Sam Farr

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise with deep regret that David Bonior is leaving this institution. I arrived here about 9 years ago. It was in a special election. But I think of all the people I have met, David Bonior was the kindest person I met. What I have learned over the years of working here is, this is a tough institution; and to survive and to be into leadership, you have got to have tough skin, but you have also got to have a kind and soft heart. The wonderful thing about David Bonior is how much he gives of himself to everybody else's problem. He will come to your district. And when he sees a wrong, he is out there trying to right it, whether it is in the fields of farm workers in California, whether it is in the stockyards, wherever it may be in the United States, where men and women are suffering or are not having a fair wage, a fair treatment in their workplace, David Bonior is the first to be there to understand the problem and the first on the floor to talk about righting that wrong. The people of Michigan are so fortunate to have this person in elective office. I hope they have the good wisdom to select him as governor because he is going to be a great leader in this country as a governor, as he was a Member of the House of Representatives. He rose to a leadership position. Who knows, if he were staying here, he could have been Speaker of the House, perhaps Vice President of the country, and maybe those days will still come. But this is truly one of the great Members serving in a great institution at a great time in our history. This institution is going to suffer with his leaving, but the people of Michigan I hope will have the great wisdom to keep him in the public limelight and keep him in public office by electing him as their governor. (By unanimous consent, Ms. Kaptur was allowed to speak out of order for 5 minutes.)

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this conference report. I would like to share with my colleagues the appreciation we have of the chairmanship of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) on this committee who is known in this body as a very compassionate individual, and certainly the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member, who has long fought for these issues. As we look at this bill, I hope everybody will vote in favor of it. It affects more people in America than any other appropriation we pass. This essentially is the basis for funding for education in America, for our workforce in America, for our health care, including our Centers for Disease Control and for the human services. I think most importantly often overlooked is the issue that the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Rivers) just rose on, to talk about our commitment to mental health. If there is anything that is bipartisan in America, it is the support for mental health programs. I am disappointed that the bill did not have parity for that that would have required every health care insurance plan in the United States to provide the exact same kind of health care level for mental health treatment as it does for other medical treatment. That failing, however, this bill does provide incredible increases to the mental health side, increases $2 million more; for local mental health programs, additional $13 million, totaling $433 million; children's mental health services, an additional $5 million, for $97 million. It also deals with school violence, a treatment for children with post-traumatic syndrome, and probably most importantly, $2.2 billion for substance abuse prevention and treatment. I say congratulations to the committee. They have done a good job. I look forward to supporting this conference report.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, Tooday I am introducing the ``Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act of 2001'' It is a bill to combat the unfair and inhumane practice of ``canned hunting.'' At more than 1,000 commercial ``canned hunt'' operations across the country, trophy hunters pay a fee to shoot captive exotic animals--from African lions to giraffes to blackbuck antelope--in fenced enclosures in which the animals have no reasonable chance of escape. Most of the hunts are guaranteed--in that the ranch owner assures the ``client'' that he will secure an exotic trophy. It's a ``no kill, no pay'' arrangement. The animals on hunting ranches--procured from exotic animal dealers--have often lived a life being fed by hand and have little or no fear of humans; that fact, coupled with their confinement in a fenced area, all but assure a successful ``hunt.'' This bill will complement the efforts undertaken by states to restrict this practice. California and other states already outlaw this practice. In November 2000, voters in Montana approved a ballot initiative to ban the practice of shooting animals in fenced enclosures. The individuals who spearheaded this campaign were, it is important to note, lifelong hunters. They were members of groups such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Montana Wildlife Federation, and the Montana Bowhunters' Association--all of which avidly support hunting, but oppose canned hunts. This is a strong indicator that ``canned hunts'' are out of step with common principles governing responsible hunting. The regulation of the transport and treatment of exotic mammals on shooting preserves, however, falls outside the traditional domains of state agriculture departments and state fish and game agencies. In short, these animals often fall into regulatory limbo at the state level. In order to address this problem, which directly involves an issue of interstate commerce, since exotic mammals are those which typically are sold across state lines or imported because they are not native to the United States, I am introducing the ``Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act.'' This bill will halt the interstate shipment of exotic mammals for the purpose of being shot in a fenced enclosure for entertainment or a trophy. It is sensible legislation that is backed by responsible hunters, animal protection advocates, wildlife scientists, environmentalists, and zoological professionals. The Senate has the same bill before it for consideration. This bill will not limit the licensed hunting of any native mammals or any native or exotic birds. The state fish and game agencies regulate and license the hunting of native species. A federal remedy is needed, however, to deal with the purely commercial interstate movement of exotics destined to be killed at ``canned hunting'' ranches. This bill supports responsible hunting, while curbing something so out-of-bounds with hunting norms that hunters and animal advocates alike view it as unfair and inhumane.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with great sorrow to pay tribute to a wonderful woman, a community activist and wife of internationally known writer, journalist and lecturer, the late Milton Mayer. His wife Jane died recently in Carmel, California where I live. Jane Mayer was like a second mother to me and my sisters Francesca and Nancy. She was born in Joplin, MO, and grew up in Seattle, Washington before moving to Carmel where she lived for the past 50 years. A dedicated activist she studied at the University of Washington before beginning a 10-year career in fashion where she became a lecturer and consultant. Appearing at Universities and Colleges across the country and numerous radio programs. She married Robert Scully in 1940 and later in 1947 married Milton Mayer known to local kids as Uncle Milty. Together they produced the Voices of Europe radio broadcasts, which included commentary of the events of the time by people throughout Europe. For many years they co-led Great Books Discussion Seminars in both America and Europe. Jane and Milton were life long civil libertarians and pacifists, fighting intolerance, bigotry, racism and overzealous nationalism. Jane was an activist for peace and disarmament during the Cold War, representing the American Friends Service Committee to the World Council of Churches and at many international peace conferences. Jane Mayer adopted Carmel-By-The-Sea as the city to protect from commercial exploitation. She was a tireless advocate for the conservation of Carmel's unique character, becoming founding member of the Carmel Residents Association and member of the Carmel General Plan Committee, the Historic Preservation Committee and board member of the Cherry Foundation. I grew up with her two sons Rock and Dicken Scully and knew her two step daughters Julie Mayer Vogman of Berkeley and Amanda Mayer Stinchecum of Brooklyn, N.Y. Her son Rock Scully became the first manager of the Grateful Dead band and son Dicken a popular and respected psychologist. Both sons now live in Carmel, her husband Milton died in 1986. Jane lived her life as a teacher of good--and in doing so empowered others to fight against the ignorance of intolerance and unjust laws. She taught by example and by introducing American youth to cross- cultural experiences. My one summer in Europe in 1958 along with her sons Rock and Dicken, Frank Wallace, Adrian Benett and Ann McConnel led us all, five years later to apply for the Peace Corps. That experience led me into public service and now a Member of this House. So it is with great sadness that I submit this tribute to Jane S. Mayer, truly a women who made a difference in people's lives.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, Dee Devlin, a federal employee at the Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR), recently was selected to receive the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Sixth Region Civilian of the Year Award. The sixth region is comprised of sixteen chapters located throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California. In recognition of receiving the regional award, the AUSA Exceptional Service Award was presented to Mrs. Devlin at the annual national meeting of the Association of the United States Army in mid-October. The award is presented to federal employees who directly or indirectly support America's Army in the Sixth Region area. All nominees for this award compete locally and then regionally on the basis of their contributions to the local community as well as to the Army. Dee Devlin has been recognized for her work in support of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and the family members of the military community while she resided as a military spouse at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Presidio of Monterey. In addition to the support she has provided to the military community, Mrs. Devlin also served as a volunteer at Monterey Kiwanis events, and served for multiple years as the scholarship chairperson for the Community Thrift Shop, chairing a committee that provided over $30,000 in scholarships to military personnel and family members. Throughout her career with the federal government, working at different installations for the Departments of Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force, Dee Devlin has always been known for her caring attitude, customer service orientation, and cooperative spirit that ensured mission accomplishment at a higher standard than required, while taking care of the people involved in the mission. Throughout thirty-one years serving the military community worldwide as a military spouse and community member and fifteen years as a civil servant, Dee Devlin served as a mentor and role model for both family members and active duty military personnel. She has served as an unofficial ambassador for the military to many local communities in the United States while residing in foreign countries. Dee Devlin has been married for over thirty-three years to retired Colonel Daniel D. Devlin. They have two sons, Dan Jr. and Rob, who also reside in the Monterey peninsula community, as well as countless military sons and daughters whom they unofficially adopted around the world through the years. Dee Devlin's extraordinary efforts and superb accomplishments have earned her recognition from the highest levels of the Department of the Army, the AUSA and the United States government.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representatives Hall, Wolf and Houghton for putting together this compromise bill with the Administration. It is important that we enact legislation to reform the conflict-driving diamond trade, and this is an important first step. Mr. Speaker, for years terrorist bands masquerading as political rebels have been using income from the illicit trade in diamonds to fund their attacks on civilian populations. The scars that they have left are deep. They are seen every where on the mangled limbs and faces of men, women and children on the streets of Monrovia and Freetown. As appalling as the profiteering of these groups, is the commercial support that they have received from brokers in the legitimate diamond trade in what we refer to as the developed world. While some of thee traders have dealt unknowingly in these blood diamonds, others have consciously taken advantage of their market position to ``launder'' these tainted goods. There is a clear need to establish a system which punishes those that are supporting terrorist bands that profit from diamond trading, and prevent dirty diamonds from entering the market which make legitimate dealers unwittingly complicit. The substitute for H.R. 2722 that we have before us is not perfect, but it is an important first step in creating such a system. Moreover, passing this bill will send a clear signal to those states, industries and NGOs participating in the Kimberly Process, that the United States is serious about Clean Diamonds. I am confident that this bill will help move the Kimberly agenda forward, and that concrete steps to implement a verification system will be agreed to by all participating parties. This, after all, is the key. A verification system will not work unless it has the support of all those concerned. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to continue to work towards making the diamond industry one that supports trade and economic development without compromising human rights.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the Andean trade debate because I think this is one of the most important votes, one of the most important decisions that this House ever makes affecting the Andean countries in South America. Certainly with the amendments to the Caribbean initiative and the Africa initiative, this is a very, very important trade bill. The Andean Trade Pact was adopted in 1991. It sunseted this year so we would have a chance to review. One of the parts that is broken in the process is essentially the flower imports from Colombia. I have spoken many times about the inequities. We set that program up in the early 1990s because we wanted the Colombian flower growers to make sure they have a legitimate market to divert investment away from cocaine. The Colombian flower growers have done very well. They have done so well that they are now 70 percent of the American market. In fact, practically every flower we see in a supermarket in America comes from Colombia. There has been an expense of that on the domestic side. We have lost hundreds of flower-growing small farms, small community greenhouse operations all over the United States. That is why so many Members of Congress have invested in this issue of wondering whether we ought to put the tariffs back on for Colombian flowers. Colombian flowers is big business. They can afford to pay the tariffs, the same tariffs that are paid by other countries that import flowers. It is an equal playing field, a level playing field. This is the one part of the bill that never gets revisited. And obviously I voted against the rule because we did not get to bring an amendment up to the floor. And we are not going to be able to amend it at this moment. But I would hope that after 10 years of discussion, after 10 years of pointing out what the problem is, with even the Colombians admitting they are in a different situation now than they were 10 years ago, with the fact that it is not about cocaine any more. It is about a big business being able to have an exceptional break that is a detriment to our domestic market. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to work on trying to get the tariffs back on Andean flowers and I appreciate their concern. Thank you very much.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the debate on the rule to urge defeat of this rule. I ask defeat of this rule because of the situation at hand. The United States Congress has been asked to adopt, reapprove the Andean Trade Act, which was adopted over 10 years ago. It had a sunset in it so that there would be debate to be able to revise it and look at it and debate it. This bill comes to the floor without any public hearings, without any debate. In fact, it was rushed through the Committee on Rules just a few hours ago. And now we are asked to adopt one of the most important trade policies to affect the southern hemisphere. It affects all of Central America, the Caribbean, and the Andean region of Latin America. There are a lot of concerns that you hear from Members here, concerns that ought to be addressed and these trade agreements ought to be modernized and updated with the circumstances at hand. And we need to have a public process and a public hearing to do that. It did not occur here; and, therefore, the rule ought to be defeated and the bill ought to be defeated. Yes, there is pressure on us because the bill does sunset. But we can do a better job than what we have done with bringing this bill to the floor at this time, at this moment. So I urge a defeat of the rule.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for yielding me the time. I rise in strong support of this bill. I was just back here thinking that this is the one appropriations bill that comes to the floor with aroma and with taste. This is about food, and we often do not appreciate how much work goes into supporting the diversity of agriculture in the United States. We hear a lot of debate about the commodity programs in this country and the debate we ought to have. It is healthy. What my colleagues do not know is all of the agriculture in this country gets not one bit of help from our U.S. Department of Agriculture except in academic areas like research dollars for finding alternatives to pesticides and herbicides; to research dollars that improve the nutritional quality of food for our school children and for adults and senior citizens; for programs that really benefit agriculture without giving a direct subsidy to crops such as marketing promotions where we are able to assist with local raised money to promote crops grown in America and other countries. I would like to thank the chairman of this committee because he has taken the lead in being able to put specialty crops back up where they need to be, giving them more attention. In my district, one county, we grow 85 different crops. That is more crops than any other State, other than the State of California, grows in the United States. One of the things that we are working on and continue to work on that with the authorization from the Committee on Agriculture is the ability to buy out development rights from farmers so that the agriculture can remain protected forever in agricultural areas and that we can preserve the prime agricultural lands of the United States just as we would preserve the great forests and the great river basins of this country. Lastly, one of the things that this committee is very actively involved in and I hope we will move even more so in the direction is that we have spent a lot of money in this country determining what are the nutritional values of food that ought to be served, particularly to school children and infants; but we do not buy that same food. We need to shift our buying policy from the U.S. Government to buy more of the foods that we advertise and recommend as healthy foods. Those are organic foods that are fresh fruits and vegetables. Those are the specialty crops of America. This bill moves a lot of that policy forward; and I would like to compliment the committee, I would like to compliment the Secretary of Agriculture for her good work in working closely with this committee, and I would like to think that in a bipartisan way the Democrats and Republicans can come together and unite around agriculture in America, and this is the bill for it. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to confront the double message we have sent the American people in the wake of the tragedy of September 11. On one hand, we exhort Americans to travel, spend money, go out on the town and help revive the sagging economy. On the other hand, when they come to the Nation's Capitol, they find it closed, locked and off limits. What kind of example are we setting for America's museum of democracy? Is ours a government of by and for the people or a government that lives behind heavily guarded, closed doors? When Americans come to Washington, D.C., they get the same dreary refrain at the White House, the FBI and the Supreme Court: Closed to the public. When they come to the House of Representatives they find their Member of Congress can no longer provide a guided tour of the storied corridors, the Capitol dome or the old Senate Chamber. Instead our visitors are sent for 10 minutes to sit by themselves in the gallery. Mr. Speaker, there are those who say we need a Capitol littered with jersey barriers, ugly fences and awful planters so we can feel safe in our fortress, but I say we should not let security concerns rob us of the freedom to participate in and petition the government. If terrorists can wander all the way to the Capitol without being discovered, we really are in desperate straits. Mr. Speaker, when will you give the American people back their Nation's Capitol?

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, our lives are marked by noises and silences. We wake each morning to an alarm clock, we return to bed quietly each night to sleep. We hear the scream of our children being born, the cheers at their graduation ceremonies, and the hush at the funerals of our parents. To these, we have recently added the low rumble of buildings collapsing, the tones of thousands of Americans singing before our baseball games and on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building, and the silence of moments of private reflection. The lives of the millions of women in Afghanistan are also marked by the noises and silences around them. They hear the sound of their front doors closing as their husbands leave for jobs, something these women are no longer allowed to hold. As they walk by schools, always accompanied by a male relative, they hear lessons being taught, but only to their sons. These women hear the sound of beatings and public executions of women suspected of adultery, or who have cut their hair short, worn colorful clothes, nail polish, or white socks. The lives of women in Afghanistan often depend on silence. They must not walk loudly. They must not talk loudly. They must not laugh in public. They must wear burqas, allowing only some sight, covering their ears and mouths entirely. The women of Afghanistan recognize that their lives also depend on breaking silences. Through international aid organizations and their own resistance organizations, the experiences they have quietly whispered to each other have been passed along to the outside world. What was once a few, sporadic reports has become a chorus pleading for recognition and compassion. We must reassure these women that their pleas have echoed across mountains and oceans and reached our ears, and that we will answer them. The compassion we extend to our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters must now be extended to the mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters in Afghanistan. Just as we have overcome our fear in the past few weeks, we must help these women overcome their fear by working to end the conditions which cause it. We must use our voices and all of our abilities to ensure that the quiet voices of the women in Afghanistan are heard loudly and freely not just here in the United States, but in all countries, and especially, their own.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the selfless public service of an individual who has committed herself to the betterment of our public parks. Ms. Mary R. Wright recently retired from her position as Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and I wish to take this opportunity to recognize her work for the State of California. Mary began her career with the Department of Parks and Recreation in 1978 as the Acting Assistant Director, in Los Angeles. In this capacity, she worked as a liaison between the Department and various agencies and organizations in the greater Los Angeles area. Her valuable combination of talent in management and passion for our natural resources were quickly recognized by all those with whom she worked, and she held a variety of positions within the Department before being named District Superintendent for the Monterey District. The Monterey Peninsula is famous for its beauty and pristine natural habitats, enjoyed and treasured by residents of and visitors to the area. The role of managing and directing the efforts of those who work to preserve and protect these natural resources fell on Mary. She excelled at the task and, in June 1999, earned promotion as Governor Gray Davis's appointee to the position of Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. In addition to her official work on behalf of the State of California, Mary works alongside her husband as an enthusiastic community advocate. As a resident of Big Sur, she works on behalf of the residents and businesses there, serving as a member of the Big Sur Historical Society and as the Vice President of the Big Sur Health Center Board of Directors. She has also been active on the Monterey Peninsula for many years, serving as an appointed commissioner on the Monterey Historic Preservation Commission from 1983 until 1992, and as an appointed commissioner on the Marina Dunes Task Force from 1985 until 1992. She truly is a precious resource for our elected officials and community members. Mary Wright is a dedicated public servant, and a respected administrator. Her talent and vision will be sorely missed in the California Department of Parks and Recreation, but I am certain that the communities of the Central Coast will continue to benefit from them. I wish her well as she heads into a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this valuable time. Mr. Chairman, I rise commending the committee in their realization that you cannot have better intelligence unless we have better linguistic training. I happen to represent what we call the language capital of the world, Monterey, California, which is the home for the Defense Language Institute, the largest language school in the world. Four thousand young men and women of every ethnic background are studying in Monterey to become linguists for our military and Federal Government. We also have the AT&T Language Line; and many of you, if you do have any language problems, can dial up and get immediate translation on that line. We have the Monterey Institute of International Studies, which is the home for the Nonproliferation Center, which we understand is where all the dangerous material in the world is located. This emphasis on languages is the only way we are going to better understand the world we live in and better understand the communications that go on in the world. Thank you for putting it in the report.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Look, this is our annual fight. We are all used to it. It is a fight between special interests, on one side the candy manufacturers, and on the other side the farmers of America and the countries that we support in other parts of the world. I think when one has a choice, go with the farmers. They are the ones that are farming the land and harvesting the product. In fact, when we buy the sugar at our price, we are also helping, our neighboring countries; we are helping the people of El Salvador who suffered from Hurricane Mitch. We are helping the other Central American countries, and our friends in the Caribbean, because we pay a much better price than the world market, and we allow these countries then to get a better sugar price and pass that on to their workers. We also help some African nations by importing their sugar. If you vote against this amendment, you are not only helping the farmers of America, you are helping the foreign farmers that our foreign aid programs are also trying to help in a much better way than just doling out money. This is an amendment that we argue against every year, and it should be continually defeated.

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. It seems what the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) have done is bring our entire House together. Everybody today is in support of agriculture, and I say hallelujah. But do not think for a moment that one bill addresses all of the agriculture in the country. I happen to represent the most productive agricultural county in the United States. This bill does little to help it. Monterey County grows 85 crops. No other county in the United States grows 85 crops, and it is a $3 billion industry. What is the one thing they need? It is to preserve the land. All of this debate has been on the side of let us preserve the commodity bank account versus preserve the land. We are not going to have any agriculture without land. Mr. Chairman, let us support this amendment. I used to be an authorizer, and I am an appropriator now. Guess what the appropriators lack? It is authorization to put the money where people want it. This amendment raises that authorization. It allows the appropriators to meet the demand we are talking about to help preserve Ag land. In California alone, we have farmers who are offering to sell their development rights so that the land will not be urbanized, so it will not be lost to agriculture. That queue is $47 million today. The bill only authorizes $50 million. Just California could use that entire authorization in our one State. If my colleagues look at it nationally, farmers on the urban fringe face a $280 million backlog. Even the amendment will not bring us up to the level of demand. If Members want to preserve agriculture, preserve the land that agriculture is grown on, support this amendment.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. Our agricultural policy in the United States has been very strong about humane treatment for animals that are to be used for profit. What this amendment does is address animals that will be slaughtered. These are animals that are in stockyards, that are going to either be auctioned or have been auctioned, and are downed, which means they are animals that have been injured. They tend to be either old dairy cows or male calves born into dairy herds and sold for veal. I think this amendment continues a policy which this House adopted a few years ago which said when you transport animals to slaughter that they have to be transported in a humane fashion. We have humane slaughter practices. We have humane transportation plants, not only for slaughter, but for every agricultural livestock animal there is, from chickens to rabbits. The whole gambit of transportation is controlled by Federal law and State law as well. The Zogby poll of U.S. adults found that 79 percent oppose the use of downed animals in human food supply. You have just heard of the prohibitions that we already have in law about using downed animals in certain school lunch programs and so on. What I want to remind the House is that in all cases these are animals that are being used for a profit, for corporate investment, to make a profit on the product of these animals, and what is being asked here is to adopt the same sound humane practices that we require for every other link in that chain. I think it is an appropriate amendment for us to address, and I hope the committee will adopt it.

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I carried that issue in the California legislature. The issue is not just perishable fruit. I would admonish the Committee on Agriculture, we have to solve this. Every time we vote for buy American for the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) got a bill passed where every part of an automobile has to be labeled, we do not even know where packaged goods come from. Mr. Chairman, we need to address this issue not only for perishable, but packaged goods. Americans have a right to know where their food is coming from. We need to get origin labeling adopted.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women on the recent celebration of its twentieth anniversary. The Commission has been working to end domestic violence and sexual assault through education and prevention programs throughout the city of Santa Cruz in my district. I am pleased to be able to honor its work here in the U.S. Congress. The Commission contributes an abundance of life-enhancing, and often life-saving, resources to the city of Santa Cruz. Its violence prevention initiatives include self-defense classes, support services for sexual assault and domestic violence victims, violence prevention programs for lesbians, and workshops for men who want to overcome violence tendencies toward women. It directs educational programs to teach leadership to teens, and age-appropriate awareness training in schools. The Commission also offers legal advocacy including paralegal services and temporary restraining order assistance, and police officer training. The Commission engages in public awareness campaigns, including outreach to often-overlooked populations, offering assistance in English and in Spanish. It is clear that the Commission does much to improve the well-being of women and of all the community members of Santa Cruz. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the commitment and diligence of all those who work for the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women. Its twentieth anniversary is a tribute to the critical role they play in our area, and I wish them continued success during the next twenty years.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a Congressional Gold Medal resolution for Sargent Shriver who was the first director of the Peace Corps. I do this with my cosponsors, former members of the United States Peace Corps, myself, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri). I also do it on behalf of the 163,000 volunteers who have served the United States Government in over 135 countries. I also do this based on what I did Saturday which was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps here in Washington, but then on Sunday I went to the World Trade Center, ground zero in New York City, so I saw peace on Saturday and war on Sunday. I view the destruction with a renewed reemphasis in the role of the Peace Corps in order to better understand the world cultures, the world languages and the world differences. Mr. Speaker, what better way than to authorize the President to present Sargent Shriver with a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps in recognition of its founding father.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise as the other co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, along with my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley). I rise in support of the bill but with great concern. We have shown nothing but unanimity since the disaster last week. The airlines need this help, but it is not only the airlines that need this help, it is the employees of the airlines that need this help and it is all the other tourism related issues. I really want to ask my colleagues on the other side to try to keep the unity that we saw last night by really helping all of the industry affected in the United States, not just the airlines. I support this because it is a 3-5-10 bill. And to explain that: it is $5 billion in direct aid; it is $3 billion for airport security, and certainly I think there is more needed in airport security, I think we need to Federalize all our security and we need to have a surcharge on that; and, lastly, it is $10 billion in loan guarantees. It is a good bill but a bad process.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 61. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.J. Res. 61 which deplores yesterday's barbarous attack against our country and our people. I commend all of my colleagues for their heart-felt and inspiring words. I would like to add my voice to the resounding unanimity of this body in commending the heroic deeds of our fellow countrymen, and condemning the treacherous act of terrorism which struck at the heart of our nation. First, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to families and fiends who have lost their love ones in this horrendous, tragic event. These innocent lives were ended without reason, without warning. They were not, however, ended without cause. We know that they died in defense of our country, of the American way of life. All of those grieving should know that these lives were not lost in vain. In this hour of loss and need, I have been astounded by the countless acts of solidarity and self-sacrifice exhibited by Americans toward their neighbors. These are, indeed, ``the times that try men's souls.'' America has been tried and it has been proven true. True to the ideals of courage, of honor, of love and friendship to our fellow man. We must give thanks to live in a land that inspires such loving and giving people. Sufficient praise cannot be given to the fire-fighters, relief workers, and ordinary citizens who, in the face of life-threatening adversity, turned and entered the jaws of death to save lives. Some of these brave heroes sacrificed themselves that others might live. In this day and age, when we are accused of being a selfish, self-centered and apathetic generation, we can look back to these acts and these people and they will give us strength and faith in ourselves and in our great nation. And as we look back, we must also look forward. For our task ahead is to continue the work of ``making the world safe for democracy.'' We are called upon now to renew and strengthen this great and noble mission. As many here have said so forcefully and eloquently, democracy itself has been threatened and we must respond. We must respond by steeling ourselves against our enemies, and fighting against the chaos that they sought to inflict upon us. We must continue to demonstrate our strength and our unity. We must continue to show the world that we are one country, with one heart and one will. We will find our enemies, we will meet them and we will defeat them. And just as the bombings of New York and Washington were moral as well as physical attacks, we must concentrate our efforts on defeating our moral as well as our physical enemies. Terrorism does not reside in one man, in one country. It is an idea which must be combated each day in the hearts and minds if it is to be defeated once and for all. And just as we must and will find and bring to justice those who are responsible for this atrocious and unpardonable act, we must not think that one attack will be sufficient. The war on terrorism will be a war to eradicate the seeds of terrorism, a war to eliminate the environment in which terrorism takes root. To make the world safe for democracy, we must make the world impossible for terrorism. I thank the Speaker for giving me the opportunity to express my sorrow, sympathy, admiration and indignation. As we move forward, we must move together and present a unified front to our allies and enemies--meeting the former with love, appreciation and solidarity, the latter with steadfast resolve and determination. God bless America and our righteous mission.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Blind and Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County, whose thirtieth anniversary was celebrated on August 12, 2001. The center has been assisting visually impaired individuals to transcend the loss of sight as independent, contributing community members of Monterey County, in my district. I am pleased to be able to honor their work here in the U.S. Congress. The Blind and Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County offers a wide variety of services to its clients, and works to cater these services to each individual's needs. With such programs as Daily Living Skills and Braille Instruction, information and referral services, accessible technology, support groups, and an Orientation and Mobility Instruction course, this center offers much to the communities of Monterey County. Last year, the Blind'', and Visually Impaired Center provided direct services to three hundred forty-eight clients from twenty-two towns, cities, and villages. The clients live throughout Monterey County, from the coastline at Pebble Beach to the farm communities of Greenfield and King City. I am proud to honor the work of the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Blind and Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County. The thirtieth anniversary of the center offers an opportunity to pay tribute to the hope of its founders and the diligence of those who work there. I look forward to their continued success.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Henry J. Mello, a native of Watsonville, California. Mr. Mello has worked for many years as a public servant and he has made significant contributions to the Central Coast of California. Mr. Mello was born on March 24,1923, and studied at Hartnell College in Salinas. Working with his father, Mr. Mello established a farming business in 1940. He founded the Mello Packing Company and later, the Central Industrial Sales Company. In the mid-1950's, Mr. Mello became active in many local charitable and nonprofit organizations. He became more deeply involved in public service in 1966 when he was elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, on which he served until 1974. Two years later, Mr. Mello was elected to the California State Assembly. During his tenure lasting two terms, Mr. Mello was Chairman of the Committee on Aging and also an influential member of the Ways and Means Committee. In 1980, Mr. Mello was elected to the State Senate, where he served on the Senate Rules Committee and was elected Majority Whip. He retired from the California State Senate in December 1996. Some of Mr. Mello's greatest contributions have been to the environment and educational community of the Central Coast. He played an integral role in the creation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He worked to preserve open spaces and develop the agriculture industry on the Central Coast. Mr. Mello was also instrumental in the founding of the University of California, Santa Cruz. He recently donated his extensive personal papers to the Regional History Project of the university's library, which will allow others the opportunity to learn from his work. Mr. Mello's public service has improved the quality of life on the Central Coast and in the state of California. He has made great contributions to his family, friends, and neighbors, and his lifelong dedication to public service is commendable. It is a pleasure to express my appreciation of his effort and accomplishments.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and salute Ms. Gertie Cole of Watsonville, California. Ms. Cole is my constituent, and last month she was awarded one of five national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Awards for volunteer service to the community. As many of my colleagues, friends, and constituents know, community service is something that I strongly believe in, and it is with pride that I honor Ms. Cole here in the United States Congress. Ms. Cole received the Regional Jefferson Award earlier this year from the American Institute of Public Service. She and the other recipients of this award came from all over the United States to the International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. to attend the 2001 National Jefferson Awards Gala Dinner, held on June 12, 2001. Of the many regional honorees, only five were chosen to receive the Onassis Award, and I am thrilled that Ms. Cole was among them. This award is designed to recognize a few of the countless individuals across the country who are performing extraordinary public services in their local communities. Some are paid; others are volunteers; most are unrecognized. Mr. Speaker, I join with Ms. Cole's family and friends in congratulating her on this occasion. She is an example to those in her community and across the nation, and I am proud to be able to pay tribute to her here.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, this is an argument about if it is not good, just do a little bit. But if it is not good, that is like saying if we were going to drill on Capitol Hill, it is all right, because it is just a little bit. Where would you begin? Is a little bit of drilling under the Capitol okay? How about a little bit of drilling under the Library of Congress, or a little bit of drilling under the Supreme Court? Which drilling is okay? Obviously neither. Neither on the Hill, our Hill, nor in the Arctic Refuge.