the attraction of the island is its remoteness and the fact that it is set apart.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, just in response, because I am happy to accompany the chairman any time he wishes to go to the island. I have been there. There have been many thousands of visitors this year. Yes, it is a rugged place. That is one of the appeals of it. Much of the natural resource that is there, cultural and animal and flora, that have been destroyed in part by first the cattle, now the cattle are gone, and by the deer and elk, it is a prized area for archaeologists and others to understand the history of the geography of our country. That is one of the reasons to remove the elk. Extermination has been ameliorated by the Park Service's interest, and an invitation has already been extended to offer support to the family in removing without injuring the animals at the appropriate time after the settlement has been arranged. It is also the case that the park superintendent is looking forward to an opportunity to make this island more accessible to those with disabilities. Veterans are not excluded from the island, nor would they ever be. Also, hunting has been especially provided for our veterans on all kinds of public lands, including many military bases, as I am sure the chairman already knows. That is why the Paralyzed Veterans said there are many other places we can hunt, and now they would be extended an opportunity with special accommodations to visit the island like the rest of the public has. There have been many attempts on the part of the Park Service, and this will continue, to reach out to people with special needs to make available the wonderful resources on the island. I am happy to take the chairman up on his invitation to visit the island.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and to the underlying bill. And I do so because of a ridiculous earmark, despite what the Rules Chairman has just stated, which was added by Chairman Hunter in order to keep the public out of a national park, which happens to be in my district, the Channel Islands National Park. This provision monkeys around with a court settlement to end a lucrative privately run trophy hunting operation on Santa Rosa Island. The owners of the elk and deer herds, the Vail family, were already paid $30 million by taxpayers when they deeded over the island back in 1986. They were supposed to end this hunting operation in 2011. A trophy hunt, which, by the way, costs hunters up to $17,000 per weekend, shuts the island to park visitors for 5 months out of each year. Mr. Hunter is seeking to allow private hunting in the park to go on indefinitely, and this will result in more lawsuits. One might wonder why this provision is in a bill which deals with supporting our troops. The proposals and reasons behind it have evolved over time. At one point it was to establish a hunting preserve for the military's top brass and their guests. When that didn't fly, it was quickly changed to making Santa Rosa a place for disabled vets to hunt. But when the paralyzed veterans of America actually went to the island, they told Chairman Hunter, and I quote, ``the Santa Rosa initiatives is not viable.'' Then the provision morphed into saving the animals from extinction. That is right. The intention is that we are going to save the animals, though they continue to be hunted indefinitely and on the island. This provision is opposed by the Park Service, the PVA, the Humane Society, and many public lands groups. Even the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution against this proposal. So why is it in the bill? Who knows. What we do know is that taxpayers who paid $30 million for the island are now being told by our chairman they can't visit it for nearly half the year. This is an insult to our constituents, to all taxpayers. It is also an insult to our troops whose service to this country is being used as a cover for this special interest boondoggle. Now, I know the underlying bill will pass by a wide margin, and I understand that. I also know that this House has never endorsed this proposal. And given the opportunity for an up-or-down vote, I am sure they would agree with me. And so this is yet another sad day for taxpayers, for our national parks, and for this House.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise to also support this bill and hope that the initiatives taken in this legislation will enable the National Institutes of Health to best carry out its mission and achieve groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Sometimes when constituents ask me what good is this place where I work, this Federal Government, I tell them just look out at Bethesda, Maryland, where the National Institutes of Health work every day, hard every day to achieve miracles that translate into lives changed in this country on a daily basis. I also want to thank Chairman Barton for his great efforts on this bill. He has been working tirelessly to see that this reauthorization actually did happen, and he did it in a bipartisan manner. As he demonstrated at this meeting, he added his own personal motivation for doing it, which, quite frankly, we could see more of in this House. At the same time, we have missed some great opportunities, and I will mention two, one of which has been mentioned already by my colleague. First, we are not providing the NIH with enough funds to carry out the amazing work that they do and that we ask them to do. The yearly increases to the NIH budget provided in this bill will probably not even keep up with inflation, especially following these last years of flat-funding the NIH. But, in addition, during the Energy and Commerce Committee markup on the NIH Reform Act, Mr. Waxman and I introduced an amendment to include the language of H.R. 2231, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, which is authored by Congresswoman Lowey. Although as Chairman Barton pointed out during the markup, the bill's goal is to focus on structure and organization within the NIH, and I understand this, we felt that this amendment was a necessary vehicle to move legislation that has 255 bipartisan cosponsors. The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act would direct the development and coordination of activities at the NIH to study the effects of the environment on the development of breast cancer. With National Breast Cancer Awareness Month upon us, let us do something really tangible to really combat the disease, instead of simply issuing proclamations or wearing ribbons. While those acts are very important, it is only through well-coordinated research that we will actually achieve our goal of eradicating this devastating disease. The Breast Cancer Environmental Research Act fits perfectly into the new initiatives of the NIH Reform Act, considering the emphasis this bill places on trans-Institute research, transparency, and efficiency. We have very little time left in this Congress to pass legislation, and here was an opportunity to attach a related bill that enjoys wide support, but the majority said no to this opportunity. So now that the NIH reauthorization has been completed in the House, I urge my colleagues to press for passage of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act so we can make real a Federal commitment to an overall national strategy needed to discover the environmental correlations with breast cancer. It is time to take some real action to prevent, treat and cure this disease.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3534, Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area Act. First, I want to thank my colleague from California, the chairman of the Resources Committee, Mr. Pombo, the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, Mr. Walden and Mr. Tom Udall, as well as the ranking member of the full Committee, Mr. Rahall for expediting the consideration of this legislation and for bringing H.R. 3534 before us today. H.R. 3534 would designate the Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station--located in my congressional district--as an Outstanding Natural Area within the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System. The Piedras Blancas Light Station is located on an 18 acre-parcel of BLM administered land along the Pacific Coast in San Luis Obispo County. The property is adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway and the Hearst Castle State Historic Monument, and it looks over a pristine coastal area that includes the southern portion of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and California Coastal National Monument. The Light Station is nationally recognized as an important monitoring point for migrating whales, and is used by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Marine Fisheries Service and a number of universities and colleges for marine wildlife and plant research. Finally, the Light Station and the surrounding area are important for tourism. For example, the national historic Light House--built in 1879--is a main destination focal point on the Central Coast, and the peninsula is very popular for viewing sea otters, elephant seals, and sea lions from shore. The elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas attracts an estimated 400,000 visitors annually. In 2001, BLM assumed ownership and management of the Light Station from the U.S. Coast Guard. Since then, BLM, state and local agencies, community stakeholders and conservation groups have developed a very successful partnership to preserve the Light Station. Some of these partners include: the Piedras Blancas Light Station Association; California State Parks; San Luis Obispo County; the cities of Cambria and San Simeon; the California Coastal Conservancy and Coastal Commission; NOAA; and the Hearst Corporation. As a result of their hard work, the site was re-opened to public tours in 2003--for the first time in 128 years! These partners continue to work together on a series of environmental education, historical restoration and resource protection programs. And I'm confident they will each support and showcase this national designation if enacted. Mr. Speaker, my legislation tracks the successful model of designating the Oregon Coast's Yaquina Head as an Outstanding Natural Area, which was signed into law in 1980. Yaquina Head was later included in the National Landscape Conservation System. Like Yaquina Head, the addition of the Piedras Blancas Light Station to the NLCS would be an important step in protecting and preserving this valuable natural and historic resource. It will also focus attention on the restoration of the Light Station and surrounding area, specifically the three on-site National Register properties. And, it will serve as a means to increase public awareness of the Light Station's scientific, cultural and educational values. Specifically, H.R. 3534 stresses long-term conservation of the Light Station by requiring timely completion of a management plan. The management plan would be developed through a public process and include guidelines for restoration of the National Register of Historic Places buildings, including the Light House; public access; ecological and cultural resource management; and, fostering scientific study and research opportunities. Mr. Speaker, the Piedras Blancas Light Station is a wonderful resource. It has the potential to serve as a model for future resource management, and therefore would be an appropriate addition to the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System. Again, I would like to thank the Committee on Resources for supporting this bill to designate Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station as an Outstanding Natural Area, and urge its immediate passage.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, my hope is that I can explain and demonstrate sufficiently the enthusiasm for this legislation by my constituents in the city of Oxnard. I rise in support of H.R. 2334, and it is called the Oxnard Water Recycling and Desalination Act. First I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall for their support of this measure. I also want to thank the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Radanovich, and Ranking Member Napolitano and their staffs for the key role in the bill's passage. H.R. 2334 authorizes a regional water resources project. It is named the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment Act, or, as the initials will summarize to, it is the GREAT program, and it is great in many ways, located in my congressional district. Oxnard, California, as so many communities today, are faced with the difficult task of providing reliable and safe drinking water for their customers. The city of Oxnard has taken this situation and worked on it. It is one of California's fastest growing cities. The water needs of the city's agricultural users has exceeded its local water resources. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and the region, but at the same time many people are moving to the area. Now, consequently, over 50 percent of its water has had to be imported from outside sources. Recognizing these challenges, Oxnard developed the GREAT program to address its long-term water needs, and as my colleague, Mr. Kildee from Michigan illustrated, the city itself and the surrounding areas grappled with this issue themselves, recognizing that they needed to be creative and come up with a solution that would meet their needs. This GREAT program includes a new regional groundwater desalination facility to serve potable water customers in the city of Oxnard. It includes a recycled water system to include agricultural water users and an added protection against seawater intrusion. Finally, it includes a wetlands restoration component that reuses the discharges from the groundwater desalination and recycled groundwater treatment facilities. It is a full-circle opportunity to take every advantage of the water supplies that are there to enhance them and even to reuse them. Implementation of this GREAT program will provide many significant regional benefits. It will reduce the consumption of groundwater for agricultural and industrial purposes. It will cut imported delivery water requirements, and it will improve local reliability of high- quality water deliveries. It will also add enormously to the restoration of the wetlands in the region. Mr. Speaker, I commend this Resources Committee for trying to find innovative and effective ways of extending water supplies in the West. In my view, the City of Oxnard Water and Desalination Act offers such a creative solution. Again, I thank the Committee on Resources for supporting this bill, and I urge its immediate passage. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2334, the City of Oxnard Water Recycling and Desalination Act. First, I want to thank my colleagues from California, the chairman of the Resources Committee, Mr. Pombo, the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Water and Power, Mr. Radanovich and Ms. Napolitano, as well as the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Rahall, for expediting the consideration of this legislation and for bringing H.R. 2334 before us today. H.R. 2334 would authorize a proposed regional water resources project--the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment or GREAT Program--located in my congressional district. As you know, many communities today are faced with the difficult task of providing reliable and safe water to their customers. The city of Oxnard is no exception. Oxnard is one the California's fastest growing cities and is facing an ever growing crisis: It's running out of affordable water. The water needs for the city's agricultural and industrial base, together with its growing population, has exceeded its local water resources. Consequently, over 50 percent of its water has to be imported from outside sources. However, through a series of local, State and Federal restrictions the amount of imported water available to the city is shrinking, while the cost of that water is rising. Recognizing these challenges, Oxnard developed the GREAT Program to address its long term water needs. The GREAT Program elements include: a new regional groundwater desalination facility to serve potable water customers in Oxnard and adjacent communities; a recycled water system to serve agricultural water users, and added protection against seawater intrusion and saltwater contamination; and a wetlands restoration and enhancement component that efficiently reuses the brine discharges from both the groundwater desalination and recycled water treatment facilities. Implementation of the GREAT Program will provide many significant regional benefits. First, the new desalination component will serve ratepayers in Oxnard and adjacent communities, guaranteeing sufficient water supplies for the area. Second, Oxnard's current water infrastructure delivers approximately 30 million gallons of treated wastewater per day to an ocean outfall. The GREAT Program will utilize the resource currently wasted to the ocean and treat it so that it can be reused by the agricultural water users in the area. During the non-growing season, it will inject the resources into to the groundwater to serve as a barrier against seawater intrusion and saltwater contamination. To alleviate severely depressed groundwater levels, this component also includes pumping groundwater into the aquifer to enhance groundwater recharge. Finally, the brine produced as a by-product of the desalination and recycling plants will provide a year-round supply of nutrient rich water to the existing wetlands at Ormond Beach. Mr. Speaker, I commend the Resources Committee for trying to find innovative and effective ways of extending water supplies in the West. In my view, the city of Oxnard Water Recycling and Desalination Act offers such a creative solution. It will reduce the consumption of groundwater for agricultural and industrial purposes, cut imported water delivery requirements, and improve local reliability of high quality water deliveries. Again, I would like to thank the Committee on Resources for supporting this bill, and urge its immediate passage.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to French Hospital Medical Center and acknowledge their 60 years of providing quality healthcare to our community. Founded by Edison French in 1946, this French Hospital Medical Center brought state of the art medicine to the San Luis Obispo community and continues to do so today. Dr. French, a surgeon, actively encouraged other specialists to settle in the San Luis Obispo area. In 1972, Dr. French moved the hospital to its current location on Johnson Avenue, where it serves residents throughout San Luis Obispo County. Currently, the hospital has working relationships with 320 physicians and employs more than 480 people. On June 1, 2004, French Hospital was acquired by Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), and joined a network of over 40 medical centers and hospitals in three states. Founded in 1986, CHW is one of our Nation's largest not-for-profit healthcare systems and the largest Catholic healthcare system based in the Western United States. In 2005, French Hospital Medical Center provided more than $5 million in care to the uninsured in our community and to other philanthropic endeavors. The hospital is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate and affordable healthcare services, with special attention to the poor and underserved. French Hospital Medical Center has set, and continues to set, a positive example with their passion for the practice of great medicine and their commitment to our local community. I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to represent this community and the many caring staff and administrators of French Hospital Medical Center and am pleased to celebrate their 60-year anniversary.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 982, to support the goals and ideals of National Peripheral Arterial Disease Awareness Week. I was proud to introduce this bill with my colleague and fellow co-chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, Representative Foley. More than 8 million Americans, that is 1 in 20 adults, have peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Yet this condition is largely unrecognized and often goes undiagnosed because most people do not have any recognizable symptoms. PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or clogged, resulting in reduced blood flow to the legs. A diagnosis of PAD is indication that a patient is likely to have narrowed arteries to the heart and brain as well and is a powerful warning sign of existing cardiovascular disease. However, without early detection and proper treatment, 1 in 4 people who suffer from PAD will also suffer a heart attack, stroke, amputation or even death within the next 5 years. It is evident that greater awareness about PAD and better detection capabilities will not only improve the quality of life for those who suffer from it, but can actually save their lives. During National Peripheral Arterial Disease Awareness Week, efforts are increased to make physicians and the public at-large more cognizant of their risks for PAD, the symptoms, and the importance of early treatment. During this week, we can assist by highlighting those who have high risk factors for PAD: over age 50, African Americans, smokers and those with high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, a personal history of heart disease or stroke. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution and encourage them to learn more about Peripheral Arterial Disease and how it may affect them.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding. I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4157. Rather than move our health care system into the 21st century, this bill does little other than bestow gifts upon the insurance companies and big businesses. HIT does have great promise, great opportunity. And as a nurse, I know very well the importance, for example, of electronic medical records. But if the leadership was really serious about facilitating wider-spread adoption of HIT that is able to deliver better quality health care for patients, this bill would have contained the following: A timeline for achieving interoperability; funding so that hospitals and physicians could afford to purchase the technology; and, as I mentioned when I spoke against the rule, privacy protections. What good is health information technology if providers cannot communicate with each? What good is the existence of health IT if nobody can afford to use it? And what good is making our personal, private, sensitive information vulnerable to improper access and disclosure? Unfortunately, we are still in an age where individuals may be discriminated against because of health conditions. Here is our chance in a bill to protect personal information from being used to discriminate against people. And my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have indicated they do not care about patients' rights to privacy. If you look carefully at the organizations supporting privacy protections, you will notice they are patient advocates, consumer groups, health professionals. Those opposing it? The industry. Whom are we passing this bill for today? I thought it was supposed to be for patients so that they could receive better care and for the health professionals so they could provide better care. But it is clear to me that this bill before us disregards patients' needs. We need to start over and do a better job. HIT is that important. But not this bill. I, therefore, oppose H.R. 4157 and urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule for H.R. 4157. As a nurse, of course I want to see the expanded use of health information technology, such as electronic medical records. Expanded use of health IT holds great promise for facilitating better care, reducing medical errors, and eliminating burdensome paperwork, but the bill before us today has a glaring omission: It has no privacy protection for patients. A privacy amendment I sponsored along with Representatives Markey, Emanuel, Doggett, and Kennedy was killed by the Republicans on the Rules Committee even though there is bipartisan support for this measure. As usual, the House won't be voting on a measure because the Republican leadership opposes it but is afraid that if we debate and vote on it in the House, they might lose the vote. Let's be clear, there is no comprehensive privacy protection in this bill before us today. That means your personal sensitive health information is vulnerable. That means there is no recourse you could take to hold individuals accountable if they improperly obtain or disclose your most personal private information. Opponents of privacy protection will argue that current HIPAA regulations are adequate. That argument is flawed. The lack of enforcement of privacy protections is widely known in the health community. Because of that, surveys show fewer entities are complying with HIPAA because they fear no consequences for privacy violations. And, these violations are occurring. Our privacy amendment would have guaranteed that you would be notified if your information is improperly disclosed and it would have allowed you recourse. The amendment should have been made in order because its provisions are essential to protecting patients' rights during the nationwide adoption of health information technology. So I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule until we are allowed to consider a bill that protects our rights as patients and, indeed, the rights of all patients.