Tom Davis

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6033) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 39-25 61st Street in Woodside, New York, as the ``Thomas J. Manton Post Office Building''.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6033, offered by the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) would designate the post office building in Woodside, New York, as the Thomas J. Manton Post Office Building. Mr. Manton passed away in July of this year. The attendance of over 800 people at his service was a testament to his lasting impact as a public servant and friend to the New York community. His history of public service began with his time in the Marine Corps and continued until his final day as Chair of the Queens County Democratic Organization. He also worked as a New York City police officer while simultaneously attending law school, and in 1970 he began the first of what would be 14 years as a New York City Council Member. In 1985, he was elected to Congress, where he served his country and constituents until 1999. A steadfast advocate of diversity, Mr. Manton balanced the needs of the people from multiple backgrounds with heartfelt understanding and great compassion. His constituents remember him as a humanitarian and advocate who was never too busy to return a phone call or share his time. With gratitude for his devotion and service to our country, I would ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 3063 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend for his very moving words. This is a tough partisan area right now, we even argued over a 9/11 resolution a minute ago, where partisanship sometimes gets in the way of other things. Even though Tom Manton was a strong Democrat and a Democratic leader, he never let his partisanship get in the way of getting good results for his constituency and for the country. So this is a fitting memory to his legacy that he leaves here, and I join you. He was our friend on this side of the aisle as well. Tonight we moved this quickly, Republicans and Democrats, in his honor, because of the great man that he was. I thank my friend for introducing the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this moment, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, remembrance is a solemn obligation, a duty owed by every obligation to those whose honor, love and sacrifice light our way today. To the 2,996 souls who perished on September 11, we owe more than political rhetoric, more than annual ritual. They are remembered best, they live, not just what we say but in what we do to build a safer, more peaceful world. So the resolution before us today rightly speaks of actions taken, and calls for all Americans to act in the generous, unified spirit born that deadly day. In calling for September 11 to be observed as a day of national service, we seek to build a living monument to all those who have died in the long simmering war that erupted onto our shores 5 years ago. Good done in their name has a special power against the evil we fight. 9/11 brought that evil home: to homes in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and to shocked and grieving homes across our Nation. ``Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our Armed Forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.'' That was spoken the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Franklin Roosevelt's words evoke the realism and optimism needed to meet our present peril. As then, we are at war and no political difference or debate can detract from the heroic work done every day by the men and women of America's military. The 184 people who gave their lives at the Pentagon 5 years ago fought on an unexpected battlefield, but toiled until the end in loyal service to the national ideals, liberty and justice, to which we pledge allegiance each day in this Chamber. Let us pledge in their memory to honor and support all those who fight to defend America and advance freedom. Unlike the last global conflict, this war is being waged surreptitiously, the enemy lurking among us in shadowy networks and across cyberspace. On 9/11 America's first responders got a bitter taste of this new era, but their valor and grit carried us all through that day and those that followed. In memory of their fallen comrades, let us pledge through this resolution to honor and support the work of the public safety and public health professionals who work every day to protect us from terrorist attacks. This resolution is also an opportunity to renew the sense of urgency forged in the crumbling inferno of the Twin Towers. With each passing year, what looked hugely urgent after 9/11 tends to get smaller in the viewfinder as more current problems loom large. But while we lose sight of the threat, an enemy who relentlessly worked to transform airplanes into guided missiles is maniacally focused on other ways to harm us. Distance from the tragedy of 9/11 has also allowed some politics to seep into our security equations. Our vulnerabilities are many, and always will be. There will always be risks and there will always be those eager to take advantage of them. To those seeking to exploit fears rather than build trust, the glass will always be half empty. But genuine security after 9/11 is not a static goal or measurement; it is a process and a mindset. If we stay alert, get good intelligence on the evolving threat, and take the prudent precautions we are willing to tolerate and able to afford without crashing the economy or terrorizing ourselves, we will be safe. It is more than luck there has not been another major attack since 9/11. So we remember and we pray for the dead and their families, friends and colleagues. And, as we face the certain challenges of an uncertain future, we take solace in the ancient Hebrew lesson, ``There are stars whose light only reaches the earth long after they have fallen apart. There are people whose remembrance gives light in this world long after they have passed away. Their light shines in our darkest nights on the road we must follow.''

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2590) to require full disclosure of all entities and organizations receiving Federal funds.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), who has had a lot to do with originating this bill in the House and helping us work out the details with the Senate.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Majority Whip Roy Blunt and I originally introduced H.R. 5060 to amend the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 to require data with respect to Federal financial assistance to be available for public access in a searchable and user-friendly form. Our bill passed the House on June 21, 2006. Today, we are taking up the Senate companion bill, S. 2590, introduced by Senator Coburn and Senator Obama, which would require Federal financial assistance data, as well as data about government contracts, to be available for public access. This bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to create a Web site listing all grant awards and contracts in a manner that would be easily accessible and free of charge. In a nutshell, this is about information to taxpayers about how their hard-earned dollars are being spent. Each award or contract would have to be listed on the Web site within 30 days of enactment of this act. Currently, no such real- time disclosure is required to grant awards, and data that is available often is not timely. Further, there is no central database of all entities receiving Federal funds, including the nearly 30,000 organizations that are awarded nearly $300 billion in Federal grants each year. In fact, several agencies have taken different approaches to publicizing information about grantees, and all too often little or no information is available online. This legislation puts into place a framework that sheds light on the Federal grant process, allowing anyone with access to the Internet the ability to review and search financial assistance rewards. Sunshine, Mr. Speaker, is the best disinfectant. This legislation will provide greater transparency in the grant-making process and require continued improvement of the already existing, but inadequate transparency, in Federal contract awards. I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri for recognizing the importance of this issue. I want to congratulate him on bringing this measure forward. I also want to thank our ranking member, Mr. Waxman, for reaching across the aisle to move this legislation forward in a timely manner. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of S. 2590. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 114) providing for corrections to the enrollment of the bill S. 2590, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rosemary Foreman, who is retiring after contributing over thirty years of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Republican Party. I have known Rosemary Foreman since my days in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors when she was a congressional staffer for Congressman Stan Parris. Rosemary served as the first Community/Outreach Coordinator for the Virginia Attorney General Office's Northern Virginia Regional Office, under Attorneys General Bob McDonnell, Jim Gilmore, Mark Earley, Jerry Kilgore, as well as interim Attorneys General Randy Baeles and Richard Cullen. In this position, Rosemary leveraged her considerable interpersonal and communications skills to help the Attorney General educate the citizens of Northern Virginia on consumer protection and crime prevention. Before joining the government of Virginia, Rosemary helped lead a number of political campaigns for state and congressional candidates in Northern Virginia and held political positions in several Congressional offices. Throughout her career, she earned a well-deserved reputation for her political acumen, tenacious advocacy and gracious constituent service. In the course of developing a valued and impressive record of public and political service, Rosemary was a dedicated and loving wife to her husband E. David Foreman, Jr., and mother to her two children, Sheryl Olecheck and E. David Foreman III. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Rosemary Foreman and congratulating her on her retirement after a distinguished career dedicated to serving the citizens of Northern Virginia.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sandy Augliere on her 90th birthday and recognize her many accomplishments as well as her years of dedication to the Lake Barcroft community. Sandy Augliere was born Mary Margaret Reed in Marion, N.C., but most everyone who has met her knows her simply as Sandy. Through her engaging personal demeanor and business acumen, Sandy has become an institution in the Lake Barcroft real estate community. In addition, Sandy has been a dedicated and loving wife to her husband Vince, and mother to her four children, Carol, Noel, Reed and Tom. The senior associate broker at Long and Foster, Sandy has been in the real estate business for some 50 years. She has been in the top 1 percent of Realtors nationally and is a lifetime Million Dollar Club member. In the course of her impressive career, she has sold or re-sold approximately 700 to 800 of the 1,044 houses in the Lake Barcroft. Even today, Sandy works seven days a week, and has no plans to quit. In establishing her impressive real estate accomplishments, she led opponents of discrimination against African Americans in the home buying market. Sandy sold homes to a diverse group of individuals and families, including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Attorney General of the United States Ramsey Clark. Throughout her ongoing success, she has never advertised on television. Instead, she depends on friends and word of mouth. If asked, Sandy is quick to point out that her personal touch has always been a hallmark of her success. This same personal touch has been felt in Lake Barcroft through her community service as Lake Barcroft Association president and Woman's Club president. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Sandy Augliere for her contributions to the Lake Barcroft community. She is an exemplary model of success and citizenship. I call upon my colleagues to join me in recognizing her on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5682, the United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act. India is a strategic friend and ally of the United States. Indian Americans have made an indelible mark upon the culture and diversity of our nation and I was proud to sponsor H. Res. 227 that recognized the contributions of Indian Americans to our nation, which the House passed earlier this year. India and the United States have a strong history of cooperation. Directly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, India was one of the first countries to offer immediate aid to the United States. As the two largest pluralistic, free-market democracies in the world, it is only natural for the United States and India to seek to strengthen our bilateral relationship. Last July, President Bush and Prime Minister Sing issued a Joint Statement declaring a new era of respect, reciprocity and cooperation, spanning the fields of high technology, space exploration, counter- terrorism, defense cooperation and energy security. This legislation lays the statutory foundation to expand nuclear research, nuclear power and nonproliferation cooperation with India that would allow full trade in civil nuclear energy. In exchange for such trade, India has agreed to separate its military and civilian nuclear programs over the next eight years, placing 14 of its 22 reactors under permanent international safeguards, as well as all future civilian thermal and breeder reactors. It has also agreed to maintain its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and to work with the United States toward a fissile material cutoff treaty. Mr. Chairman, the United States should seize this opportunity to forge a strategic alliance with India to expand civil nuclear energy production in that country. In closing, I thank the leadership for allowing this legislation to come to the floor today and urge an aye vote.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Ron Laney for his forward-looking leadership and commitment to child protection. After retiring trom the Marine Corps as a result of injuries sustained during combat in Vietnam, Ron Laney worked his way through college as a juvenile probation counselor, earning a degree in criminology and a masters in criminal justice. Mr. Laney soon found his calling in policy development at the Federal Government's Law Enforcement Assistance Agency, LEAA. Continuing his career in public service, he joined the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP, as a law enforcement program manager. Mr. Laney quickly made his presence known developing OJJDP's first law enforcement training program entitled Police Operations Leading to Improved Children and Youth Services, POLICY. Mr. Laney continued to develop new and dynamic programs for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including Child Abuse and Exploitation Investigative Techniques, CAE; Managing Juvenile Operations, Gang Investigations, and Gang and Drug Policy; and School Administrator for Effective-Policy, SAFE-Policy, which is one of the first comprehensive interagency efforts to improve school and community safety. For approximately 10 years, Ron trained over 96,000 participants including law enforcement, legal professionals, social service personnel, as well as medical and other child protection and enforcement professionals. In 1998, Congress appropriated funding to combat child exploitation through the internet. Mr. Laney seized upon this opportunity to create a national prototype program, called the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, ICAC. Initially, the ICAC Program consisted of 10 regional task forces made up of local, State, and Federal agencies all working together to provide expertise to investigate child sexual exploitation via the internet. The ICAC Task Force now also provides community outreach programs to teach children and parents of the dangers of internet usage, and has expanded to include 46 regional task forces, with over 500 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers covering all areas of the United States. Since ICAC's creation, investigations of sexual victimization of children involving the use of internet technology have spanned the globe and have sparked the training of other foreign governments on ICAC techniques. The ICAC programs have come to represent the most comprehensive effort to recognize, investigate, and prosecute adult child sex offenders using internet technology. In addition to working to create the ICAC, Mr. Laney contributed to the development of the Amber Alert program, advocated for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and provided policy and funding assistance for the American Prosecutors' research institute. Throughout his exemplary civil service career, Mr. Laney has provided outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment to his colleagues. Mr. Laney's commitment to child protection for over 30 years is evidenced by the training of over 500,000 child protection specialists trom multiple disciplines. Additionally, he has provided training to educators and school administrators impacting the safety of over 750,000 K-12 students. Mr. Laney's legacy to our society is the protection of our children and advocacy for abused children and their parents. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding his past accomplishments and wishing him the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 921, which, among other things, condemns the recent attacks against the State of Israel, expresses the House of Representatives' condolences to all families of innocent victims of recent violence, and holds terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for such attacks. On June 25, 2006, the terrorist group Hezbollah disrupted peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon by crossing Israel's internationally recognized borders and abducting two Israeli soldiers. Let me say upfront that I know from meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora that the Lebanese government is not able to control Hezbollah. However, this incursion provoked Israel to take action to retrieve its two nationals, a response U.S. citizens would fully expect of their own government were it in the same situation. Unfortunately, escalating violence has led to the death of innocent civilians in both Israel and Lebanon. While pundits have voiced concerns over how ``measured'' Israel's response was in this case, we must remember that this situation just scratches the surface of a deeply rooted conflict between Israel and a number of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, etc. Since Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon back in 2000, Hezbollah has terrorized and ravaged Israel's northern border. Many have also called for a cease-fire. Rest assured, I welcome the cessation of all hostility, but am concerned about whether a conventional ``cease-fire'' is appropriate when dealing with a terrorist group that openly fires upon civilian populations. I believe that Israel, on the other hand, exercised due diligence in specifically targeting Hezbollah. However, even though many civilians have died in Lebanon, we must remember this task is extremely difficult to execute because Hezbollah hides among Lebanon's civilian population. Hezbollah is cleverly aware that this makes it extremely difficult for Israel to target it. Moreover, at the bitter cost of innocent Lebanese lives, it rejoices at the public torment that Israel receives. There is no easy solution to this situation. However, our primary concern at this point ought to be to evacuate all U.S. citizens who wish to leave Lebanon as quickly and safely as possible. I have been personally working with a number of my constituents who have family in Lebanon to ensure their safe return back home. I ask the American people to stand in solidarity with all the families who have lost loved ones in this conflict. Madam Speaker, in closing it is truly sad that in this day and age a terrorist group like Hezbollah does not hesitate to point their weapons at innocent civilians. We must continue to support the return of Israel's kidnapped soldiers and push for a cessation of all hostility in any way that we can. I urge for an aye vote on H. Res. 921.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 911, which expresses the House of Representatives' deepest condolences to the people of India and the victims and their families for the terrorist attacks that occurred in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. India is a strategic friend and ally of the U.S. As the two largest pluralistic, free-market democracies in the world, it is only natural for the U.S. and India to seek closer ties with one another. India has one of the world's largest and fastest growing populations with nearly 1.1 billion people. According to the United Nations, India's population could overtake China by as early as 2030. In addition, Indian Americans have made an indelible mark upon the culture and diversity of our Nation. I was proud to sponsor H. Res. 227 that recognized the contributions of Indian Americans to our Nation, which the House passed earlier this year. India and the U.S. have a strong history of cooperation. Directly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, India was one of the first countries to offer immediate aid to the United States. Most recently, the two countries announced an agreement which would allow full trade in civil nuclear energy. In exchange for such trade, India has agreed to separate its military and civilian nuclear programs over the next eight years, placing 14 of its 22 reactors under permanent international safeguards, as well as all future civilian thermal and breeder reactors. It has also agreed to maintain its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and to work with the United States toward a fissile material cutoff treaty, which would ban the production of fissile material, like plutonium-239, used in nuclear weapons and other explosive devices. The bloody attacks that took innocent lives in Mumbai earlier this month demonstrate that terrorism does not discriminate by race, ethnicity, or region. Instead, terrorists target those seeking to live a peaceful and free life. We must hunt the terrorists down and bring them to justice. There is no other way to respond to those so committed to the destruction of life. We must also stand in solidarity with the Indian government, its citizens, and the number of Indian Americans who also lost loved ones. This resolution does just that--making it clear that Congress and the American people are behind them during this difficult period. Mr. Speaker, in closing let the House of Representatives speak in unison and with clarity on this issue--terrorism has no place in this world and will not be tolerated. I thank the leadership on both sides for allowing this resolution on the floor today and urge an aye vote.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, last May I voted in support of H.R. 810. I rise again today to override the veto of this legislation. I want to take this opportunity to reiterate why I believe that expanded Federal funding of stem cell research is good public policy. We are aware of the potential embryonic stem cells hold. They could hold the key to the greatest mysteries of medical science, offering cures for those afflicted with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes, spinal cord injuries and others. I hope they do. On the other hand, they can be nothing but a source of false hope, another disappointment for those who wish for a return to health either for themselves or their loved ones. The only certainty is that we will never know the answer if our scientists are overly constrained in their efforts. Without the wherewithal of the National Institutes of Health, we face the prospect of numerous State agencies attempting to set up research protocols, something they are not well equipped to do. Good science takes time. We must not throw caution to the wind at the hint of miraculous cures. Indeed, left unconstrained, this type of research could lead to dangerous outcomes. H.R. 810 provides ethical guidelines by which federally funded researchers must comply. I believe it would be far preferable to have the Federal Government setting standards in this field rather than a hodgepodge of States and private entities. The Federal Government should lead the way. I supported President Bush when he announced his plan to allow federally funded research on 60 preexisting lines. Now, though, we only have 22 lines with significant shortcomings that make them of dubious value. Federally funded U.S. researchers are at a technical disadvantage as they lack access to newer stem cell lines. Our top stem cell biologists are moving into non-federally funded research or even going overseas to pursue their work. We should not allow this to happen. There is no question that many difficult questions attend this debate, and many feel strongly that there are ethical reasons not to pursue embryonic stem cell research. But I strongly feel there are ethical reasons why we should. I cannot look at a couple whose child is suffering from a debilitating disease in the eye and tell them I am not doing everything as their elected official; I came to find a cure. I cannot look a researcher in the eyes and tell him I will not let him explore the promise. I urge my colleagues to vote to override this veto.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in firm support of H. Res. 721, which supports the goals and ideals of a Salvadorian-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoren) in recognition of all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States. Salvadorans form an integral part of our communities and our labor force. My district in Northern Virginia, for example, is home to many hard-working Salvadorans who pay taxes and consume U.S. products. Salvadorans also play an important role in the economy of their native country by sending billions of dollars in payments to their families in Central America every year. The remittances that these individuals send to their families are a large source of revenue, which the United States could not match in foreign aid. As a result, after suffering through a string of brutal civil wars, El Salvador now has a moderate, democratically-elected government. Madam Speaker, in closing it is all too easy to overlook the important and daily contributions that Salvadorian Americans have made not just to Northern Virginia, but to our Nation as a whole. This bill provides much needed and deserved recognition to the Salvadorian American community for the indelible mark they have made upon the diversity and prominence of our great nation. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Could I ask how much time is remaining on each side?

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), who has been a champion of transportation in the Washington area during his tenure in Congress.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3496, as amended, the National Capital Transportation Amendments Act of 2006. This important legislation would establish critical new oversight and accountability mechanisms for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, including an inspector general and an increased Federal presence on the Authority's board of directors. These steps are being taken to ensure that the funding provided to the Authority by Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Federal Government are being spent as effectively and efficiently as possible. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. In 1960, President Eisenhower signed the National Capital Transportation Act to provide for the development of a regional rail system for the Nation's Capital. He did so in recognition of the need to provide reliable access to government facilities for Federal workers, contractors, and citizens. Over the years, other Presidents have also recognized this need: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, and most recently, President George H.W. Bush. Past Congresses have done so as well. In 1969, the National Capital Transportation Act was signed into law. Subsequently, Congress passed amendments to this act in 1979 and 1990. The sentiment expressed by Congress in supporting Metro in 1979 remains the same today: ``Congress finds that an improved transportation system for the National Capital region is essential for the continued and effective performance of the functions of the Government of the United States, for the welfare of the District of Columbia, for the orderly growth and development of the National Capital region, and for the preservation of the beauty and dignity of the Nation's Capital.'' The sole purpose of the previous authorizations was to provide the easy and reliable access to government for Federal employees and citizens that President Eisenhower envisioned. Today, the Metro system remains an indispensable resource for the Federal Government. At peak times, over half of Metro riders are Federal employees and contractors. Metro's record riderships have occurred during historic events, where people from all over the country flocked to the Nation's Capital for the national gathering; President Reagan's funeral, the Fourth of July celebrations, Presidential inaugurations. In times of national crisis, the Metro system has also proved indispensable to the Federal Government, such as during the September 11 terrorist attacks in which Metro served as the primary means out of a city under lock-down. In many ways, the Metro system is the lifeblood of the Federal Government. More than 15 Federal agencies in the National Capital region are located adjacent to Metro stations. This is not a coincidence. Federal agencies rely on the Metro system to get their employees to and from the workplace year round in all types of weather. Unfortunately, as was recently evident when Metro suffered delays due to torrential rains that hit the region, when Metro shuts down, the Federal Government shuts down. In 1965, 1969, 1979 and 1990, Congress recognized the unique relationship between the Federal Government and Metro, acknowledging the shared responsibility in maintaining the Metro system to make sure it keeps pace with the growing service demands. Without a similar commitment today, Metro will no longer remain a viable transportation option to the Federal Government or the region. Last month, as part of the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act, the House voted to devote funds from future OCS receipts for Metro revitalization. The bill today sets out other measures necessary to ensure that these dollars are well spent. Before I detail what this bill does, let me detail what it does not do. It does not authorize any additional appropriations for the Metro system. This bill is about good government, something I am sure we can all agree on. Specifically, this bill requires the three jurisdictions comprising WMATA, Maryland, Virginia Virginia and the District, to come up with a dedicated revenue source to cover capital and operational expenses. As GAO recently reported, Metro is unique among major transit systems in that it only derives a tiny amount of its budget from dedicated sources. This legislation would require the local jurisdictions to come together and rectify a long-standing discrepancy. The bill also creates an Inspector General for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Most major transit systems have an IG in place already. There is no question Metro is a complex organization with many moving parts. Thus, it is especially important that appropriate controls are in place to identify and address managerial, financial, and operational discrepancies and problems. Without the legislation we are considering today, the Federal funding for Metro that was authorized as part of the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act last month would have no strings attached to it. The purpose of H.R. 3496 is to establish an Inspector General to monitor the operations and to ensure that the Federal funding generated by the OCS receipts would not be allocated unless the local jurisdictions have committed to equally share the financial responsibilities with the Federal Government. Finally, the bill adds four Federal members to the WMATA Board of Directors, including for the first time a Federal presence on the WMATA board. Since Metro is such an integral part of the Federal Government's day-to-day operations, it stands to reason there should be a direct Federal representation in Metro's affairs. Mr. Speaker, this bill is not about funding; it is about the good use of funding. Congress has long recognized the national significance of the Metro system. The provisions of this bill will ensure our Nation's subway is a model of efficiency and good performance. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.