Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was recently visited in my office here in Washington by two of my young constituents, Mary Lucas, 9 years old, and Kelsey Kagle, 15. They both have juvenile diabetes. Mary Lucas, the 9-year-old, said something to me that has remained with me and I think always will. She told me that if we found a vaccine or a cure for diabetes, and if there was not enough for everyone, she would give up her share to someone who needed it more than her. Her unselfish words, I think, are instructive to us. How will we cure juvenile diabetes? One promising method is by investing in stem cell research, which has the potential to cure diseases that afflict tens of millions of Americans today, diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. According to a recent article in the New York Times, a study by the NIH sites the dazzling array of treatments that may result from research on both embryonic and adult stem cells. The report makes clear that embryonic stem cells are clearly superior to adult stem cells for stem cell research. Most Americans understand that stem cell research is not about destroying lives, but prolonging and bringing quality to and curing American lives today. So let us get this out of political science and keep it in the hands of the real scientists that understand this, and let us take a giant step, Mr. President, and allow Federal funding for stem cell research.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished American, and long-time constituent of California's 14th Congressional District--Ann Dawson Torrey, who passed away on May 25, 2001. A lifelong Democrat and a staunch defender of women's rights, Ann Torrey was born in Hollywood, California on December 1, 1911. As a child she learned an early and important lesson--the power of civic activism. While still an infant, Ann's mother pushed her in a baby carriage during the historic marches for women's suffrage. Ann Torrey also understood the power of an education--she devoted much of her adult life to teaching young women and men to succeed in their societies. Between 1937 and 1949, Ann Torrey taught students in Monterey, California, Shanghai, China and Menlo Park, California. From 1949 to 1976 she distinguished herself as an elementary school teacher in the Redwood City School District. Ann Torrey was proud to be a teacher and believed firmly in the value of an education for all. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Ann Torrey received her teaching credential from San Jose State University. In 1966, she went back to school to earn her Master's in Education at Stanford University. A long-time resident of Redwood City, California, Ann Torrey moved to State College, Pennsylvania in 1998 in order to be closer to her grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, our nation's children lost an important role model and a selfless teacher with the passing of Ann Torrey. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a great and good woman, and offer the condolences of the entire House of Representatives to her family.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to vote during consideration of rollcall No. 169 and 170. I would have voted: ``nay'' on both these rollcall votes.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute today to two distinguished Californians, Victoria and Joseph Cotchett, who are being honored as Volunteers of the Year by the Volunteer Center of San Mateo County, California. Victoria and Joe Cotchett have provided years of extraordinary public service to our community and our country. The Cotchetts give so generously of their time, their talents and their resources and are widely known and deeply respected within our community for their extraordinary contributions to many worthy organizations and causes. They are driven by their passion for the arts, for the average person, and for justice. Long an advocate of women and children, Victoria Cotchett is an avid supporter of the arts and a community leader in animal care issues. She has distinguished herself as a writer and has served on the boards of many organizations, including Poplar Recare and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Joe Cotchett is a noted trial attorney with a distinguished record of campaigning for equal justice as well as his many years of professional and civic involvement. For the past ten years, Joe has been named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the country, earning the highest esteem of colleagues and clients alike. Joe has been described by the National Law Journal as ``one of the best trial lawyers; a clear champion of underdogs.'' Victoria and Joe Cotchett are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters. The Cotchetts have opened their hearts to another family, a group of refugees fleeing political oppression in Eastern Europe. Joe and Victoria did everything within their power to facilitate this family's transition to the United States, providing them with shelter, assistance, and above all, the warmth and kindness of a loving family. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to two extraordinary people who I'm exceedingly proud to call my friends. We are a better community, a better country and a better people because of Victoria and Joe Cotchett.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) for her great leadership on this issue in the Committee on Appropriations that affects not only her Congressional District, mine, but all Californians. I rise today as not only the representative of the 14th Congressional District but someone that loves my State. When I hear the word California, I cannot help but smile. It is a great State and we have done and will continue to do great things. But we know that she is a State that is in crisis, and so I join with my colleague from the Committee on Appropriations, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), in the amendment that she offered because it meant and still means relief for California. Mr. Chairman, all of my colleagues are thinking, Well, the Federal agency did act on Monday. And I salute them for finally ending their sit-down strike because previously they refused to act on behalf of California's energy consumer. What I rise to speak about today is the issue of refunds. There has been some $8.9 billion which is not penny larceny, by the way, which has been exported out of the State of California, the largest export of dollars since the Civil War from one State to another. What the FERC did in their order was to simply say, in 15 days go before an administrative law judge and somehow settle this. I think it is the responsibility, and that is why I went to the Committee on Rules last evening to ask for an amendment to be debated on the floor today. They did not make that amendment in order. But what I will be offering is legislation that does deal with a refund. If a consumer goes to Macy's or a restaurant and is overcharged, they are going to seek a refund. Californians deserve it. They have been ripped off, and we seek to have this money returned to the good people of California.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon, the California delegation, 52 strong, including our two United States Senators, Republicans and Democrats, met with the Vice President. The subject of the meeting was energy. Californians are reeling from the sticker shock in the bills that they are receiving. We know that the Federal Energy Commission has said that there is gouging. We know that there is gaming. Californians are hurt and hurting badly by this. I will place into the Record as part of what I am saying this morning a report that has come out from CNN. It is entitled ``Power of advertising fights electricity rate caps''. Well, together with the White House and the GOP majority in the House, those gouged prices from Californians are now going to be put into an advertising campaign. The dollars that we are paying are going to be placed into an advertising campaign to try to defeat price relief in California. This is an outrage, and it is an equivalent to what the tobacco companies did as they tried to wage their war on America and say that tobacco was good. This is an outrage, and we are going to fight this. Mr. Speaker, I include the article that I referred to earlier as follows: Power of Advertising Fights Electricity Rate Caps Worried GOP, White House give blessing to utilities' California campaign (By Major Garrett) Washington (CNN).--Major U.S. utility companies--at the behest of senior congressional Republicans and with White House approval--will launch a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign this week to fight federal caps on electricity prices in California, several sources tell CNN. No exact dollar figure has been set for the television campaign, but congressional and administration sources said the first phase will cost less than $5 million and run only in California. Media buyers for the utilities will also purchase airtime on Spanish-language television. ``Every penny right now will be spent in the Golden State,'' said a source intimately involved in the ad campaign. Over time, the utilities' ad campaign could easily cost more than $10 million. Leading congressional Republicans have urged the entire energy industry to spend upwards of $50 million on the ads--or about as much as the tobacco industry spent to defeat comprehensive tobacco legislation in 1998. Congressional GOP leaders have issued dire, albeit private, warnings to the energy industry that they may not be able to block legislation imposing caps on prices or other measures designed to give the federal government a greater role in setting rates for wholesale electricity, oil or natural gas. The ad campaign reflects a deepening sense of dread among congressional Republicans that the Bush energy policy, while long on specifics, has failed to address short-term political pressure on Republicans. Republicans inside and outside of Congress tell CNN they are terrified about confronting a summer of Democratic attacks on energy prices as they gear up for re-election campaigns. The concerns are all the more acute because of the GOP's narrow, five-seat House majority and fear among Senate Republicans that they could lose more ground to the Democrats in next year's elections. The final straw for many House and Senate Republicans was Mr. Bush's trip to California, which, in effect, put the issue of price caps in the spotlight. ``It was a total disaster,'' said an adviser to the House Republican leadership. ``He came out there to let every Californian, including Republicans, know he was against price caps. Now everyone in California knows (Democratic Gov.) Gray Davis is for them and the president is not.'' What's worse, several senior Congressional Republican sources told CNN, the White House returned from the trip thinking the president had the upper hand. ``It's ludicrous,'' said another House Republican. ``Members have lost confidence in their ability to understand how this issue is affecting us.'' Congressional Republicans will not play any role in the content or overall strategy of the campaign. Neither is the White House involved. But House and Senate GOP leaders have shared their concerns with top White House officials, among them Mr. Bush's senior political adviser, Karl Rove. ``The White House is aware and approving of the effort,'' said a senior Senate Republican aide. House Republican leaders, beset by complaints from rank- and-file Republicans about the beating they're taking on the energy price issue, have been demanding action from energy companies to make the public case against price caps or other controls on energy markets. Chief among the advocates has been House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. DeLay and his wife, Christine, dined with President bush and the first lady on Wednesday. Sources close to the situation said the evening was mostly social, but they added that DeLay expressed concerns about the withering attacks the House GOP has been absorbing from Democrats on the energy issue. From news conferences to special orders on the House floor, Democrats have blasted Republicans as allies of big energy conglomerates and as unwilling to question high energy prices. The White House, sources inside and outside the administration tell CNN, has gotten the message. Senior advisers convened an emergency ``California energy message'' meeting Thursday to discuss future strategy. The meeting involved Rove, White House counselor Karen Hughes and senior advisers from the president's economic team and the Energy Department. The political danger for Republicans has become so pronounced that House GOP leaders pulled an energy bill sponsored by Republicans Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, because they could not be sure they could kill a Democratic attempt to add energy price caps in California to the legislation. Similarly, senior Senate Republicans aides said a push for electricity price caps in California could prove unstoppable if the issue comes to the floor. With Senate Democrats eager to push other matters first--such as HMO reform--the price cap issue will probably not make it to the Senate floor until congress returns from its Fourth of July recess. At a recent gathering of Senate Republicans, one top senator said there ``wasn't five votes'' among Republicans to block price caps on electricity in California. Last week, House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, and Conference Chairman J.C. Watts, R-Oklahoma, sparred publicly over whether to hold hearings into energy prices. Armey said the exercise was ``nonsense.'' Watts said he wanted energy companies to at least explain price fluctuations so the public would see that Republicans were at least willing to hold them accountable to consumers. ``We're not fighting fire with fire,'' said one exasperated senior House Republican aide. ``This is a war and if the energy companies don't step up to the plate, we can't stop bad things from happening anymore. They have to be willing to fight and fight on the air.'' Before the emergency White House meeting California, top White House communications aides sent a memo to all congressional Republicans last week advising that they should no longer use the phrase ``price caps'' but ``price controls.'' The theory behind the semantics, Republicans say, is that price caps sound consumer-friendly and nonthreatening, while price controls sound bureaucratic and meddlesome. The White House has long argued that price caps in California--or anywhere else--would distort markets. This distortion, the White House has argued, would artificially lower prices, encourage consumption and diminish the supply of energy that can be profitably brought to market. Republican sources said several utilities will participate in the advertising and that the thrust of the pitch would be that government interference in energy markets would, in the case of California, bring more blackouts. The campaign may, in later stages, remind viewers of the gas lines in the 1970s, which many energy economists say were brought on by price controls that drastically reduced the supply of gasoline and by consumers hoarding gasoline, frightened of never having enough. ``We've been carrying their water for a long time,'' one Republican said of the energy industry. ``And now they're going to have to provide some air cover.'' The one irony is that energy economists have of late forecast that gasoline prices--which were feared to be headed well above $2 per gallon--will likely drop later this summer and that the energy crisis in California may not be as acute as anticipated. The main reason, these economists say, is that high prices for gasoline and electricity sparked widespread conservation that has boosted supplies of gasoline and taken pressure off California's electricity needs. But that doesn't mean the political equation has changed. ``Members are scared to death,'' said another senior House Republican aide. ``They are going to be redistricted this year and they will have to sell themselves to some new voters next year. They need to be able to tell them what they did about energy.''

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, let me say to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), as blessed as each one of us felt to know Joe Moakley and to have his friendship, I do not think that he had greater love for anyone here than he did for you. We feel the same way. We know that the gentleman is going to continue in Joe Moakley's great footsteps, in his beliefs and everything that he fought for. You are our new Joe. Mr. Speaker, let me thank Mr. Moakley's staff for serving him so well because through their service, the fullness of his representation was felt here. Whenever I think of Joe since his passing, and I know the angels stood outside the gates and greeted him with open arms, and I think Tip O'Neill was right there, too, to bring him through the gates, he has earned the highest place in heaven because of how he lived on this Earth. Thank God Joe Moakley was born because in that person, in the soul and the person that was shaped, he did great things because they were good things. I think his goodness emanated out of his faith, first of all. He believed in the beatitudes. He understood that there was a holiness to each human being. So it was that he set out in everything that he did to actually feed the hungry, to cloth the naked, to stand next to the extraordinary, ordinary person because he saw the face of almighty God in each person. Mr. Speaker, his constituents understood that because they knew how much he loved them and that the service that he gave back to them was really embedded in the beatitudes. So he celebrated the Constitution. He lifted it up. He made each one of us feel extraordinary. I think also because his life was so instructive to us, we recognize that he was the real thing. He was the real thing. He was totally authentic. He did not smoke his own exhaust. He never thought of doing that. He loved life. He loved this place because he saw the dignity of America and what this country represented around the world to people. When the world came to him in terms of El Salvador and he took that delegation there, his outrage over the assassination of modern day martyrs, those Jesuits then gathered at the altar of God to celebrate the mass to say farewell to a man who had lived life so nobly. So he is not only their hero and the hero of the Southies and the townies, but to all of us. Today we are saying, Thank God, Joe, you were born. You taught us how to live. You taught us how to represent. You taught us about conscience. You taught us about friendship, you taught us about dignity, and you taught us very well how to best love our country and the world, that is, to bring the love of God and the dignity of his face to every single human being. Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), for organizing this; and I thank our Republican colleagues who have joined with their voices and their tributes to honor this beautiful man. I do not think we will ever be the same again; but if we take the lesson of his life up, we might get to be partly as good as blessed Joe.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to vote during consideration of rollcall Nos. 152 and 153. I would have voted ``yea'' on both these rollcall votes.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished Californian, Audrey Rust, who is being honored by the California League of Conservation Voters. Audrey Rust has led the Peninsula Open Space Trust (P.O.S.T.) since 1987, first as Executive Director and now as President. Over the past 24 years, P.O.S.T. has led the way to protecting over 40,000 acres of land on the San Francisco Peninsula. Prior to coming to P.O.S.T., Audrey worked with the Sierra Club, Yale University and Stanford University. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Land Trust Alliance and the League of Conservation Voters in Washington, DC, and currently advises many community groups and national conservation and civic organizations. Under Audrey Rust's leadership, P.O.S.T. has become the most respected and effective organization responsible for the permanent protection of lands . . . amongst them the Cloverdale Coastal Ranch and the Cowell Ranch and Beach. They have raised $33.5 million in private gifts for the permanent protection of 12,500 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Audrey Rust oversees P.O.S.T.'s unique land acquisition strategy, which uses a combination of public and private funds. P.O.S.T. regularly purchases threatened land with privately-raised funds, then sells this land to public agencies in order to preserve them from commercial development. I'm exceedingly proud to have worked with Audrey Rust to protect the 1,250-acre Phleger Estate and Bair Island. The Phleger Estate lands are now part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area, and Bair Island provides refuge to many endangered species, including the California clapper rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse. These lands are part of the unique character and heritage of the 14th Congressional District of California, which I am proud to represent and they now belong to future generations of Americans. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the millions of Californians and Americans who have benefited from Audrey Rust's extraordinary leadership and the work of P.O.S.T., I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to her. She is a great woman, a gifted leader, a sound thinker, a trusted friend and a national treasure.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished Californian, Martin Litton, who is being honored by the California League of Conservation Voters. Martin Litton has spent the last fifty years of his life saving the great forests and rivers of California and the West. In his roles as a freelance writer for the Los Angeles Times, a notable leader of the Sierra Club, an editor at Sunset Magazine, a pilot, a photographer, and a crusader, Mr. Litton has made his mark in the great conservation efforts of our time. Martin Litton's news articles on the destructiveness of the development that threatened the giant redwoods of Northern California helped pave the way for the creation of Redwood National Park in 1968. This jewel in our National Park System would not exist today were it not for him and his tireless efforts. Martin Litton later partnered with Sierra Club leader David Brower to save Dinosaur National Monument from proposed dams that would have covered the area under millions of gallons of water. Martin Litton's photos and articles in the Los Angeles Times made the public aware of the dangers that their protected lands faced. He later served on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club from 1964 to 1973. For the last thirteen years, Martin Litton has worked to save the giant Sequoias in Sequoia National Forest from the threat of renewed logging and deforestation. His eloquent voice once again is being raised to ensure that these lands are protected for generations to come. The late David Brower called Martin Litton our ``conservation conscience.'' Mr. Speaker, we are a better nation and a better people because of Martin Litton. It is a privilege to honor him for his extraordinary leadership and I ask my colleagues to join me in paying grateful tribute to him.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. First, I want to salute the leadership of the committee, both the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner), and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) on our side of the aisle. I do not think there is a Member of the House of Representatives that has the passion and the eloquence and is such a virtuoso as the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), so we thank him for his work. We are all grateful to him. Mr. Chairman, this last Saturday in my congressional district in Palo Alto, California, the Board, the Student Advisory Board for California's 14th Congressional District, presented their annual report to the community. This year, the 25 exceptional high school students on the Board decided to focus on one of the most critical issues of our time, education. They specifically analyzed recruitment and retention of teachers. Their proposal included a number of important initiatives, including loan forgiveness, integrated housing and transportation for teachers, scholarships for college students who agree to teach after their graduation, a national teacher academy, Federal grants for continued learning, and skill-based bonuses. I bring their ideas to the floor of the House today because it is not only important to heed their voices, but because I believe this bill represents a beginning of what we can do for education, and some of their ideas are in this bill. The underlying bill is a good bill, it is a balanced bill, and it is a bipartisan bill. It includes a 66 percent increase in teacher training and class size reduction. It includes $1 billion for technology programs, a $128 million increase from current law, and $55 million more than the President's plan. I am pleased that it does not include vouchers. Seventy-one percent of California voters last year chose not to have a State voucher plan because they siphon off some of the most important funding for 90 percent of our students in our country that are in the public education system. The bill does have its shortcomings. We should fully fund IDEA. We should have school construction. We should take that up after this bill. I support the underlying bill. I thank the leadership of the Committee, especially our magnificent gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), and I urge our colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, because I was not recorded as voting, I'd like to state for the Record that I would have voted against the Tancredo amendment (Roll Number 108).

Mr. ESHOO

Mr. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Harry W. Earle Jr., a great American, an outstanding and devoted citizen and a respected community leader who passed away on April 26, 2001, at the age of 76. He and his wife Barbara of 56 years have three sons and two daughters, David, Gordon and John, Penhryn Cook and Barbara Ballard, as well as 11 grandchildren. Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Harry Earle made Darien, Connecticut his home for over 50 years. Harry Earle attended Williams College until his induction into the United States Air Force in 1943, during which time he flew more than fifty B-17 missions over southern Europe, earning the distinction of the Distinguished Flying Cross. He began his career in the printing industry with McCall Corporation before becoming senior executive at J.W. Clement Company, Arcata Printing Company, and W.A. Krueger Company. He would later serve as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Banta Corporation for over a decade. In 1989, Harry Earle received one of the highest honors of his profession when he was inducted into the Printing Industry Hall of Fame. Harry Earle was also a proud and active member of the public sector. Upon his return from the Second World War, he became perhaps the youngest member ever elected to the Board of Selectmen in Darien. He would later serve on the Darien Police Commission, the Board of Finance, the Coastal Harbor Commission, the first and second Charter Revision Commission, Darien Library's Board of Trustees, and the Family Counseling Service. He also served as campaign director for the Darien United Way, and recently as chairman of the Darien Senior Men's Association. Harry Earle was also known as a passionate student of art. The ease with which he mastered this subject is a testament to his considerable talent, with his work being shown, appreciated and celebrated in his community. Harry Earle enriched the lives of countless people as an understanding and fair manager. With his intelligence, common sense, warmth, and wisdom, he earned the respect of everyone who crossed his path. I know this because I worked for him, and had the opportunity to see Harry Earle up close. His integrity, his grace under pressure, and his professionalism were instructive to me and have shaped my thinking, my approaches and my work throughout my adult life. For all his leadership qualities and corporate distinctions, Harry Earle was grounded in his faith and his family. These were the riches of his life. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this good man and extend to his magnificent family our sympathy. Harry Earle was a man of many seasons. He was gifted leader, a great husband, a terrific father, a proud grandfather, a master sailor, and a fabulous tennis player. He was a proud American and a decent man. How privileged I was to have known him. How blessed our nation is to have had him as a son. We are a better people because of him.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, thanks and congratulations, first, to the two major sponsors of this bill, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman). I think the quality of this bill and the amount of support that it enjoys today really speaks to the eloquence of their work. We come to the floor every day to cast votes. Sometimes we hold our noses over what we have to vote for; other times we say, if I had designed this, it would be so much better. This is a very, very good bill, it is a sound bill, and I cannot help but think of FDR's quote that ``True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.'' I think that those are the two things that this bill provides for millions of workers in our country by making retirement security more available to them. Our savings rate in our country is at an historically low level, and this is a critically important piece of legislation to advance people's being able to save and encouraging them to. It also addresses the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce. The average worker today will hold nine jobs by the age of 32, and workers typically do not stay in any job for more than 5 years until they are 40 years old. So portability and being able to accumulate benefits and then move it from job to job, I think is essential. So, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation. I think it is not only good for my constituents, I think it is good for all of the people of this country; and I think the Congress will take a very important step by establishing better pension funds for employees, helping employers to do that, and by the IRA contribution being raised. So I ask my colleagues to join me and many others in the House on a bipartisan basis to support this bill, pass it, and help it become law. It is going to make our country better and stronger.

Mrs. ESHOO

Mrs. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bill George, an extraordinary American and one of our nation's most respected business leaders on the occasion of his retirement as CEO of Medtronic Inc. I have had the privilege of knowing Bill George and working with him. In fact, were it not for his leadership, the landmark FDA Reform bill which became law in 1997 would not have been the successful effort it was. As Chief Executive Officer of one of the world's leading medical technology companies, Bill George has displayed remarkable leadership and unparalleled vision. During his tenure, Medtronic has revolutionized its mission, transforming from a manufacturer of pacemakers to a diversified medical technology company with scientific, manufacturing, education, and sales facilities in 120 countries worldwide. Bill George plotted the course that has taken the company from revenues of $750 million to more than $5 billion, meeting analysts' earnings expectations time and again. The company now employs 25,000 people and has consistently won the praise of investors, analysts and employees. Medtronic has been ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the ``Best Companies to Work for in America,'' and first among its ``Most Admired Companies.'' Through its Foundation, Medtronic has also fulfilled its mission to restoring people to full lives through full health. Under Bill George's stewardship, the Medtronic Foundation has been recognized by Business Ethics Magazine for its demonstrated leadership in ethics and social responsibility. The Foundation has reached out to patient groups in exceptional ways, last year alone, offering $12 million in grants to non-profit organizations in communities worldwide. Bill George's decision to leave the company comes at a time when Medtronic is well-poised to tackle the challenges of a new millennium, and to build upon its rapid developments in medical technology, computer technology, drug therapy and gene therapy. And there is perhaps no one better suited to launch the company's new vision than Art Collins. Art Collins has already played an integral part in Medtronic's success. As Chief Operating Officer and former President of the Board of Directors, Art Collins has helped to expand the company's global presence. He joined Medtronic in 1992, serving as Corporate Executive Vice President and President of Medtronic International with responsibility for all Medtronic operations outside the United States. He brings a unique perspective and a creative vision to his new post. Mr. Speaker, I speak on behalf of the millions of patients worldwide who have benefited from Medtronic's work in paying tribute to Bill George. He is a gifted leader, a proud American and a decent man. He's made our country better with all he's done and I shall always be grateful to know him and to have worked with him.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as I have every year at this time, in a proud but solemn tradition to remember and pay tribute to the victims of one of history's worst crimes against humanity, the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1923. In 1915, 1.5 million women, children, and men were killed, and 500,000 Armenians were forcibly deported by the Ottoman Empire during an eight year reign of brutal repression. Armenians were deprived of their homes, their dignity, and ultimately their lives. Yet, America, the greatest democracy in the world, has not made an official statement regarding the Armenian genocide and it is my hope that the Congress will have the courage to bring the resolution to the floor of the House for a vote. It's fundamental that we learn from our past and never let this kind of tragedy happen again. Opponents have argued that passage of a resolution would severely jeopardize U.S.-Turkey relations. A resolution is not an indictment of the current Turkish government nor is it a condemnation of any former leader of Turkey. The United States and Turkey can and will be able to continue its partnership should the Congress adopt this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, as the only Member of Congress of Armenian and Assyrian descent, I am very proud of my heritage. Like many Armenians, I learned from my grandparents of the hardship and suffering endured by so many at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. That is how I came to this understanding and this knowledge and why I bring this story to the House of Representatives. I am very proud of the contributions which the Armenian people have made to our great Nation. They've distinguished themselves in the arts, in law, in academics, in every walk of life and they continue today to make significant contributions in communities across our country today. It's essential to not only publicly acknowledge what happened, but also understand that we are teaching present and future generations about the Armenian Genocide. We need to bring this legislation to enlighten our young people and to remind ourselves that wherever anything like this occurs around the globe that we, as Members of the United States Congress, and as citizens of this great Nation, must raise our voices.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished Californian, Beverly K. Abbott, on the occasion of her retirement from the San Mateo County Mental Health Services Agency. In January 1968 Beverly Abbott entered into public service as a social worker. A dedicated champion of the mentally ill, she devoted twelve years to Marin County's Division of Community Health, eight of which were spent as Director. Beverly Abbott revolutionized the Department during her tenure, increasing the budget from $5,000,000 to $12,000,000. In 1985, Beverly Abbott took the helm at the San Mateo County Mental Health Services Agency. Under her stewardship, the Mental Health Division has been transformed from a traditional, clinic-based mental health facility to a dynamic organization with a broad array of residential and rehabilitation options. Today the Agency offers a wide selection of contact services, designed to involve families and clients in the administration and evaluation of the service delivery system. In 1994, the San Mateo Mental Health Division led the State of California by implementing the first fully integrated mental health service system for persons funded by Medi-Cal (MEDICAID). Beverly Abbott has taken a leadership role in a number of prestigious organizations, including the American College of Mental Health Administration where she served as President-Elect and President from 1995 to 1999. She has worked tirelessly to provide uncompromising assistance to all residents of San Mateo County. Beverly Abbott's life of leadership is instructive to us all. Her dedication to the ideals of democracy and community service stand tall. It is fitting that she is being honored upon the occasion of her retirement from the San Mateo County Mental Health Services Agency, and I ask my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to join me in honoring this great and good woman whom I am proud to call my friend. We are a better county, a better country and a better people because of her.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), our distinguished ranking member, for yielding the time to me. Mr. Speaker, I support estate tax relief, and I think the American people deserve it, and they deserve it now. The substitute is practical. It is immediate, and it is fiscally responsible at $40 billion over 10 years. It includes a $4 million exclusion for couples; and in California this eliminates the estate tax on all but 7 percent of California estates. The Republican plan does not provide any real tax relief for 10 years, and I do not think people want to wait. Forty-five percent of the estate tax cut will not arrive until 2010 and 2011. At $200 billion, it is outrageously expensive. When combined with the tax cuts already rammed through the House, we are already over $2 trillion in spending just on tax cuts alone. Where is the money to pay down the national debt, shore up our responsibilities for Social Security and Medicare and improve our Nation's schools? Finally, and perhaps the biggest poison in the Republican plan, is that it will actually increase taxes for many families by adding a capital gains tax upon the inheritance of assets. This is the wrong way to go. We should have it today. We should have it now. It should be affordable. That is exactly what this plan is.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kevin Kannengeiser, an extraordinary teacher, coach, friend, and mentor to the students at St. Nicholas School in Los Altos Hills, California. Mr. Kannengeiser or Mr. K, as he is known to his students, came to St. Nicholas School in January, 1977. During his 25 years at St. Nicholas, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of his students. As the 8th grade homeroom teacher and Chair of the Mathematics Department, Mr. K dedicates himself to educating, advising and guiding his students. His commitment is evident through his consistent work to offer his students educational opportunities in and out of the classroom. Ten years ago, Mr. Kannengeiser launched the idea of taking his Social Studies students on an annual trip to Washington, D.C., so that they would better understand the workings of our government. As athletic director, Mr. K coaches the boys' basketball team, and for the last 27 years he has hosted the Annual Boys Basketball Tournament in the Bay Area. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to an outstanding community leader and a remarkable teacher who has touched the lives of countless students and serves as an inspiration to so many. Mr. K has sacrificed financially to remain in the Catholic education system. He has earned the deepest respect and admiration of his colleagues, of parents, and his students for his extraordinary dedication and effectiveness in all he does at St. Nicholas School. Mr. Speaker, we are indeed a better nation and a better people, because of Kevin Kannengeiser and it is a privilege to honor my constituent for his very special leadership.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank our distinguished ranking member for yielding me this time. There are three points I want to make today about the tax plan before us: number one, when an American family considers spending in a major way, whether it be on a home or a car, they sit down first to figure out how it fits into their budget and if they can afford it. The Congress is not that sensible. Almost $2 trillion of spending today and no budget. I think this is wrong. Number two: do the American people deserve a tax cut? Sure they do. But we have some old bills to pay and interest on those bills. If all of the tax revenue belongs to all of the American people, so does our national debt, and that should be paid off. And we have family obligations, too: A solvent Social Security System, a prescription drug benefit in Medicare, a superb education system for our children. That is why we should budget before we spend. Number three: Let me warn Californians and New Yorkers to fasten their seatbelts, because under the Bush tax plan they will not be able to deduct their State income taxes or their property taxes anymore. I think there is a better way. We should be fiscally responsible. We should budget first, pay off our debt, and save and invest prudently. Vote against the plan.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the third day of National Women's History Month to reintroduce the Restoration of Women's Citizenship Act, legislation that corrects an antiquated law that mars our Nation's history. In 1922, Rose Bouslacchi, an American citizen, married Conrad Sabatini, a tailor by profession and an immigrant from Northern Italy. When the couple married, a Federal law existed which stripped women of their U.S. citizenship if they married resident alien men, but the law did not apply to men. Ironically, a year later the U.S. granted Conrad Sabatini the privilege of citizenship while his wife, Rose Bouslacchi, lost hers. During the course of her life, Rose Bouslacchi reared a family of five daughters, each a college graduate and each a contributor to the well-being of our Nation. Four became teachers and one became a nurse. Rose Bouslacchi was an active member of her church and worked with her husband in the running of their business. Her life embodied the values of family and faith, representing the best of America. But, Rose Bouslacchi could never be called an American again. Rose Bouslacchi was not alone. There were many women affected by this law. After decades of women voicing the gender inequities of our laws, Congress modified the law. In 1952, Congress enacted a procedure for women wronged by the 1907 law to regain their citizenship. A legislative oversight, however, failed to provide a procedure to enable deceased women to have their citizenship restored posthumously. Thus, many families like Rose Bouslacchi's have been left without any recompense. The Restoration of Women's Citizenship Act would grant U.S. citizenship posthumously to the women who were wronged in 1907 and were unable to benefit from the 1952 law. I urge all my colleagues to celebrate National Women's History Month and honor those deceased women and their families by cosponsoring the Restoration of Women's Citizenship Act.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor Glenn Albert Ward, an outstanding citizen and dedicated community leader who passed away on January 11, 2001, at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife Lee, his son John Ward, his brother Jerri, as well as grandchildren and stepchildren. Mr. Ward was born in Kansas City, Kansas but moved to California soon after, making San Mateo County, California his home for more than 35 years. He began his career at American Associated Indemnity Insurance Company before becoming manager at Owl-Rexall Drug Company in San Francisco. He later spent a number of years with Metcalfe Rexall Pharmacy in San Carlos. He was also an active member of the public sector. Prior to retiring, he was a financial officer for the San Mateo County Probation Department. Mr. Ward enriched the lives of countless people as an understanding and fair superior. With his intelligence, common sense, warmth, and wisdom, he earned the love and respect of those who crossed his path. His deep regard for public service was passed on to his son John, who served with distinction as a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. To this day, I am proud to have served as a colleague of John's on the Board. Glenn Ward was known to be a world traveler and a passionate aviator. He traveled across the United States countless times. His passion extended to numerous community activities. He was a dedicated volunteer at Messiah Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz and a ``founding father'' of the Vista de Lago Homeowners Association in Scotts Valley. For more than half a century, he was involved with the Masonic Order, San Carlos Lodge, and Santa Cruz Lodge. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a noble man who helped make our nation what it is today and to most especially extend to his son John our abiding sympathy. Together, they were one of the most devoted and admired father-son teams I've ever known.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, it's with great pride that I rise today to honor the work of the Society of American Florists and specifically, my constituents John and Eda Muller of Half Moon Bay, California, for their breathtaking work which displayed during the Inauguration. The Society of American Florists has provided the floral needs for inaugural events since John F. Kennedy's administration. This year, more than 150 floral industry volunteers from 32 states and the District of Columbia arrived in Washington, D.C. a week before the inaugural festivities to create the floral themes for inaugural festivities. Together, the volunteers donated over 5,000 hours during pre-inauguration week, creating elegant and exquisite works of floral art for nine balls, three dinners and other events. Designers used their skills to arrange 150,000 roses, tulips, lilies and other flowers from around the world, and delivered more than 1,500 centerpieces, podium pieces and stage arrangements. Mr. Speaker, I'd specifically like to commend the efforts of my constituents John and Ida Muller. For the last thirty years, John and Ida have owned and operated Daylight Nursery in Half Moon Bay, California. Their efforts during the Inauguration are consistent with their spirit of giving, which is unlimited. They are constantly giving to their community, often hosting disabled children at their nursery. John Muller serves on the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Control Board and was recently named Chairman. Mr. Speaker, John and Eda Muller are two of the finest human beings that I've ever had the privilege of knowing and it is a great privilege to represent them. We owe all the volunteers from the Society of American Florists our deepest gratitude for their selfless efforts during the Inauguration. Because of them, the words `America the Beautiful' have ever more meaning for us all!

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary American, and a highly distinguished constituent of California's 14th Congressional District--Bill Hewlett, who will forever be remembered as a pioneer of high technology and the co- founder of one of the most influential companies of all time--Hewlett- Packard. Bill Hewlett passed away January 12, 2001, leaving a legacy of unparalleled and extraordinary achievement. Bill Hewlett created a business style and formula for success that became a prototype for Silicon Valley and American business. Armed with little more than an idea and $538, he and his partner David Packard, created what would grow to become a multimillion dollar enterprise. Together, they fashioned a revolutionary management style that has served as a model for companies both small and large. Bill Hewlett was also a great philanthropist, giving tens of millions of dollars to environmental, educational and humanitarian causes. In 1966, he began the foundation which bears his name, helping to support charitable endeavors in the performing arts, education, the environment, conflict resolution and many other areas. In 1985, President Reagan awarded Bill Hewlett the National Medal of Science, the highest science honor in our nation. He served on many Boards, including the Stanford Medical Center, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, the Drug Abuse Council in Washington, D.C. and the Carnegie Institution of Washington. History will elevate Bill Hewlett to the pantheon of American inventors that include Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. His vision, his unparalleled creativity, and his unique leadership will forever distinguish him as one of the foremost technological icons of all time. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a great and good man, and offer the condolences of the entire House of Representatives to the Hewlett family.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today as we inaugurate a new President, we inaugurate a critical beginning by introducing legislation which will protect what is a core value of every American--privacy. When any of us provide an institution with personal information, we expect the information to be used in the narrowest sense. Representative Cannon and I strongly believe that while the Internet has opened up an entirely new world, it has also created problems we have never before encountered. Information about Internet users can now be accessed in an instant, and often times with the user being completely unaware that his or her information is moving down the information superhighway at lightning speed. The bipartisan legislation we've introduced today will help to assure the security Americans expect when it comes to their privacy. The legislation requires Web sites to conspicuously post clear and concise information about their policies relative to how personal information collected from online users is used. Companies will be required to disclose exactly who is collecting the information, how it will be used, the types of data being collected and whether consumers have to provide personal information in order to use a Web site. Companies also would have to take steps to secure personal information once it is in their databases. Perhaps most importantly, Internet users will be able to assess a company's privacy policy before registering at a Web site, or purchasing merchandise over the Internet, and then control the extent to which their personal information can be used by the company. Companies that violate the requirements could face civil penalties of $22,000 per violation, up to a maximum fine of $500,000. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would enforce the provisions. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Chris Cannon, our colleague, who joins me in introducing this bill today. Representative Cannon is a leader in protecting the civil rights of Americans. His work on this bill has been critical and he once again demonstrates his leadership on the issue of privacy. I'd also like to acknowledge the original authors of this legislation in the Senate-- Senators Kerry of Massachusetts and McCain of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, Representative Cannon and I believe this legislation can become the backbone of a new law in privacy for America. We look forward to working with the entire House to move this bill through the 107th Congress.