Sam Farr

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sam Karas. He passed away on February 26, in Monterey, California. He was an actor, an activist, a salesman, a storyteller, a singer, a dancer, a father, a husband and most notably, a friend. He is survived by his wife, Edie, his three daughters Penelope Lockhart, Judith Karas, and Rachel Holz, and four grandchildren. Sam was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, by a poor family of Greek immigrants. Growing up he loved three things: ``The Shadow'' pulp novels, apple pie and basketball. Upon graduating from high school, he moved to Monterey to serve as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II. Despite lacking a college education, Sam was able to quickly rise to the rank of 1st lieutenant, and his enrollment in the armed services was the beginning of what would be a lifelong dedication to public service. Among others, Sam served on the board of trustees of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and was one of the original organizers and board members of the Human Rights Commission. Sam also served with the California Coastal Commission, the Natividad Medical Center Foundation, the Monterey Jazz and Pop Festivals, the Wharf Theater, the Monterey Film Commission, the California Film Commission, and the Monterey Peninsula College board of trustees. In addition, the ACLU, the NAACP, Monterey County, the Sierra Club, and the Carmel Meat Company, which he founded, have honored him. Sam started this small meat company shortly after marrying his wife Edie in Monterey in 1944, and he sometimes cooked large pots of stew for the homeless along the railroad tracks. Owning this company gave him many other opportunities to reach out to the homeless, a cause that remained close to him over the next half a century and spurred him to become entrenched in the Monterey community. It was frequently said that Sam represented the wrong communities of Monterey County, as he was mostly concerned with issues such as poverty and health care--issues pertinent to the Salinas Valley, not the Monterey Peninsula. Sometimes the trivial complaints of his constituents bothered him, but that was Sam's character: he wanted to help the people that truly needed helping. A smooth-talking, glad- handing politician he was not. Sam often came at his opponent with disheveled hair, fraying suits and sweaters, and a penchant to comment bluntly, but he never shied away from confrontation. He had an innate sense of right and wrong, and he pursued justice doggedly. He wanted the best for everybody. The Central Coast of California has mountains and beaches, but on behalf of this House, I wish to celebrate the life of Sam Karas: a man whose spirit made Monterey County a scenic paradise and a more just society.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John Delaware Otter. He passed away on November 20, 2002, at the age of 85, surrounded with family at his home in the Carmel Highlands. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette Weld Otter; daughters Marjorie Sue Bruneau, Nancy Clark Otter, Alice Rebecca Fontes; and sons Lee Worth Otter, John Delaware Otter Jr., and Robert Weld Otter. John was born on November 11, 1917, in Fresno, California. Upon graduating from the School of Forestry at the University of California at Berkeley, he later completed civil engineer training, and eventually served as Captain in the 97th Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During WWII, John was sent to work on the Alaska Highway. With the Japanese occupying parts of the Aleutian Islands, the Army commissioned a road to be built connecting the lower 48 to Alaska so supplies could be transported to Alaska. In 1942, John, the company commander, worked through winter temperatures so low that the oil in the trucks froze in order to complete the ALCAN Highway, now known as the Alaska Highway. He continued his service in the South Pacific as an engineer. A registered civil engineer and licensed land surveyor, John dedicated the remainder of his life to the environment of the Central Coast. He worked for the California Department of Forestry and was a board member of the California Oak Foundation, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, the Society of American Military Engineers, the American Society of Arboriculture, and the Carmel Highlands Fire District, where he was also the chairman. He is credited with devising Monterey County's first slope density formula, for determining allowable development density in the original Carmel Valley Master Plan. While many of his accomplishments involved the forests and state parks, John loved the Pacific Ocean enough to call it his favorite ``fishing hole.'' He appreciated the marine life tremendously and that appreciation evolved into a need to protect the marine environment. Carmel Bay State Ecological Reserve existed thanks to the efforts of John, and was the forerunner to the National Marine Sanctuary. An honest person with a great sense of humor, John wouldn't talk about himself because he was humble to the core. Once, he pulled his car over to make a phone call from a public telephone and found a dime in the change slot. He used that dime to make his call, and before leaving the booth, he reached into his pocket and replaced that dime with one of his own. He was that kind of guy, and he made people around him feel like they could be anything they wanted because he treated them with an equal amount of respect, instilling a sense of pride in the individual. Treating everyone with honor made him honorable. On behalf of this House, I wish to celebrate the extraordinary life of ``Jack'' Otter, a man whose honesty and ingenuity made for better lands and better people.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kim Heiman, winner of the 2003 Walter B. Jones NOAA Excellence Award in the Category of Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study. Her study of marine ecology and in particular the spread of invasive species has brought her well-deserved acclaim and promises to answer many scientific questions about the physical and biological changes invasive species make on marine communities. Born in Iowa, Miss Heiman has lived in a variety of locations including Colorado and Japan. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2000 from New College in Florida. Currently she is a third year Ph.D. student in Ecology and Evolution at Stanford University and works out of Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California. Increasing numbers of foreign species in the nation's harbors and estuaries can have detrimental effects on native habitats. Miss Heiman analyzes the spread of a marine tubeworm discovered as an invasive species in California's Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in 1994. This tubeworm species builds large, hard reefs on the muddy ocean floor, thereby creating three-dimensional structures. She examines these new structures to determine if they result in more habitats where other invasive species can live, and her preliminary results show that the worm reefs have more invasive species compared to other substrates in Elkhorn Slough. Miss Heiman also studies whether the spread of other invasive species correlates with the spread of worm reefs, and this appears to be the case in Elkhorn Slough. The importance of her work rests on the application of her results by coastal ecosystem managers struggling to fight a continued spread of invasive species. Miss Heiman's results from Elkhorn Slough thus far suggest that the spread of invasive species may be mediated by the removal of hard substrates. Through basic ecological research, Miss Heiman continues to develop conclusions that could help curtail the spread of invasive species and possibly restore our nation's seaports and harbors. On behalf of this House, I commend Kim Heiman on her excellent graduate research in the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and her strong interest in helping answer the difficult problems that ecosystem managers face everyday.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an ongoing battle that is waged day-to-and minute-to-minute in our country. Largely perpetrated in silence, domestic violence is an overwhelming problem that affects every community and that transcends race, language, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, religion, economics, and gender. Too often, domestic violence is viewed as a women's issue, when in reality this is an issue that affects every aspect of our society: women, men, children, and communities as a whole. Domestic violence is an unacceptable reality and I believe that individuals must commit themselves to fighting this battle, which so often strikes at the very heart of our families. In order to effectively decrease the incidence of domestic violence, full funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2000 is essential. VAWA funds programs that assist battered women and their children. President Bush's FY04 budget cuts $19 million from VAWA programs. This cut will have a profoundly negative effect on the victims of domestic violence who need the support of these programs to stop the cycle of violence in their lives. I support Congressional action to restore the cuts made to the VAWA programs in President Bush's budget, in order to continue to provide essential services to those who need our help the most. Last year Congress passed, and the President signed, the DOJ Reauthorization Act (PL 107-273), which included the Violence Against Women Office Act. This statute established an Office on the Violence Against Women as a separate and distinct office that would ensure that the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act is a high priority for the Department of Justice. Attorney General Ashcroft has failed to create this office. His inaction amounts to a systematic disregard for the full implementation of this law. I would encourage all of my colleagues to join me in urging Attorney General Ashcroft to establish a separate Office on Violence Against Women to fulfill both the spirit and the letter of the law.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the most loved and supported organizations in my congressional district. Last weekend the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County celebrated its 25-year anniversary, having begun when a small group of dedicated individuals decided in 1978 to help preserve open land. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has worked cooperatively and collaboratively with a wide array of people, organizations, businesses and groups throughout this time to safeguard and protect over 1,250 acres. They have done this through direct purchases of land, donations of land, conservation easements and land management agreements. Mr. Speaker, as many people from my district and in this body are aware, I am a firm believer in the power of collaboration to achieve great ends, and I believe that the work of the Land Trust is one of the greatest examples of this power. On Friday, February 21, the Land Trust held a benefit dinner to honor the work of those who were early pioneers in this effort. I was proud to join my colleague, Anna Eshoo, as a member of the Honorary Host Committee, although we could not attend due to other obligations. At this event, several people were honored for their work, and I wish to do so here, as well. First, my good friend and former staff member Fred Keeley received special recognition for his achievements as a member of the California Assembly for the past 6 years; John and Patty Brissenden were two of the first organizers of this organization, and have remained active and committed since then; Ted and Pat Durkee helped found the Land Trust, and have also remained closely associated since its inception; Angie Christmann has been a dedicated volunteer since 1985; La Mina Smith, who accepted the recognition on behalf of the late Al Smith, a local businessman vital to the groups efforts; Diane Porter Cooley, who accepted on behalf of the late Bernice Porter and her donation of conservation easements for a large agriculture area; and the Cummings family, who accepted on behalf of the late Anna Jean Cummings, a cofounder of the Land Trust and its first Executive Director. I applaud the efforts of the Land Trust and those who support their mission of protection and conservation of this county's greatest natural resources. Mr. Speaker, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating their anniversary, and wish them continued success in the next 25 years.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the efforts of the Japanese, German, and Italian American communities in educating the public about their experiences during World War II. I also commend my colleague, Rep. Michael Honda, for his efforts in redressing the mistreatment of many American ethnic groups during this period and specifically for sponsoring H. Res. 56, the Day of Remembrance Resolution. Today we reflect upon the forced internment of thousands of American citizens during World War II. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which authorized the Secretary of War to incarcerate Japanese Americans in designated areas controlled by the military. Executive Order 9066 was decreed without the issue of formal charges, warrants or trials; this presidential decree denied thousands of citizens the due process of law that is guaranteed by the Constitution. Executive Order 9066 was born out of the misguided fear that some Japanese Americans might harbor anti-American sentiment and could possibly threaten the nation's security during a time of war. The execution of this law devastated the lives of many Japanese Americans. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast were given one week's notice and told to bring only what they could carry before being forcibly removed from their homes. They were then relocated to internment camps where they lived behind barbed wire and endured such hardships as inadequate medical supplies and insufficient food and water. Japanese Americans were not the only ethnic group faced with internal prejudice during this period. German and Italian Americans also faced significant intolerance from other Americans during World War II. Prejudice against ethnic Americans still resonates today. The events of September 11 proved that terrorists threaten our country and our very way of life. Although some terrorists may still inhabit our homeland, we cannot threaten the liberty of every Arab-American in order to get to those that would threaten the United States. In this way, the events of November 19, 1941 are with us as much today as ever. Today is a day of remembrance and a day of reflection. We must reflect upon the atrocities committed during World War II, upon the internment of Japanese-Americans and upon the prejudice many Americans faced during this time. And we must remember and learn from the mistakes of our past, so that we do not repeat them in the future.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, this Friday is National Peace Corps day. All over the country, former Peace Corps volunteers are bringing their skills, knowledge and experience to schools and community centers, sharing their experiences from all parts of the world. Since 1961, more than 168,000 have volunteered in the Peace Corps. I was among the first in the mid-sixties. I spent two unforgettable years working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Medellin, Colombia. I have carried that experience with me ever since. National Peace Corps Day will be a day of reflection for me. As I think back to my experience--and how it led me into public life and ultimately here to the U.S. Congress--I also think of the new opportunities for the next generation. I think of the fifteen volunteers from my home district who are now all over the world serving as Peace Corps volunteers. In particular, I think of Matthew Allen who began his service in Thailand last April. I remember him talking to me, asking me if going into Peace Corps was the right thing to do. I remember telling him that going into Peace Corps would be one of the most important decisions of his life. It was for Matthew Allen, and thousands like him, that I introduced a bill last Congress--the Peace Corps Charter Act for the 21st Century-- to increase the number of volunteers in the Peace Corps. I would like every American, who is qualified and wants to serve in the Peace Corps, to have the same opportunity that I did. I have introduced the bill again this Congress--H.R. 250. Among other things, it authorizes sufficient funds to double the number of Peace Corps volunteers by 2007. The President shares this goal and I hope that he will support this legislation. The bill also calls for the Peace Corps to enhance person-to-person contacts with the Middle East. It calls for Peace Corps to provide expanded training in HIV/AIDS treatment for volunteers in Africa and Asia. H.R. 250 also authorizes the creation of a new fund which supports the third goal of the Peace Corps--bringing the Peace Corps experience home to communities in America. This is exactly the spirit of National Peace Corps Day. I would ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Peace Corps today and everyday. Contact Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in their districts. Ask them to bring the story of Peace Corps to their schools and community centers. I would also ask them to support H.R. 250, so that everyone who is willing and able will have the opportunity to become part of this great American experience.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Virginia ``Ginnie'' Muir Hirsch. She passed away in the early morning of January 29 in her home in Santa Cruz, California. Her husband, Fred, and their three daughters Liza, Leslie, and Laurie were at her side. Ginnie was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania on August 4, 1925. She came from a family of strong Democrats. Because of her father's leftist ideals, he had difficulty finding a job in Altoona. Eventually the family was forced to migrate to West Virginia so that Ginnie's father could find work. Ginnie moved to New York in 1942, where she began working for the American Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born and for the American Slav Congress. Ginnie worked continuously during the period of anti-leftist hysteria in the nineteen forties, supporting many activists who were being deported for their progressive ideologies. While helping to organize a 1949 concert by Paul Robeson, her 1937 Oldsmobile was pushed over a cliff in what became known as the Peekskill Riot. The next day, in clothes bloodied by cross-burning Klansmen, Virginia testified with Paul Robeson about the attack. Ginnie was married in 1952. In 1957 she and her husband moved to California with their children. Virginia held down two jobs, campaigned against the ``right to work'' law, and fought against the deportation and abuse of Mexican immigrants. In San Jose, Ginnie became an active member of the Office of Professional Employees International Union, and for a number of years she worked for the local Retail Clerks Union. She was also a founding member of the Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which involved traveling to Mississippi and bringing supplies to SNCC. Ginnie has been a life-long activist in California labor politics. As a board member for the Central Labor Council, she consistently supported the United Farm Workers as well as a number of East San Jose labor organizations. In 1967 Virginia moved her family to Delano, California to open the first legal office for Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers. She was also an integral part of the jury investigation team for the 1971 trial of Angela Davis. Ginnie continued through her years in San Jose, and later in Santa Cruz, providing for her family and working for peace, against racism, and for social and economic justice. She regretted that leukemia made her unable to take part in the January 18 anti-war actions in San Francisco and died less than two weeks later. Mr. Speaker, Virginia Muir Hirsch will be remembered in the community for her years of service and the invaluable contributions she has made to the progressive cause.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor the courageous efforts of the men and women in law enforcement. These individuals risk their lives each day in fighting crime and keeping our communities safe. Tonight, I honor four brave members of the Monterey County Sheriff's Department and two members of the Salinas Police Department that have been awarded a Medal of Valor by the Monterey County Peace Officer's Association for their dedicated service to the County of Monterey. On December 29, 2001, Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle that may have been involved in the sale of stolen property. Deputy Matthew Luther determined the vehicle was stolen and also realized that it was parked at a residence where known felons took refuge. Additional units arrived and surrounded the location: Deputy Luther and Deputy Phillip Farley covered the rear of the home, while Deputy Oscar Leon covered the front. Sergeant Joe Pedroza took the exterior perimeter. A suspect's desperate efforts to flee were thwarted by Deputy Farley. Trying another exit, the suspect encountered Deputy Leon and began shooting. Deputy Leon returned fire at almost point blank range. Shortly thereafter, the suspect attempted to escape by jumping off the front porch of the residence and tried to climb into a tree above Deputy Luther. The suspect, still in possession of his handgun was disabled by Deputy Luther's return fire. After securing the suspect, two additional co-conspirators were located inside the house and taken into custody. Throughout this quick encounter, each deputy employed his skills, training, and instincts--all of which culminated in the securing of the suspect and the crime scene. The encounter was not over after the suspect was shot and disabled. All the deputies involved maintained their focus, worked in unison and continued to react to each threat as it arose. The above Sheriff's Deputies were confronted with a life and death situation in which, a murder suspect attempted to gain his freedom by shooting his gun at them. In doing so, they were able to apprehend the suspect without injuries to the deputies involved. Sergeant Joe Pedroza, Deputy Matthew Luther, Deputy Oscar Leon, and Deputy Phillip Farley were awarded this Medal of Valor on April 17, 2002. On the evening of January 15, 2002, the Salinas Fire Department and the Salinas Police Department were dispatched to a structure fire at the Acosta Plaza apartment complex. Officer Ernie Sanchez and Officer Teresa Naugle-Dudek arrived before any fire units and determined that the occupants of apartment #2, which was fully engulfed, were safe and accounted for. In speaking with the residents, the two officers learned that the occupants of apartment #1 had not been seen outside. When Officer Sanchez knocked on the door and got no response, he forced the locked door. When Officer Sanchez and Officer Naugle-Dudek entered the premises, they found the apartment full of thick, dark smoke. Without breathing apparatus or concern for their personal safety, they located three individuals asleep in an upstairs bedroom. Officer Sanchez and Officer Naugle-Dudek evacuated the residents and had the persons evaluated by medical personnel at the scene. Officer Sanchez kept the family with him until he could make arrangements with relatives for their lodging. Officer Naugle-Dudek assisted the other displaced residents in securing temporary housing in the complex, until their units could be declared structurally safe to inhabit. There is little doubt that both their quick actions averted a potentially deadly situation. These citizens, fast asleep, could have been overcome by smoke inhalation and perished in their home. Officer Sanchez and Officer Naugle-Dudek displayed heroism while disregarding their own personal safety during the structure fire. Officer Teresa Naugle-Dudek and Officer Ernie Sanchez were awarded this Medal of Valor on April 17, 2002. Undaunted, all of these men and women acted with great courage, in concert with one another and with the highest degree of professionalism. And it is their undying commitment to public safety and law enforcement that is so essential to the health of our communities. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I congratulate these individuals on their receipt of this tremendous honor.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor Doctor Hisashi Kajikuri, an exceptional physician who has continued to serve the Monterey Peninsula for the past thirty-five years. Dr. Kajikuri has been recognized by a number of local medical associations and this year, at age 76 he is being honored with the Monterey County's Physician of the Year award. Dr. Kajikuri is well known in the medical community as a committed and talented physician and a strong patient's advocate. A man of great integrity and generosity, Dr. Kajikuri has been dedicated to providing quality healthcare to everyone who enters his door, myself included, as well as those who are unable to pay. Born and educated in Japan, Dr. Kajikuri began his career as an intern for a U.S. Military Hospital and was later awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 1954 to research heart valve autographs at the University of Indiana. He became a United States citizen in 1967. Dr. Kajikuri later moved to Monterey, California, where he established a practice and was honored by the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula as the first recipient of the Lifetime Physician Award. He is a member of the Monterey Medical Society Review Board, California Thoracic Society, Japan Surgical Society, and a Trustee of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. The contributions that Dr. Kajikuri continues to make to the Monterey community are innumerable. The honor of Physician of the Year is awarded to a physician who has made a significant contribution in the health care field, is a strong motivator and educator, has a good rapport with patients, has demonstrated extraordinary professional competence, and is a strong role model for young physicians. I can personally attest to the care and competency shown by Dr. Kajikuri in his interactions with patients and affirm his reputation as a medical professional who stands out in his community as generous, talented, and worthy of such respect. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress I would like to honor and congratulate Dr. Kajikuri for his remarkable achievements and the great honor of this award.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mrs. Carol Lacy, a close friend, longtime colleague and an indefatigable advocate for improving the quality of life in North Monterey County. She was a civic leader devoted to good land use planning in a county that depends on its ``good looks'' and ``productive dirt.'' Carol passed away after a battle with lung cancer on Friday, November 1, 2002, and is survived by her husband Richard Liebenberg, daughter Susan Lacy, son Tim Lacy, stepson Ken Liebenberg, her parents Tom and Winifred Carney, sister Janet Carney, brother Barry Carney, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Lacy was a former Monterey County planning commissioner, businesswoman and health insurance agent who was known for her involvement with her community. She served for seven years on the Monterey County Planning Commission, nine years as a North Monterey County School Board trustee, and as a PTA president at Prunedale Elementary School. Carol had been a grand juror and was involved with the Monterey County Special Healthcare Authority. After seeing accidents and deaths year after year along Highway 101 through Prunedale, her hometown of 35 years, she was a founding member of the Highway 101 Bypass Committee. Work is now underway to improve safety along that corridor thanks to her pioneering efforts. Many people knew and loved Carol, and I am thankful to be one of them. Her contributions to her community have left a legacy that will last for years to come. She will be sorely missed.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to revise and extend my remarks. Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure and the honor today of introducing a bill which will reauthorize the United States Peace Corps. I served in the Peace Corps for two years, from 1964-66, in Colombia and it inspired me to devote my life to public service. With this bill, over 14,000 Americans will be given the chance to have the same inspiration. This bill is long in the making. We in Congress have been advocating the increase and strengthening of the Peace Corps for a long time. The goal of increasing the Peace Corps to 10,000 volunteers was announced by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. It was echoed by President Clinton in 1992. Finally, President George W. Bush announced in his State of Union address last year, his commitment to double the number of Peace Corps volunteers in five years. Last year, following the President's statement, I introduced a bill, which would help fulfill this vision for the Peace Corps. The same bill was introduced in the Senate, where it was ultimately passed by unanimous consent. The bill I am introducing today is essentially the same bill that was passed by the Senate: It doubles the number of volunteers in five years; It restates the independence of the Peace Corps; It asks for reports to Congress on new initiatives and security for Peace Corps volunteers; It makes a commitment to recruit and place Peace Corps volunteers in countries where they could help promote mutual understanding, particularly in areas with substantial Muslim populations; It develops training programs for Peace Corps volunteers in areas of education and prevention of AIDS; It streamlines and empowers the Peace Corps Advisory Council and creates a fund to promote the work of returned Peace Corps volunteers in fulfilling the third goal of the Peace Corps--to educate other Americans about their experience overseas. This is a crucial time to invest in the Peace Corps, a crucial time to invest in improving America's relations with peoples and countries across the globe. I believe that this bill represents an important symbol of the good will of the United States, and reflects our fundamental nature as a concerned and caring nation. I would like to thank Congressman Mark Udall, whose mother was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, for helping to author the bill. I would also like to thank my fellow Congressman Mike Honda for also being an original cosponsor. I would also like to thank all of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have given invaluable input in creating this bill. I encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of a true public servant, a man who has touched literally thousands of lives. Jack Stewart, who is currently the Monterey County Military and Veterans Affairs Officer and a long-time constituent of mine, will be retiring from the post he created in 1983 after a career that has been marked by excellence and dedication. Jack first served in the U.S. Army in 1954, eventually serving 20 years and receiving several decorations and awards including he Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Speaker, these commendations obviously show the level of commitment he had to defending and protecting the democratic ideals our country cherishes, but it is only the beginning of what would become a career dedicated to those who, like himself, served their country with honor. As a county supervisor, I got to know Jack and understand the workings of his office, which helped us both when I became a California State Assemblyman. When the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (which Jack served three terms as president) came to Sacramento I was always there for Jack, as he was for me. Jack was always a welcome sight in my office, and I know other counties were envious of the relationship and understanding that we had. One of the highlights of my work with Jack during those years was helping him bring a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall to Monterey County, a deeply moving experience. This project was one of the best instances of veterans coming together with the community, including anti-war leaders, in an outpouring of love and respect for those who didn't come home. This was the first listing of all Monterey County MIA's and those killed in action, which led to the creation of a separate Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Salinas. It also provided for listing those names on the state memorial in Capitol Park in Sacramento, including my cousin John Geisen and Carmel High School classmate Andrew Elliot, who is MIA. For Jack's work on these projects, I am personally grateful. Mr. Speaker, many people will undoubtedly sing Jack Stewart's many praises as his retirement nears, but I must mention a few things that he has done while I have been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Perhaps the single most influential role he had was during the closure of Fort Ord in Monterey County, the largest base closure in US history. The economic and social implications on the local communities were astounding, but Jack made sure that the interests of the veterans in the area were attended to. He had the world pulled out from him, as we lost a four hundred-bed hospital that served both active duty members and retirees; the CHAMPUS provider was to be switched so no one knew who to go to for health care; disabled vets wee stranded without transportation; and all military personnel who could help handle such a crisis were gone. The only person left was Jack, who, with his staff had to do the work of an entire division. Out of this chaos, he will be leaving behind a new clinic run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, serving a broader community than ever; a new Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling Program; a Veterans Transition Center for homeless veterans and a transportation network that provides van rides to disabled veterans. Jack was also able to get the federal government to put up land and money to open a state-run veterans' cemetery at Fort Ord, and has been instrumental in starting and running the local process for making this a reality. Of course, this is a project that will continue without Jack, but he should be honored for his role in moving this from an idea to where it is today. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close today by saying that Jack Stewart has handled more challenges than any county veterans officer I know of, and produced a more lasting legacy of services than anyone. This alone speaks volumes, but I hope I have been able to show how much he will be missed, not only by me, but also by the community at large. I wish Jack and his family all of the best in retirement, even though I know that he will remain an active part of the veteran's community.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give sincere thanks to Chairman Hansen, Ranking Member Rahall and the staff of the Resources Committee for their efforts to move H.R. 4750 through this chamber in the final hours of the 107th Congress. I am pleased to inform you Mr. Speaker, that the other body has passed this legislation as well and it is on its way to the President. This legislation designates as wilderness more than 50,000 acres of land in the Central Coast of California, adding another jewel in the crown of Big Sur. Mr. Speaker, since this legislation passed without committee action, it was not possible to get a Committee Report so I want to inform you of my intentions in regard to H.R. 4750. The Big Sur region is a rough, wild, sparsely populated area full of scenic vistas and should be managed as such. In regard to wilderness fire management, it would be beneficial to have a management plan for the Ventana and Silver Peak areas prepared, following their designation as wilderness, that would authorize the Forest Supervisor of the Los Padres National Forest to take whatever appropriate actions are necessary for fire prevention and watershed protection. This would include, but not be limited to, acceptable fire presuppression and fire suppression measures and techniques. Any special provisions contained in the management plan for the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness areas should be incorporated in the planning for the Los Padres National Forest. This language is a slight modification of language enacted in 1977 as part of the legislation initially designating the Ventana wilderness area. The thought is that current language be as close to original language as possible. Local USFS staff have indicated that under normal agency procedures, the decision to utilize this existing authority would have to be made at the regional forester level or higher. The practical impact is that the existing authority has never been used. This language seeks to make the existing authority more useful by authorizing the decision at the forest supervisor level. Mr. Speaker, in regard to military training at Fort Hunter-Liggett, I suggest that we do nothing to preclude existing low level overflights of military aircraft, the designation of new units of special airspace, or the use or establishment of military flight training routes over wilderness areas. In regard to military access all non-motorized access to and use of the wilderness areas designated by this Act for military training should be permitted to continue in the same manner and degree as permitted prior to enactment, subject to reasonable regulation by the land manager. This language will apply to the proposed wilderness areas adjacent to Fort Hunter-Liggett. The non-motorized use language covers a variety of training activities that the military has undertaken in the National Forest. Currently, the two agencies have an MOU that governs such activities. I would encourage a new MOU be developed to account for the change to wilderness. Mr. Speaker, the Central Coast is a unique ecosystem in itself. For example, only in this area will you find giant redwoods growing in the same drainage as a yucca plant. Because of this great diversity our area faces constant assaults by invasive species. The spread of invasive species continues to inflict great damage to the Big Sur region's environment. Such plant species as South American pampas grass, genesta (French broom) from southern Europe, and cape ivy from South Africa have taken over large areas of the Big Sur region. In addition, a cross breed of ferral and wild pig has become very prolific in many areas of Big Sur. These pigs plough up native plants which destroys habitat for native animals and opens the way for many non native plants to colonize the disturbed ground. On their own, each of these species has inflicted major adverse changes to the Big Sur landscape. Their combined assault has resulted in the displacement of entire native communities. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has invested millions of dollars in acquiring land for conservation in the Big Sur region. A program of this type would help prevent the ecological value of that investment from being destroyed. This region needs a program to target the eradication of invasive plant and animal species in the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest. In addition nearly private or other non USFS property where the property owner seeks the assistance and where the invasive species are present on that property pose a threat to national forest lands and should be included as well. Mr. Speaker, I want to see the transfer USFS land currently occupied by Pacific Valley School under special use permit to the Pacific Valley School District. The amount of land to be transferred should not exceed the school's existing footprint (approximately 5 acres). Also, the transfer should include reversionary language that would require transfer back to the Forest Service if the School District ever gave up use of the land. The Pacific Valley School serves the residents of the rural southern Big Sur Coast. It has approximately 40 students in grades K-8. The school has occupied a site on USFS property under a special use permit for approximately 35 years. The school itself consists of 6 portable buildings arranged on a series of concrete and asphalt pads. Over the years the school has had a good relationship with the Forest Service. The major problem is the inflexibility that the special use permit arrangement imposes on the school's site management. Generally, any changes the school wants to make to the site have to be cleared by the Forest Service. Even if a change, for example the addition of a student garden or replacing a set of building steps, may not need Forest Service approval, the uncertainty of whether it does have a chilling effect on any activity. This transfer is intended to resolve the potential conflict and release the USFS from acting as a school site manager. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I feel we should authorize the construction and maintenance of a new water line and corresponding spring box improvements adjacent to an existing domestic water service in the Silver Peak Wilderness Area in the Los Padres National Forest. The water system in question serves two adjacent properties located just outside the existing Silver Peak Wilderness Area boundary established in 1992. Both parcels are 10 acres and are located in the west \1/4\ of the south \1/4\ of the southwest \1/4\ of the southeast \1/4\ of section 14 in township 24 south, range 5 east, MDB&M. Both parcels have drawn water from the same spring for over 40 years. A single pipeline runs from the spring box located in the wilderness and delivers water to the two parcels in succession. The 1992 act creating the Silver Peak Wilderness Area grand-fathered this system into the wilderness. However, Monterey County ordinances now implementing state and federal law treat the system as a water distribution system which requires it to comply with the treatment and storage needs of a larger system serving multi-households. The owners of the two parcels want to lay a new separate pipeline alongside the existing line so that they become two separate individual systems and thus free of the cost of complying with the multiple hook-up requirements. Mr. Speaker, I once again want to thank all those that made passage of this legislation possible. Protection of these resources is of great benefit to all.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a very special man, Mr. Gordon Haskell, a resident of Santa Cruz, CA, who passed away on October 4, 2002. Gordon dedicated his life to community service, promoting social justice, and advocating for democratic principles. It is my honor to stand in this House and acknowledge Gordon's life and his legacy to California's 17th Congressional District. Mr. Gordon Haskell was born the youngest of 10 children August 15, 1917, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria to Edward Haskell, a second generation American Protestant Missionary, and Elisabeth Frolich Haskell of Enenda, Switzerland. At the age of 16, Gordon settled in California where he attended Voorhee's School for Boys, Occidental College, and later graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. Gordon worked for 9 years as a locomotive fireman on the Southern Pacific Railroad while active as a union organizer in the Independent Socialist League. He later moved to New York to serve as editor of the ISL's newspaper, Labor Action. After a number of years with the ISL, Gordon moved on to become Director of development for the American Civil Liberties Union in New York. In 1969, Gordon met his future wife, Rachel, as she stirred lemonade at a peace rally in St. Louis. Gordon and Rachel spent much of their 32 years of marriage in Santa Cruz, CA. Gordon devoted his life,both personally and professionally, to social and economic justice and equality. His early dedication to social justice evolved into a dogged determination to work in his own communities for obtainable and sustainable political and social change. Gordon was a tireless petitioner of his local, State, and Federal Government. He was a frequent, and always welcome, visitor to my Santa Cruz office, often dropping by to deliver mailings, news articles, or simply to make sure I was aware of the latest concerns of our local community. His experience as a writer and editor was frequently put to good use, as Gordon was often chosen to pen letters and resolutions on behalf of local democratic clubs and the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee. In fact, just weeks before his passing, Gordon contributed to a passionately written resolution condemning the possible war in Iraq. I could always count on Gordon to attend every town hall and public meeting I held. He consistently asked the tough questions, sometimes praising his elected representatives, but never shy about voicing his concerns. Gordon's life-long dedication to participating and petitioning his government should be commended and celebrated. Though I, and countless others, will surely miss Gordon, his unflagging pursuit of justice and equality will be a lasting tribute to the Santa Cruz community, and an example for us all. Gordon is survived by two children, Guy Haskell of Bloomington, IN, and Elisabeth Haskell of Sacramento, CA; 3 stepchildren, Garry Fathman, Anthony Fathman, and Mary Fathman-Thomas; 10 grandchildren; 2 great- grandchildren; and his wife, Rachel. Mr. Speaker, it is truly my honor to recognize the life and accomplishments of Mr. Gordon Haskell.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise also. I came here as a freshman and was assigned to the Committee on Resources, which I think is probably the most important committee in Congress, because it really deals with the terrain of America, the landscape of America, the things that brings us such respect for this country, its diversity and its incredible geography and beauty; and I found the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) to be an incredibly warm chairman, always listening, being very fair, a real gentleman as a chairman; and I have to say on the other side of the aisle that we were treated always fairly and our views were respected and bills were passed. I think that we are going to miss him. We are going to miss somebody that represents a State that really knows the beauty of America; and under his leadership we, Congress, rose to help that State put on the Olympics. It would not have happened without his leadership. So it is a real pleasure to have served with him, and I wish him all the luck in the world. Thank you.

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my congressional office and missed rollcall vote No. 475. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Christopher J. D'Amelio, Boatswain's Mate First Class, United States Coast Guard, a longtime resident of Aptos, California. Petty Officer D'Amelio has been selected to receive the 2002 Gold Medal from the Association for Rescue at Sea for his integral role in a rescue that occurred near Peacock Spit at the mouth of the Columbia River. Petty Officer D'Amelio deserves recognition for his heroic actions on September 2, 2001. His excellent performance as Surfman aboard Coast Guard Motor Life Boat 47248 was directly responsible for the saving of three lives. Petty Officer D'Amelio expertly maneuvered the MLB through plunging breakers 18 feet high to reach a capsized fishing boat. He calmly squared the bow into the oncoming surf and skillfully backed the MLB to the four individuals clinging to the overturned vessel. With the assistance of a rescue swimmer, Petty Officer D'Amelio successfully retrieved all four survivors and then escaped to calmer water where he and his crew could more accurately evaluate their condition. Upon discovering that one individual required immediate medical attention, Petty Officer D'Amelio quickly coordinated and directed the transfer of the individual to a waiting Coast Guard helicopter. Petty Officer D'Amelio's superb Surfman skills, his leadership, and his poise under great pressure prevented an already disastrous situation from becoming even worse. Since joining the United States Coast Guard in 1995, Petty Officer D'Amelio has consistently demonstrated the three core values--Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty--that have contributed to this service's distinguished heritage. In recognition of his repeated displays of leadership, bravery, and outstanding achievement Petty Officer D'Amelio has twice received the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation with the Operational Distinguishing Device, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with the Operational Distinguishing Device, and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal with Operational Distinguishing Device. In addition Petty Officer D'Amelio was named the Enlisted Person of the Year for the Thirteenth Coast Guard District in 2001. While maintaining his professional excellence, Petty Officer D'Amelio has also maintained the role of devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Courtney, have two children: Taylor Brooke D'Amelio and Matthew John D'Amelio. In all spheres of his life, Petty Officer D'Amelio's extraordinary efforts and superb accomplishments merit respect and appreciation. I offer him congratulations for his years of dedicated service in the United States Coast Guard, and it is my great honor to represent such a courageous constituent.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend, Mr. Leo Greenberg, a long-time resident of Aptos, California who passed away on July 13, 2001. Mr. Greenberg was an active member of the community who sought to make our world better place by tirelessly advocating for democratic principles, human rights, and social justice. Mr. Greenberg was born 81 years ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, where his family moved when he was a small child. After graduating from high school, Mr. Greenberg enlisted in the Coast Guard. During World War II, the Coast Guard was militarized under the Department of the Navy, and in the Navy, Mr. Greenberg served admirably for many long years at sea. On his first mission hunting enemy submarines in the North Atlantic, his ship was caught in a ``Perfect Storm'' and nearly sank. Mr. Greenberg survived that ordeal and was able to participate in five invasions in the European theater, including engagements in Naples, Sicily, the South of France, and D-Day at Normandy where Mr. Greenberg was at the helm of his ship while crossing the Channel on the way to the Normandy invasion. When Mr. Greenberg returned to the United States after WWII, his commitment to freedom and public service continued. After moving to Santa Cruz County in 1973, Mr. Greenberg and his wife, Bea Greenberg, became active in their community, engaging themselves in civic affairs and local and national politics. They were also devoted supporters and for their local Temple. Mr. Greenberg was especially proud of his role in finding the land where a new Temple now stands. He loved to hear his wife sing in the Choir and loved greeting his friends during services. Mr. Greenberg also loved politics. He was passionate about social values and civil rights, and worked in his own community to promote these issues. He participated in the San Jose march on the day of the famous March on Washington in 1963. He believed that a strong government could help people and bring them out of suffering and poverty. Locally, he became a leader Santa Cruz County local politics and was a strong supporter of local elected officials, including Norm Mineta, Leon Panetta, and my father, Fred Farr. In his later years, Mr. Greenberg lived with the debilitating effects of a brain tumor. For the last five years of his life, he attended classes at the Cabrillo College Stroke Center where he learned to live with his disability and where he could keep up with politics, sports, Israel, and Temple life. About a year ago, I attending a meeting at Leo Greenberg's house where he asked me what I could do to promote stroke centers around our nation. He knew what the stoke center had done for him, and he wanted others who were afflicted with similar disabilities to have the same benefits. As a result of this meeting, the Cabrillo College Stroke center has since been designated a federal demonstration project. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that stroke centers will spring up across the nation as a lasting memorial to Mr. Greenberg. This would be the ultimate tribute to Leo's humanity and long record of community service. Leo Greenberg's lifelong dedication to public service and democratic principles should be commended. His efforts improved the quality of life on the Central Coast and his achievements have made lasting impacts on the people with whom he has worked. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Leo Greenberg.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill with a majority of the California Congressional Delegation to preserve the 21 historic California missions. This is the first time such a comprehensive effort has been undertaken at the Federal level. It is time we participated in the effort to protect these national treasures, the oldest of which dates to 1769. Until recent efforts by the California Missions Foundation, little had been done to preserve the mission's structures and art. Because of this long-term neglect, many of the missions are now in dire need of structural attention and major rehabilitation. The legislation would provide $10 million for the restoration effort in a Department of the Interior grants program to be administered over five years. This funding would supplement a statewide private campaign, as well as State funding, to ensure the future of the missions. The California missions are the most visited historic attractions in the State, drawing over 5.5 million tourists a year. They account for a sizable contribution to the State economy from millions of tourists, including a large number of international visitors. The missions also play an integral role in educating fourth grade school children under the State's history curricula which includes the missions in the study of western history. This serves an important education function in teaching young students about the role of the missions in the history of our Nation.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep sadness for the immense loss being felt around the world as a result of the horrific acts in Bali over the past weekend. I especially want to send out my heartfelt sympathy to the Australian people. We remain hopeful that those presently listed as missing are alive and safe. However, if the death toll reaches the number expected, Australia will sadly experience a loss of their people proportionate to that suffered here in the United States on September 11. Again, innocent people have been used as pawns in a despicable act of terrorism. We will never forget how Australia has continued to support the United States during our time of need, and I want to tell the Australian people that the United States is here to support you. Perhaps one of the most ironic parts of this senseless killing is that it targeted young people who had chosen to venture from their home country to travel abroad and experience one-on-one the lives of people different from them. It also targeted the Indonesians who chose to work in the tourism industry and to welcome foreigners to their country. Bali was a place where people from all over the world came together peacefully to enjoy themselves and learn about each other's unique culture and ways of life. These young people were open to exploring and celebrating the differences between cultures, rather than trying to further separate this divided world. We can not let these despicable acts continue to tear our world to pieces. Again, to the families in the U.S., Australia, and the 20-plus other countries who suffered in this blast, I extend my deepest sympathies and promise to commit myself ever stronger to the goal of peace.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Alice Santana, a woman of many roles--a wife, a mother, a friend, a business woman, a community activist, a rising star in the ranks of the Office of Economic Opportunity, a political advisor, a supporter and kingmaker--just to name a few. Alice was tough, exuberant, and smart in every one of her roles. She brought her awesome zest for life to others, and enjoyed the pleasure of working and playing, while wholeheartedly advocating the causes in which she believed. Alice came to Santa Cruz with her family in 1962 when the circle of those committed to action for social change and support for the arts was small indeed in Santa Cruz County. This was an emerging time of change--Cabrillo Community College had just been established, UCSC was on the verge of opening its doors, and Alice was a forceful and driving member within that small circle for reform. Alice's commitment continued with resiliency. There is hardly an arts organization or initiative for social change in this county that did not benefit from Alice's truly generous support. It is no secret that Alice Santana has always been an ardent Democrat. Her willingness to generously support endeavors that didn't always look shiny and bright, in a community dominated by the other party, was a critical force for change. She was an early and crucial supporter for Leon Panetta, our first Democratic Congressman. Alice supported and worked hard for Henry Mello, Supervisor, State Assemblyman and the State Senator. She worked vigorously for my races as well as for Fred Keeley, our current State Assemblyman. And at the local level, she was an important and initial supporter for a line of Democratic Second District Supervisors, Ralph Sanson, Dale Dawson, Robley Levy, and Ellen Pirie. We all owe much to Alice. Alice not only supported politicians, she played the game too, and she played it well--from the early 60's as an activist at Community Action Board hearings, to the days when she was an energetic delegate at both state and national conventions. She delighted in these opportunities. Alice had an unremitting passion for making a difference. When she saw the opportunity to act, she did not let it pass, and her mark on our community has been profound. In addition to all of Alice's accomplishments, it is just as important to remember her enthusiasm for life, her enjoyment in the great pleasures of our world--good food, good drink, good conversation, and the company of good friends. Alice loved elegant and vivid clothes, jewelry, silver, ivory and gold, and a good martini. I have always enjoyed her hospitality, and was often transported by vibrant tales of her travels--to New York and Guam, Cairo and Portugal. With Manuel, Leonard, Patricia, and Angelina, I am proud to honor the warmth, love, and courage personified in Alice.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, during this centennial anniversary of John Steinbeck's birth, I would like to honor the efforts of the Californians participating in the statewide reading and discussion of ``The Grapes of Wrath.'' Steinbeck's powerful novel details the difficulties and blessings involved in diversity, migration, and the pursuit of the American Dream. By reading ``The Grapes of Wrath,'' we are all able to see the continuing relevance of these issues and the necessity of encouraging dialog within our communities. One of my favorite passages, in Chapter 25, addresses the richness of the land and the bountiful produce that can be grown through the effort and determination of hard-working people. Here is a quote from that passage: The spring is beautiful in California. Valleys in which the fruit blossoms are fragrant pink and white waters in a shallow sea. Then the first tendrils of the grapes, swelling from the old gnarled vines, cascade down to cover the trunks. The full green hills are round and soft as breasts. And on the level vegetable lands are the mile-long rows of pale green lettuce and the spindly little cauliflowers, the gray- green unearthly artichoke plants. And then the leaves break out on the trees, and the petals drop from the trees and carpet the earth with pink and white. The centers of the blossoms swell and grow in color: cherries and apples, peaches and pears, figs which close the flower in the fruit. All California quickens with produce, and the fruit grows heavy, and the limbs bend gradually under the fruit so that little crutches must be placed under them to support the weight. . . . . . . And all the time the fruit swells and the flowers break out in long clusters on the vines. And in the growing year the warmth grows and the leaves turn dark green. The prunes lengthen like little green bird's eggs, and the limbs sag down against the crutches under the weight. And the hard little pears take shape, and the beginning of the fuzz comes out on the peaches. Grape blossoms shed their tiny petals and the hard little beads become green buttons, and the buttons grow heavy. The men who work in the fields, the owners of the little orchards, watch and calculate. The year is heavy with produce. And men are proud, for of their knowledge they can make the year heavy. They have transformed the world with their knowledge. The short, lean wheat has been made big and productive. Little sour apples have grown large and sweet, and that old grape that grew among, the trees and fed the birds its tiny fruit has mothered a thousand varieties, red and black, green and pale pink, purple and yellow; and each variety with its own flavor. The men who work in the experimental farms have made new fruits: nectarines, and forty kinds of plums, walnuts, with paper shells. And always they work, selecting, grafting, changing, driving themselves, driving the earth to produce. I thank my California colleagues for rising with me in honor of this classic novel and the enduring spirit of Californians.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time. I rise in support of the Lee amendment, and I am really surprised after listening to the debate for the last 17 hours why anybody would attack it. Indeed, the Lee amendment and the Lee resolution is the same as what the President has in his resolution if we see in section 2 where the President urges the support of the United States diplomatic efforts to strictly enforce through the United Nations, to obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council in the United Nations, that essentially this is the same thing that the Lee amendment does. It seems to me that anybody who can support the President's amendment ought to support the Lee amendment. What the Lee amendment does not do is it does not leap before it looks. It says look before we leap into war, and I think the message here is very strong, that if the United States is going to leap into war before it looks. What kind of trust are we going to have with the rest of the arrangements around the world with the agreements we have had on treaties and trade treaties? What is going to happen to people who are traveling in the country? Is anybody going to be able to trust our country because we can say, well, if we do not like something we can go it alone? It is very wise to support the Lee amendment. It is a good look before we leap. Parliamentary Inquiry