Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support passage of H.R. 3125, The Radio Spectrum Inventory Act. I'm proud to be an initial cosponsor of this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it enacted into law. Thank you, Chairman Waxman for your leadership on this bill, and I appreciate the important bipartisan work of the Ranking Minority Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Joe Barton. We pass this bill at an opportune moment. This past month, the Federal Communications Commission released its National Broadband Plan. The FCC pointed out what many of us already have known for a long time--broadband rollout requires an increasing amount of spectrum. We're already seeing competing industries squabble over spectrum, and we are in danger of having an all-out range war between the wireless industry and broadcasters. We can head it all off at the pass by doing the obvious--review our resources first, and reallocate second. That doesn't mean I want the FCC to stand still while we review the spectrum chart. There is plenty of spectrum already available, like the Advanced Wireless Spectrum, that should go for useful purposes like a free national wireless broadband lifeline. So the FCC must keep moving and deploy what they can as expeditiously as possible. We've also had to make some compromises on this bill to comply with essential national security issues. As a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I recognize the essential need to document spectrum use and prevent channel hoarding, and as the Chair of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management, my views are likewise shaped by the need to safeguard channels that our intelligence, security and military agencies may need in the future. Our very lives may depend upon it. I believe this bill finds that happy medium. It will spur economic growth and innovation while keeping America safe. The FCC and NTIA can review our spectrum assets in a judicial manner and develop informational resources that will guide us as we implement the National Broadband Plan. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I feel so privileged to be part of a Congress that is on the threshold of making history. Since Teddy Roosevelt and all Presidents forward, we have struggled in our country to provide something for our people that has eluded them. As the Catholic sisters said as they urged us to vote for this legislation, they called it ``life affirming.'' I think the step that we take this evening will perfect the union in our country. Why? Because the human body holds the soul. And when we help to cure, when we help to heal, when we recognize the dignity of every single American, that they have first-class citizenship and that they should indeed have health care coverage. This is a landmark piece of legislation. I feel privileged that my constituents have sent me here to cast a vote for it, and I urge everyone to do so. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the landmark comprehensive health care reform that is before us. For the first time in history, Congress will pass legislation to finally insure all Americans. This legislation will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over 10 years and $1.2 trillion over 20; eliminate discriminatory insurance practices, and open the insurance market to millions of Americans who have been priced out. More than a century has passed since Teddy Roosevelt first called for health care reform. Nineteen presidents later, we stand on the threshold of history as we prepare to vote on this historic legislation. The American people have been waiting for this. The American people deserve this, and the status quo is no longer affordable or acceptable. To those who say we can't afford health care reform in the current economy, I say we can't afford not to. We spend more on health care than any other country in the world and the costs are crippling to our economy. If we do nothing, in 2015 health care spending will jump by 34 percent. By 2020, health care premiums will double and in 2010 alone, we're projected to spend more than $2.6 trillion on health care. A vote for this legislation is to stand on the right side of history. I feel privileged to serve in Congress and to participate in this historic effort. We stand on the shoulders of those who toiled for decades, including Senator Edward Kennedy, to bring us to this moment. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate San Mateo, California, Police Chief Susan Manheimer on becoming the first woman President of the California Police Chiefs Association, which boasts 338 of California's top cops in its membership. The Chiefs Association was founded in 1966, and its membership represents municipal districts containing 78 percent of the state's residents. Chief Manheimer received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Saint Mary's College in Moraga and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University. From 1983 to 1984, Manheimer was a broadcast journalist for KCBS radio. Before being named the top cop in the City of San Mateo, Chief Manheimer served 16 years with the San Francisco Police Department from 1984-2000, where she did robbery decoy work, gang and violent-crime suppression. Her last assignment was as the Captain of the Tenderloin Task Force, a tough inner-city neighborhood in San Francisco. She was among the first group of female captains and lieutenants promoted in the San Francisco Police Department. She was appointed Chief of Police for the City of San Mateo in May of 2000, and became the first woman to head the San Mateo Police Department, which was also a first in San Mateo County. Chief Manheimer continues her commitment to neighborhood policing and has implemented many innovative programs, such as the highly successful Homeless Outreach Team and the Adopt-a-School program. She has also led the way in forming creative partnerships with the community and allied agencies including the Tongan Interfaith Council for Central San Mateo County, the Juvenile Hall Assessment and Diversion Center, and the countywide Gang Task Force which she helped to found. Chief Manheimer serves on many county-wide initiatives, including the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and the Domestic Violence Council. Chief Manheimer previously served as the Acting President of the California Police Chiefs Association, is a Governor's appointee to the State Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Crime Prevention, and is on the Board of Fight Crime Invest in Kids California, the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, and the University of San Francisco Law Enforcement Leadership Institute. In 2006, Chief Manheimer was recognized by Jewish Women International as a ``Woman to Watch'' and in 2008, she was chosen as a Women's Hall of Fame Honoree by San Mateo County which honored her as an extraordinarily dedicated woman who has left an indelible imprint on the history of San Mateo County. Chief Manheimer resides in San Mateo County with her husband, Michael, and adult children Sarah and Jesse. She is active in the Police Activities League, the Military Mom's Association, the San Mateo Rotary, and enjoys skiing, hiking, rowing, and service to her community. Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in offering our warmest congratulations to Chief Susan Manheimer on becoming the first woman President of the California Police Chiefs Association and extend to her our gratitude for her visionary leadership to keep our neighborhoods safe, and her service to the community which strengthens California's justice system and our nation's as well.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce ``The Next Generation 9-1-1 Preservation Act of 2010.'' This bill represents the combined work of my colleague and E9-1-1 Caucus Co-Chair, John Shimkus, as well as our Senate Co-Chair counterparts, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Richard Burr. I'm very grateful to my colleagues for their efforts. Representative Shimkus and I are the remaining original co-founders of the E9-1-1 Caucus and we have shared in its mission over the years. I'm very pleased that Senators Klobuchar and Burr have joined us in this important work. Together, we will make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who call 9-1-1 each day. For the past seven years, the E9-1-1 Caucus has worked in a bi- partisan, bicameral fashion to ensure that 9-1-1 call centers have essential technology to perform their life-saving tasks. In 2004, we introduced the ENHANCE 911 Act, which established a National 9-1-1 Office to coordinate the implementation of Enhanced 9-1-1 services at the Federal, State and local levels. We provided funding resources for a grant program and made certain that funds collected on telecommunications bills for 9-1-1 were used only in support of 9-1-1 services. We followed up on this initial core legislation with language in the ``Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007;'' the ``New and Emerging Technologies 9-1-1 Improvement Act of 2008;'' and the ``National 9-1-1 Education Month Resolution in 2008.'' The 2008 Farm bill also included language to make loans to improve 9-1-1 access to entities eligible to borrow from the Rural Utilities Service. Our work and dedication to 9-1-1 call centers is ongoing and evolving because technology changes and new tools have become available to upgrade safety protocols. In part, that's why we call the new program ``Next Generation 9-1-1.'' We have moved from the point where we are mainly concerned about enhanced services for location identification. Now we take global positioning technology for granted. We need to focus on coordinated efforts to recognize essential technology and upgrades, and facilitate this process at the national level through a coordinated, Federal effort. We need to enhance interoperability and citizen access, while providing tools for the call centers as they route information and coordinate responses. The Next Generation 9-1-1 bill authorizes $250 million in grants for each fiscal year for the next five years for ongoing programming and moves the Coordination Office to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce. When this program initially began, it was placed in the Department of Transportation, but we now recognize that NTIA is the proper location for public safety technology grants and programming. We also remain concerned about states that raise funds for 9-1-1 services on consumers' telecommunications bills, but divert those funds for other budgetary purposes. Now, more than ever, we need to provide incentives for States to keep their promise to use the funds for the purpose for which they were raised. We cannot permit routine raids of the 9-1-1 coffers at the expense of public safety. And that's what this bill really is about--public safety at its most basic level. The first tool of first responders is the E9-1-1 call center. Let's ensure that these centers have the tools that they need to serve the public and keep us all safe.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Chief Justice of California Supreme Court, Ronald Marc George on the occasion of his 70th birthday and to thank him for his years of extraordinary public service to the people of California and beyond. Chief Justice George is married to his beloved wife, Barbara and they have three children . . . Eric, Andrew and Chris, and two grandchildren, Charlotte and Maya, daughters of Chris and his wife Rebecca. Born on March 11, 1940, Chief Justice George received his A.B. from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1961, and a J.D. from Stanford University in 1964. Currently serving as the 27th Chief Justice of California, he heads the Supreme Court of California as well as the Judicial Council of California. Chief Justice George has had a long and distinguished career. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of California in 1991 by Governor Pete Wilson after serving on the bench in the Los Angeles Municipal Court, the Los Angeles Superior Court and on the Court of Appeals. He also served as Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice where he prepared six oral arguments and briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice George served as the President of the Conference of Chief Justices, Chair of the Board of Directors in the National Center for State Courts, President of the California Judges Association, as well as many other activities and associations outside his work on the bench. He has been honored by numerous organizations including the Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles' Roger J. Traynor Memorial Award in 2009, the Bar Association of San Francisco's Champion of Justice Award in 2008, the American Bar Association's John Marshall Award in 2007 and the Legal Writing Institute's Golden Pen Award in 2007. His accomplishments and recognitions are simply too many to name. In addition to his judicial commitments and volunteer activities, he takes time to lecture at numerous judicial education programs, law schools and events around the country to share his experience and legal expertise. Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in offering our best wishes to Chief Justice Ronald George on the very special occasion of his 70th birthday, and extend our gratitude for his integrity, his love of the Constitution and his exemplary leadership which strengthens California's judicial system and our nation as well.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I oppose this resolution. I have serious reservations about the presence of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. I opposed the President's plan to send additional troops into that country, and I opposed funding for the surge. I was reassured when the President said that he wanted to begin withdrawing U.S. troops beginning in 2011. I joined 137 of my colleagues to vote with Representative McGovern to demand that the President provide a plan for withdrawing from Afghanistan, and have been deeply concerned that the mission for our troops there is not clear. If their mission is not well defined, how can we expect to judge success? I do not support an open-ended commitment without clear goals. But I also cannot support a sudden withdrawal without a plan to protect American lives and American interests. And that's why I will vote against this Resolution. This Resolution directs the President to remove all U.S. forces from Afghanistan 30 days from adoption, unless the President decides it is not safe to do so. He would then have until the end of 2010 to remove all U.S. forces from Afghanistan. This language is absolute and provides no exceptions. It does not provide exceptions for U.S. forces that might be necessary to safeguard U.S. embassy personnel. It does not provide exceptions for our intelligence community or Special Forces so they can continue to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in the search for al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. It does not provide exceptions for U.S. military personnel who are engaged in training the Afghanistan National Army or Afghanistan National Police to provide their own security. We should not be involved in a civil war in Afghanistan, but there are a few, limited missions in Afghanistan that may be necessary to protect our national interests. This Resolution does not allow us any flexibility to address those missions, and this is why I cannot support a policy that endangers the lives of U.S. personnel on the ground and allows al Qaeda to continue to destabilize the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and potentially strike us here at home. I hope Representative Kucinich will refine his legislation and work with the President to present us with a plan to bring our troops home safely and in a timely manner.

Mr. ESHOO

Mr. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today on a topic of deep personal significance. Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed H. Res. 252, the Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. The next step is for the full House of Representatives to consider this resolution and finally place our country on the right side of history. To all Americans and Armenian-Americans such as myself, this matter is not a historical exercise. It is about truth and justice. It is about acknowledging that a genocide which has long been documented and discussed took place . . . the first genocide of the 20th Century. The time for avoiding the truth of the Armenian Genocide has passed. More than 90 years after the fact, no one can seriously question whether the systematic annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians was genocide. It's a fact. To those who say that this is an inopportune time, an inconvenient time to acknowledge it, I quote my dear friend, the late Senator Edward Kennedy, ``facts are stubborn things.'' They don't yield to convenience nor wait for opportunity. The United States was a leader in the relief effort for the Genocide's victims in the 1920s, extending help to people like my mother who fled the massacres. Those of us who have lived with this tragedy in our families and our communities see today the disturbing similarities taking place around the world in the bleak landscapes of Darfur and the Nineveh Plains region of Iraq. If we're serious when we say ``never again,'' we must be honest about history. Genocide is the most barbaric and criminal act mankind can commit. Our condemnation today must be full-throated and unambiguous. Thank you Chairman Berman and Representative Schiff for having the courage to introduce this measure and pass it out of committee. Please join me in voting ``yes'' on this resolution when it reaches the House Floor.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I was not present during rollcall vote No. 90 on March 4, 2010 because I had to return to California for important business. Had I been present, I would have voted: on rollcall vote No. 90, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, since President John F. Kennedy announced his vision for an American volunteer service, the Peace Corps has made extraordinary contributions to millions of people across the globe. It plays an ongoing role in encouraging mutual understanding and nonviolent coexistence among peoples of diverse cultures. In the 49 years since its inception, nearly 200,000 Americans-- including my son Paul--have served in 139 countries across five continents. These volunteers have provided lasting contributions to the agriculture, economy, technology, education, health, youth, and environment in areas of the world that require it most. In the course of their service, Peace Corps Volunteers learn new languages, gain international experience, and develop an understanding of other cultures. Their work and the skills they develop strengthen our ties to the global community and enhance our positive image abroad. Because of these achievements and its commitment to volunteerism, the Peace Corps is one of the most cost-effective foreign policy initiatives employed by our nation. I've proudly supported the Peace Corps throughout my time in Congress. I've fought to increase recruitment of volunteers, develop training programs in education and AIDS prevention, and to help returning volunteers with student loans. Most recently, I voted tor and Congress passed an increased investment in the Peace Corps, allowing the creation of new programs in Indonesia and Sierra Leone this year. On this 49th anniversary of its founding, I applaud the Peace Corps for its important work and honor its volunteers.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I was not present during rollcall vote No. 78 on March 3, 2010. I would like the Record to reflect how I would have voted: On rollcall vote No. 78, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act. The McCarran-Ferguson Act, passed in 1945, exempted insurance companies from antitrust legislation that applies to most other business. The Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act removes the antitrust exemption for health insurance companies, requiring them to compete fairly and adhere to the same antitrust laws as others. No longer will health insurers be allowed to price-fix, divide up territories among themselves, or sabotage their competitors in order to gain a monopoly in the marketplace. Such practices have been outlawed in other industries for decades. The Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act will bring much needed reform to the health insurance industry by allowing true competition between health insurers. Competition is what drives our economy, spurs innovation, and ensures that the American consumer gets a fair deal. More competition means lower health insurance costs for higher quality healthcare. For too long, the health insurance exemption has led to higher premiums for consumers and contributed to the unsustainable increases in health care costs. As a result, 94% of all health insurance markets are ``highly concentrated''--meaning consumers have little or no choice between insurance providers. There are only two industries in our country that are exempt from antitrust laws--the health insurance industry and major league baseball. The American people deserve better than this and I'm proud to cast my vote in support of the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. I want to thank the gentleman for his support. This is a bipartisan amendment. I just want to add, Madam Chair, this is in no way a ban across the entire Federal Government and Federal workers. There are some that teach at universities at night; there are others that make really very low salaries--GS-1s in the $17,000 range--that do have some outside employment. This goes directly to the skill set that the American people train these CIA officers and others in the intelligence community to do their work relative to national security. That shouldn't be sold off in bits and parts by moonlighting. So I think that we've done that respectfully, and I think that we've done it thoughtfully. And I'd like to thank the chairman again for this, Mr. Rogers, and Members that have supported it. I think it's a good amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Chairman, I rise to offer an important amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act. Madam Chairman, many of the provisions that I supported and authored are already in the legislation that was reported out of the committee. Today I'm offering this amendment to address a problem that arose after our consideration of the bill last year. Earlier this month we discovered that intelligence community employees have been starting businesses to sell private companies the very skills they use in their employment for the government. For example, a number of CIA employees launched a company to sell deception detection services to hedge funds and ran this company while they were Federal employees. I'm very troubled by this. I questioned the Director of National Intelligence about this at HPSCI's worldwide threats hearing, and he said he would look into it. While waiting for a formal answer, I discovered, to my great surprise, that this activity had already been approved by their agencies. Clearly, we need to tighten up that process. All Federal agencies are required to have conflict of interest guidelines that set limits on employees' outside employment. Now, these guidelines are developed jointly by the agency and by the Office of Government Ethics. But the DNI has not issued intelligence community- wide policy guidance on conflicts of interest for outside employment. So this amendment does two things. First, it requires the DNI to establish an intelligence community-wide conflict of interest regulation working in connection with, and in conjunction with, the Office of Government Ethics to establish a community-wide process for checking outside employment for conflicts of interest, and also to submit an annual report to the intelligence committees on outside employment activities that were approved in the last year. Second, it would prohibit employees from owning companies that sell skills that are related to their government service. I think that government employees, and especially those in the intelligence community, should adhere to the highest ethical standards. The American people have to have confidence that government employees are working in the best interest of the Nation and not in just a personal self-interest. I want to thank my colleagues from the HPSCI, Representatives Tierney, Boren, Schakowsky, Thompson, Holt, Rogers and Myrick, for cosponsoring this amendment. And I urge the adoption of it. Madam Chairman, how much time do I have left?

Ms. ESHOO. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers) 1\1/2\ minutes.

Ms. ESHOO. Finally, I would like to say in response to really a terrible charge that was made by one of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that this bill weakens the intelligence community, that it is an attack on the intelligence community: we can't let that stand. There isn't anything farther from the truth. This is singularly the largest Intel authorization with its base budget in the history of the United States of America. We are giving to the intelligence community the very tools that it requires, that it has requested, and are glad to do so.

Ms. ESHOO. I thank the chairwoman, and I thank our distinguished chairman for his wonderful and dedicated leadership of the House Intelligence Committee. It's been far too long since we've had an Intelligence authorization bill enacted. Because Congress has the responsibility to set guidance for the intelligence community to strengthen our national security, which is really our highest obligation here in Congress, I am really pleased that this critical legislation is on the floor today. This bill take some very important steps to increase congressional oversight of the intelligence community, which is very much needed. I would like to address two in particular that came out of the subcommittee that I am proud to chair. First, the bill creates an independent intelligence community inspector general. So many of the issues in the intelligence community cut across multiple agencies, and today there is no one who can look at all sides of these issues. This inspector general will have the dual responsibility to report to the Congress, not just to the Director of National Intelligence, increasing our oversight. Second, this bill allows the GAO to conduct audits and reviews of the intelligence community. We all know the value of the GAO's assessments firsthand. Their reputation for objective, thorough reviews is second to none. But today, the intelligence community refuses to allow GAO in the door, even when Congress has asked them to investigate. This is not going to stand because the bill corrects it. The bill increases oversight of the security clearance process and takes steps to improve information sharing, both high priorities of my subcommittee. We have had numerous hearings on these topics and will continue to do so. Finally, my colleagues, we all take this responsibility to oversee the intelligence community very seriously. We are the eyes and ears of the American people to examine the issues that are hidden behind the walls of classification, and as the voice of the American people to ask the questions which they cannot. This bill strengthens our ability to do just that, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of and very proud to cosponsor the Equality for Women Farmers Act, introduced by Congresswoman DeLauro. I thank Congresswoman DeLauro for her leadership on behalf of women farmers. After being presented with the facts about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's history of discrimination toward women farmers, Congresswoman DeLauro became their champion and crafted H.R. 4264, the Equality for Women Farmers Act. Like Congresswoman DeLauro, I'm proud of the important role women farmers have played in the development of our nation's food system, but I was shocked to learn about the discrimination that many women farmers have been subjected to by the USDA. In December, Congresswoman DeLauro and I listened to six extraordinary women farmers who shared their stories about discrimination from the USDA. This discrimination has come in many forms including denied access to even an application form. More than 1,900 women farmers across the U.S. have detailed the discrimination they suffered in seeking farm loans and assistance from the USDA and how such actions have seriously disadvantaged them. The discrimination cost some of the women farmers their livelihoods and discouraged future generations of women farmers from considering this an honorable profession. I applaud the USDA and the Obama administration for reaching an agreement with black farmers over racial discrimination, however, we can not forget about the other groups that have faced discrimination at the USDA, including women farmers. The Equality for Women Farmers Act changes USDA policy to provide a procedure for compensating women farmers who have suffered years of gender discrimination from the USDA. This legislation will establish a compensation fund for women farmers and set up a process to review and adjudicate their claims. I support the Equality for Women Farmers Act because I believe strongly that all farmers, regardless of gender, should be given the opportunity to succeed. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 944. I commend Representative Peters for his valuable work with the Caucus on Religious Minorities in the Middle East, which, together with my colleague Representative Frank Wolf, I am proud to co-chair. The second anniversary of the kidnapping and brutal murder of the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul is a fitting time to remember our responsibility to these vulnerable groups both during and in the aftermath of the war. As an Assyrian American, I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing struggle Iraq's minorities face each day. There have been dozens of church burnings, kidnappings, and random acts of violence against Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and numerous other minority groups and this Resolution calls on the Iraqi government to take meaningful action to address their plight. Last year, we took an important step by appropriating $10 million to assist Iraq's minorities in the Nineveh Plains region. I'm pleased that today's Resolution calls on the Iraqi government to protect the people in that area. Madam Speaker, for the sake of a free and pluralistic Iraq, I urge a ``yes'' vote on today's Resolution.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I offer these few words in observation and in celebration of the birthday of a man who remains very much with us as we go about the people's business--Senator Ted Kennedy. No one fought harder for the causes in which he believed, but he also believed in working across the aisle and in reaching out to find common ground. No one believed more deeply in providing universal health care to all Americans and I know that if he were still in the United States Senate, he would have been working overtime to help us find a way to make health care a reality for everyone. Those of us who are blessed to have known him and to be wrapped in his special embrace of friendship miss him deeply. But we can feel him at our shoulder, urging us on, helping us find joy in battle, satisfaction in doing our best, and taking inspiration from the people who need us most and who cannot speak for themselves. And we can still be touched by his example, his belief in a common respect that each of us is here to do our best to make our nation better. On this day when Senator Kennedy would be 78, let us give ourselves a gift--let us be worthy of his unfailing optimism--let us work together a little harder, get along a little better, and spend the few precious moments we are allotted bringing all Americans freedom to live a healthy life. Happy birthday, my friend, and God bless you.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009. First, my thanks to Chairman Gordon and Representative Lipinski for their work on this bill. The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act coordinates federal research and development in cybersecurity, focuses on developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce, and prominently positions the U.S. in the development of international cybersecurity technical standards. These areas should be priorities for all agencies in the federal government. While these investments and initiatives will move us toward the goal of protecting our nation's information infrastructure and assets, there is more we must do to protect these essential resources. There's been an alarming increase in the number of cyberattacks launched on the U.S. information technology industry, their employees, customers, and the U.S. citizens that leverage these innovative tools. In addition, many countries are beginning to implement specific regulations that discriminate against the U.S. by requiring our innovators to reveal the blueprints of their success as a condition of market entry. This is essentially the ``hijacking'' of intellectual property and is widespread around the world. As a result, the attacks on these uniquely American assets not only jeopardize U.S. economic security, but our national security is also at risk. This is a threat to the continued economic growth and job creation by the information technology industry, much of which comes from my district. It also undermines the integrity of the networks across the globe which the U.S. depends on to secure sensitive information. The cybersecurity initiatives in this legislation are a worthwhile effort which I support. It also is imperative that the growth engine of our innovation economy--our information technology that is delivered seamlessly and securely around the globe--is defended and protected by the U.S. government when a foreign entity attempts to compromise it. Congress must move aggressively to ensure that any attempt at cyberattacks or ``high-tech robbery'' on any U.S. enterprise here and abroad is dealt with strongly and swiftly by the United States Government. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and work of Daniel Stewart Berkey who passed away at the age of 68 on October 19, 2009. Daniel is survived by his beloved wife, Ann Richardson Berkey, his daughter Elizabeth Wellington Berkey, and his son, William Cabot Berkey. Other surviving relatives include his brother-in-law, Thomas Latham Richardson of Sarasota, Florida, his brother, Richard Scott Berkey, Jr., of Vienna, Virginia and several aunts, nieces and nephews. Daniel Berkey was born on June 25, 1941, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Lehigh University in 1963, then entered the United States Army where he earned the rank of Captain. He served his country with distinction in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal. Upon his return to the United States, Daniel entered the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and earned an MBA in 1970. He worked for Lipton Tea and at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., where he met his wife, Ann Cabot Richardson. They were married in 1975 and moved to Houston. In 1977, the couple moved to San Francisco where Dan launched a successful financial services consulting company, Berkey Associates. His wife Ann serves as Senior Vice President for Corporate Public Affairs at McKesson Corporation. Daniel loved to camp, hike, and ski, and with his wife spent many happy family vacations in state and national parks. Dan survived two battles with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and received a bone marrow transplant in 2003. He fought courageously for 18 months before finally succumbing to the relentless disease after the cancer returned. Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Daniel Stewart Berkey. He was a great and good man who gave generously to his beloved family, his community and his country. He will be missed by every person who had the good fortune to know him, and may this tribute bring comfort to his family who were the greatest source of pride to him.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two Bay Area women, Karen Ande and Ruth Richter, and their compelling book Face to Face, Children of the AIDS Crisis in Africa. This very special work was conceived after Karen Ande and Ruthann Richter travelled to Africa in 2004. They were devastated by the plight of children living under staggeringly brutal conditions, often without food, education or a stable, caring adult in their lives. Many of the children had watched their parents die and then had to cope with the consequences of living alone or with little support. They resolved to bring the issue to light and their book is the vehicle they chose to accomplish this goal. The following words in praise of the book by Philip Pizzo, M.D., Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, a specialist in pediatric AIDS and one of the 14th Congressional District's most distinguished and effective leaders, are an eloquent statement about the book and its subject. ``Ruthann Richter and Karen Ande have given a new voice and face to this pandemic, which continues to destroy the hopes, dreams and lives of children. Through compelling and poignantly informed stories and narratives and incredibly sensitive and touching portraits of children, families, providers and communities, Richter and Ande remind us, in a deeply personal way, how important HIV remains in Africa and beyond.'' Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Karen Ande and Ruthann Richter for their extraordinary work and their efforts to bring to our attention the continuing ravages of the AIDS virus on the children of Africa.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker. I was not present during rollcall vote No. 985 on December 16, 2009 because I was in a secure room for a restricted briefing. On rollcall vote No. 985, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. I would like to begin by thanking the chairman of our subcommittee, Mr. Boucher, for his consistent support and cooperation to help bring the bill through the committee. I doubt that we would be here today were it not for that. And I want to recognize and thank the ranking member of our subcommittee for the work that he has put into this as well and the suggestions that he made in order to bolster the bill and to make it imminently workable. I also want to thank, of course, the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), for his support. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill which is designed to eliminate the earsplitting levels of television advertisements and return control of television sound modulation to the American consumer. I first introduced the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, called the CALM Act, more than 3 years ago. This is something that many of our constituents now refer to in their shorthand as the Loud Commercial Law. I have heard loud and clear from people across the country. We have consumers across the country that are with us and would like to see this accomplished. The premise of the bill then, as now, was really simple; and in an era of 1,000- or 1,800-page bills, this is a 2-page bill, and it is to make the volume of commercials and programming uniform so that consumers control the sound. The problem has existed for more than 50 years, when television advertisers first realized that consumers often left the room when commercials were playing. They used the loud commercials as a gimmick to grab the attention of consumers, even as they moved to other parts of their home. But for anyone who can't get to the mute button fast enough, we know that we are all subjected to blasting ads. For those with sensory difficulties, the loud commercials are more than just an annoyance. Sound spikes can harm hearing and sometimes they are painfully loud. This issue, as my colleagues have referenced, is also one of the top complaints, consistently one of the top complaints, from consumers across the country to the Federal Communications Commission. This bill is going to bring a measure of relief to the American consumer. It is also, I think, an important step in identifying the need to make broadcasters and video providers responsible for answering to consumers at the most basic level. I created this bill taking into account the economic health of licensees and the importance of smaller stations and providers. The Advanced Television Systems Committee, or the ATSC, a body that sets technical standards for digital television, has developed a solution to the problem of the varied volume between commercials and programming, with one stream that keeps the volume uniform. The bill directs the FCC to adopt these engineering standards as mandatory rules within 1 year. These standards were not in the works until we introduced this legislation in the last Congress, so I am pleased to have encouraged the industry to find the answer to this problem so we don't have to wait another 50 years for a solution. I look forward to voluntary and immediate adoption of the standards by broadcasters, cable, satellite and all multichannel program providers. But the bill exists because we know that voluntary compliance or adherence to consumer needs has been a failure and we need to assure enforcement to protect the rights of consumers. The bill also requires cable and satellite operators to install the engineering fix necessary to ensure that the sound is modulated. The bill is not inflexible. It heeds the call by industry for a compliance grace period. Those affected, and I think it's very reasonable, will have 1 year after the FCC adopts the rule for purchase and installation of the ATSC standard-based equipment, and the FCC may grant up to two successive 1-year waivers for financial hardship. Small stations and cable operators certainly should be able to comply within 3 years, plus the amount of time it takes the FCC to adopt and release the rules. I have read the minority comments that have been filed relative to the bill, and I want to answer directly the concerns of some of my colleagues about the necessity of the bill, so I want to reiterate the following: First, I think the bill is necessary because we need a mandatory enforcement tool, and I stated that earlier. Volunteerism hasn't worked for 50 years. Second, the bill makes the ATSC standards applicable to all FCC licensees, and that includes satellite and cable providers as well as broadcasters. The voluntary standards as written only apply to broadcasters. Thirdly, the bill matters to our constituents, and I think that that's what really matters the most, and it stands as proof that Congress can listen to their concerns. Fourthly, it has been said that Congress has better things to do. I have never suggested that this solves the great challenges that face our country today. As I said, it's a 2-page bill, but it is something that has been left unattended to for half a century and I think the time has come that we end the practice of consumers being blasted out of their seats when they're listening to their favorite programming. The technical fix is long overdue and under the CALM Act, as amended, consumers will be in the driver's seat. I look forward to the passage of this bill, and most importantly so do millions of other consumers and our constituents across the country.