Bob Etheridge

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this latest wasteful Republican tax bill and in strong support of the Rangel substitute. The Rangel bill is a responsible effort to extend needed tax relief and protect middle class Americans from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), but the underlying legislation is the latest installment of the failed Republican budget policies that have devastated this country's finances and much of our economy. I strongly believe that Congress must return to the values of balanced budgets to restore growth and opportunity to our Nation's economy. I am tremendously proud that in my first term in the U.S. House, Congress and the White House worked together in a bipartisan manner to balance the budget for the first time in a generation. That responsible budget helped usher in a period of robust, broad-based economic growth and produced record budget surpluses. Unfortunately, the current White House and Republican Leaders in Congress replaced that budget discipline with record deficits, exploding national debt and unbalanced budgets in perpetuity. This bill represents more of the same. The current Republican tax cuts will cost our budget $81 billion over ten years, while at the same time, Republican Leaders have proposed devastating cuts to the Farm Bill, food stamps, child support enforcement and Medicaid. Furthermore, H.R. 4297, the Tax Reconciliation Bill, raises the taxes of nearly 17 million middle class families in America, by leaving out a provision to extend the higher AMT exemptions that expire in a few weeks. In contrast, the Rangel substitute would exempt from AMT increases every family with taxable income under $200,000 per year. It includes $42 billion in tax cuts over five years targeted to spur economic growth through the Research and Development tax credit, small business expensing and other initiatives. The Rangel bill maintains budget discipline by paring back the President's tax cuts for those with annual taxable income above $1 Million. Finally, the Rangel bill keeps our word to the families of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan by maintaining their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit. I urge my colleagues to support the Rangel substitute and vote against H.R. 4297.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution and in the strongest possible opposition to the Republican smear campaign against my friend and colleague, Congressman Jack Murtha. Jack Murtha is a patriot. He has served this country in wartime and peacetime and has earned an unparalleled record as a champion for our troops and their families. Jack Murtha is a retired Marine Colonel with more than thirty years of distinguished military service. He earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for action under enemy fire in Vietnam. He served as a USMC drill instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina boot camp. And as a foremost Congressional expert on defense matters, he has spent more than three decades helping to build a military force that is second to none in the entire world. I have been proud to serve in Congress with Jack Murtha for nearly ten years, and I had the honor of hosting him in my Congressional District and of joining him in visiting wounded veterans of the Iraq war at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. Yet despite his standing and stature, Congressman Murtha has been viciously attacked by the Republican partisans for having the temerity to raise important questions about this Administration's policies regarding Iraq. Yesterday, the Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert, who never served in the military, called Jack Murtha a coward. Other Republicans in Congress and the White House have called Jack Murtha a traitor and accused him of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Mr. Speaker, the Republican attack machine has gone too far. Regardless of one's view of the Administration's Iraq policies, Members of this Congress deserve to offer their viewpoints without having their patriotism questioned. Indeed, the American people deserve the benefit of vigorous debate about a war that has cost us more than 2,000 soldiers killed, thousands more maimed and several hundred billion dollars of public treasure expended. The Hunter Resolution is a cheap political trick. It is not a serious attempt at crafting public policy since Mr. Hunter has said he intends to vote against his own resolution. Rather than engage in this petty and deceitful charade, the American people deserve a Congress that conducts the people's business in a professional manner to address the challenges facing our country here at home and around the world. I will vote against the Hunter Resolution.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this Republican Budget cut package. First, let me state that I strongly support balancing the federal budget and paying off the national debt. I am tremendously proud that during my first term in the U.S. House, Congress and the White House worked together in a bipartisan manner to balance the federal budget for the first time in a generation and produced record budget surpluses. Unfortunately, the current Republican Congressional Leadership has produced a budget plan with harmful cuts to essential services that does nothing to reduce the budget deficits or offset the costs of recovery from Hurricane Katrina or the ongoing war in Iraq. At a time when American families are getting squeezed, the budget reconciliation package cuts funding for priorities including Medicaid, student loans, child support and food stamps that assist the working poor and the middle class. Specifically, this legislation will cut Medicaid by $11.4 million, student loans by $14.3 billion, food stamps by $796 million and child support by $24.1 billion. The bill also breaks the promise of the Farm Bill by cutting $1 billion from agriculture support and $760 million from conservation. Although I am pleased this version of the bill abandons earlier attempts to open the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and coastal areas like the Outer Banks to oil and gas drilling and a few other modest improvements, these changes in no way compensate for the bill's fundamental flaws. Congress should reject this legislation and go back to the drawing board to produce a responsible federal budget for the American people. I support pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget rules to enact budget discipline and restore fairness and equity to the budget process. I want Congress and the President to work together across the partisan divide to balance the budget once again, pay down the national debt and invest in our people and our country's economic competitiveness in the 21st century global marketplace. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against these senseless budget cuts.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3010, the Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Act for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. H.R. 3010 severely cuts education, health care, and human services that are crucial to North Carolina and to the country. As the only former state schools chief serving in Congress, I know firsthand the devastating effects that these education cuts will have. At a time when we are asking our schools to do more than ever, H.R. 3010 cuts No Child Left Behind funding by $784 million below last year's level and makes it impossible for our schools to meet high standards of accountability. These cuts will destroy the morale of our teachers, parents and students. America's working families are struggling to pay record costs for college costs for college tuition and expenses. Last November, President Bush made a campaign promise to increase funding for Pell Grants and invest in higher education. Unfortunately, this bill freezes Pell Grants and other student financial aid programs for the fourth year in a row, even though college costs have increased by 34 percent since 2001. America needs a highly trained and educated workforce to compete in the global marketplace of the 21st Century, but H.R. 3010 slashes funding for education at all levels and strains school budgets. The failure of H.R. 3010 to represent the values of the American people extends beyond the walls of the classroom. H.R. 3010 slashes funding for community health centers that assist the almost 46 million uninsured Americans, and underfunds the Centers for Disease Control as we face the possibility of a flu pandemic. And as winter approaches with expected record prices to heat their homes, H.R. 3010 fails to increase funding for LIHEAP home heating assistance, which helps keep the heat on for low-income seniors and children. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3010 fails to represent the priorities of the American people. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bad bill and restore funding for essential services for our families.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2006 Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations act because it includes several meritorious provisions, including a directive to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate price gouging by oil companies as well as continued funding for Economic Development Assistance grants. Unfortunately, once again the House Republican leadership has slashed State and local law enforcement assistance grants despite the growing responsibilities of our First Responders in the ongoing efforts on homeland security. I am also concerned that this bill cuts the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy, and now, when they are struggling with a weak economy and the high cost of fuel and transportation, is not the time to reduce our support. And finally, I am sorely disappointed that the Republican leadership has stripped out the Freedom to Read provision that passed this House with strong bipartisan support on June 15th of this year, as it has in previous years. Despite the support of an overwhelming majority of Members, the Administration threatens to veto the bill because it protects people's right to privacy. This is the wrong message to be sending to the citizens of the United States. Despite the bill's serious shortcomings, it contains important investments in federal research and development as well as law enforcement and crime prevention initiatives. On balance, this bill merits passage, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting Yes.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, this week this House will consider a budget bill that contains changes in the farm bill that will adversely affect and impact the environment, the poor and the hungry, and the pocketbooks of farm families. While farmers are struggling with high prices for gas, propane, natural gas and fertilizer, the Republican budget breaks the promise of the farm bill. While working families are confronting higher fuel prices, the Republican bill severely cuts food stamps, forcing families to choose between food and heat for their homes. I strongly support tough budget discipline to rein in the budget deficit, but this bill does the very opposite. Regardless of whether they cut $39 billion or $50 billion, it is not enough to offset the $70 billion in lost revenue from their tax bill. At the end of the day, the Republican reconciliation bill will only worsen the deficit and leave our children with a higher debt. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bad bill.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Morgan Jackson and his wife Shawn on the birth of their first child, Emsley Taylor Jackson. Emsley was born on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 and weighed 10 pounds. Faye joins me in wishing Morgan and Shawn great happiness during this very special time in their lives. As a father of three, I know the immeasurable pride and rewarding challenges that children bring into your life. Their innocence keeps you young-at-heart. Through their inquiring minds and wide-eyed wonder, they will teach you just as you teach them, and show you the world in a fresh, new way. A little miracle, a new baby holds all the potential of what human beings can achieve. I welcome young Emsley into the world and wish Morgan and Shawn all the best as they begin guiding her through life.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a joyful heart to announce the birth of my second grandchild and very first granddaughter. On November 2, my wife Faye and I welcomed into this world Virginia Parker Etheridge, the new daughter of our son Brian Etheridge and his wife Meredith. Virginia arrived at 8:40 p.m. in Raleigh, NC. She weighed 6 pounds and 15 ounces and measured 20 inches. Faye and I are truly blessed today by the arrival of Virginia Parker Etheridge. The birth of a new child is a joyous occasion that reminds us of the promise of a new life. I hope that Virginia will live in a world that is even better than the one we live in today. I hope that she will have access to the best education and technology in the world, that she will breathe fresh air and drink clean water, that her streets will be safe, and that her generation will not be burdened by the debt of the previous generation. A new child in the family is a gift from God. The Etheridge family and I look forward to spending time with our new bundle of joy and introducing her to all of our friends and neighbors in North Carolina's Second Congressional District.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to explain my absence during yesterday's recorded votes. As a proud grandfather, it is with exceeding pride that I announce the birth yesterday of my first granddaughter to my son Brian and my daughter-in-law Meredith. My wife, Faye, and I joyfully welcome this new baby girl who joins her cousin William Otto, who was born to our daughter Catherine and our son-in-law Tim Otto in January. This is a special time for the Etheridge family, and we are truly blessed. Had I been present in the Chamber yesterday, I would have voted ``No'' on rollcall 559 and ``Yes'' on rollcalls 560 and 561. Rollcall 560 was passage of H.R. 4061, Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Improvement Act, a bipartisan and noncontroversial measure. Likewise, rollcall 561 was passage of H.R. 1691, the John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic Designation Act, a routine matter. However, rollcall 559 was passage of H.R. 1606, the so-called Online Freedom of Speech Act. This substantive legislation would undo Federal regulation of soft money for political communication on the Internet. Consideration of such substantive legislation on the Suspension Calendar, which affords no opportunity for amendment and severely restricts debate, is an improper and ill-advised method to craft sound public policy. I would have voted ``No'' on rollcall 559 in favor of its consideration under regular order.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I voted against S. 397, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. After careful consideration off the bill and its impact on the citizens of North Carolina and the United States, I determined that it would unacceptably infringe on their constitutional right to legal redress in our Nation's courts, as well as subvert North Carolina law, which already prohibits frivolous lawsuits against the firearms industry. Although I voted in favor of similar legislation in the 108th Congress, S. 397 is a much different bill. This bill extends unprecedented immunity to many groups beyond federally licensed firearms dealers and manufacturers, and it sets the bar of proof so high as to prohibit meritorious suits against unscrupulous dealers and manufacturers. This bill allows the firearms industry to put profits ahead of safety; under this bill manufacturers do not have to ensure that the dealers and wholesalers to whom they sell weapons are acting in good faith and within the parameters of the law. Law-abiding gun owners do not want more gun control laws. What we need is more vigorous enforcement of the gun laws that are already on the books. As a lifelong gun owner, I take seriously my commitment to upholding the Constitution and our Second Amendment right to bear arms. I am also committed to the right of individuals to freedom and safety, as well as their day in court, and this bill would subvert those rights.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I think what the gentleman has pointed out, if our colleague were taking in context of where we were on 9/11 when New York was hit, we had a surplus, and when that hit we had the resources of this government, as bad as it was, to help put this thing back together.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Absolutely. The gentleman is right on target. I saw that this weekend firsthand and I am sure others have as they have been there. This is important that we share this with our colleagues and folks tonight so they will understand that budgets are things that you do not pay much attention to sometimes until, as we say back on the farm, the chickens come home to roost, and they are not coming home to roost.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. We had some resilience. We had balance. We did not have to say we are going to look for offsets to help the people of New York get back on their feet. They are still recovering, but we did the right thing. I was down in Louisiana last weekend with members of the Committee on Agriculture. That is what makes this such an important night in what we are doing. We went to the food bank, the food bank in New Orleans, and really for Louisiana and the larger area the food they handed out last month was half what they had given out in one month the whole year last year. And we are looking at folks who have lost their jobs, who have lost their homes, who have lost everything they have, and we are saying that in this budget that we are going to offset against those folks? The gentleman has pointed out so many times we in this country help one another. It is not about taking from one group to fix another group. And as we look at these numbers, we literally are taking from our children and our grandchildren so folks today can live the high life. That is wrong. In the budget cuts we are going to be seeing coming down the road, the result of some of the policies that have been put in place over the last several years, we are going to see children denied an opportunity for education, a higher education. We are going to see heating bills for folks going up this year because of energy prices going through the roof, and they will not have money to pay those bills because we will not have the resources to help. These are the consequences of bad policy decisions that have been made in this body.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in opposition to H.R 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act. Under the constitution, we are charged with securing this country's blessings not only for ourselves, but for our posterity. This bill turns its back on our posterity. The Endangered Species Act has been a model for the protection and preservation of endangered species since 1973. When this legislation was first passed, many species in this country were on the brink of extinction, and many more were in severe decline. ESA is essential to safeguard our natural resources and ensure the biodiversity that is critical to a healthy environment for all species, including human beings. ESA is a great American success story that should only be altered with the greatest of care. In the 30 years since the passage of the Endangered Species Act, we have seen an amazing turnaround in both the population numbers of species that were in decline, as well as in the significant environmental improvements that have fostered their recovery. I acknowledge the concerns of landowners and fanners about the current law, and I agree that the current law needs to be reformed. This is why I support the Miller-Boehlert substitute bill. The substitute helps small landowners by dedicating funding for technical assistance for private property owners, and it provides conservation grants for landowners who help conserve endangered species on their property. Finally, it provides assurances that private citizens will get timely answers from the Fish & Wildlife Service regarding the status of endangered species requirements on their land. The Miller- Boehlert Substitute provides positive changes to the current ESA without reversing the progress that has been made over the past 30 years. The bipartisan substitute is not perfect legislation, but it is far superior to H.R. 3824. H.R. 3824 was introduced just last week and was marked up without any public hearings, yet this legislation would most certainly rank as the most sweeping and significant change of environmental law in the past 3 decades. I have grave concerns about provisions in the bill that would give political appointees the power to remove species from the endangered list, and other drastic changes such as those which would take away critical habitat areas that have been set aside for endangered species. Habitat degradation is the leading cause of species decline, and this bill proposes to eliminate critical habitat designations. I do not understand how eliminating protected areas can result in greater protection of endangered species. The Endangered Species Act may need an update, but we must not reverse course on significant progress and results for endangered species. We have a solemn obligation to maintain responsible stewardship of America's bounty, and this legislation would abandon that responsibility. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 3824, and to vote in favor of the balanced, bipartisan substitute legislation for ESA reform.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3893. Our country is facing a painful energy crisis under the policies of this Administration and Congressional leadership. Just last week, I received a letter from a constituent of mine, Paul Perry of Dunn, North Carolina, a small businessman struggling to make ends meet. He wrote: ``We just broke ground on a new brick plant and should be in operation by August of 2006. I just hope gas prices don't break us before we get the new plant in production.'' The American people desperately need effective new energy policies, but H.R. 3893 is simply more of the same failed giveaways to Big Oil. The bill on the floor today is nothing more than a giveaway to big oil companies; and on top of this, it contains environmental rollbacks that the Administration has been unsuccessfully pursuing for years for gas and coal fired power plants. These provisions would relax existing pollution controls on thousands of industrial facilities across the country in what one energy industry official even called the most blatant attack on state and local environmental authority that he's ever seen. This legislation would throw out provisions my state of North Carolina implemented when we passed our own clean smokestacks legislation. This legislation would cap penalties levied against big oil companies and refineries caught price gouging to meager amounts at a time when they are recording record profits. Finally, this bill would give tax breaks to those same oil companies at a time of record budget deficits. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill, and to support the substitute that provides real provisions to crack down on price gouging. The substitute bill provides real help to the American people. It punishes price gougers, not just the gas stations but the refineries, the wholesalers, and any of the big oil companies if they are caught taking advantage of the American people. The substitute also creates a strategic refining capacity for the country in times of a national emergency, without jeopardizing the environmental safeguards put in place by the Congress to protect our air, water, land, and public health. Again, I urge my colleagues to support the Democratic substitute.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3439, legislation to name the main post office in Smithfield, North Carolina, in honor of Ava Gardner. I am proud to be sponsor of this legislation not only because Ava Gardner is a native of our great State, but because growing up in Johnston County I was always aware of her accomplishments and of the lives she touched around the world. Ava Gardner lived the American Dream but never forgot her humble beginnings in Johnston County, her high school days at Rock Ridge or her days at Atlantic Christian College. Ava Gardner's career spanned five decades, and she was America's sweetheart during Hollywood's Golden Age. This small town girl was a big time celebrity. In fact, she was the first woman from North Carolina to grace the cover of Time Magazine. She was also a patriot who performed for our servicemen and a tireless leader in the fight against cancer. Ava represents the can-do attitude and patriotism embodied by the people of Smithfield and Johnston County. At the request of the Mayor and Town Council of Smithfield, I was pleased to introduce this legislation in July and work for its passage. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3439 and honor a famous North Carolinian.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on the fiscal year 2006 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. I supported this bill when it passed the House in May, and I will vote in favor of the conference report, but I want to state for the record the serious deficiencies in this legislation. My home State of North Carolina has been the victim of a number of devastating natural disasters including Hurricanes Floyd and Fran, as well as floods, tornadoes and ice storms. In many cases these natural disasters overwhelmed local and state resources, and the Governor asked for help from the Federal Government which, in most cases, responded appropriately. The U.S. Congress established the Department of Homeland Security to address all hazards faced by our Nation--both natural and man-made. However, since the creation of the Department, we have seen the focus and funds shift from preparing for and responding to all hazards to a narrow, short-sighted focus on terrorism. Again and again the administration and Republican leadership have pushed through cuts in pre-disaster mitigation efforts, emergency management performance grants, and even annual funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina exposed the erosion of our Nation's response capabilities and its horrendous results. And now, Congress has the responsibility and opportunity to address some of these weaknesses through the appropriations process, but the Republican leadership has produced a piece of legislation that is almost in complete disregard of the Department's weaknesses. This bill cuts pre-disaster mitigation funds by 67 percent; it cuts state and local domestic preparedness funds by more than a half billion dollars, and it cuts disaster relief funding by $370 million. Furthermore, this legislation strips the preparedness function from FEMA, further weakening this beleaguered agency. Experienced emergency managers on every level will tell you, as they have told the members of the Homeland Security Committee, that their duties include prevention, protection, response and recovery. You cannot take away one of these four roles and expect the agency to function. Preparation, whether it be to prepare updated flood maps or train personnel to respond to a dirty bomb attack, are all vital to the creation of an effective, sustainable, and practical approach to domestic security. Mr. Speaker, I will vote for this bill with great reluctance and strong reservations, but it is my fervent hope that my colleagues in the U.S. House will join me in restoring FEMA to its former effectiveness and preparing our nation for all eventualities.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to make a few comments about H.R. 438. In the House we routinely name Federal post offices after notable Americans. In fact, last year I responded to a request from numerous constituents to name the post office in Dunn, NC after the late General William C. Lee. The bill on the floor today, H.R. 438, would rename the post office at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley, California after Ms. Maudelle Shirek. I am concerned about the lack of committee review over this bill, as H.R. 438 was not heard or marked up by the Government Reform Committee. It is the responsibility of the committee of jurisdiction to review the qualifications of the individual being honored and to determine if he or she should be a candidate for Federal recognition. Despite my reservations about the review process for H.R. 438, I will vote for this legislation as a matter of routine congressional courtesy and respect for the bill's sponsor Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her constituents.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in opposition to H.R 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act. Under the Constitution, we are charged with securing this country's blessings not only for ourselves, but for our posterity. This bill turns its back on our posterity. The Endangered Species Act has been a model for the protection and preservation of endangered species since 1973. When this legislation was first passed, many species in this country were on the brink of extinction, and many more were in severe decline. ESA is essential to safeguard our natural resources and ensure the biodiversity that is critical to a healthy environment for all species, including human beings. ESA is a great American success story that should only be altered with the greatest of care. In the thirty years since the passage of the Endangered Species Act, we have seen an amazing turnaround in both the population numbers of species that were in decline, as well as in the significant environmental improvements that have fostered their recovery. I acknowledge the concerns of landowners and farmers about the current law, and I agree that the current law needs to be reformed. This is why I support the Miller-Boehlert substitute bill. The substitute helps small landowners by dedicating funding for technical assistance for private property owners, and it provides conservation grants for landowners who help conserve endangered species on their property. Finally, it provides assurances that private citizens will get timely answers from the Fish & Wildlife Service regarding the status of endangered species requirements on their land. The Miller- Boehlert Substitute provides positive changes to the current ESA without reversing the progress that has been made over the past thirty years. The bipartisan substitute is not perfect legislation, but it is far superior to H.R. 3824. H.R. 3824 was introduced just last week and was marked up without any public hearings, yet this legislation would most certainly rank as the most sweeping and significant change of environmental law in the past three decades. I have grave concerns about provisions in the bill that give political appointees the power to remove species from the endangered list based on political decisions rather than on sound science. Habitat degradation is the leading cause of species decline, and this bill proposes to eliminate critical habitat designations. I do not understand how eliminating protected areas can result in greater protection of endangered specIes. The Endangered Species Act needs an update, but we must not reverse course on significant progress and results for endangered species. We have a solemn obligation to maintain responsible stewardship of America's bounty, and this legislation would abandon that responsibility. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 3824, and to vote in favor of the balanced, bipartisan substitute legislation for ESA reform.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, today the House is considering S. 1752, Senate-passed legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Act. The Grain Standards Act helps farmers maintain a high standard of quality in crop production through a national system for inspecting, weighing and grading grain, both for domestic and foreign shipments. S. 1752 reauthorizes the U.S. Grain Standards Act for 10 years. This bill will reauthorize the Secretary's authority to charge and collect fees to cover costs of inspection and weighing services and to receive appropriated dollars for standardization and compliance activities. I support reauthorization of these important components of the Grains Standards Act in order to ensure the United States remains a large producer of quality agricultural products. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1752 so we can send it to the President for signature.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Dan Cunningham and Ms. Jennifer Eberhardt both formerly members of my staff, now married and living in Wisconsin, on the birth of their first child, Master Chase William Cunningham. Chase was born on Thursday, September 15, 2005, and weighed 6 pounds and 11 ounces. My wife, Faye, joins me in wishing Dan and Jennifer great happiness during this very special time in their lives. As a father and now as a grandfather, I know the joy, pride, and excitement that parents experience upon the entrance of their child into the world. Representing hope, goodness, and innocence, a newborn allows those around him to see the world through his eyes . . . as a new, fresh place with unending possibilities for the future. Through a child, one is able to recognize and appreciate the full potential of the human race. I know that Dan and Jennifer look forward to the changes and challenges that their new son will bring to their lives while taking pleasure in the many rewards they are sure to receive as they watch him grow. I welcome young Chase into the world and wish Dan and Jennifer all the best as they raise him.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the creation of an independent commission to investigate the preparedness and response to the overwhelming devastation and loss of life from Hurricane Katrina and in opposition to the creation of a partisan select committee. I cosponsored Congressman Hastings (R-WA) bill to create an independent commission because it is the right thing to do. The 9/11 Commission proved successful in investigating all branches and levels of government and offered concrete suggestions to Congress to correct breaches in our national security. The Hastings bill follows that model and presents the best option for a thorough, impartial investigation into the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. An independent commission is the best approach to this task, as it would allow a higher degree of impartiality and independence than a partisan select committee. I expect the Commission to conduct a through investigation of all the people and agencies involved by questioning everyone directly involved in the decision-making process, including the White House Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and former FEMA director Michael Brown. In addition to investigating the federal government's response to this horrendous natural disaster, the Commission should also determine if our country is adequately prepared to respond to another disaster of this magnitude, as well as serve the needs of all communities potentially affected. This Commission should also provide recommendations regarding improvements to the Executive and Legislative branches that would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster response. Congress also has a constitutional duty to use its full oversight authority through the committee hearing process to assess the federal government's responsibilities and response to this disaster. We, in North Carolina, have plenty of experience with hurricanes and natural disasters, and we know that we must first rely on our state and local authorities to plan and prepare, but we make these plans with the knowledge that the federal government will back us up when we are overwhelmed. Congress must make sure that the federal response agencies appreciate and understand their responsibilities to the states in the event of a disaster. Congress must hold the Administration to the highest standards of professionalism and vigorously conduct our constitutional obligation for oversight of these agencies. We must restore the professional integrity of FEMA to protect the American people from natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks. Mr. Speaker, our country has worked to increase its preparedness for four years since that tragic day in September 2001, and it appears our efforts have failed. We must work swiftly to correct past mistakes so that we can ensure the safety of all Americans during a time of crisis.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3673, the second emergency supplemental bill for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We, in North Carolina, are very familiar with the destructive power of hurricanes, and Congress has a solemn responsibility to assist the efforts for relief, recovery and reconstruction. Congress also has a serious responsibility to assure accountability in the use of taxpayer money, and the legislative branch must not fail in its constitutional duty to oversee the operations of the executive branch. There can be no doubt that the Federal agencies charged with responding to this disaster were too slow, too confused and too ineffectual in discharging their duties in the critical early hours and days of Hurricane Katrina. Congress must take effective action to ensure that the funds appropriated today will assist those who have suffered so egregiously through no fault of their own. This tragedy has raised urgent questions about the performance of disaster preparedness and emergency response agencies. Congress must work in bipartisan cooperation to correct these deficiencies. As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security continues to work to protect our country during the war against terrorism and in the midst of a very active hurricane season, America cannot afford a failure by Congress to fix the problems Hurricane Katrina has exposed.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to assist college students who have been victimized by widespread devastation visited on the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina last week. We, in North Carolina, know well the destruction hurricanes can cause as our State has been hit by at least five major hurricanes over the past decade. The Federal Government has a solemn responsibility to help those in need, and H.R. 3169 is one very small step in that effort. Specifically, H.R. 3169 will relieve some burden for displaced college students who otherwise would be required to pay back their Pell grants. This bill would allow the U.S. Education Department to waive the repayment requirement for Pell grant recipients whose school attendance is interrupted because of the impact of a disaster, provided that the students were living, working or attending school in an area designated by the President to warrant major disaster assistance. Congress must also pass legislation introduced by Congressman George Miller and Congressman Dale Kildee to provide more comprehensive relief for student victims of the storm. Nearly 100,000 college students have been displaced, while some 30 colleges in the Gulf Coast region have been severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Many students and families no longer have the necessary resources to pay for college--even after their current Federal student aid is taken into account. We need to ensure that we help all college students and student borrowers who have been adversely impacted by this disaster. Congress has much, much more work to do to assist in the relief, recovery and reconstruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 3129 is a minimal early step in that effort, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Katrina has caused unprecedented destruction to our neighbors to the south. We in North Carolina understand the destructive power of hurricanes and floods, and our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims who suffered through the storm and suffer in its aftermath. I am pleased that Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for Congress to reconvene early in order to provide the needed personnel, equipment and resources for this disaster. We must immediately devote the personnel, resources and funding necessary to help these people get the food, health care and safe shelter they need before rebuilding can begin, and this $10.5 billion is a good start. The recovery from the Hurricane Katrina disaster will be long and difficult. I commend all the brave first responders, FEMA employees and volunteers with the Red Cross and other charitable agencies as they work to provide relief to the hurricane victims. People's lives have been changed forever, and the American people have responded with their money, time and prayers to help our neighbors.