Sam Farr

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I yield 50 seconds to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee). (Mr. INSLEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the remaining time. Let me say it straight. Nobody is against building this fence. It is just, why waive all of these rules? We have built 14 miles of this fence without having to waive any rules. I do not think it is necessary. I think it is a guise and a political maneuver.

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, in 1963 President John F. Kennedy launched the Alliance for Progress, a program of government-to-government economic cooperation across the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, he called for the creation of a parallel people-to-people initiative and the Partners of the Alliance was established the following year. After its founding, the idea of engaging in citizen-to-citizen programs under the direct participation and leadership of the people of the Americas led to the Alliance's re-organization in the private sector. With this change in status also came a new name: Partners of the Americas. Today Partners of the Americas celebrates 40 years of bringing together citizen volunteers, their institutions and communities from throughout the Americas to address shared concerns of economic, social and cultural development. Partners' commitment to building on these enduring relationships among people of Latin America, the Caribbean and the U.S. is what makes Partners truly unique. These relationships fostered by Partners help spark creative ideas, cultivate friendship and ultimately, produce positive change. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Partners of the Americas on its work over the past 40 years. Partners embraces the wonderful diversity of the Western Hemisphere and plays a crucial role in building cross- cultural understanding, inspiring hope and creating opportunity. I know others join me in wishing Partners of the Americas continued success in their service to citizens of the Western Hemisphere.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I want to thank the sponsors of this bill, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose), for introducing H.R. 3242, of which I am an original cosponsor. I stand as the representative of the most productive agricultural land in the world. It is in the State of California, and it is the Central Coast Valley. We produce what this bill is talking about, specialty crops. Specialty crops are essentially those crops that we eat every day in salads, the lettuce, the artichokes, the strawberries, the grapes. We grow flowers. We grow everything that is not essentially in the commodity world, and we grow that just with market forces; that is, if there is not a good price for the crop, the farmer loses. So what this bill does is bring the specialty crop, which frankly last year made more money than the commodity crops did, and California being the leading State, and almost all of the agriculture in California is in specialty crops, it is a remarkably important bill for our State and for all the people of the country who are in farming in specialty crops, as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) pointed out. Our specialty crops have no price supports. There are no direct payments. There are no marketing loans. There are no countercyclical payments. All we are asking for in this bill is for some help with research money and market promotion. I supported the bill in its original form, and I am a little disappointed the way it has come to the floor. Nonetheless, it is a step in the right direction. The authorization for expenditure in this bill is $43 million, compared to what is authorized to the commodity crops which is $12 to $13 billion. So the message here, and I know that it is late at night, but I hope that the agriculture community will see that we, for a long time, have been a part of the big family of agriculture. This is the time when we are raising the flag to say that the specialty crops out there need some help, and I am, as appropriator, looking forward to getting the support of everybody who supports this bill, to getting money appropriated for this program and hopefully moving in the direction ahead to raise the authorization to a much higher standard and to appropriate a great deal of money. I hope that we do not have a battle in agriculture, where we have to rob Peter to pay Paul. Nonetheless, the growing markets in the world are in the specialty crops, and as I said, the sales of specialty crops last year exceeded that of commodity crops. So I thank the members of the Committee on Agriculture for bringing this bill to the floor. I look forward to working with them as an appropriator, and it is a step in the right direction. I thank very much the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose), and I thank very much the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm).

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor in support of H.R. 4569, legislation to provide for the development of a national plan for the control and management of Sudden Oak Death. Sudden Oak Death is a forest disease caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. This pathogen has caused widespread dieback in California and across the nation of tanoak, several oak species (including; coast live oak, California black oak, Shreve's oak, and canyon live oak) and a myriad of shrubs and nursery stock. The disease has killed hundreds of thousands of trees in the coastal counties in northern California (two of which I represent) and southwestern Oregon. As a result of the dieback in California, USDA recently issued federal quarantine regulations on the movement of materials outside California. This action is in addition to the separate quarantines Canada and the States of California and Oregon imposed on themselves. Further, thirteen states have also implemented their own specific regulations against California nursery stock after the positive find in a southern California nursery. Millions of dollars of nursery stock have already been destroyed with little or no compensation for the growers. Additionally, the alarming discovery that evidence of DNA has been found on California's coastal redwoods and Big Leaf Maples in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada raises our concerns to a much higher level. Should the Sudden Oak Death pathogen establish itself in the Sierra Nevada, California's commercial forest industry as well as prized recreation areas would be severely impacted. If this proves to be true, the economic and ecological costs to California would be incalculable. If Sudden Oak Death is left unchecked, the landscape of California and the economic livelihoods of many will be forever changed. It's been almost ten years since the first detailed accounts of large numbers of tanoaks were observed dying in Marin and Santa Cruz Counties and already a difference in the landscape can be noted. Mr. Speaker, depending on the plant species, P. ramorum infection may occur on the trunk, branches, and/or leaves. Infections on the woody portions of a tree are referred to as cankers. Cankers on the trunk of oak and tanoak trees are the most damaging, and often lead to death. Additionally, diseased oak and tanoak trees are often attacked by other organisms once they are weakened by P. ramorum. It has also been found to infect the leaves and twigs of numerous other plants species. While many of these foliar hosts, such as California bay laurel and Rhododendron species, do not die from the disease, they do play a key role in the spread of P. ramorum, acting as breeding ground for innoculum, which may then be spread through wind-driven rain, water, plant material, or human activity. Mr. Speaker, we currently know that the total number of APHIS- confirmed positive sites from the trace-forward, national, and other survey finds is 160 in 21 states and the number realistically is much higher considering the current scope of testing. This number ranges from single event sites to as many as 53 in my state of California. The time to act is now and passage of H.R. 4569 is a great step forward. We must stop the further spread of Sudden Oak Death.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Roy Marlin ``Butch'' Voris, the founder of the Blue Angels. After graduating from Salinas Junior College in 1939, Mr. Voris entered the Navy in 1941. In February of 1942 he was commissioned an ensign and designated a naval aviator. Mr. Voris was deployed in the Pacific theater of World War II, where he flew both Grumman F4F ``Wildcat'' and Grumman F6F ``Hellcats.'' He was a talented pilot, earning the ``fighter ace'' status, and a respected commander of Fighter Squadron 113, Fighter Squadron 191, and Attack Carrier Air Group 5. For his service and sacrifices to his country, Mr. Voris earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 11 Air Medals, three Presidential Unit Citations, and the Purple Heart. When the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations created a Navy flight exhibition team in 1946 to demonstrate precision fighter maneuvers at Navy air shows and other public events, they naturally chose Captain Voris to be the first Officer-in-Charge and Flight Leader. After selecting his fellow pilots and maintenance personnel from the Navy's best officers and sailors, he modified the Grumman F6F ``Hellcat'' and painted it the now famous blue and gold. Captain Voris flew with the Blue Angels on their first tour, and again in 1951, before retiring from the Navy in 1963. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Captain ``Butch'' Voris' years of service to our country and amazing accomplishments. He is an American hero who has made a remarkable contribution to the world of aviation, which we are lucky enough to continue to enjoy today. I join with the thousands of attendees to the California International Air Show in Salinas, and dozens of former Blue Angel pilots, in honoring this talented man and his many achievements.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ann Coonerty in tribute of her 90th birthday. Ann is a native Californian and long time resident of Santa Cruz County who continues to offer her services as an educator to our community. It is my pleasure to stand in this House and honor Ann's 90th birthday. Ann McGinley Coonerty was born in Santa Maria, California on October 16th, 1914. She excelled in school and, at age 19, became the first woman in her family to earn a college degree. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1934 with a teaching credential and a degree in mathematics; soon after, she began her teaching career in the Santa Maria area. In 1941, she took a break to marry Kevin Coonerty and start a family. When Kevin returned home from serving in World War II, he used the GI Bill to earn a degree in engineering. During this time, Ann tutored her husband in mathematics while raising their three children. After Kevin began working for Rocketdyne in Southern California in 1953, Ann returned to teaching. In 1975 Ann and her family moved to Santa Cruz where she began working at Happy Valley Elementary School as a teacher's aide. Twenty-nine years later, she is quite simply an institution and an inspiration to parents, children and colleagues. Even today, as Ann approaches her 90th birthday, she plans to continue volunteering her time as an aide. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Ann Coonerty's achievements, accomplishments, and her dedication to education. She has demonstrated a unique passion for family, community, and to her profession. Ann has devoted her life to teaching and tutoring students, a service for which our community is eternally grateful. I join the County of Santa Cruz, and friends and family in honoring this truly commendable woman.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the motion to instruct conferees on the DOD Authorization bill to accept the bipartisan Senate-passed provisions on hate crimes. The purpose of the Senate provisions is to strengthen and close loopholes in current law by making it easier for federal authorities to prosecute or assist local authorities in prosecuting crimes motivated by race, religion or ethnicity when appropriate. In addition, these provisions expand current law to include gender, disability, and sexual orientation. The Senate provisions are overwhelmingly supported by both the civil rights community and law enforcement organizations. Many of my colleagues have questioned the relevance of these hate crimes provision in the DOD Authorization bill. However, it is naive to presume that the military need not concern itself with hate crimes, and there is devastating evidence that hate crimes occur in the military. I am referring to the July 5, 1998 murder of Pfc. Barry Winchell at Fort Campbell, KY. Twenty-one year old Private First Class Barry Winchell was beaten to death while he slept by a fellow soldier. During the court-martial trial, testimony from other soldiers showed that Pfc. Winchell's murderer engaged in harassment, rumor-mongering and prying into Pfc. Winchell's personal life in direct violation of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. The horrible murder of Pfc. Winchell is a lasting reminder of the need for vigilance in fiercely opposing and prosecuting all hate crimes and for providing our law enforcement organizations with the ability to prosecute these heinous crimes. Every American, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability, and sexual orientation deserves the right to live life to the fullest without the fear of bullying, persecution, or violence. I urge my colleagues to support this motion to instruct conferees on the DOD Authorization bill to accept the bipartisan Senate-passed provisions on hate crimes.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I rise today in honor of a good friend and outstanding public servant, former California State Senator Henry Mello. Henry passed away on September 4, 2004, but will always be remembered for his dedication to the communities of the Central Coast. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his legacy will live on in many ways. The son of Portuguese immigrants, Henry was born in 1924 in the rural community of Watsonville, where his mother's family had been farming apples since 1874. He had an eye for business and left Hartnell College after one year to work with his family on the apple farms. At the age of 29 Henry founded John C. Mello and Sons Cold Storage and ran it for twenty years before selling it to Del Mar Food Products in 1973. By this time Henry had found his true calling: public service. In 1966 Henry officially began his political career with his election to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. He was not afraid of politically charged issues, and in 1972 composed a motion disapproving the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. Because of his dedication to his constituents and his commitment to the Monterey Bay area, he was elected to the California State Assembly, serving from 1976 to 1980. Henry was then elected to the State Senate, rising quickly to prominent positions, including the majority whip from 1981 to 1992 and the majority leader from 1992 until he left the legislature in 1996. While in the legislature, Senator Mello was an ardent supporter of many vital segments of our population, especially senior citizens. Senator Mello authored legislation to enact the first programs focusing on Alzheimer's-Respite Care, Adult Day Health Care and the Multipurpose Senior Services Programs. He founded the Senior Legislature and passed legislation to combat elder abuse. In the twenty years that Senator Mello served in the legislature, he authored more than 120 bills on aging and long-term care that have become the law of the land in California. However, Henry's service and advocacy extended far beyond just one subject. He was also a strong supporter of our ocean's health, authoring legislation to protect fisheries, working to keep off-shore oil away from California's coastline, and petitioning for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He has created many lasting legacies on the Central Coast, including Wilder Ranch and Grey Whale State Parks, which are enjoyed by thousands of people each year. He also supported the creation of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at the University of California, Santa Cruz, which has made tremendous strides in organic and sustainable farming practices worldwide. When Fort Ord was slated to be closed by the U.S. Army, Senator Mello introduced legislation to create the Fort Ord Reuse Authority to help the state and the region handle the largest base closure in U.S. history. He was also proactive in transferring this area into civilian use, and helped create the California State University, Monterey Bay on the former base. He was a co-author of the Mello-Roos Act of 1982, which provided funding for education and other public projects through tax-exempt bonds. Following the Loma Prieta earthquake, Henry secured a temporary sales tax increase to help the devastated communities of the Central Coast, a measure which proved to be invaluable to the local governments in their efforts to rebuild. In his hometown, he is perhaps best known to the general public for helping to raise funds to rebuild the performing arts center in Watsonville after it was destroyed in the earthquake. It was opened in 1994 as the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, which was particularly fitting because Senator Mello was known for contributing his musical talents on the piano for many state and local functions. Mr. Speaker, Henry Mello was the consummate public servant and master of the art of compromise. His legacy to the State of California is felt through the landmark legislation that he passed as well as through those whose lives he touched personally. Many of us in the California Congressional Delegation worked closely with Henry throughout our public service careers, and we all wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Helen, and his sons Stephen, John, Michael and Timothy.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, five months ago yesterday, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released a Preliminary Report outlining the imperiled state of our oceans. Yesterday, the U.S. Commission moved our country one step closer to being better stewards of our oceans by submitting to the President and to Congress a Final Report on ``everything oceans.'' This comprehensive document makes recommendations on a wide range of topics, from improving governance of ocean resources to promoting greater marine stewardship and education, from recognizing the need to manage the oceans on an ecosystem basis to suggesting greater exploration of unknown areas of the sea, from discussing reform of fisheries management to arguing for increases in our marine science research budget, and from speaking to the connections between coastal land uses and the oceans to implementing an integrated ocean observation system. Submission of the Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy is truly an historic event. It has been more than 30 years since we, as a nation, have evaluated our relationship with the sea. I sincerely hope that our evaluation does not get ignored, but instead serves as a springboard for increased protection of this country's largest public trust resource. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy was mandated by the Oceans Act of 2000, legislation on which I am an original cosponsor and which is based on bills that I initially introduced in 1997 and 1999. In the Oceans Act, we gave the Commissioners an enormous task and today I want to recognize the efforts of the 16 Commissioners, 26 Advisors, and countless staff who helped to create such a comprehensive report. All of these people have spent a large portion of the past five months reading comments on the Preliminary Report provided by Governors, tribal interests, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public--not a small task. I am sure that the Commission's excitement over the release of the Final Report, an endeavor embarked upon roughly three years ago, approximates the thrill felt by those of us who love, care deeply about, and want to protect the oceans. The Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy details the crises facing our oceans. Building on the Preliminary Report, the Final Report includes refinements in a few areas: the funding mechanism is provided in detail, marine cultural heritage is included, more attention is given to how climate change will affect the oceans, the intent to include all coastal areas such as the Great Lakes and Territories is clarified, and the important role that states should play in protecting ocean resources is emphasized. While we have many crises--at home and abroad--that require our immediate attention, we cannot overlook the fact that our oceans are in a state of crisis, too. It is my sincere hope that both Members of Congress and the Bush Administration will read the U.S. Commission's Report and realize that our oceans need attention--now--and that the country is looking to us--their leaders--to act. I look forward to analyzing the President's response to the Final Report, a response that, under law, must be submitted within 90 days of today. We all depend on our oceans and coasts, from the person who lives off the water to the person who visits once in a lifetime. The oceans provide food, jobs, vacation spots, scientific knowledge, and opportunities for reflection. Despite our inability to measure the many non-market values associated with our oceans and coasts, we are able to quantify some of the benefits they provide. For example, over a trillion dollars is added to our economy each year by ocean and coastal economies. I trust that we can all agree that this is a huge contribution; a contribution that must be protected so the returns keep coming. Protection of our oceans will require a change of course. Unfortunately, all too often we take our oceans for granted: we underestimate their value and we ignore the negative consequences human-related activities can have on them. Our oceans represent the largest public trust resource in the U.S. and cover an area nearly one and a half times the size of the continental United States. Americans expect the Government to safeguard this vast resource and I hope that the Final Report will be the impetus for us to actually begin to do so. Simply put, our current ocean and coastal management system, created over thirty years ago, is archaic and incompatible with new knowledge about how the oceans and coastal waters function as a whole. Our policies are fragmented, both institutionally and geographically. For example, Mr. Speaker, today we find ourselves with over ten federal departments involved in the implementation of more than 130 ocean- related statutes. It is time to re-consider this incoherent and oftentimes incompatible management situation and bring order to our ocean governance structure. The U.S. Commission's Report offers some guidance on how to do just this. One of the biggest advances in our understanding of oceans to occur since our last national review of ocean policy is that the natural world functions as ecosystems, with each species intricately connected to the other parts that make up the whole. The U.S. Commission's Final Report, as well as the independent Pew Oceans Commission Report released in June of 2003, clearly states that we must adopt a new policy framework that is based on the concept of ``the whole,'' an ecosystem-based approach rather than one based on political boundaries. This approach will not be as easy or straightforward as our previous approaches, but we must dedicate ourselves to making it a reality. With a comprehensive national ocean policy explicitly written to maintain healthy ocean ecosystems, our oceans will be a bountiful resource in which we can all take pride. The Final Report released yesterday also stresses the importance of instilling a new ecosystem-based stewardship ethic. Involved in instilling this ethic is increasing ocean-related education for all Americans at all levels, from first-graders learning how to read to graduate students investigating intricate scientific processes. The U.S. Commission details suggestions on how we can instill a new stewardship ethic by emphasizing and investing in greater marine science education. I see this recommendation--that of committing ourselves to teaching people about all aspects of the oceans and how our activities can have negative consequences for ocean ecosystems--as being fundamental to ensuring a better future for our oceans. It is up to each of us to not let this unprecedented opportunity pass us by--we cannot wait any longer to clean up this mess we have created for our oceans. On this point both the Pew and U.S. Commission reports are adamant: we must rethink the way we look at the oceans. We are at a turning point in oceans management and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take the momentum created by the two ocean reports and make long lasting changes to protect our seas. Within the Legislative Branch, I have been working to bring attention to oceans issues. I worked with my fellow co-chairs of the bi-partisan House Oceans Caucus, Mr. Jim Greenwood (R-PA), Mr. Tom Allen (D-ME), and Mr. Curt Weldon (R-PA), to introduce a comprehensive oceans bill, H.R. 4900 (informally known as OCEANS-21). OCEANS-21 answers the calls of the Pew and U.S. Commissions by establishing a clear national oceans policy and by providing a framework for addressing the many problems outlined in the reports. I hope that those in the majority party will recognize the bi-partisan nature of OCEANS-21 and give it consideration during this session of Congress. In addition to my efforts on H.R. 4900, I am working closely with Mr. Rahall, Ranking Member of the House Resources Committee, on his efforts to implement those recommendations from the Pew and U.S. Commissions that address management of our nation's fishery resources (H.R. 4706). The specific elements of this bill include separating the biological science from the allocation decisions, implementing conflict of interest requirements for members of the fishery councils, and broadening representation on the councils. I am also the lead sponsor on H.R. 4100, a bill that addresses the problem of pollution from cruise ships, and am a cosponsor of both H.R. 4897, a bill to protect deep sea corals, and H.R. 5001, a bill to establish an ocean observation pilot project that will move us closer to having an integrated ocean observation system. Individual members of the House of Representatives have been working hard to introduce legislation that implements the changes needed to ensure that the oceans we pass to the next generations are oceans that we can be proud of. We are now looking to the House leadership to consider our bills and to make good on the collective responsibility we have to future generations. Within the Executive Branch, the Bush Administration has a prime opportunity to take the steps necessary to instill a new ocean ethic in our government. In fact, Pew and U.S. Commission recommendation-based action by this Administration could very well save our largest public trust. The time for leadership is now. I am dedicated to providing it in Congress, with the help of my fellow Oceans Caucus co-chairs and other colleagues concerned about ocean issues, and I hope the President will provide it in the White House. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close with a quote from the Final Report that encapsulates my thoughts on the importance of yesterday's historic occasion: The responsibility of our generation is to reclaim and renew the oceans for ourselves, for our children, and--if we do the job right--for those whose footprints will mark the sands of beaches from Maine to Hawaii long after ours have washed away. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to dedicate themselves to shaping a better future for our oceans.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I cannot believe the number of misstatements I have heard tonight. I think this is an argument between dumb and dumber. This is a debate about ID. Let us look at the facts. Mexico has a national statistics ID program. The United States does not. Mexico uses the exact same ID protections in their ID form that the FBI uses for their badges. We do not have that for American civilians at all. Mexico has a database on life, death, divorce. It has a base that they can rely upon. We do not. So what happens in retaliation? What happens the next time you want to go to a foreign country, you want to rent a car, you want to cash a check? Where is your national ID? Are you going to pull out your voter card? That is not recognized as an international ID. It is probably the only thing we have closest to it. It would not even be recognized at an airport. You pull out your California driver's license? That is not a national ID. What are you going to show as your national ID? A Social Security card? It does not even exist. Allow a program that has assurances for protection, moderate protection. The propriety of this protection in this card is owned by a United States company. It is the same propriety that is used in our top security cards. That is what they want to use, and all this is, is an ID card. All this is, is an ID card. Let this amendment pass.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, during the 1960s, I lived and worked in Colombia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I was able to see first hand the resilience, business savvy and general gumption of the Colombian people. One of the sectors in Colombia that exemplifies the strength of Colombians is the Colombian cafeteros, or coffee farmers. Despite the roller coaster that is the world market of coffee prices, Colombian cafeteros have managed to excel and continue to produce the best coffee beans in the world. Decades ago, Colombian farmers joined together and formed the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia--a farmer owned and controlled organization that has worked tirelessly to improve the livelihoods of Colombian cafeteros. In the 1980s the Federation recognized the importance of marketing and created, what is now a pop icon, the Juan Valdez logo. Today, I would like to applaud the Colombian Coffee Federation for reinvigorating the Juan Valdez logo by opening up the first Washington, DC branch of Juan Valdez coffee shop, located in the Washington headquarters of the Organization of American States building. Selling directly to consumers will help the Colombian farmers earn more for the quality beans that they produce and help increase the standard of living of the cafeteros. Again, I would like to send a special ``felicidades'' to the Federation for their work on behalf of Colombian cafeteros and wish them the best of luck with the Juan Valdez coffee shops.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I support and applaud the authors of H. Con. Res. 363 for urging Syria to live in peace and security with the international community and for condemning Syrian human rights violations. The U.S. Congress is an appropriate venue for highlighting human rights abuses and forum for urging other nations to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Every year Congress passes dozens of resolutions condemning human rights violations throughout the world. Unfortunately, while there are a plethora of countries that demand censure, the House of Representatives tends to focus more frequently on a few specific countries like the People's Republic of China, Iran and Syria; all countries that we must prod to do better. Many of the statements regarding human rights violations in H. Con. Res. 363 apply to numerous other countries in the world. If we condemn one country and turn a blind eye to the very same abuses in another country, the magnitude and moral legitimacy of our censure is greatly diminished. For example, H. Con. Res. 363 condemns: ``The family law of Syria as applied to Muslim women is governed by Sharia law and is discriminatory in marriage, divorce, and inheritance matters.'' But Sharia family law is also practiced in numerous other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. Syria needs to understand that by passage of H. Con. Res. 363, the United States Congress expects Syria to improve its human rights record and adhere to the rule of law. Approval of H. Con. Res. 363 should also signal to other countries that the United States will continue to express its disapproval of violators of basic human rights and disregard of the dignities of its citizens.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, today I come to the floor to protest the Republican leadership's refusal to renew the assault weapons ban. I have heard from law enforcement agencies across the country and citizens from my district urging Congress to take action and renew the assault weapons ban. It is unconscionable that this ban has been allowed to lapse and that we may again see assault style weapons on our street corners. The assault weapons ban did not have to expire. There are several bills in both the House and Senate that would have extended the assault weapons ban and continued to protect our law enforcement officers from these dangerous weapons. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2038, the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003, and H.R. 3831, Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2003. Either of these bills would have successfully and seamlessly continued the protection established by the original assault weapons ban in 1994. The Assault Weapons Ban has proven remarkably effective in reducing the use of assault weapons in crime. Since 1994, the proportion of assault weapons traced to crimes has fallen by a dramatic 66 percent. In addition, opinion polls show that 75 percent of the public supports the renewal of the assault weapons ban. This legislation takes a commonsense approach that successfully protects the rights of those who collect or hunt and use weapons for legitimate recreational purposes, while also guarding the safety of our law enforcement officers. On this issue, the Congressional Republican leadership has ignored the will of the public, the professional opinion of law enforcement agencies across the country, and even the views of President Bush who publicly stated his willingness to sign an extension of the assault weapons ban into law. I am saddened by this failure and I will continue working to reinstate the assault weapons ban and to provide our law enforcement officers with the greatest protection possible.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I am able to rise to recognize Ocean Mist Farms, the premier grower and shipper of artichokes in the United States. Based in Monterey County, California of my congressional district, Ocean Mist Farms produces over a dozen other vegetables in addition to artichokes on its farms which are located throughout California. On Saturday, August 28, 2004, the people of Ocean Mist Farms celebrated their company's 80th anniversary. In 1924, Castroville area farmers Daniel Pieri, Amerigo and Angelo Del Chiaro, Alfred Tottino and Louis Bellone combined formed a company to grow, ship, and market artichokes. Their little company persevered through the Great Depression and WWII to transform artichokes from an obscure ethnic specialty to a national delicacy. It took genius and hard work to accomplish this, and these characteristics have assured their success through today. Under the current leadership of the Boutonnet and Bengard families, Ocean Mist Farms employs more than 60 people in sales and administrative positions, more than 160 workers in its packing, shipping and cooling facilities, and nearly 600 individuals in related harvesting and production operations, as well as operating several affiliate operations throughout California and Arizona. It is a company that has helped make the Central Coast of California the most productive agricultural region in the world and it continues to give back to the local communities of the Salinas Valley. Ocean Mist Farms is also an environmental leader in our region. It has remained in the forefront of innovations in farming methods designed to protect the environment. Using advanced techniques of irrigation and integrated pest and soil management, Ocean Mist Farms has proved itself to be truly invested in the preservation of the beauty and natural resources offered by Monterey County. It also took the lead in developing the world's largest reclaimed wastewater irrigation project. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Ocean Mist Farms on its 80th anniversary. Monterey County has benefited immensely from their commitment to growing outstanding produce and I wish the company and all who work for Ocean Mist Farms the very best in the future.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the first ever ``National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day.'' This day, made official by Senate Resolution 370, will serve as an important tool in furthering the national education campaign about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as AD/HD. Although AD/HD can affect people across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines, poor and minority communities have been especially underserved by the available resources. The disorder can interfere with school and workplace activities, lead to antisocial behavior, and even substance abuse and problems with the justice system. It is only recently that AD/HD has received national attention, so there are still many children and adults who remain undiagnosed and suffering from the stigma associated with this disorder. Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), a national non-profit organization, was founded in 1987 to increase awareness and offer resources and encouragement to those suffering from the disorder and their family members. Recently CHADD has expanded into Santa Cruz County with the creation of Chapter #605, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome them to our community. Only through education and understanding can we, as a nation, begin to address the effects of this disorder and seek ways to treat it. It is important to realize the effect AD/HD can have on individuals and communities, and I would like to commend the efforts of CHADD Chapter #605 in their goal of expanding understanding of this disorder. Through combining grassroots campaigns with the new ``National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day'' we can begin to address this problem on both a local and national level.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David ``Rowdy'' Pennisi, who disappeared at sea on June 22, 2004. Commercial fishing was not only his profession, but also his passion in life. He will be lovingly remembered by family and friends for his generous and kindhearted nature. David Pennisi was raised on a ranch near Hollister, and was an active member with Future Farmers of America. He moved to Monterey when he was fourteen and quickly adapted to his new life on the wharf. Fisherman's Wharf has long been the center of a vibrant fishing and canning industry, made famous in Steinbeck's Cannery Row. David eagerly continued this tradition when he became a commercial fisherman himself. While David was respected around Monterey for his abilities as a fisherman, he was better known for the kindness and love he showed to all who knew him. In a profession dominated by stereotypes of loud, brash men, David, like his father, was regarded as a gentleman. A good friend of the family, Pat Flanagan, spoke about David at his memorial service, ``He died in a dying industry, with dignity and respect.'' Mr. Speaker, David Pennisi was dedicated to a profession that is neither easy nor safe, but he loved it nonetheless. Not many people choose to become fishermen in this day and age, but David will continue to provide a shining example for generations to come. He has made a lasting impact on our community and the people with whom he worked. I join the communities of the Monterey Bay, his friends and his family in honoring this truly commendable man and all of his lifelong achievements.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Ray Clifford, a long-time Salinas resident and Chancellor of the Defense Language Institute. Dr. Clifford is retiring from the Defense Language Institute after 24 years of dedicated service, leadership and mentorship to his students and country. During his years of service, Dr. Clifford honorably fulfilled the Institute's mission to educate, sustain, evaluate and support foreign language specialists, ensuring that our military forces are prepared to meet ever-changing global foreign language requirements. As the academic leader of the world's largest language school, he has represented the Institute in national, international and professional forums including regular briefings to members of Congress and senior leaders in the Department of Defense. Under his leadership, the Defense Language Institute has been continually regarded as one of the finest schools for foreign language instruction in the world. Specifically, Dr. Clifford has improved the language performance results four-fold in over 80 percent of major programs, created and implemented the first standardized language proficiency testing program for the Department of Defense and spearheaded the Institute's response to terrorism with the addition of new instructional and testing programs for military personnel. In addition to his commitment to the Defense Language Institute, Dr. Clifford served in the United States Army, worked for the Bureau of Land Management and the Central Intelligence Agency. His dedication to national service is embodied in his overall belief in community service and education. He has published many papers and articles on teacher development, language proficiency assessment, curriculum design and educational program administration. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Dr. Clifford on his retirement and thank him for his contributions to our community and country. Dr. Clifford has dedicated his life to public service and his contributions to the Defense Language Institute have been instrumental in the Institute's recognition as a world renowned language instruction institute. I wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David Meyers, a dedicated member of the Monterey community. David will be retiring from his current position of General Manager of the Monterey Waste Management District, where he has worked diligently for twenty-five years overseeing the burying and recycling of the peninsula's waste. During his years of service, David has gone above and beyond his normal duties by playing a leading role in turning the Marina Dump into an innovative recycling and waste management center. While Meyers was working there, the center was one of the first to siphon methane and carbon dioxide gases for electrical uses in 1983. Then, in 1989, when the state passed legislation requiring cities and counties to divert 50 percent of their solid waste from landfills by 2000, David spurred the waste management center into action. Under his leadership the district grew from 10 employees who buried trash to 130 employees whose duties range in a wide variety of recycling tasks. David's innovation did not stop there. He created a thrift store on the site called the Last Shop Mercantile that sells items that would otherwise have been thrown away. It brings in $400,000 annually and pays for itself. Under his stewardship, the Monterey County Waste Management District has been honored with the first ever ``Best Solid Waste System in North America'' award by the Solid Waste Association of North America. Meyers himself has been given two awards by the Solid Waste Association of North America: the Planning and Management Technical Division's Distinguished Achievement Award and the Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate David on his much deserved retirement and thank him for his contribution to our community. David has continually gone above and beyond the roles bestowed asked of him and his innovation has lead to a cleaner, healthier community. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jess Ojeda, an extremely gifted police officer who dedicated much of his life to the Watsonville Community and the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. Mr. Ojeda, who was born in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1912 and moved to Watsonville, California in 1922, passed away of natural causes on August 9th, 2004. He was 91. Mr. Ojeda's wife, Lillian Martha Ojeda, passed away in 1999. He is survived by three children, Kelley, Martha, and Shane, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The son of Jesus Antonio and Rosa Luisa Ojeda, Mr. Ojeda worked hard upon his arrival to America. Before becoming a police officer, his jobs included working in a butcher shop, starting up a courier business, deputy civil engineer, and tomato farming. After assisting in the construction of Fort Ord, one of the largest training bases in the U.S., Mr. Ojeda became a police officer with the Watsonville Police Department in 1949. He was known for his true concern for the people of Watsonville and the compassion with which he performed his job. Mr. Ojeda worked for the Watsonville Police Department until 1957 when he earned a spot as an undercover agent with the state's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in San Francisco. During his time as an undercover agent, Mr. Ojeda faced great danger in order to successfully arrest the criminals whose extensive drug operations he was determined to bring down. During his long career, he made over 5,000 arrests and had a 95 percent conviction rate. Mr. Ojeda never lost sight of his true goal, which was to protect the people of his community who suffered at the hands of drug kingpins and dealers. His main objective was to reduce the number of addicts, not through punitive means, but through legislation focused on treatment, counseling, and support programs. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my condolences to the Ojeda family during these difficult times. His legacy as a devoted police officer and community leader will have a longlasting effect in both the Pajaro Valley and all of California. I join the Watsonville community, friends and family in honoring this truly admirable man for all his lifelong achievements.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strike the last word. I want to have a colloquy between myself and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg). Mr. Chairman, I would like to invite you to engage in a brief colloquy with me on an issue regarding Fort Hunter Liggett in California.

Mr. FARR. As the gentleman knows, Fort Hunter Liggett is today surrounded by U.S. Forest Service property. In fact, prior to becoming a military base, most of the land was in the possession of the Forest Service, and another huge tract of land next door was owned by the famed Hearst family. During the 1995 BRAC round, Fort Hunter Liggett was realigned and the cantonment area was excessed to the National Park Service. This means virtually all the functional buildings to support troop activities were given away, but all the land was retained by the military and put under the control of the Army Reserve. The National Park Service, in preparation for accepting the cantonment area, studied its options with regard to management of this new property. In its report just released last month, the National Park Service labeled the land of Fort Hunter Liggett as ``relatively unchanged landscape'' from the time of the California's missionaries; as having ``no equivalent'' in terms of protected, undisturbed habitat; and as a ``rarity'' in its ``representation of cultural and natural history.'' However, because of the type of BRAC action at Fort Hunter Liggett, the land is not available to the Park Service and the Department of the Interior has indicated its reluctance to add such a huge tract of land to its inventory. I guess, Mr. Chairman, what I am trying to say is that Fort Hunter Liggett, as active a military base as it is, still is a unique natural resource to our country; and it would be a shame to lose that resource should the base ever find itself nonessential to the military mission of our country. While the Park Service, at this point anyway, seems disinclined to pursue further ownership of lands at Fort Hunter Liggett, the Forest Service is very interested. Of course, no one is talking about giving anyone any land at Fort Hunter Liggett right now. It is a very active base, and I expect that it will merit strong support within the BRAC process for keeping it open and functioning. But, Mr. Chairman, I wish to inquire if the gentleman is aware that the version of the Military Construction bill that is working its way through the other body does, in fact, contain the language addressing the issue of future land status at Fort Hunter Liggett.

Mr. FARR. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his response and his observation that I do desire to keep Fort Hunter Liggett as a natural resource if and when the military finds it is no longer essential to its mission; and I emphasize again to the chairman, only if and when the land is no longer essential to its military mission. I have no desire to close Fort Hunter Liggett as long as the Army finds it critical to its mission. The chairman knows that I hoped to attach to the House bill we are debating right now language similar to that inserted on the other side, but in the interest of the House rules and jurisdictional matters, I chose not to.