Russ Carnahan

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Right. This Republican leadership is so out of touch with the American people. When we all go home and talk to our constituents, we get an earful. They want to see people connected with the people back home, and that is our job, especially in this body that is the closest representative body in the Federal Government. That is our job. We work for the people back home. And if we are not speaking out and speaking up to implement that here in these programs, whether it is Iraq, whether it is rebuilding the gulf, whether it is this budget reconciliation, it is about priorities and expressing those people's beliefs here; but that is not getting through with this leadership.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield, that just reminds me of something that I think really fits right in with this. One of my favorite figures in history is President Harry Truman who was from the great State of Missouri. I know that does not surprise you that he would be my favorite President, but he is a great figure to learn about responsibility. He had that famous plaque on his desk that said, ``The buck stops here.'' He was not about blaming somebody else or hiding things from the American people. He stood up and told it like it was. The other thing we learned from Harry Truman was about accountability. He was kind of an obscure Member of Congress that started something called the Truman Commission that began to review how we spent massive amounts of money through the war effort, but to do it in such a way that was pro-military, to be sure our troops got what they needed, to be sure that the taxpayers were getting a fair deal with how we were spending that money and that these moneys were being accounted for. This administration does not want that kind of scrutiny but we need that. Eventually, we are going to get that, but it has been delayed and put off, but the American people demand that. They deserve that, and I think leaders in the Democratic party are going to be sure we get to that point.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I have got to jump in here. The point that I think we all saw in the aftermath of the hurricanes was the incredible spirit of the American people rising to the occasion when their government, the people in charge of our government now, frankly, did not live up to the expectation and that spirit of the rest of the country. And the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) was talking about rebuilding. What about rebuilding the damaged relations all around the globe that have occurred because of the way we got into Iraq? We are going to be dealing with that for years and years to come. Not only is it hurting us economically but hurting us in terms of our relationships around the world, and that affects us here at home in what we can do. But it gets back to the issues we have talked about tonight about priorities in leadership, and there is such a disconnect with this leadership. They are so out of touch.

Mr. CARNAHAN. In Missouri they have a saying that the cow is already out of the barn, I say to my colleagues, and that certainly applies to this situation here.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. We have that technology right here in our country. It is here today. So with the effort and the funding that we have put into some of these technologies that are hurting our environment; that have made us dependent and weaker as a country; that we are depending on resources for the Middle East instead of from the Midwest, that is the future. That is the direction. People are hungry to be led, to be able to get into that technology for their families. It is the right thing to do for the environment. It is the right thing to do not just for our economic security but for our national security interests. So that is the direction we have got to get to in this country.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, parents and students should take note: College may soon get a lot more expensive if House Republicans get their way. This week, they plan to bring a budget reconciliation bill to the floor that cuts $14 billion in Federal student aid, the largest cuts in the program's history. Included are nearly $8 billion in new charges that will raise the cost of college loans through new fees and higher interest for millions of American students and families. For the typical student borrower already saddled with over $17,000 in debt, these new fees and higher interest charges will cost up to $5,800 more. Financial barriers should never prevent a qualified student from going to college, and that is why America has long since made the commitment to help all Americans afford a higher education. Studies show that financial barriers alone will prevent over 4 million high school graduates from attending a 4-year public university over the next decade and prevent another 2 million from attending college at all. Mr. Speaker, the wrong priorities in this Republican budget reconciliation will put college out of reach for millions of American students. It should be rejected.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, the Florida delegation, and the gentleman makes a great point, has an obvious perspective on tourism; and they have got such natural beauty on their coastline that people from around the world come to visit. My family has been down to visit their great State. But the point beyond even that we believe it is the wrong thing to do in these pristine areas, the amount of oil that could potentially be produced is so small, they have to weigh what is the real cost; what are we really losing for generations to come in terms of our environment, and look at what we can do in our immediate future in terms of alternative energy. Again, I have to mention some of the things we hear before our Science Committee about the innovation and the science that has brought this technology. It is not something that is decades away. It is years away. We have already seen that with the growth of the hybrid vehicles, hydrogen cars, you name it. That technology is here today. Consumers want it, and within the decade we could have the goal to become energy independent, rather than investing in this older technology in pristine areas.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I have to jump in on that point and talk about the tale of two different numbers here. We mentioned earlier the number of $14 billion that was being cut, proposed to be cut out of the student loan program where over $14 billion has been given away in subsidies in these recent energy bills to the oil companies who have not just made record profits; they have made the largest profits in the history of the world. To me, that is such a glaring and sad example of the priorities here in Washington. We can do better. I think the American people are hungry for leaders that can inspire us and not divide us and talk about a future that lifts us all up. The gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) talked about the attitudes of young people and how they did not have a good attitude about public service. I hate to see that. There are also studies out there that for the first time in the history of these studies being done people believe that the generation after them will be worse off than they are now. To me that is just contrary to everything in our American values. We always want our kids and the next generation to be better off. So I think it is a matter of priorities. It is a matter of attitude, inspiration; and I think people are hungry for that. I think what you all are doing here in getting the word out is really important to give people hope that they can make a difference and that there are leaders here in Washington fighting for them.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Certainly.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Exactly. They are saying we have to really start to win the battle of young minds to get them into science and math education so that we can compete and innovate in this new global economy. This just takes us backwards. The statistics are alarming. Studies have shown that financial barriers alone prevent 4\1/2\ million high school students from attending a 4-year public university.

Mr. CARNAHAN. We even heard in the Committee on Science, on which I serve, many leading CEOs from around the country came to testify before our committee talking about the need for innovation if we are going to be able to compete in this new global economy.

Mr. CARNAHAN. I thank my colleague, Mr. Speaker, for yielding to me. It is great to join the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman from Ohio and this 30-Something Group that has really done a fantastic job to help educate Americans about the many challenges that are being faced here and the things we can do about it, the things my colleagues are taking the lead on in this Congress. I wish I could join you in age, I am a 40-something, but I am not far away; and like many people, I had an opportunity to really benefit from the student loan program, as did my wife. Even though I worked my way through college and my family was able to help me some, I still could not have done it without the student loan program. What I am sad to see and really concerned about is these Republican proposals in this budget reconciliation, which is, for those listening, the equivalent of us balancing our checkbook at home to figure out what we can afford and what we cannot. They have proposed the largest cuts to the student loan program in history, in history, of $14 billion. It is a big number. So to really bring it down to the individual student and family, already, even before those cuts, the average student typically has about $17,500 in debt. That is already. Now, on top of that, these proposals would add an additional almost $6,000. Mr. Speaker, this comes at a time when we really need to be expanding opportunity and at a time when we really need to be opening up access to higher education. We all know in our country that is the road to opportunity.

Mr. CARNAHAN. I would really appreciate my colleagues trying to get that information out. Again, I think it is important as this debate proceeds over the next few days and weeks ahead, some believe a vote could come as early as Thursday, that people back home, families, students, leaders in education, contact their Members to let them know this is not the way to address the financial needs in our country.

Mr. CARNAHAN. And I have just been handed a copy so I can read along as well. But as we mentioned, already, even before these cuts, the average student has $17,500 in debt. Over the last 5 years, as if the debt were not bad enough, tuition is up 57 percent at public colleges, up 32 percent at private colleges and universities, and 41 percent of college grads average over $3,000 in credit card debt. So, again, the statistics paint a very clear picture that this is not the way to go.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, today in St. Louis people gather on the banks of the mighty Mississippi to commemorate the 40th anniversary of completing the Gateway Arch. It is our Nation's tallest monument at 630 feet, and St. Louis' greatest attraction with 3.5 million visitors each year. After the Great Depression and after public urging, a nationwide public competition was held to determine a design for a memorial that would honor President Thomas Jefferson's bold vision for westward expansion for America. It is our distinct symbol among the cities of the world, and stands as a testament to the inspired design of architect Eero Saarinen, to the amazing engineers and ironworkers who built her, and to the spirit of the citizens of St. Louis and across America. Upon its dedication President Johnson noted, For a century, we labored to settle and subdue a continent. For half a century, we called upon unbounded invention and untiring industry to create an order of plenty for all of our people. The challenge for the next half century is whether we have the wisdom to use that wealth to enrich and elevate our national life, and to advance the quality of our American civilization. Mr. Speaker, the challenge continues today as we wish happy birthday to St. Louis' arch.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution today to commend the great State of Israel on being selected as the Vice President of the 60th UN General Assembly. When Israel became a vice president last month, the significance of Israel's first selection to the vice-presidency in 53 years was noted by all. It Is a reflection of each nominating country's confidence in Israel's commitment to peace in the Middle East, and a reflection of Israel's continued relation building with Muslim states throughout the region. When I traveled to Israel this past August, I was able to witness first-hand Israel's true dedication to achieving peace through a two state solution with the Palestinians. I believe that Israel's selection to the vice-presidency is a true testament to Israel's continued growth as a key country in the world's march towards peace. Once again, I congratulate Israel on its selection and current service as a vice president and look forward to the future as Israel continues to be a central figure at the United Nations.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, Americans were shocked by our government's response to Hurricane Katrina. They watched as days passed before the people of New Orleans were rescued from rooftops and attics or before those at the Superdome actually received food and water. Americans rightly asked, if this is the way our government responds to a natural disaster it knew about days in advance, how would it respond to a surprise terrorist attack? How would it respond to an earthquake? Americans now deserve and demand answers from an independent commission, not a partisan committee with a political agenda. Creating this commission is not about a blame game. The purpose of this commission is not really about the past; it is about the future. It is about learning from our mistakes so that we assure that these mistakes are never repeated in this country. The American people respected the 9/11 Commission because of its independence, and that is exactly what we need now.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the rule to provide for consideration of H.R. 250, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act. The rule did not make in order an amendment that I submitted which would have elevated the advisory committee, present now and codified by H.R. 250, to a Presidential Council on Manufacturing. The amendment would have broadened the diversity of the Council and provided much needed accountability to their strategic role. If our manufacturing industry and our manufacturing jobs are truly as important as much rhetoric suggests, we owe it to Americans in the industry to create a council that has the ear of our President. As many of us know, the Council on Manufacturing has been in existence since last year and is now solely comprised of industry representatives. My amendment would broaden the diversity of those that sit on the panel to include labor, research, and academia, bringing a much needed voice to individuals adversely affected by and who have expertise in the current state of manufacturing. Furthermore, under my amendment, the President's Manufacturing Council would be directed to develop a National Manufacturing Strategy with clear issues to consider and specific reports to be submitted to Congress. As it stands currently, the Advisory Council is not carrying out its responsibilities as envisioned by H.R. 250, which assigns responsibilities to the Council to review federal manufacturing R&D and to review the actions of the Interagency Working Group on Manufacturing R&D. The Council has accomplished neither of these stated goals. Perhaps most astonishing, according to the Commerce Department staff, the Council does not have an agenda for the coming year, nor were they certain that such an agenda would even be developed. The National Council for Advanced Manufacturing reported on the Bush Manufacturing Initiative suggesting that the Council have a more expansive role, that they have a strong Congressional mandate, and that the committee be chaired by the Secretary of Commerce. My colleagues, I believe it is clear that the Council as it stands now does not meet these recommendations. We have seen drastic changes in manufacturing jobs in this country, transfer of entire operations overseas, and communities deeply affected by these changes. While there is much disagreement in this body about how to tackle the problems affiliated with the changing climate of our workforce, I seldom hear disagreement that there is an ongoing change in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Unfortunately, this rule will not allow us to consider the design of the Council. I urge a `no' vote on the rule so that we may have the opportunity to proactively address the problems of the manufacturing industry and to fulfill a promise to working Americans in the sector that we value their industry and their contribution to our nation. We will not sit idly by while our neighbors lose their jobs and their way of life. Vote no so that we may task this Council with a strong mandate and a clear role.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the leaders and Members on both sides of the aisle who have worked together to bring this bill to the floor today. I rise in support of our Nation's Coast Guard and the heroic men and women who serve our country with distinction. The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act is an important authorization for our country and for our citizens, as we have seen so vividly in the last few weeks. From protecting our natural resources to providing maritime security and national defense, the Coast Guard's duties are broad in scope, and the performance of those duties has never been more important. The authorizations in this bill for operations, acquisitions, and maintenance of the fleet seek to serve our constituents by allowing the Coast Guard to protect citizens along America's waterways, including the Mississippi River district I represent in Missouri, and especially now in the gulf coast. I would particularly like to take this moment to thank the Coast Guard unit at the Port of St. Louis and all the units in the Coast Guard District 8, covering 26 States, that were headquartered in New Orleans that have temporarily been moved to St. Louis. In St. Louis, the unit led by Commander Susan Engelbert, Coast Guard personnel, and auxiliary volunteers up and down the Mississippi mobilized with unprecedented speed and purpose to assist those communities devastated by Katrina. These men and women conducted search and rescue missions under extreme and dangerous conditions and often risked their lives, just as they have done in countless hurricanes and floods across our country. In the gulf, in the last 2 weeks of constant work and sweat, those Guard personnel helped make things safer and more secure. With little sleep or rest, they performed their duties helping their fellow Americans in their time of need. Commander Engelbert said it best when she stated how proud she was of the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard's Port of St. Louis: They saved lives. They made a difference. For their dedication and their actions, they deserve our thanks. The U.S. Coast Guard is a shining example of how well a Federal agency can perform with its flexibility, speed, and expertise. I urge my colleagues to support this vital authorization bill.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the emergency supplemental appropriation to help the recovery efforts along the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Katrina has caused damage of historic proportion, and it is our responsibility to do everything we can to fully support the revitalization of all of the effected areas. The images of the devastation that we have all seen over the course of the past week will be with us for some time. We need to turn our attention to and provide sufficient resources to repairing the lives of our fellow Americans most affected by this disaster: the poor, the elderly, and the disabled. It is obvious that the administration's preparedness and response was insufficient. It is apparent that FEMA did not take action quickly enough to prevent the massive destruction of property and the widespread loss of human life. While it is important that these issues be addressed in a timely manner, our immediate focus, and top priority should be helping the thousands of Americans who need our assistance during this tremendous rescue and cleanup effort that lies ahead of us. I urge all of my colleagues to support this emergency appropriation, so that we can give immediate assistance to everyone affected by this disaster.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to address my strong opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement. I oppose CAFTA not because I oppose trade, but because I oppose unfair trade agreements that fail to stand up for our national economic interests and protect American jobs. There are a number of problems with this agreement that make it impossible for me and many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it. The blatant deficiencies regarding environmental standards, labor standards, and our agriculture interests are the most glaring. Now, this Congress can consider the CAFTA proposal only on an up-or- down vote with no amendments allowed. Entering into an agreement that does not require the Central American countries to strengthen their environmental laws does a disservice to the workers and citizens of all countries involved. Our choice is clear, Mr. Speaker. I urge each of my colleagues to reject this unfair trade agreement and send our representatives back to renegotiate a better deal for the American people.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to express my deepest sympathy for the thousands who lost their lives on this, the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. We should remember all the innocent people who were brutally killed by honoring their lives and remembering their struggle for freedom during the 3-year conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my district, I have the largest Bosnian population outside of Bosnia. Approximately 35,000 Bosnians reside in the St. Louis, Missouri, region. Of these, upwards of 5,000 are survivors of the Srebrenica massacre. As a representative of my Bosnian-American friends in St. Louis, I am proud and honored to be a co-sponsor of House Resolution 199 which passed the House this week. It aptly commemorates those who died, seeks to hold accountable those responsible, and honors those who survived. It is important for us to remember this stark chapter in history and to learn from it for the benefit of our future generations.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of Amtrak. I support the Brown-Menendez-Rahall Amendment, which we are debating now, and I also strongly support the amendment offered by Mr. LaTourette and Mr. Oberstar, which the House considered earlier. Trains have been, and continue to be, an integral part of our Nation's transportation system. Every year, millions of Americans use Amtrak and our Nation's railways to travel throughout our great country, removing cars from our congested highways and travelers from our crowded airports. In my home State of Missouri, over 400,000 people used Amtrak last year. However, despite this heavy volume of travel, one of the routes that would be eliminated by this appropriations bill passes through Missouri and serves the city of St. Louis. It is vital that we stop the elimination of these routes and restore full funding to Amtrak so that it may continue to provide the same level of service to the people of the United States for generations to come. I urge my colleagues to support this essential component of our Nation's transportation infrastructure and support the Brown-Menendez- Rahall amendment.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) for their leadership on this issue. Like millions of American families, my own has been impacted by the loss of loved ones with debilitating diseases. My grandmother, Alvana Carpenter, died of cancer, and my first cousin Betty Stolz, to MS. We lost them too soon. That is one of the reasons I have joined this unparalleled and growing bipartisan coalition to cosponsor H.R. 810, along with over 200 Democrats and Republicans in this House. People from the Show Me State were polled not too long ago, and three-fourths of them were in support of this research continuing. Just like polls around the country, when Nancy Reagan called to lift the Bush administration ban on this research in 2004, three-fourths of Americans have come to the support of this cause. There is great promise in this research. Since its isolation of the embryonic stem cell in 1998, research has made dramatic progress in the U.S. We cannot and we must not abandon our leadership role in the scientific community and in establishing strong ethical standards for this research, which are incorporated in this bill. I also became involved in this debate because of the extraordinary citizens that have come to advocate on its behalf, advocates like Bernie Frank, an accomplished St. Louisian who has volunteered for the Parkinson's Action Network; advocates like Dr. Huskey from Washington University, who suffers with MS and continues her advocacy; advocates like Rabbi Susan Talve and her young daughter, Adina, who suffers from a congenital heart defect. Early stem cell research shows the potential to discover ways to grow new heart muscle cells. Mr. Speaker, the promise of stem cell research is real. Science, not politics, should determine the future of this vital research. We stand here with the tools in our hands to ease the pain and suffering of so many across the country and around the world. To forgo potential life-saving cures is simply unacceptable and unconscionable.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 23.