Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, we have all not only been taught but tried to abide by something, part of the Ten Commandments, honor thy father and thy mother. I think more than anything else this evening, that is really what we are talking about, honoring our fathers and our mothers, our grandfathers and our grandmothers, the seniors, the elders of our Nation that are part of our Nation's family. It is not just my mother and father, and it is not just yours. It is collectively those that have built the country and handed it over to a new generation. I do not believe that the process in this House for this bill is anything for the Members of Congress to be proud of, because if you do not honor those that represent the mothers and fathers of this country, it is a singular disgrace. So I start with that process. And I do not believe my friends, whom I have worked with day in and day out on the other side, tonight in their heart of hearts can be proud of that. It is dark. It is bad. It is wrong. And it has set a very bad tone for this bill. We love Medicare on this side. You cannot drive a wedge between us and Medicare. If this were prescription drugs only, it would sail through the House. But that is the loss leader on this. This is about rewriting the contract between our mothers and fathers and our Nation. We object. We do not think it should be parceled out. My grandparents never said God bless the insurance companies. They said God bless America. Vote against this bill. It is wrong and it is bad. It dishonors our mothers and fathers and our grandparents.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference report. And I want to express in the beginning of my comments my appreciation for the hard work, the cooperation of all of my colleagues on the committee, of course, our distinguished chairman and, most particularly, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), who I think really leads us so well on our side and really brings such credit to the work that we do. To the staff of our committee, and, certainly, from where I speak, the minority staff; The word ``intelligence'' is used all the time--I think it resides first with them. They are second to none. And I really salute them for the work they do day in and day out. This legislation was prepared with our minds still focused on the lessons of September 11 and as the drama in Iraq was unfolding. By these yardsticks this conference report reflects important progress in many areas. One of the most significant lessons to emerge from the joint congressional inquiry into the 9/11 tragedy is the need to improve information-sharing through the extension of modern information technology. Sounds like a no-brainer. But what we have found is that simply was not the case. The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence made a concerted effort this year to chart a path to bring the information revolution to the intelligence community. So it is imperative for the Congress to sustain the pressure next year and for the executive branch to embrace this vision. Regarding so-called data mining of government and private sector databases, this is an extraordinarily large issue, and it contains extensive information on U.S. persons. And this conference report strikes what we believe is the right balance between security and privacy protection for the American people. The American people care about this. The conference report authorizes continued development of data mining tools, but it prohibits their use against domestic databases. It calls for the administration to begin defining the policies, the procedures, and the technologies necessary to safeguard this privacy. I would like to turn just briefly to the problem of prewar intelligence. The intelligence community has to face up to the problems and the shortcomings in its Iraq estimates. That is why I strongly support the conference report's requirement for the intelligence community to report on lessons learned. I want to again thank the committee, the committee staff, my colleagues, most especially our gifted leader, the vice chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished Californian, Paul Scannell, as he retires from his service as Assistant County Manager of the County of San Mateo, California. Paul Scannell has served as Assistant County Manager since 1982. During that time he has represented the County in complex and sensitive negotiations with other governmental agencies, companies, and persons doing business with the County. He's also worked in cooperation with County department managers to recommend County programs and activities, and managed the County team responsible for public financing issues. He has served on a wide variety of committees, as well as advising and staffing the Charter Review Committee. He has also acted as the County Manager in the Manager's absence. Paul Scannell prepared for his career by earning a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of San Francisco and a Master's of Public Administration from Golden Gate University. He also pursued graduate studies in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He held positions of increasing importance with the City and County of San Francisco between 1964 and 1982, including serving as Deputy Director of the Clean Water Program, Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer and as Senior Departmental Personnel Officer at San Francisco General Hospital. I had the honor to work with Paul Scannell for ten years as a Member of the Board of Supervisors, and I saw and experienced firsthand his professionalism, his integrity and his extraordinary knowledge of County government. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Paul Scannell for his superb service to our community and our country and wish him every blessing in the years ahead. He has established the gold standard for public service and we are grateful to him for it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Glockner, a distinguished Californian, as he receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award. This award, named for the foundress of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, over a significant period of time. Sacred Heart Schools founded in 1897, includes St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Preparatory. Robert Glockner, Trustee Emeritus, became involved with Sacred Heart School in 1975 when the first of his four daughters to graduate from Sacred Heart Preparatory enrolled in the school. In 1976 he was asked to serve on the Advisory Board that later became the governing Board of Trustees. Mr. Glockner served as the Chair of the School's first major capital campaign and helped to raise $3.5 million and funded the completion of the McGanney Gymnasium. From 1984 to 1986 he served as Chair of the Board. For his determination and leadership during his twelve years on the Board he was named Trustee Emeritus, a distinction bestowed on only two other Board members. I'm exceedingly proud to honor his work, his values, and his commitment to Sacred Heart Schools. He is a model for others to emulate and his leadership will touch generations of students to come. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Robert Glockner as he receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award for his extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Janet Whitchurch, a distinguished Californian, as she receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award. This award, named for the foundress of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, over a significant period of time. Founded in 1897, Sacred Heart Schools includes St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Preparatory. Janet Whitchurch grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a Master of Arts in Painting from Stanford University. She began her teaching career at Sacred Heart Preparatory in 1969 and taught Studio Art, Art History, Freshman History and served as Department Chair. Mrs. Whitchurch left Sacred Heart Preparatory in 1984 but soon realized that she had left her heart at the School. She converted to Catholicism and returned to Sacred Heart in 1995 to continue teaching and cultivating students as Chair of the Fine Arts Department. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to honor Janet Whitchurch's work, her values, and her commitment to Sacred Heart Schools and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring her as she receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award for the extraordinary contributions she has made to Sacred Heart Schools.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Helen Costello, RSCJ, a distinguished Californian, as she receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award. This award, named for the foundress of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, honors individuals who over a significant period of time have made extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. Founded in 1897, Sacred Heart Schools includes St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Preparatory. Sister Helen Costello was born in San Francisco and entered the 8th grade at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in 1929, which was then a boarding school for girls. Sister Costello graduated from Sacred Heart School in 1935 and took her final vows in Rome in 1949. She taught at St. Joseph's School from the early 1950's until 1967. During that time she was responsible for overseeing the altar boys, some of whom still keep in touch with her. Since leaving the School, Sister Costello has worked with the Handicapables, assisted children with cancer, and counseled students. Throughout the years, Sister Costello has dedicated her time and talents to the students and families of Sacred Heart School. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to honor her work, her values, and her deep love for her students and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sister Helen Costello, RCSJ, as she receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award for her extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Ann McGowan, RSCJ, a distinguished Californian, as she receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award. This award, named for the foundress of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, honors individuals who over a significant period of time have made extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. Founded in 1897, Sacred Heart Schools includes St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Preparatory. Sister Ann McGowan, RSCJ, was born in Washington DC, and moved with her family to the West Coast when she was still a child. She attended La Jolla High School in San Diego and the San Diego College for Women, where she majored in Biology. She entered the Society of the Sacred Heart soon afterward, and spent her years as a novice at the Sacred Heart School in nearby El Cajon. She was given special permission to come to teach at St. Joseph's School, which was transitioning from being an all-boys parish school to being a co-ed Sacred Heart School. Sister McGowan loved working with boys during the day, pinning up the skirts of her habit to coach baseball in the afternoons, and working in the girls boarding school at night. In the fall of 1976, she began her tenure as Principal of St. Joseph's School, Preschool through 8th Grade, and the school prospered under her enlightened leadership for 16 years. It was Sister McGowan's vision that the school pride itself on excellence in all areas, educating the whole child. She insisted on the highest standards for her students and for her faculty, and of course, for herself. Her eye for excellence helped to build one of the finest schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to honor Sister McGowan's work, her values, and her deep love for her students. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sister Ann McGowan, RCSJ, as she receives the 2003 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Award for her extraordinary contributions to Sacred Heart Schools.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 650, the Pediatric Research Equity Act. As the Democratic sponsor of the House version of this legislation, along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood), I am very excited that this important bipartisan legislation is being considered before Congress departs and closes shop before the end of this year. In the last session, the Congress took an important step toward increasing drug safety for children by reauthorizing the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, a bill that I also cosponsored with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood). The law provided 6 months of marketing exclusivity for prescription drug manufacturers who undertake the costly, but very necessary, task of testing drugs for safety and efficacy in children. Prior to its enactment, there was little if any information on how drugs affected children. That surprised a lot of people. Most people assumed that the process was really very different. Doctors were cutting adult pills in half, hoping they would work in children, often with life-threatening results. In the years since its passage, the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act has yielded significant and lifesaving dosing and efficacy information for prescription drugs for children, and this law continues to work today and work very well. Anyone that is a parent can appreciate the success this bill has had in protecting children. Despite this success, there are times when the Food and Drug Administration needs additional pediatric clinical data on a drug. Since the passage of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, a court struck down an important regulation crafted by the FDA that provided a framework for requiring drug manufacturers to perform clinical trials in pediatric populations when the Agency believed they were absolutely necessary. The court argued that the Congress had not given the FDA this authority, effectively tying the Agency's hands with respect to providing safer drugs for children. In response to this court decision, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) and I introduced the Pediatric Research Equity Act, which specifically gives the FDA the authority that the court struck down, the authority to require prescription drug manufacturers to perform necessary tests for our children. The FDA's gold standard has protected American consumers and America's children for decades. The Congress has to take this step to equip the FDA with the resources and the authority it needs to continue this exceptional performance. This bill has very important support. Amongst that honor roll of support is the American Academy of Pediatrics which has worked so well and so closely with us, and we want to thank them for that; the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation; the pharmaceutical industry and other groups that are dedicated to providing safe and effective treatments to children. In years past, some have been critical of our work to increase drug safety for children, charging that it is really more about providing incentives to drug companies than it is about children. This effort, as with our work on the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, has always been about making drug treatments safer and more effective for children. And while I understand that the process for moving this bill forward has not been perfect, as so many things around here are not, the underlying bill and the goals it contains are ones that every single Member of the House can and should support. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to offer my unending gratitude to our committee staff for their work on moving this bill forward. In particular, I would like to thank Patrick Ronan with the majority for his help and John Ford on the minority side for his assistance and his advice. As always, it has been invaluable. I also wish to recognize the leadership of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and always to my partner, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood). I think we have been able to get some really important things done. I wish to recognize the inspiration of Dr. Phil Pizzo, dean of the Stanford Medical School, a pediatrician himself. And last but never least, Anne Wilson, my legislative director. This legislation becomes her swan song. She goes off to the private sector to do some really great work, but this is one of the signature pieces that she has really worked so hard on. I salute her for it. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 650, the Pediatric Research Equity Act, and my thanks to everyone that have been partners in this what I think has been a noble and important undertaking.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this conference report. It rewards a huge group of energy interests but, for most Americans and my constituents, it offers nothing but higher prices, higher deficits, dirty air, and increased national security risks. There are $23 billion in tax benefits for the energy sector. These costs will be directly added to the national credit card. So hold on, Americans. You are getting a big bill. The costs of the tax provisions, plus other mandates, siphon $137 billion from American consumers and our economy. The bill forces consumers to buy high-priced ethanol, regardless of whether it is needed to improve air quality. California is a good example for this. The bill provides liability protection for MTBE producers whose product contaminates water supplies. I know that; I am a Californian. We found that out directly. It gives MTBE producers a $2 billion transition fund to help them find a new line of work. The bill also fails to increase fuel economy standards for cars and SUVs, and refuses to close the $100,000 loophole that you can drive a Peterbilt truck through. It was on the front page of The Washington Post about 10 days ago. This bill fails to address malfeasance in the electricity industry and, in fact, scraps decades-old consumer protection laws. It promotes deregulation in some areas of the country, and it overrides the role of State public utility commissions, while giving some States, particularly the State of Texas, surprise, surprise, special treatment under the law. This bill is all about the past, and it embraces the mistakes of the past. It is a yesterday bill instead of a tomorrow policy. I cannot support it, and I urge my colleagues to vote against the conference report. It is a jewel in the crown of those of this administration, particularly the President and the Vice President, whose former profession is celebrated in this bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), our very distinguished ranking member, for yielding me this time. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, under the leadership of the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Goss) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), our distinguished ranking member, has been carefully evaluating the prewar intelligence assessments of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and Iraq's purported ties to al Qaeda. This bipartisan investigation has already established that the intelligence community significantly overstated the strength of its evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, failed to convey where hard intelligence left off and assumptions began, and dropped caveats from crucial judgments. In my view, it is also clear that policymakers went even further beyond the intelligence assessments in categorically stating that Iraq possessed chemical weapons and had restarted a nuclear program. Regarding ties between Iraq and al Qaeda, the intelligence community, in my judgment, curiously made the opposite error. Instead of coming to an overall conclusion, as it did in the case of Iraq's WMD programs, the community simply arrayed everything it had and let policymakers come to their own conclusions, which they were only too happy to do. No one should expect perfection when trying to unearth secrets from a ruthless dictatorship, although a strategy of preempting WMD threats appears to impose that very standard. But we must be honest and forthcoming about the limits of our knowledge and of our ability to penetrate tough targets. If Iraq had been littered with WMD as predicted, the substantive and methodological shortcomings of our intelligence on Iraq might not have even been noticed. But the attention of the world is instead riveted on the gulf between our estimates and reality. The credibility of our foreign policy requires an explanation. If the world does not witness an appraisal and corrective actions, who will have faith in our future declarations? It is therefore doubly galling and deeply troubling that the intelligence community leadership rejects the very notion that its estimates were flawed. In this time of peril, it would be dangerously irresponsible to indulge this stubbornness and delay the time of reckoning. Our security requires action now. That is why I support this motion to instruct. I appreciate what the ranking member has brought forward. It is thoughtful, it is responsible, and I thank the chairman for supporting the language as well.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased that we are bringing the Animal Drug User Fee Act to the floor today. This is a bipartisan bill that enjoys strong support from a number of veterinary and farm organizations, as well as from a significant number of Members of Congress. The Food and Drug Administration is a seriously underfunded agency. This has always been a source of concern to me given the critical mission that the FDA has of protecting our food supply, our drug supply, and protecting consumers. Over the last few years, Congress has taken a number of steps to rectify the funding shortfall. Last year we renewed the Prescription Drug User Fee Act for the second time. We also passed new legislation, the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act, which created a user fee program for medical devices that will help speed new technology to the patients who need them. The Animal Drug User Fee Act is the next in this slate of bills that are aimed at boosting FDA's resources. This bill will provide the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine with an additional $48 million over the next 5 years. The money will be directed and solely directed to hiring new staff and acquiring the additional resources needed to approve the applications for animal drugs in a speedier manner while still maintaining FDA's gold standard of safety and efficacy. This bill will touch everyone's life in multiple ways, even though they may not think so, whether it is through lifesaving medications for pets or better, less toxic medications for farm animals. It is in everyone's best interest to have an FDA that is equipped to review these new drug applications in a safe and in a timely manner. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), who cannot be here. She is the one who really should be standing here rather than myself, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) for all of their hard work they put in on this bill with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), its sponsor. It is to their credit that it will be law. I also want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), our distinguished ranking member, and certainly his staff, John Ford, whom over and over and over again does superb work and tireless work in this specific case to help bring this bill through the committee and to the floor of the House. So to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), our chairman, I salute him. This is a great day for him on the floor because both the E-911 Implementation Act of 2003 and certainly this bill, the Animal Drug User Fee Act of 2003, are very important ones that push the edges of the envelope out and really help to protect consumers and the people of our country. So I salute him. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this E-911 Implementation Act of 2003, legislation introduced with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), who is also the cochair of the E-911 caucus, and a long-time partner in ensuring that our public safety community has the very best tools to locate every caller who dials 9-1- 1. The tragic events of September 11 and the continuing threat of terrorism within our country have increased the need for a reliable 911 system. Citizens across the country are being encouraged to call 9-1-1 whenever they notice suspicious activity. Our 911 system is really the backbone of hometown security. E-911 or Enhanced 911 provides caller information, location information to public safety officials the second a call is made. Many people do not realize that when an emergency call is made to 911, the speed with which the ambulance or the police car is dispatched depends on whether you are calling from your home phone or your cellular phone. Our bill ensures there is no difference in response between landline and cellular phones because every second counts when there is a life-threatening emergency. Why should this be a priority for the Federal Government and the Congress, because over 150,000 wireless 911 calls are made every day representing over half of the 911 calls in our country. Each one of these calls is the single most important one that an individual will make because cell phones can and do save lives. I have worked on this issue since 1996, when I introduced legislation to ensure that public safety entities would have the same ability to locate a wireless call as they do a wireline call. The bill we bring before the House today passed both the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet and then the full Committee on Energy and Commerce by unanimous votes. That is not an easy thing to do with most legislation, so I am really proud of the effort that has been launched. There are two key shortcomings hindering wireless 911 implementation today: funding and coordination. Our bill addresses both of these shortcomings by creating a joint E-911 implementation and coordination office at the Departments of Commerce and Transportation to better coordinate Federal, State, and local emergency communication services. If they are not coordinated, in short, it is not going to work. By authorizing $500 million in grants over 5 years to enhance our emergency communication systems all across our country in all of our communities; and by preventing any State that has diverted their 911 fees for other purposes from qualifying for these Federal dollars. So we are motivating the States to join with us and to be able to make use of the dollars that we are setting up and not divert the money for other uses anymore. Unfortunately, some States, including my own State of California, have raided the funds they have collected for 911 services, and they have used the funds for other purposes. This bill will end that practice, and we will be able to use the dollars that are collected to upgrade our E-911 facilities. This bill provides a Federal authorization to upgrade and to improve that emergency communication network across our country. As my colleagues know, every bill authorizing Federal funds must be coupled with corresponding appropriation. I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure that this very important authorization is fully funded. If it is not, it is not going to work. No bill makes it to the floor of the House without the support and the guidance of our chairmen and our ranking members. I want to especially thank and salute Chairman Tauzin and Chairman Upton, without them, clearly we would not be here today, as well as Ranking Members Dingell and Markey for making this bill a priority. I also want to thank the staff members who helped shape this legislation, especially Howard Waltzman who has done yeoman's work. I really salute you, Howard. And to Will Norwind with the Committee on Energy and Commerce staff; Peter Filon with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell); Colin Crowell with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey); Courtney Anderson with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus); and our wise telecommunication legislative counsel, Steve Cope. No one has done more, in my view, than Eric Olson of my staff. I am proud of his work, and I am very grateful to him for it. I would also like to thank Steve Seitz, Richard Taylor, John Melcher, and the brave men and women of the National Emergency Numbering Association who continually strive to improve and enhance our Nation's emergency communications system. I am especially proud of Chip Yarborough, a member of NENA, who has worked tirelessly to ensure the 911 system in my congressional district works seamlessly to help those who need it. Bob Gurss with the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, David Ayward of ComCare, Jonas Neihardt with Qualcomm, Mike Amarosa of True Position and the Cellular Telephone Industry Association all deserve our thanks for making E-911 a priority. Their critical assistance has really ensured that this bill improved at every step of the process. It has been a long journey, and I want to salute them, too. Last but not least, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), my wonderful colleague and partner in this. He has been a believer. He has been a leader. He has used his humor as well as all his legislative tools to move this along. I cannot thank him enough. He has been a wonderful partner. It has been fun doing this with the gentleman. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation because it is good for our country and it is going to move us ahead and be able to coordinate at every level for every emergency whether it is at the local level or at the national level. I am proud to have been a part of this. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mayor Richard Claire, an extraordinary citizen of San Mateo County, California and a distinguished leader of Redwood City, who is retiring after serving on the City Council of Redwood City for twenty years. Richard Claire is known to the people of Redwood City as Dick Claire. He has been a resident of Redwood City since his childhood and is a product of the resources the San Francisco Peninsula and South Bay have to offer. Dick Claire attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, went on to study at the College of San Mateo, and received his Master's degree in Business Administration from Santa Clara University. Dick Claire is exceedingly proud of his local education and he has continued to give back to his community as a full-time instructor in the San Mateo County Community College District. During the 2002-2003 school year, he served as Academic President for the District and the College of San Mateo, and he is currently serving as Academic President of Canada College. In May of 2002, his outstanding work spanning twenty-five years of service with the Community College District was honored by the Board of Trustees. Dick Claire's career has included positions as Corporate Controller at Raychem and Controller for Ferrex Corporation. He's been an accounting consultant and in his spare time returned to his alma mater to act as Sequoia High School's football coach and later as manager for Redwood City Little League Baseball Senior League. Beyond his activities with the San Mateo County Community College District and youth athletic teams, Dick Claire has been a real leader in Redwood City for over a quarter of a century. He served on the City's Planning Commission from August 1978 though April 1982, and was Chairman of the Commission. In April 1982, he was elected to the City Council, where he has been reelected an astonishing four times by the people of Redwood City. He has twice been selected by his Council colleagues to serve as the Mayor. He's also served as Chairman of the San Mateo County Council of Mayors and the Co-Chairman of Redwood City's Aesthetics and Beautification Committee. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to have known Dick Claire for over thirty years and to call him my friend and my colleague in public service. He is a source of great pride to our entire community and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking Mayor Claire for his extraordinary service to Redwood City, to California, and to our country. Because of him and his distinguished service, we are a stronger community and a better people.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the President's $87 billion request which represents a combination of funding for the reconstruction of Iraq and funding for our troops. This extraordinary request of Congress should be bifurcated, with 2 individual bills, one for our troops, and the other vote on the reconstruction package. However, the House Leadership refuses to allow a bifurcated vote, knowing one would pass, support for the troops, and one would fail, reconstruction. I will vote against the President's request because it furthers a failed policy; because the Administration continues to operate without a plan; and because the President has yet to account to the Congress and the American people exactly how the $65 billion appropriated in April, 2003, for Iraq has been spent. I firmly believe that the policies of unilateralism and preemption are wrong but the reality today is that our troops are in Iraq and cutting and running is not an American option. We need transparency, we need a plan and we need the truth. Supporting our troops is essential and that's why I voted for the $65 billion appropriation in April. But now we find out that our troops don't even have Kevlar flak jacket inserts or portable jammers that block radio signals used to detonate remote control bombs that have been used repeatedly to kill and injure our troops. The Administration is still incapable or unwilling to articulate a coherent and workable strategy to accomplish our mission in Iraq and bring our troops home. The power of the purse remains the only effective means that the Congress has to ensure for the American people that such a strategy exists and that it has a reasonable chance for success. To support this huge request for funds prior to evidence of such a strategy would be an abdication of my responsibility. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes on the morning of September 25 because I was attending meeting with the National Security Advisor at the White House. I requested a leave of absence from September 30 through October 8 due to a family illness. Had I been here, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 520, 524-529, 531-533, and 535-539 and ``nay'' on rollcall votes 530 and 534.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary leader of San Mateo County, California, Sheriff Don Horsley, who is being awarded the 2003 Distinguished Citizens Award by the Pacific Skyline Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Don Horsley was first elected Sheriff of San Mateo County in June 1993, with a law enforcement career that spanned more than thirty years. He began as a patrol officer in Daly City and later served as a patrol deputy in East Palo Alto. In these positions, he learned to effectively respond to the needs and concerns of citizens as he worked directly with them in their communities. Sheriff Horsley has been unwavering in his commitment to the people of the communities of San Mateo County. In 1992, when the small community of East Palo Alto was given the dubious title of being the nation's ``murder capital,'' Sheriff Horsley made a promise to the people of East Palo Alto that the Sheriff's office would help the community and make it the safe place its residents deserved. Immediately, 18 Sheriff's Deputies began working with the East Palo Alto Police Department and within 3 years, violent crimes were down 54 percent and homicides decreased by an astounding 86 percent. Because of Sheriff Horsley's commitment, the San Mateo County Sheriff's office continues to work with the City of East Palo Alto to ensure that its law enforcement needs are fully met. Sheriff Horsley is a caring and compassionate law enforcement leader. During the expansion of the Maguire Correctional Facility, Sheriff Horsley ensured that the project included facilities for mental and health care, substance abuse recovery, and educational and religious needs for inmates. Sheriff Horsley is a leader among his colleagues in law enforcement. He has served on the Board of Directors of the California Peace Officers' Association, the San Mateo County Criminal Justice Council, the San Mateo County Vehicle Theft Task Force, the County Narcotic Task Force, and the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, among many other organizations. Beyond his career in law enforcement, Sheriff Horsley is dedicated to improving the education and the lives of youth. He is not only a former classroom teacher and a Board Member of Redwood City's Garfield Charter School, but he is also a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He has been instrumental in the Law Enforcement Exploring program, the Boy Scouts' STAR Camp and the Sea Scouting program. Sheriff Horsley has served as Co-chair of the Attorney General and State Superintendent of Public Instruction's Safe Schools Task Force. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to call Don Horsley my friend and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking Sheriff Horsley for his extraordinary service to our community, our state and our nation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a distinguished American, Richard Nadder, who was finally awarded four medals, 50 years after serving our country in the Korean War: the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Star. Mr. Speaker, Richard Nadder was drafted in December of 1952 and went to Korea in May, 1953, as a Private with the 3rd Infantry Division. His main duties included hooking up telephone lines to maintain communication in the treacherous terrain of the ``Iron Triangle'' in Chorwon, North Korea, in the final weeks of the war that cost nearly 37,000 American lives. He has never regretted serving his country and has always been proud to call himself a Korean War Veteran. Mr. Speaker, six years ago Richard Nadder decided he wanted to obtain these medals as treasured keepsakes for his three grandchildren. After several of his letters went unanswered, Richard contacted Congressman Kirk's office, who then determined his military records had been destroyed in a St. Louis warehouse fire. After much work on the part of the Army and Congressman Kirk's office, Richard Nadder's discharge papers were recreated. With his wife, children, grandchildren and other fellow Korean War veterans looking on, he was finally awarded the medals he earned and deserved. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Richard Nadder. I'm exceedingly proud to honor him for his courageous service to our country and for the honorable life he has led as a husband, father, grandfather, brother and cousin.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Marge Hartigan, an extraordinary woman who passed away on June 28, 2003, after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. Marge was married to Illinois Appellate Court Judge Neil Hartigan for 41 years and was the very proud mother of four children: John, Elizabeth Connelly, Laura Jenkins and Bridget Routh, and the loving grandmother of five. Marge Hartigan was born in New York and raised in Connecticut. After graduating from Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, she married Neil and later moved to Chicago, Illinois where she lived the remainder of her life. She made an indelible impact on the community through her philanthropic involvement with dozens of Chicago area foundations and organizations. She held positions on the boards and executive committees of such groups as the Chicago Trust, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Children's Memorial Hospital, as well as Northwestern, Loyola and DePaul Universities. She also served as past president of the Service Club of Chicago. President Clinton appointed her to serve on the advisory committee for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where she served with great distinction. Marge was a woman who loved and was loved deeply in return by her family and her circle of friends. She considered herself a mother and homemaker above all else. When asked what she considered the greatest monument of her life to be, she responded that it was her four children and the successful lives they created. Marge had a great sense of humor and an enormous amount of talent, energy and good common sense. She had an ability to get right to the heart of issues and would discuss them from a human point of view. I ask all my colleagues in the House to join me in expressing our collective sympathy to the family of Marge Hartigan and by doing so, honor her life and her work to make her community and our country better for human kind.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished Californian, Mai Hong, as she celebrates the fourth anniversary of the opening of ``A Touch of Elegance'', her thriving Menlo Park salon, founded October 4, 1999. Mai Hong has built a remarkable business with loyal customers from throughout the community together with her able team of Cindy, Amy, Julie, Danny, Kim and Brittany. From the time Mai arrived in the United States from Viet Nam in 1984, she has built a better life for her two children, her mother, herself and so many others. Mai celebrates daily the privileges and responsibilities of her American citizenship. How proud I am to honor her work, her values, and her deep love for her adopted country. She is a model for others to emulate and she is a woman I'm proud to call my friend. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mai Hong and the entire ``Touch of Elegance'' team as they celebrate their fourth anniversary, a model business in California's 14th Congressional District.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Sherman-Lee Amendment to give consumers control over their financial information. Seven million Americans were victims last year of ID theft. Overall, more than 33 million Americans have had their identities used by someone else sometime since 1990. The Department of Justice says ID theft is the nation's fastest growing financial crime and the damages to consumers are becoming even more significant. Despite the fact that millions of Americans are victimized by identity theft each year, Congress is getting ready to pass a bill that blocks states from enacting tougher reforms. The strongest financial privacy law in the nation passed in California last month with overwhelming bipartisan support. This new law, sponsored by State Senator Jackie Speier, allows consumers to stop banks and other financial institutions from sharing confidential account and transaction histories with most of their affiliated companies. As we consider this matter, I urge my colleagues to vote to bring these protections to all Americans and make sure that any changes to the Fair Credit Reporting Act truly benefit consumers. Vote in favor of the Sherman-Lee Amendment which protects California's financial privacy law and allow other states to enact similar laws.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Judy Gaither who is retiring from the Executive Directorship of the Human Investment Project (HIP) for Housing, a non-profit group that provides affordable housing in San Mateo County, after serving with distinction for almost eight years. Mrs. Gaither joined HIP Housing as a senior citizens housing specialist in 1984, and has served as director for several of the organization's programs before being named Executive Director in 1995. Mrs. Gaither has earned countless honors and awards. She was selected as an honoree for Women's History Month by KQED, and was inducted into the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame in 2002. She sits on the board of directors for the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, the board of the Housing Action Team, and is board Chairperson for the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County. Mrs. Gaither's passion for helping adults, children and seniors in need has been the driving force behind her extraordinary work. Under her leadership HIP Housing has expanded dramatically, acquiring 177 apartment units for low- and fixed-income residents of San Mateo County during her tenure, including a 92-unit apartment complex for seniors and 11 housing units for people with developmental and physical disabilities. HIP Housing has also grown into an organization with a significant budget, of which an extraordinary 85 percent goes directly to client services. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judy Gaither for her extraordinary service to our community and our country, and wish her every blessing in her well-earned retirement.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Captain Timothy McHenry who has served with distinction in the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department for almost thirty-seven years and who is now retiring. Before his career with the Sheriffs Office, Tim McHenry drove an ambulance and served in the Army Reserves. He joined the Sheriff's Office on September 19, 1966 as a Deputy Sheriff, a rank he held for eight years. In this position he was assigned to the patrol unit, the courts and the manpower pool. He took over the Explorer program in 1969, devoting himself to serving the youth of our community. He has earned the many commendations from the five Sheriffs he has served under in his career for his extraordinary leadership and affiliation with Exploring. Tim McHenry was promoted to Sergeant on October 1, 1974, a rank he held for 23 years. He served as Administrative Sergeant in the Reserve Program and was also active with the Divers, beginning the organization of the Emergency Services Bureau. He developed the Emergency Services Detail, the primary unit within San Mateo County that searches for lost people. He also launched a second Explorer post and the Deputy Cliff Rescue unit which has been responsible for many rescues on the cliffs of San Mateo County. Tim McHenry developed the search and rescue coordinator position, a 24-hour on-call position for search and rescue, fires, floods, earthquakes and hazardous materials. This program has been expanded to include terrorism response. He initiated the County Commanders' paging system for mutual aid, developed the mobile field force concept for enforcement in mutual aid zones and developed, with the County's police chiefs, the personal protective equipment concept for all law enforcement in San Mateo County. Tim McHenry has been honored by several Sheriffs for developing STAR camp, a very successful summer camp opportunity for youth in San Mateo County. He brought the Exploring Challenge, a regional Explorer event with competitions and education for teenagers, to San Mateo County in 1996 and 2000. Tim McHenry was promoted to Lieutenant in March 16, 1977 and to Captain in March, 2002. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Captain Tim McHenry for his extraordinary service to our community spanning almost four decades and in wishing him every blessing in his well-deserved retirement.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2210. Head Start should be strengthened even more, rather than dismantled. It is the most effective program for children in our country today.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of both the Chile and the Singapore Free Trade Agreements. Free trade and expanding global markets for U.S. goods and services are critical tools to spur our faltering economy. The Chile and Singapore free trade agreements open new markets in Latin America and Asia, important regions in the midst of economic development. The Chile Free Trade Agreement immediately drops tariffs on 85 percent of all U.S. exports, providing a penalty-free entry for almost all American products into an untapped market. We must seize this opportunity. The Singapore Free Trade Agreement is especially critical since it's the first trade agreement we've negotiated with an Asian country. I recognize that through trade we export more than just U.S. goods and services. We are in fact exporting our domestic standards for protecting our environment and workforce. I have strong concerns about how this Administration has diminished the domestic environmental and labor standards they inherited. But I also believe that we must move forward to open global markets and I think these trade agreements set a solid precedent for doing just that. I'm encouraged that both Chile and Singapore have a history of protecting the environment and that their labor laws are based on the International Labor Organization's core principles. It's critical that future trade deals enhance these important standards. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting these important trade agreements.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding me this time. I rise in opposition to H.R. 2427. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for everyone in the House to really understand exactly what this bill will do. Some think that drug reimportation will dramatically reduce drug costs in the United States. This has never been proven. Secretaries of Health and Human Services for two Presidents have stated that they could not certify that reimportation would actually save Americans money. Now, minus this guarantee that the bill would ever achieve its primary purpose, I think we are taking huge risks for little or no gain. Secondly, the bill is dangerously flawed and poses considerable risks to the people that we represent. Current law states that the Secretary of HHS must certify that reimportation will not add risks to the public health. This bill removes that requirement, effectively eliminating our last line of defense against unsafe and illegal pharmaceuticals. The bill expands reimportation to 25 countries, many of which do not have the regulatory regimes that even remotely, remotely match the FDA. This is very different from ``Canada only.'' We have the safest drug supply in the world today, and Americans rely on this safety every day. Do we really want to dilute this? The sponsors of 2427 have said the bill contains numerous provisions that will ensure that drugs reimported into our country are safe. I disagree. The bill purports to only allow reimportation of drugs made in FDA-approved factories, but the bill also eliminates the requirements that reimporters demonstrate who has had custody of a drug since its creation. Now, how can we verify that a drug is made in an FDA-approved facility if we do not even know who had custody of it last? The bill requires reimporters to test the drugs they are bringing back into the United States to ensure they are legitimate. The results of those tests are to be verified by the FDA. Is there an appropriation to this bill to fund the added mandate to the FDA? There is not. The bill requires counterfeit-proof packaging for many of the drugs that will be reimported to the United States. And yet there is not any guarantee that the counterfeit technology itself will not be counterfeit or tampered with. This is happening in the United States today as we debate this bill. This is an example of a hologram that has been tampered with. You and I would not know the difference. The FDA would. My mother would not. We have to remember that nearly 20 years ago the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) introduced and passed the prescription drug marketing law. He did so on the heals of a multiyear investigation by oversight and investigations of the Committee on Commerce. We should not give up this safety. What my fear is is that we have so taken for granted the efficacy of pharmaceuticals that we are willing to let it go tonight. Vote against this bill.