Vernon Ehlers

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the Speaker-designate.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton). (Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Arizona said no one was being berated, but frankly I feel berated. This is not the middle of the night. We all know that. I never thought my fellow Republicans would accuse me of doing something in the middle of the night. I would have rather done it in the light of day but this just happened to be when it came up in the schedule. This action, what we are doing here, does not preclude later action to take care of those problem cases in personal offices. That is beside the point. The point right now is we have a large number of committee staff who are learning fairly late in the game who it is that is being laid off; namely, those particular persons. They do not have the opportunity to suddenly rush out and find a job immediately. Some committee chairmen have talked to me and are very concerned because they don't know whether they should use their leftover year-end funds for this purpose. Some of them have money left. Others do not. There is a huge inequity. This is an attempt to provide an equitable severance package. A severance package is not unusual in today's world. Ford Motor Company just bought out huge numbers of employees who they just wanted to get off the payroll. It is a very common practice. We are doing the proper thing to assure that everyone is treated equally in the committee staffs that are losing their jobs. Mr. Speaker, in the little time I have remaining, I would like to recognize the gentleman from California for a closing statement.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) and ask unanimous consent that she may control that time.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As colleagues, we often disagree on many issues with our friends on the other side of the aisle; but we can all agree that we are blessed by a tireless, dedicated workforce in this Congress. And whenever there is a transfer of power of this sort, there is a tremendous dislocation amongst our staff. I think it is entirely reasonable to do as we did to a certain extent in 1994, as the Senate did in 2004, when there is a dramatic change of leadership, to provide a period of time for the staff to adjust to that changing situation. So I believe this is an appropriate measure, and I encourage the House to act favorably for it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of this resolution.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1104) providing for a severance payment for employees of leadership offices and committees of the House of Representatives who are separated from employment solely and directly as a result of a change in the party holding the majority of the membership of the House.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, this bill has been submitted at the request and suggestion of the current minority leader and soon-to-be majority leader, and because of that situation I reserve the balance of my time and yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) to allow her, the ranking member and the cosponsor of the bill, to speak on the resolution.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the time to Mr. Boehlert.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his kind words, and also have a good deal of sorrow in my heart because of his departure from this Congress. You have contributed so much, Mr. Chairman, and we deeply appreciate what you have done. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this life-saving bill. H.R. 1674, as amended, will provide the tools our communities need to protect their citizens from the threat of tsunamis. On December 26, 2004, one of the most devastating tsunamis ever recorded struck the unsuspecting nations of the Indian Ocean Basin. According to the U.N., almost a quarter-million people lost their lives or have never been found, and millions more were displaced. These numbers are impossible to comprehend. It represents more than the number of people killed in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear weapons blasts. The effects of this tragedy will be felt for generations. As we recovered from the shock of the event, we naturally began to ask the question: How can we prevent this from happening again? H.R. 1674, as amended, the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, is part of the answer. Tsunami warning systems can save lives by giving people the time they need to get out of harm's way. This bill will expand the coverage of our tsunami warning systems to cover both the coasts of the U.S., not just the Pacific coast, giving more of our citizens critical protection. Of equal importance, this bill will help communities develop efficient evacuation plans as well as effective systems for broadcasting warnings. It will also help educate the public so that they know how to respond to those warnings. In short, this bill will give our coastal communities the tools they need to save lives. Our Nation has been fortunate not to have experienced a tsunami of the magnitude of the Indian Ocean tsunami--yet. Nor have we escaped all harm. Tsunamis have killed over 300 people in the U.S. in my lifetime, and the threat remains real, whether in Alaska or Crescent City, California, or any of our other coastal areas. It is critical that we give our coastal communities the tools and timely information they need to alert their citizens to coming danger, and passing this bill will help make that happen. It is unfortunate that it often takes a tragic event to bring natural disaster response planning to our attention. This makes it all the more important that we seize on this opportunity to help prevent future tragedies here in the U.S. and around the world. It is of utmost importance that we pass this bill to establish a tsunami forecast and warning system for the United States, aid other countries in doing the same, and educate the public to understand and heed the warnings. I want to once again emphasize this bill will save lives. I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of H.R. 1674, as amended.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1674) to authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be carried out by the National Weather Service, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my good friend and colleague, Sherry Boehlert. It has been my honor to serve on the Science Committee with Sherry for more than a decade. As the Committee Chairman, his inspired leadership earned the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Sherry's thoughtful approach to policy and commitment to pragmatic, non-partisan solutions to our nation's problems have led to policies that are both sensible and effective. Under his leadership, the Committee has elevated the importance of the federal science and technology portfolio, promoted sound environmental and energy policies, and strengthened math and science education. He also reinforced the scientific expertise of the Committee by adding a number of seasoned scientists to its staff. Sherry's unflagging optimism allowed him to plow through adversity and what most of us would consider insurmountable challenges. Through even the most discouraging times, his generosity of spirit and his endless good humor has been contagious to his colleagues--even when they don't share his point of view. I am certain that his endless enthusiasm and constant optimism will be remembered by all who have worked with Sherry. He has served the public in a manner that is rarely seen today: thoughtfully, carefully, and with great humility. In all, Sherry will leave this Congress considerably better than he found it, and he will be sorely missed. It lessens the blow slightly to know that Sherry will not be going too far away. He will be continuing his service to his fellow citizens in Washington at the Wilson Center on a scholarly appointment. Undoubtedly, science policy will continue to feel the influence of his thoughtful and dynamic approach to problem-solving.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 73) supporting the goals and ideals of National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 73, introduced by my colleague from Louisiana, Congressman McCrery. This bill will establish the first Tuesday in May as National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day, during which volunteers will register high school seniors and other students of voting age on site in their schools. As I have often stated, my goal as the chairman of the House Administration Committee is to make sure that every citizen who is able to vote does so. As an educator, I have witnessed firsthand the passion and energy our young people possess when given a chance to voice their beliefs, qualities that will serve them well as they enter the voting booth. The National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day will create an additional mechanism to register young men and women and perhaps encourage an early desire to participate in the political process. Accordingly, I call upon my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the sponsor of the resolution, Mr. McCrery of Louisiana.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam 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 H. Con. Res. 73.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 495) authorizing the printing as a House document of ``United States House of Representatives, The Committee on Ways and Means: A History, 1789-2006,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Britt ``Max'' Mayfield on an exemplary career of service to his fellow citizens, and to wish him well in his much-deserved retirement. In his 34 years of service to the nation, Max Mayfield has personified the dedication and excellence that make the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service one of the crown jewels of the federal government. Since he began forecasting weather for the Air Force in 1970, and over more than three decades with the National Weather Service, Max has helped push forward the science of forecasting to help make our nation a safer place. But just making better forecasts has never been enough for Max, because a forecast does no good if nobody hears it. Mr. Mayfield has also dedicated his career to making sure that his always-improving forecasts get out as quickly as possible to the people who need them. For example, he has worked tirelessly to make more educational opportunities available to emergency managers so that they have the tools they need to interpret and respond to hurricane and severe weather forecasts quickly and intelligently. There is no doubt in my mind that Max Mayfield's exemplary efforts, and those of his hard-working staff at the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Prediction Center, have helped communities prepare for impending disasters and have saved lives in communities across the country and around the world. I am not alone in my esteem for Mr. Mayfield. The American Meteorology Society, the National Association of Government Communicators, ABC Television, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the National Hurricane Conference, the Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and President George W. Bush have all presented Max with formal awards for his outstanding achievements and service to his craft and to society. And those are just the formal awards--they do not include the many personal ``thank-you's'' that he has received from the very people he has spent his life serving, and from the people whose lives he has helped save. So I am pleased to express my deepest gratitude to Max Mayfield, and to his endlessly supportive family for sharing him with us for this time. God bless you and the work you have done; I wish you calm weather and smooth sailing in your retirement.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 423) authorizing the printing as a House document of `A History, Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, 1813-2006,' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, on November 6, 2006 the U.S. House of Representatives lost an institution in the Members' Dining Room when Jon Corbin, maitre d' until January 2006, passed on. Jon started his lifelong career working for Congress in 1954 working for Representative Sam Rayburn and the Texas Delegation giving tours of the U.S. Capitol. He also took a second job at the U.S. Senate Post Office from which he retired in 2005. Jon became very popular working with the Texas Delegation and was assigned the position of personal server for Rep. Rayburn in his private dining room until Rep. Rayburn's death in 1961. Jon went on to become the maitre d' of the Main Dining Room, now the Members' Dining Room, in 1968. Jon loved his job, working with the Members of the House. He was an astute listener and would gather all the facts before answering most questions asked of him, giving well thought out, honest answers and his views on many subjects. He was a huge sports fan and did his research on most scores and the who, what and when of big weekend games that Members would discuss with him. Jon was extremely knowledgeable about the U.S. Capitol and was considered the dining room staff information source on most questions concerning the Capitol. He was well liked and respected by his fellow workers and by Members of Congress. Jon had a great memory and knew most of the Members, past and present, by name on sight. All who had the honor to meet and work with Jon Corbin will truly miss him. On behalf of the former and current Members Jon served over more than 50 years, and the entire House community, we celebrate Jon's contributions to this institution and extend condolences to his family and friends on his passing.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 505 I could not vote because the First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, and I were dedicating the new National Garden at the Botanic Gardens, and I was not able to return to the House Chamber in time to register my vote. Had I been present, I would voted ``yea.''