Debbie Dingell

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Yankee Air Museum's observance of the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. Because of the bravery of the Greatest Generation, this day marks the end of humanity's darkest time, the spreading of liberty to many peoples across the world, and the start of the greatest peace time economic boom in American history. On August 15th, 1945, the Empire of Japan surrendered to the United States aboard the USS Missouri. Seventy years after the end of the Second World War, we celebrate this historical event and honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women who served this country. We are honored to have the Yankee Air Museum commemorate this event. Since the formation of the Yankee Air Museum in 1981, it has done excellent work to restore and preserve artifacts from World War II. Through its commemoration of Rosie the Riveter, the museum has tirelessly highlighted the efforts of the women who were the heartbeat of the Arsenal of Democracy. Mr. Speaker, as the World War II era aircrafts fly over Yankee Air Museum, I hope my colleagues will join me to celebrate the freedom of the many because of the sacrifices of the men and women of the greatest generation.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Chad Audi's years of service to our community and the State of Michigan. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries started as a soup kitchen in 1909. It had a reputation for serving hot meals, providing canned goods, and other necessities to feed many people who had so little. Today, they offer numerous services including substance abuse treatment, transitional and permanent housing, job preparation, and educational courses. Starting as a volunteer in 1994, Dr. Audi has worked tirelessly to transform this organization. After 10 years of service, Dr. Audi became the President and CEO of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries in 2004. Since then, he has helped to make this community institution into the largest rescue mission in the United States. The resources they offer to women, children, senior citizens, and veterans, have made the Detroit Metropolitan Area a better place to work and live. Dr. Audi's tenure and contributions reflect his passion for service, his commitment to his community, and his calling to improve the lives of others. Dr. Audi deserves our utmost respect and admiration and this world would be a better place with more people like him. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the work of Dr. Chad Audi and the strength he has given to the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize BASF on their 150th Anniversary. Their longevity as a company is a testament to their innovative products, the drive of their leaders, and the hard work of their employees. BASF's presence in the United States goes back to the 1950s, and today they employ over 15,000 Americans in more than 30 states. They deserve to be commended for this milestone anniversary. BASF is a pillar of our community in Southeast Michigan. Specifically, their plant in Wyandotte, Michigan employs over 1,000 people in good paying, high skilled jobs. Notable is their dedication to community relations and charitable activities. The company played a critical role in the founding of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the only international wildlife refuge in this country. They worked to restore Fighting Island in the Detroit River so it is suitable for wildlife habitat, and they contributed to the trails in the Humbug Marsh unit, among numerous other activities. Their dedication to conservation, and giving back to the community, is to be commended. When BASF was founded 150 years ago, nobody would have imagined how large the company would grow or the impact they would have on the world. Today, they continue to produce innovative products while also being responsible corporate stewards. This is significant in today's world and deserves praise. Congratulations to everyone at BASF as you celebrate your 150th Anniversary. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 150 years of success and community contributions of BASF.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, this month is an opportunity to celebrate some critical programs. The Older Americans Act celebrated its 50th anniversary this past Tuesday. Medicare and Medicaid turn 50 later this month. And Social Security turns 80 in August. But it is also a time to reframe how we look at aging in this country. With Americans living longer and healthier lives, we need to create a new paradigm that ensures older Americans are living longer with the highest quality of life for the longest time possible. Doing this means we help our aging population feel part of the community, provide opportunities for them to stay physically and socially active, and maintain a serious purpose of life and a zest for life. I came to Congress to protect Medicare and Social Security. They are bedrock programs that seniors depend on for a safe, healthy, and secure retirement. As we celebrate the anniversaries this year, we need to improve and strengthen these programs to better meet the needs of our seniors. We can start by expanding Medicare to cover things like hearing aids.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of Mrs. Geraldine Rutledge. Known affectionately as ``Gerri'' to her friends and family, she was born on April 8, 1945, and passed peacefully on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family and friends. Mrs. Rutledge received her formal education in the Ecorse Public School system in Ecorse, Michigan. She continued her higher education at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. She later received a graduate degree from Eastern Michigan University. Her teaching career spanned more than thirty years in the Willow Run Community Schools, and she retired in 2000 from Henry Ford Elementary School. During her tenure, she was an active member of the Michigan Education Association, served two consecutive terms as President of the local union, and touched the lives of countless children. On Christmas Eve, 1967, she married her college sweetheart, State Representative David Rutledge, a dear friend of mine. They are the loving parents of Felicia and Marcus and together, they supported each other's endeavors in business and public service. As an active member of the community, Mrs. Rutledge was a faithful member of the Second Baptist Church of Ypsilanti. She continually worked to strengthen her relationship with God through biblical studies and church attendance. She was also an active member of the Red Hat Society, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor the life and memory of Mrs. Geraldine Rutledge. She lived a life worthy of recognition. As she makes her way to her heavenly home, may her family and friends take comfort in the memory of the love she shared and the contributions she made to her community.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of my colleagues a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. My district is home to many Yemenis who are deeply concerned, and many families have been in my office in total desperation and tears. This week, 45 civilians were killed after an airstrike hit a marketplace north of Aden. Of real concern is the current outbreak of dengue fever. The World Health Organization estimates there are at least 3,000 cases of dengue fever in Yemen right now, and other groups are estimating it is twice that. My constituents have family members who are suffering and have no access to medications, doctors, hospitals or, in many cases, even clean water. We must show U.S. leadership to help contain this outbreak. Today I sent a letter to Secretary Kerry asking about plans the State Department is undertaking to combat this problem. I hope my colleagues will join me in a bipartisan manner to support real concrete action that is needed to help the Yemenis who are sick, desperate, and in critical need of assistance and leadership.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor for its sesquicentennial anniversary. Second Baptist has stood since 1865 as a symbol of the African American community of Ann Arbor. As this country has gone through a transformative journey to live up to its creed of ``All men are created equal'' for the past century and a half, the Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor has been on a journey to perfect itself. Second Baptist's journey began when it was chartered in 1865. The original congregation was led by Rev. Lewis and met in a small frame cottage overlooking the Huron River. They would later move into a new building in the heart of the segregated black residential community of the city in 1890. As Second Baptist grew, so did Ann Arbor's African American community. In the late 1910's and early 20's, the ``Great Migrations'' led to a large growth in the African American population in Washtenaw County. In the late 20's and 30's programs were inaugurated to help community members get through the Great Depression. In 1966 Rev. Emmett L. Green was chosen to lead Second Baptist through a new Civil Rights Era. Rev. Green was committed to Martin Luther King's inspired Social Gospel civil rights activism during his tenure as pastor. Second Baptist is currently led by Rev. Dr. Stephen Daniels, who aims to help Second Baptist continue its tradition of building a church with Christ and His Gospel as its foundation. On its 150th year, Second Baptist pauses to reflect, to renew and to embrace the limitless possibilities that God has scripted for the coming seasons. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor The Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor for its sesquicentennial anniversary and its dedication to enriching the lives of the surrounding community.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and contributions of Mr. Aubrey William ``Bill'' French for his commitment to the betterment of Ypsilanti, MI, and service to his community. Bill French's passion for business stimulated the local economy and instilled a confidence in other entrepreneurs to invest in Washtenaw County. Mr. French's business career started in 1972 when he and his wife, Sandee French, opened Aubree's Pizzeria in Depot Town. The business became the foundation for Depot Town and it has been a special establishment in Washtenaw County since 1972. Aubree's continues to operate after 43 years, and it has grown to include 8 separate locations. Mr. French was known as a passionate restaurant owner who worked hard to develop a strong rapport with his staff. He helped his team develop a strong work ethic, and supported their academic and professional goals. His skills as a mentor not only developed a restaurant; he built a family. In addition to being a restaurant owner, Mr. French was the first president of the Depot Downtown Development Authority, and served on the Ypsilanti Economic Development Corporation. For his service to his community, Mr. French received many awards throughout his life, such as the Small Business Person of the Year Award in 1994, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor the memory of Mr. Aubrey William ``Bill'' French for his dedication to business, the City of Ypsilanti, and Washtenaw County.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Grace Lee Boggs who will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 27, 2015. As a Member of Congress it is both my privilege and honor to recognize Mrs. Boggs for her service and contributions to the cause of civil rights throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Born to Chinese immigrants in Providence, Rhode Island, Mrs. Boggs graduated from Barnard College in 1935 before going on to receive her Ph.D. in philosophy from Bryn Mawr College in 1940. Mrs. Boggs moved to Detroit in 1953 and immediately identified with issues facing the city's African American population. In an era known for the greatest civil rights advancements in our nation's history, Grace Lee Boggs became an indispensible ally. Her unique approach to the power struggle affecting minorities and women in the middle of the 20th century stood out as innovative even amongst the leading civil rights thinkers of the time. At the core of Mrs. Boggs understanding of social relations is the idea that small groups of people working together are the key to bringing about social change, as opposed to the idea that total revolution is the only option. Mrs. Boggs' belief in starting with localized change is one which all Americans can support, as our nation was founded on the idea of change coming from the bottom, rather than the top. Mrs. Boggs' legacy in Detroit has been enshrined in The James & Grace Lee Boggs School, the Boggs Center, and programs like the Detroit Summer, which brings members of all ages and backgrounds together to think creatively about the problems their communities face and fulfilling the dream of making positive change one small group at a time. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Mrs. Boggs for her service to our community and her leadership in advancing the rights of all Americans. She has made an indelible mark on our nation for which we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Susan Martin for her seven years of service as President of Eastern Michigan University and her long career as a public servant to the State of Michigan. Dr. Martin's commitment to EMU and higher education has resulted in tremendous improvement for the university's campus and greatly enriched the collegiate experience of thousands of students. Dr. Martin's long career in public service reveals her dedication to the betterment of the State of Michigan and her capacity to inspire others to achieve academic excellence. Dr. Martin's passion for higher education began when she worked as an administrator at Grand Valley State University. For 18 years, she worked in several faculty and administrative positions, including Assistant and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Special Assistant to the Provost, and Executive Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. She later served as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at The University of Michigan-Dearborn. Dr. Martin's seven years as the first female president of Eastern Michigan University are marked by many accomplishments. Under her leadership, the university has experienced enrollment growth, the expansion of the Honors College, increased financial aid assistance, student-focused academic advising, collaboration with public safety agencies in the surrounding community, the creation of living and learning spaces, and massive construction projects. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Dr. Susan Martin for her seven years as president of Eastern Michigan University and her dedication to quality, affordable, public education. I thank her for her leadership, and wish her many years of success.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize KLA Laboratories on their 85th anniversary as well as for the opening of their new facility in Dearborn, Michigan. As a Member of Congress it is both my privilege and honor to recognize KLA for their dedication and service in the IT and communications field. In today's technological climate, a skilled and dependable communication provider is an invaluable asset. Over the course of 85 years, KLA Laboratories has been a critical resource for private and public entities ranging from cellular providers to educators and healthcare organizations. KLA established itself on the principles of customer satisfaction, a commitment to quality, and safety. As a testament to these principles, KLA Laboratories now counts several major Detroit-area businesses among those they serve, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and all of Detroit's professional sport teams. This diverse client base exemplifies KLA's leadership in the communications field and has warranted them the coveted ``Best Audio/ Visual Provider in Michigan Award'' on numerous occasions. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring KLA Laboratories for combining best business practices and a committed partnership with our community. I thank them for their great work in our region and hope it will continue for many years to come.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. I am opposed to it in its current form.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, it is very timely that we are considering the intelligence authorization bill today, as there have been several troubling incidents in the last few weeks that require an immediate response by the Congress. I know that Members on both sides of the aisle care deeply about airport security and cybersecurity, and we agree that Congress must do everything possible to keep the American people safe. Last week, we learned that there were 73 people employed at airports across the country that should have been disqualified for employment because they are on a terrorist watch list. The American people deserve the highest level of security at our airports, and, quite frankly, I believe for all of us the status quo is unacceptable. While it is easy for us to blame the TSA for this lapse in security, it is shocking that the TSA does not have access and that the current policy does not authorize them to have access to the information that they need so that they can keep us safe, nor do other appropriate agencies. As much as we agree that reforms are needed at TSA, we should all agree that they should have all the information they need to do their jobs. It is critical that our intelligence and security agencies are sharing information with each other because they have the same mission--keeping the American people safe. This motion to recommit simply states that the Director of National Intelligence must provide all information on new and changing terrorist threats and the updated terrorist watch list information to TSA and to anybody else in the government that needs to have it. In addition, to improve information sharing, I think everybody in this Chamber knows that we must address cybersecurity. Cyber attacks are becoming a routine event in the United States today, and it demands an immediate response and investigation. Americans deserve the peace of mind in knowing that their personal information is secure and not vulnerable to hacking by cyber criminals, yet there is a growing list of recent incidents that continues to put the privacy of everyday Americans, our constituents, at risk. The recent breach of over 4 million records of Federal employees at the Office of Personnel Management and a hack of 80 million records at Anthem Health Insurance and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield are just a few of the prominent examples of this growing threat. And who is paying the price? Working families. For each cyber attack that you read about in the newspapers, there are many more that are going unreported or, worse, undetected. In fact, some security experts are concerned that China is now building a massive database with the personal information of many, many American citizens. Furthermore, American companies are increasingly becoming targets of cyber attacks. With a recent report estimating that this is costing our economy more than $445 billion, we simply cannot wait any longer to protect the privacy of everyday Americans from hackers and cyber criminals in Russia and China. This motion to recommit simply requires the Director of National Intelligence to prioritize efforts to uncover and foil attempts to steal the private, personal information of Americans. This is the least we can do to respond to the attacks on the privacy of the American people. Let's show the American people that Congress is listening.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, the vote today is why I came to Congress. I promised the working men and women in my district that I would fight to make sure that they had a seat at the table when we were making decisions that impact their life and their livelihood. We all know that we must grow our economy and we must compete in a global marketplace. We all know what great products the American worker builds, and that we can outcompete anybody in the world. But we cannot compete with the Bank of Japan and the Bank of China. NAFTA cost us 1 million jobs, and Michigan is still paying the price. The Korea Free Trade Agreement was a great deal for South Korea. They have expanded their imports into this country by almost half a million products. And we have worked to just get 20,000 into that market. Enough is enough. Congress cannot abdicate its responsibility to the working men and women of this country. It is our responsibility to protect our workers. Fast Track doesn't allow this. We should not pass it.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, the rule we are considering today represents everything for me that is wrong with politics. We are currently debating the most important package of trade legislation in a generation; yet, despite how critical this issue is to American jobs, this rule does not allow any amendments. Currency manipulation, the mother of all trade barriers, has cost this country as many as 5 million jobs. A bipartisan group of 20 Members--10 Republicans, 10 Democrats--proposed an amendment to address this, and it is vital that Congress debate and vote on how to address currency manipulation as we set U.S. trade policy for the next decade. With nothing but the deepest of respect for the chair of the Rules Committee, I want to give you the facts about the Korean free trade agreement. The reality is that after it passed, we increased exports to Korea from 14,000 to 34,000. By comparison, Korea exported 800,000 to the U.S. before the trade agreement and now exports 1.3 million. We increased our exports to Korea by 20,000, and they have increased their exports to this country by 461,000. Toyota made more money last year in currency manipulation in this country than Ford Motor Company did in its worldwide operations. The American people deserve a full and open debate on trade policy, not procedural gimmicks and political games that shut out amendments and avoid the tough questions. Let's defeat this rule and have a real debate on the issues that the working men and women of this country have sent us here to consider and that are so critical to the livelihood and the backbone of this American economy. American jobs are at stake.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding and for his leadership on this critically important issue. I rise in very strong support of this amendment. For many years, I have worked with hospitalized veterans and their families who have often had to travel far from home to get treatment and have seen what the Fisher House has done. The Fisher House Foundation does wonders in being a home away from home during very difficult times for our veterans and their families. As Congress continues to address veterans issues, it is critical that their families also have support systems in place and a safe place to stay while the veterans are receiving treatment. We should be building more Fisher House facilities across the country. We are currently trying to put one in Michigan and, as I explored that public-private partnership, discovered that there is more than a 5-year wait in that pipeline. This bill isn't a silver bullet, but it would help reduce that timeline. I want to thank my good friend Congressman Delaney for his leadership on this issue, and I urge all Members to support this bipartisan amendment that helps veterans and their families.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Brian Whiston on his nomination for Michigan's State Superintendent. As a Member of Congress it is both my privilege and honor to recognize Mr. Whiston for his prioritization of the success of our students and guiding them on the right path to higher education and into the workforce. For the past 8 years, Mr. Whiston has served as the Superintendent for Dearborn Public Schools in Dearborn, Michigan, where he selflessly advocated for the betterment of his students and staff through innovative programs and policies. Mr. Whiston implemented a co-teaching model which blends general and special educators to cater to the specific needs of ESL students who comprise a vast majority of the student population. Breaking down the barriers of the typical high school classroom scenario, Mr. Whiston created initiatives for students to explore career interests and acclimate themselves to the college experience. Advanced placement programs, Dual Enrollment at local universities, a S.T.E.M. based magnet program, and a vocational program for culinary arts and hospitality have created a wide array of avenues for students to venture into higher education. This innovative approach led to increased test scores and graduation rates in the district and was certainly of note as Mr. Whiston was named Michigan's Superintendent of the Year in 2014. As a proponent and champion of unions, Mr. Whiston fostered a strong working relationship with all unions in the district, which was instrumental in settling contracts that kept jobs in the district, balanced the budget, and saved valuable taxpayer dollars. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Mr. Whiston for achieving this accolade. I am confident his fantastic work with Dearborn Public Schools will transcend into his tenure as Michigan's next State Superintendent.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 1335, legislation that is very important to reauthorize the historically bipartisan Magnuson-Stevens Act. While I have nothing but the utmost respect for my colleague from Alaska (Mr. Young), I am afraid that I fear that this legislation would take our fisheries management system in the wrong direction. The bottom line is Magnuson-Stevens is working today. U.S. fisheries have been remarkably successful since the last reauthorization in 2007, and if it isn't broken, why should we try to fix it? According to NOAA, 37 important fish stocks have been rebuilt to healthy population levels since 2000, and the number of stocks subject to overfishing has been cut nearly in half since 2006. H.R. 1335 would eliminate critical conservation tools that have been essential to our recent success and would also undermine critical environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. I hope that we can work towards a compromise so that Magnuson-Stevens can be reauthorized in a bipartisan manner, as the last two bills were. Until then, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing H.R. 1335.

Mrs. DINGELL. I have an amendment at the desk, Mr. Chairman.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, the National Environmental Policy Act, also called NEPA, is a critically important law, not only for protecting the environment, but also for protecting the people's right to participate in government decisionmaking. Sadly, H.R. 1335, the bill we are considering today, would short-circuit public review and comment on fisheries management decisions, casting NEPA aside in favor of an inadequate, poorly defined process that would make regional fishery management councils the ultimate arbiters of whether or not their own decisions would impact coastal communities and ocean ecosystems. Forcing important NEPA analysis to be fast-tracked onto a council's timeline would eliminate crucial oversight steps that provide stakeholders an opportunity to impact the public policy. While I know my colleagues had good intentions, the practical impact of this language means that local communities and businesses will not have the same opportunity to comment and have input on decisions that will impact their livelihood. I don't think my colleagues on the other side of the aisle really want to limit public participation in this manner. My amendment simply strikes the harmful language from the bill that undermines NEPA because limiting transparency and accountability is not the right thing to do. NEPA has a simple premise: look before you leap. For decades, NEPA has improved our environment and fostered fairness in our communities by ensuring that government remains accountable to the people. The NEPA process requires Federal agencies to review their proposed actions in light of their potential impacts on the human environment: the places where we all live, work, and play. Most importantly, NEPA gives the public an opportunity to review and comment on actions proposed by the government, adding unique perspectives to the evaluation process that highly specialized, mission-driven agencies might otherwise ignore. In that way, NEPA is the ultimate check on Big Government, a uniquely American and quintessentially democratic--small D--law written and executed to help people protect their rights and freedoms. Our Founding Fathers would certainly be proud. I hope that my colleagues will agree that existing NEPA protections should be preserved, and I ask that you vote in favor of my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mrs. DINGELL. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I want to quickly respond to some of the comments made by the other side. Federal agency responsibility for NEPA is effectively being eliminated by this law and an alternative, undefined process is being established hindering the public's ability to influence policies and protect their rights. Stakeholders, including businesses and individuals, would get less consideration in the council process and would not have a way of voicing their concerns and influencing the directions of plans or projects that could threaten the environment or the livelihoods of these people. It is simply common sense that plans to manage our valuable resources be properly assessed before resources are harvested. I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.