Susan Davis

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it's a joy to celebrate the women of our armed services. At this time, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter), a thoughtful member of the Committee on Armed Services and the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Every time I visit military installations, at home and abroad, I'm constantly impressed by the tremendous job our servicemembers are doing, and I'm particularly impressed by our brave servicewomen, whom I seek out at every chance. Over 350,000 American women are currently serving in our Armed Forces, following in the footsteps of women who have voluntarily served in every military conflict in United States history since the Revolutionary War. During the revolution, women served on the front lines as nurses, water bearers and even saboteurs. For years, women had to disguise themselves as men in order to enlist in our military. Although the Army and Navy Nurse Corps were established in the early 1900s, it was not until the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 that women were granted permanent status in the regular and Reserve Armed Forces. As Memorial Day approaches, we should recognize that our servicewomen play an increasingly important role in America's military forces. Women serving in the Armed Forces make up approximately 15 percent of active duty personnel, 15 percent of Reserves and 17 percent of the National Guard. Women are flying helicopters and fighter aircraft. They are saving lives as nurses and doctors, and they are driving support vehicles and policing perimeters. Servicewomen are also receiving recognition of their service, including awards for valor. Most recently, Private First Class Monica Lin Brown became only the second woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star, our Nation's third highest medal for valor, for her service in Afghanistan. The first woman since World War II to receive this honor was Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester, who received the Silver Star in 2005 for her service in Iraq. When I visit installations, I am so grateful for the response and insight I receive from women in the Armed Forces. They are adamant they do not want to be treated differently; yet they would like us to understand and recognize the additional burdens that are inherent in the many roles they play as wives, as mothers and caretakers. Later this week, the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues will host its annual ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery to honor our Nation's servicewomen and women veterans and to remember women who have died while on duty serving the United States. As Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and co-Chair of the Women's Caucus Task Force on Women in the Military and Veterans, I'm privileged to honor the legacy of servicewomen in the past, the courage with which women serve today, and the enthusiasm inherent in the young women who dream of serving this great Nation in the future. Part of honoring them is asking the tough questions about the expanding roles our servicewomen are taking on and excelling in. We hear from women in the military in person and through the media about their contributions in combat zones and their willingness to risk their lives in defense of their fellow servicemembers, our country and our families. These are issues we should recognize and address. They deserve nothing less. We should never fail to remember the sacrifices our servicewomen and their families make to keep our families safe. This resolution honors the service and achievements of women in the military and women veterans and encourages all people in the United States to do the same and to learn more about these wonderful accomplishments. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to have offered this resolution. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask we observe a moment of silence in memory of Lionel Van Deerlin.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a distinguished former Member of this body. On Sunday, May 18, the San Diego community was grieved to learn of Lionel Van Deerlin's passing. He was a Member of the House for 18 years, between 1962 and 1980, having served the San Diego region honorably, and with a tenacious spirit and the purest sense of loyalty to his constituents. Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin, who liked to be called simply Van, was equally respected on both sides of the aisle, well known for his grace, civility and humor that he brought to any debate. As the chairman of the House Communications Subcommittee at the time, Representative Van Deerlin was a pivotal player in positively transforming our Nation's telecommunications industry. Before and after his days in the House, Congressman Van Deerlin had a distinguished career in journalism and education. Even at 93 years old, Van was a regular commentator to the San Diego Union Tribune, passionately observing both local and national politics with a keen wit. I remember reading his final column last Tuesday, and was awaiting his next, as I always did. He was unfailingly optimistic, always present with a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his face. This consummate gentleman will be deeply missed by his family, his friends, his colleagues, and certainly the entire San Diego community. I yield to my colleague from San Diego, Mr. Hunter.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Miller for bringing this resolution forward in honoring the brave men killed in the Khobar Towers bombing.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I stand before you and my colleagues today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 32, honoring members of the United States Air Force who were wounded and killed in the June 25, 1996 terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The June blast took the lives of 19 airmen from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and destroyed the entire front of Dhahran's Khobar Towers housing compound. More than 500 U.S. Air Force troops were wounded, and 297 Middle Eastern citizens were killed or injured as a result of the bombing. Five thousand pounds of plastic explosives disguised in a water tanker truck claimed the lives of servicemembers whose families were left grieving the loss of their loved ones. Life, our most treasured asset, is too often taken unexpectedly. It was the sworn duty of our airmen to protect and serve this country by all means, and in our commitment to them and others who have given their lives in defense of our great Nation, we honor their selfless sacrifice and take a moment to reflect upon their contribution that provides us the freedoms we enjoy today. House Concurrent Resolution 32 extends our sympathies to the families of loved ones whose perpetrators have yet been brought to justice. Although this tragedy acknowledges the cost we pay in our fight against terrorism, we remain proud of our courageous and steadfast troops who are no doubt the best in the world. We call upon every American today to pause and pay tribute to the brave airmen who died, and to take a moment to thank our members of the Armed Forces currently serving around the world and express our appreciation for their duty and honor to protect America's interests around the world. This resolution recognizes the service and sacrifice of those airmen whose lives were lost on that fateful day. I strongly urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 32 in remembrance of the 19 fallen heroes on the 12th anniversary of the Dhahran terrorist bombing. I thank my good friend and colleague from Florida (Mr. Miller) for bringing forward this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 961, commending the Alaska Army National Guard for its service to the State of Alaska and the citizens of the United States. Let me first take a moment to thank Representative Don Young of Alaska for taking the lead and getting this resolution to the floor here today. The 297th Infantry and the scout group of the Alaska Army National Guard's deployment of almost 600 Alaskans was the largest deployment of the Alaska National Guard since World War II. The deployment of the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry included servicemembers from 80 different communities across Alaska, and included 75 soldiers from New York, Mississippi, Illinois, Georgia and Puerto Rico. The term ``citizen soldier'' is a term that rings true for these patriots that have stepped forward to serve our great country. Five hundred eighty-six servicemembers of the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry were mobilized in July of 2006 and deployed to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry was deployed to Camp Virginia, Camp Navstar, and Camp Buehring in northern Kuwait where they courageously performed route and perimeter security missions, mounted combat patrols and inspections and searches of vehicles going into Iraq from Kuwait. Over the course of 12 months in Kuwait and Iraq, they inspected and searched over 30,000 semi-trucks and designed all force protection plans in northern Kuwait. We would like to thank the families of these servicemembers who have provided unwavering support while waiting for their loved ones to return. It is through the support of our families that our servicemembers are able to serve our great Nation, especially during times of war. In addition, when members of the National Guard deploy, their families are not the only ones affected. Since our servicemembers live and work in their communities, the communities, too, are affected by these deployments, especially their employers. We would like to recognize and thank those employers who have displayed patriotism over profit by keeping positions saved for the returning soldiers and supporting the soldier's families during this time. Our soldiers and their families could not have made it through these difficult times without that support. The courageousness and dedication to duty of the members of the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry is evident in the awards and decorations received during their deployment, which included three Bronze Stars, 12 Meritorious Service Medals, 142 Army commendations, and more than 200 Army Achievement Medals for their outstanding service. As a Nation, we thank you for your service to the Commonwealth of Alaska and the citizens of the United States upon completion of this deployment. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the contribution of the State of Israel as it celebrates its 60th anniversary as a vibrant and open democratic society. Madam Speaker, my colleagues have already gone into detail about the accomplishments of the State of Israel, and how Israel has gone through an astonishing evolution since 1948. I echo many of their remarks. I had the great privilege to live and work in Israel in the mid-1960s and celebrated Israel's 22nd anniversary by taking part in a 3-day walk from the shores of Tel Aviv to the hills of Jerusalem. Now I marvel with every visit at the extraordinary changes that have taken place. With every visit to Israel and each article I read about events on the ground, I am reminded of the enormous complexities and challenges Israel faces--internal as well as external. So we must ask ourselves, what will the future bring for Israel? How can Israel reconcile the great contradictions that its victories from the 1967 war delivered and address the occupation of Palestinian territories that now threatens Israel's very existence as a democratic state with a Jewish majority? Israel has sought peace with its neighbors and made some progress toward peace with neighboring Arab states. Today, with Gaza controlled by HAMAS and the West Bank by the Palestinian Authority, Israel still lacks a real partner for peace. However, this does not mean efforts for peace should not continue. . . . and this does not mean that the United States should not play an active leadership role in the region. We must continue our strong support for Israel's very right to exist while continuing to bring life to the peace process between Israel and its neighbors. Our assistance must be a sustained diplomatic effort, on the ground in both Israel and the territories, so we can maximize every effort for dialogue and concrete negotiations. Addressing these concerns will not be easy, but I remain hopeful that Israel, her neighbors, and the U.S. can get the peace process back on track and that Israel will continue to thrive as a vibrant and open democratic society. I join my colleagues in recognizing Israel's 60th Anniversary.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Thank you, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. Mr. Speaker, I really am delighted to join my colleagues here and to hear the warm stories that they've told and how critical, how important the issue that we're speaking about this evening is because, you know, what is it about? It's really about our national security, and it is about the willingness of men and women to serve. I found a quote from our first Commander in Chief, President Washington, and I think it's appropriate to what we've been talking about here today because he said that ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.'' And I would add to what President Washington said that the willingness with which our families are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive families of early wars were treated and appreciated by our Nation. When I first came to Congress and I found this fabulous opportunity to serve on the Armed Services Committee, we were not at war. And I met with many of our families and our ombudspeople in the Navy and began to understand what they go through. And I remember so strongly that one of the spouses, one of the ombudsmen said to me, You know, people think of our husbands who deploy on ships, obviously, in the Navy. But, you know, all of us prepare and deploy, that families prepare for this. She was talking about a time when we are not at war. So we can imagine how difficult it is for families who are preparing for that deployment, preparing for the kind of uncertainties that they know will be around the corner. And that's so difficult. You have the picture of the family here and the children, and I look at the faces of the children; and I see such resilience in their eyes, and children are tremendously resilient. But the reality is that our children who go to school, and most of our children go to regular schools; they don't go to schools where there are only military families, and on some of our bases that's true, but I have learned on many of our bases that most of the families are in public schools out in the community. Many of those children come to school with great fears of what is going to happen that day. They don't know if Mommy and Daddy are even going to come home, those who are a little more sophisticated about what they are going through. So we have to be very, very careful, be very, very supportive of those families. We can even think about our own struggles at home, our own struggles with financial issues and just the general stuff that any couples go through and then magnify that for our families. Many of our families are very young, and we especially need to be supportive of them. We've covered a lot of ground here this evening, so I don't want to have to go over some of that ground. But if we're going to deploy our men and women at the current pace that we're doing today, we really have to understand the consequences of our policy decisions and sufficiently address how they affect the brave men and women who are serving. And there is one area that I think the public is learning more about now. And the other day, I had a few hours, and I decided that I didn't have anybody to go with at the time but I wanted to just go see the movie Stop-Loss. And I wanted to just sit in that theater by myself and feel the full impact of that movie because there is a policy involved there that we have undertaken. And I think when you go and you see the movie, and I would certainly encourage people to do that to understand the pain that our families go through, how unpredictable it is and how difficult it is. We have been looking at this policy, of course, and we would like to stop it. But we know that in fact we need the men and women serving today. So as much as we want to stop that, we're not able to do that right away. Stop-loss, as we know, allows the military to extend a servicemember's time in uniform, and it has been used far too often, and there have been some attempts to change that. We also know, very significantly, predictability is so important to our men and women who serve, and the repeated deployments make that very, very difficult. So I think we need to focus, and we are, on the dwell-time that families have. They need to readjust. I have had spouses tell me that now that they've been through so many deployments, they're beginning to teach other families about how to give their loved ones space because when you come home, the family wants to just be right there. Well, sometimes that doesn't work so well, and people need to learn that. So I think that with many of the policies that we're working on today, and yes, we are learning more; we're learning more about PTSD, we're learning about how we can erase the stigma, and I think the military can actually lead the way for the country in that if we do it right. So I just want to commend you for having this time today and let you know that we are working hard on this. I wish we could work a lot faster on these issues. But we are trying very hard and keeping in mind every day our wonderful men and women who are serving and their families. They are the ones who are sacrificing today, and we need to give them every support that we can.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution honoring the service and achievements of women in the Armed Forces and female veterans. Every time I visit military installations, both at home and abroad, I am constantly impressed by the tremendous job our service members are doing. I am particularly impressed by our brave servicewomen, whom I seek out at every chance. Almost 350,000 American women are currently serving in our Armed Forces, following in the footsteps of women who have voluntarily served in every military conflict in United States history since the Revolutionary War. During the Revolution, women served on the frontlines as nurses, waterbearers, and even saboteurs. For years, women had to disguise themselves as men in order to enlist in our military. Although the Army and Navy Nurse Corps were established in the early 1900s, it was not until the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 that women were granted permanent status in the regular and Reserve Armed Forces. Today, our servicewomen play an increasingly important role in America's military forces. Women are flying helicopters and fighter aircraft; they are saving lives as nurses and doctors; they are driving support vehicles and policing perimeters. We should never fail to remember the sacrifices our servicewomen and their families make to keep our families safe. As Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus Task Force on Women in the Military and Veterans, I am privileged to honor the legacy of servicewomen in the past, the courage with which women serve today, and the enthusiasm inherent in the young women who dream of serving this great nation in the future. Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to introduce this resolution today.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to bring awareness to the link between animal cruelty and other forms of societal violence by designating the month of September 2008 as National Link Awareness Month. This resolution would highlight the need for more attention and resources to be focused on how violence toward animals is indicative of other violent tendencies. By investigating the link further, information could be gathered that will help mitigate societal violence. Psychological, sociological, and criminological studies have shown that violent offenders frequently had a history of abusing animals during their childhood and adolescence. The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children. Research has also shown patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of child abuse, spousal abuse, and elder abuse. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder. The link between animal abuse and domestic violence is a recognized fact. Each year, defenseless pets face the sad and disturbing reality that they will be victims of cruelty and abuse. Domestic abusers commonly torture or kill family pets as a method of exerting control and ensuring submission. This causes victims, children and adults alike, to remain in violent households in order to ensure their beloved pets are not harmed further. Research indicates that children who are exposed to domestic violence are nearly three times more likely to mistreat animals than children who are not exposed to such violence. Tragically, this behavior is often symptomatic of future abuse toward other animals or human beings. Significant research documents a relationship between childhood histories of animal cruelty and patterns of chronic interpersonal aggression. Due to the correlation between animal abuse and other forms of family and community violence, animal abuse must be taken very seriously. Human services, animal services, and law enforcement agencies must share resources and expertise to address animal and human related violence in communities. By effectively and comprehensively addressing the link between violence towards animals and other forms of societal violence, we can learn information that will help stop violence in the home as well as the community at large. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the designation of September 2008 as National Link Awareness Month so that more awareness will be brought to the link between animal cruelty and other forms of violence in society.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1084. In today's security environment, it is absolutely essential that we authorize the creation of the Response Readiness Corps and Response Readiness Reserve within the State Department and USAID. This legislation is a vital step toward achieving a proper balance between civilian and military efforts in stabilization and reconstruction missions. Iraq and Afghanistan have really highlighted a need for better interagency coordination and a more robust civilian capacity. As someone who went to Iraq early and saw a void of adequate civilian support, I know that we need to improve the civilian apparatus for future stability in reconstruction efforts. In Iraq and Afghanistan, we have relied on the military to act as diplomats, help build government capacity and conduct combat missions, all at the same time. Simply put, stability and reconstruction have fallen too heavily on our military in recent years. Unable to tap into a viable, full-scale deployable civilian force, our great men and women have been asked to perform jobs outside of their area of expertise. Congress must, must do a better job of marshalling all elements of national power in support of U.S. goals abroad and ensure that future missions are not military- centric, but joint interagency efforts. Part of this effort must be greater capacity within civilian agencies, a bench to pull from when contingencies arise. This legislation by my friend from California will help do just that. Congress must also be thinking about how to capture the skills and lessons learned from military personnel and civilians who have served on PRTs or other interagency projects in Iraq and Afghanistan. These individuals now have vital skills that could be used to help train Federal civilian employees deploying to zones of conflict. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1084 gets us on the right path, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I worked as a social worker before my career in public office, and I've seen firsthand the results when mental illnesses go untreated. Those who develop a severe mental illness can go from having a career and a family to losing everything. About half our States now have implemented full mental health parity requirements, and these States have learned a very valuable lesson. They've learned that the benefits of ensuring parity are worthwhile. Far too many people's illnesses, mental illnesses, linger without treatment, triggering physical complications that only result in more costs. So, proper diagnosis and treatment greatly offset these costs and save health care dollars over the long term. This bill will also help our servicemembers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as they transition to civilian life because national barriers to mental health care ripple out to everyone. Post-traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related conditions can take months, if not years, to develop after discharge. Many of these veterans will not have access to VA health facilities and will rely upon private health insurance to obtain treatment. Finally, and most importantly, this legislation also addresses the stigma attached to mental health care. It loudly communicates that mental health care is on an equal footing with physical health care. Mr. Speaker, I give my enthusiastic support to the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. I thank the sponsors and encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for it today.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 67) establishing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 67, which establishes the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies during the 110th Congress to begin work on preparations for the Presidential inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol on January 20, 2009. The joint committee we are creating today expires on January 3, 2009, but will be renewed at the start of the 111th Congress to conclude its work. Congress routinely passes this concurrent resolution every 4 years. The Speaker, majority leader, and minority leader customarily represent the House on the joint committee. I urge passage of the motion. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this concurrent resolution.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as my colleague has aptly stated, the eyes of the world are on us as we focus on our election in this year of 2008. We know that this planning and preparation for the inaugural ceremonies will move smoothly and very well for all of the world to view. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Senate Concurrent Resolution 68 authorizes advanced planning for the use of the Capitol rotunda on January 20, 2009, for the proceedings and ceremonies conducted for the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the United States. Congress traditionally passes this measure in the year prior to the event in order to begin security planning and rehearsal for the inaugural, since the rotunda is routinely used for ceremonial purposes during the inauguration and could host the event, itself, depending on the weather at that time. Senate Concurrent Resolution 68 does not formally authorize use of the rotunda for the inaugural events, themselves, since it will expire on January 3, 2009, like all concurrent resolutions which are not made part of permanent law, and must be renewed in the 111th Congress. However, action today will initiate the period of pre-event planning necessary to bring one of our democracy's most memorable and historic ceremonies to fruition smoothly and safely. I urge passage of the Senate concurrent resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.