Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker: Passionate. Visionary. Bold. These are a few of the words used to describe Marisa Ugarte in a recent column in the San Diego Union-Tribune. As the executive director of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC), Marisa epitomizes all of these and more in her fervent quest to save children from pimps who pander them to pedophiles on both sides of the US-Mexico border. With more than 20 years of experience advocating for exploited men, women, children and at-risk youth, Marisa has made her vision a global crusade over the past several years. While the BSCC is best known for its fight against sex trafficking, Marisa reports there are other issues that need attention drawn to them. They include the fate of sweatshop workers and young women working as maids and housekeepers, who Marisa says serve as indentured servants, working off the enormous debts made to get them into this country. With a mission of `preserving the dignity and well-being of commercially and sexually exploited women and children through prevention, intervention and education,' Marisa's organization collaborates with about 80 government and nongovernmental agencies in Mexico and the United States that strive to reduce slavery and human trafficking. They include the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Border Patrol Victims Unit, the University of San Diego, Departamento de Integraccion Familiar (DIF), and more. The BSCC's vision is `to live in a world where there is zero tolerance for exploitation and where women and children's lives are protected and held in high esteem.' Recently, the organization received a grant from the State Department to work on both sides of the border. Marisa grew up in Mexico City and New York City. For the past three years she has created social service programs in Tijuana, Mexico. Marisa is the founder of the Binational Crisis Line in Tijuana, as well as the Domestic Violence Crisis Center for Sistema Nacional para el Desarollo Integral de la Familia (DIF), Tijuana. It was there that she became interested in advocating for those who have become victims to sex trafficking. (Marisa continues to be an advisor to DIF and to the Civil Protection and Disaster Crisis Prevention Program in Mexico.) In the US, Marisa convenes annual anti-trafficking conferences in San Diego, and is an active speaker at similar conferences nationwide and internationally on human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children. Her public speaking engagements have included: Artesana, (Successful Coalition Building), Texas; the Millennium Conference, and the International Institute (Restructuring the Justice System in Mexico). She was a presenter at the follow-up conference at the Yokohama Children's Rights Conference (for Latin America and Costa Rica) and at conferences in Mexico, San Salvador and Costa Rica. Marisa also taught at the University of California, San Diego; the University of San Diego, and the University of Xochicalco, Mexico. Congratulations, Marisa, on this Award for Community Service.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, Augustine ``Augie'' Gallego has provided decades of leadership to our community through his distinguished career in higher education. Named chancellor of the San Diego Community College District in 1990, Augie exemplified the values of lifelong learning. A leading proponent of improving diversity in education and the workplace, Augie collaborated with elementary and secondary schools, universities and employers to broaden access for all individuals. In 2002, Augie led the $685 million capital improvement campaign for the San Diego Community College District. As the bond campaign leader and chief fundraiser, Augie met with community groups, business and community leaders, giving more than 50 presentations during a three- month period. During that time, he raised a vast majority of the $600,000 needed for the ``Yes on Proposition S'' public awareness campaign and endorsements from both Democrat and Republican members of Congress, the State Legislature, San Diego City Council and the San Diego Taxpayers Association. Today, the San Diego Community College District has experienced many improvements as a result of Augie's efforts. Augie continues to initiate efforts within the Community College District and to assist other community colleges to expand international programs, exchanges and expanding curriculums to improve understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures throughout the world. He has served as the chairman of the board of directors for the International Community Foundation, a San Diego-based organization committed to fostering lasting philanthropy to benefit international communities throughout the Americas and Asia in the areas of education, community development, health, the environment and cultural endeavors. The organization recently granted awards to support projects in Mexico, China, India, EI Salvador, Ecuador and Canada. Augie has an extensive background in public service and has served on the board of directors for the San Diego Dialogue (a public policy organization based at the University of California, San Diego), the International Community Foundation, United Way of San Diego County and the Commission on Children, Youth and Families. He has clearly demonstrated dedicated, selfless and meaningful work that has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of people in our community and throughout the world. Congratulations, Augie, on this Award for Lifetime Achievement!

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to join my colleagues: the Gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Delahunt; the Gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. LoBiondo; the Gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Coble; and the Gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Taylor, to pay tribute to the U.S. Coast Guard. Let me also add a personal note to the Distinguished Gentleman from Mississippi, (Mr. Taylor) to express my deepest concerns for him and his family after the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Speaker, as the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I have the privilege of working closely with our men and women who bravely serve in the Coast Guard. Mr. Speaker, on Friday September 16th, I had the privilege of joining my subcommittee's Chairman, Mr. LoBiondo, on a tour of New Orleans and the disaster area impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Mr. LoBiondo and I came together, put aside our political differences, and focused all of our attention on the needs of the Coast Guard. Even before we toured the Gulf Coast, Mr. LoBiondo and I, along with Chairman Young and Ranking Member Oberstar, added language to the Coast Guard and Maritime Authorization Act to honor and commend the Coast Guard for their valiant work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. During our visit, we had the opportunity to listen to crew members, pilots, and other Coast Guard personnel describe to us the horrific and tragic events that happened in the days following the hurricane. Upon the announcement that a category 5 hurricane was on a path for the Gulf Coast region, the Coast Guard acted diligently to activate a plan of redeploying their forces and resources so that they could be on the ground operating as soon as the path of the storm had cleared. The Coast Guard's plan exceeded expectations, and because of their resolve to respond to the country's needs, the Coast Guard was operational and in-place allowing the very first air rescue to take place within two hours of the hurricane passing the region. The numbers speak for themselves: since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast the Coast Guard has saved or evacuated 33,500 people. One helicopter crew rescued 150 during a single shift! Mr. Speaker, with incredible resolve and expertise, the U.S. Coast Guard brought order and infrastructure to the unstable region. Because of their strategic planning, training, and leadership the Coast Guard was able to implement and carry forth a plan of action that saved lives. Before, during, and after the events of Hurricane Katrina the Coast Guard clearly showed the nation that their motto, Semper Paratus-- Always Ready, is very well-earned. In addition to exceptional performance in the Gulf Coast, the Coast Guard continues to serve our nation across the seas and borders of U.S. waters. On a daily basis, the Coast Guard is intercepting drug smugglers, monitoring illegal immigration, and rescuing hundreds lost at sea. In recent years, the Coast Guard has been charged with some very difficult tasks. Since being moved to the Department of Homeland Security, their role has grown and expanded. To date, they have met many challenges, and exceeded every expectation. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring the service men and women of the Coast Guard. They are the ones who foresaw the dangers that threaten our soil and they are the ones that responded. Let us never forget, that all of our service members, regardless of department, serve our nation bravely. They volunteer, without hesitation, and I join all Americans in gratitude for their service.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for all his expertise, his help, and his mentoring on these and other transportation issues for so long. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo) for his leadership on the subcommittee, and of course, the chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), on the full committee. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo) when he said this is a committee that is working well together. The collegiality, the input that is provided from our side is greatly appreciated, and the mutual respect is evident. So we thank the Chair of both the subcommittee and the full committee for that. Mr. Chairman, I have never been more proud of the men and women that serve in the United States Coast Guard than in recent weeks. What we have seen are valiant men and women stepping up to the plate and saving thousands of Americans from the destructive flood waters brought by Hurricane Katrina. The Coast Guard, whose motto is ``Semper Paratus,'' always ready, was prepared and ready to respond to this storm. Before levees ever broke, the Coast Guard was flying additional helicopters and extra air crews to the gulf region. Once the storm hit, their air crews and boat crews were operating 24 hours a day to save their fellow citizens. The best decision that the President has made in the past 2 weeks was to place Vice Admiral Thad Allen in charge of the emergency response to the Katrina disaster. To the Coast Guard, being prepared to respond to a disaster is not just a paper exercise to sit on a shelf when the big one hits. Being prepared is something they do every day. They develop relationships with State and local government officials. They know who in the private sector can help provide resources quickly to respond, and they make decisions quickly so they can implement an effective response. What we know to date of Katrina is that the Coast Guard has saved over 12,000 lives with their air resources and over 11,000 lives were saved by boats and other surface resources. They evacuated over 9,000 people to hospitals. When the storm passed, they remained on the scene helping to clean up the mess and protect the environment. In New Orleans, they are coordinating the cleanup of 15 significant oil spills. The Coast Guard is helping to coordinate the removal of sunken ships and barges. Mr. Chairman, the Coast Guard has responded with all of the resources at their command to this disaster. It is time for the House of Representatives to respond to the Coast Guard by ensuring they have the resources they need to carry out their missions in the coming year and to continue to help American citizens, whether it is a disaster on the scale of Katrina or in a boating accident, to which they respond thousands of times. H.R. 889 authorizes a total of $8.7 billion for the Coast Guard in the coming fiscal year. It includes $5.6 billion for operating expenses and almost $2 billion for acquisition, construction, and improvement. Funding for the Integrated Deepwater System is increased above the President's request to make sure this vital system stays on schedule. I want to thank Chairman Young and Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo for including my request for $39 million to establish an additional helicopter interdiction tactical squadron, or HITRON, on the west coast. Currently, the Coast Guard operates only one HITRON squadron out of Jacksonville, Florida. We need another on the west coast to protect the eastern Pacific Ocean and interdict vessels attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States. The east coast squadron has interdicted over $6 billion in drugs to date, and I think we can do even more on the west coast. So I thank the Chair for working on this bill so cooperatively. I thank the Coast Guard for not only responding to Katrina but for the work they do every day in all of our districts, whether it is search and rescue, cleaning up oil spills, interdicting drugs, or enforcing our fishery laws. Mr. Chairman, I hope every one of my colleagues votes for this bill.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 889, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2005, and in strong support of the U.S. Coast Guard. Mr. Speaker, I have never been more proud of the men and women that serve in the United States Coast Guard. In the past 2 weeks, these valiant men and women have shown their dedication to our Nation. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Coast Guard was the very first government entity to arrive. The Coast Guard is solely responsible for saving thousands of Americans from the destruction and flood waters brought by Hurricane Katrina. The Coast Guard, whose motto is Semper Paratus, always ready, was prepared to respond to this storm. Before levees ever broke, the Coast Guard was flying additional helicopters and extra aircrews to the Gulf region. Once the storm hit, the Coast Guard air and boat crews were operating 24 hours a day to save their fellow citizens. The best decision that the President has made in the past 2 weeks is to place Vice Admiral Thad Allen in charge of the emergency response to the Katrina disaster. To the Coast Guard, being prepared to respond to a disaster is not just a paper exercise to sit on the shelf when the big one comes. Responding to emergencies and tragedies is a part of the daily routine for the Coast Guard. By working to create relationships with State and local government officials, and those in the private sector, the Coast Guard has the resources to respond in times of crisis. To date, the Coast Guard has saved over 12,500 lives with their air resources, and in using boats or other surface transportation methods has saved over 11,500 lives. They have also evacuated over 9,400 people to hospitals. And when the storm had passed, they remained on the scene helping to cleanup the mess and protect the environment. In New Orleans, they are coordinating the cleanup of 15 significant oil spills, and helping to coordinate the removal of sunken ships and barges. Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard has responded with all of the resources at their command to the Katrina disaster. It is time for the House of Representatives to respond to the Coast Guard by ensuring they have the resources they need to carry out their missions in the coming year. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have joined with my Committee Chairman, Mr. LoBiondo, in crafting language in this bill that not only provides the appropriations and authorizations for the Coast Guard, but more importantly, gives proper recognition and gratitude for their efficient response to the Hurricane disaster. Make no mistake of it Mr. Speaker, while there was confusion and chaos, it was the Coast Guard that was there, on the ground saving lives.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, when I introduced H.R. 23, the ``Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act'' the positive response was overwhelming. Many of these Merchant Mariners have shared their harrowing, 60-year-old stories and experiences with me, and each personal account strengthens my resolve to see that these brave heroes are treated with respect by the U.S. government. In my ongoing fight to correct the injustice being done to the U.S. Merchant Marines--men who have yet to be given full benefits as World War II veterans--I would like to submit the following article from The American Legion by Dan Allsup, a freelance writer from the St. Louis area, entitled, `We Deliver the Goods': It's not that Bob Bodine wanted to avoid the World War II draft in 1943. He just didn't think being an Army infantryman sounded like a whole lot of fun. Bodine tried to join the Army Air Corps but failed the vision test. He talked to a Navy aviation recruiter, but the Navy was bringing on 17-year-olds at the time. Bodine was too old at 18. ``What else is there?'' he asked the recruiter. ``Well, there's the Merchant Marine, but they've got a hell of a casualty rate,'' the recruiter said. Bodine, now 80, recalls the conversation. ``What does a teenager care about casualty statistics? I always liked boats, so the Merchant Marine sounded pretty good to me.'' He secured a slot at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. In his second year, Bodine sailed off on a required 9-month cruise to the Mediterranean. It didn't take long for him to realize that if he was trying to avoid the draft, he could have taken an easier route. Bodine was a crewmember aboard the USS Fleming, which was hauling a dozen P-51 aircraft and a huge load of vehicle and aviation fuel to the troops. The Fleming was part of a 110-ship convoy. While it escaped the war unscathed, 50 of her sister ships were sunk by German U-boats and floating mines. Bodine is one of the more than 243,000 civilian volunteer mariners who served aboard ships that provided the greatest sealift in history. Critical to the war effort, the U.S. merchant fleet delivered troops, supplies, ammunition and equipment all over the world. It took part in every invasion from Normandy to Okinawa, often becoming sitting-duck targets for enemy submarines, mines, bombers and kamikaze pilots. Fighting was especially fierce in the Atlantic, where ``wolf packs'' of German submarines and deadly U-boats prowled the ocean destroying Merchant Marine ships in an attempt to isolate Great Britain. Closer to home, enemy submarines sank hundreds of ships off the eastern coast of the United States. In the first 6 months of 1942, German U-boats alone sank more than 400 U.S. merchant ships. Because no official history has been written of the Merchant Marine in World War II, casualty numbers vary from source to source. It is believed, however, that about 9,300 mariners were killed during the war, and more than 1,500 of their ships were sunk. Fortunately, because most Merchant Marine ships traveled in convoys, many of the mariners aboard wounded vessels were fished from the sea by nearby ships. About 600 mariners were prisoners of war and another 11,000 were injured. Susan Clark, public-affairs officer for the U.S, Maritime Administration--the Federal agency most involved with the Merchant Marine--said that other than the U.S. Marines, mariners had a higher death rate than any other branch of the service during the war. (Some mariners may take exception to that statistic. A web site for Merchant Marine veterans says their death rate was 1 in 26 and the Marine Corps was 1 in 34.) President Franklin Roosevelt summed up the war contributions of the U.S. Merchant Marine: ``The (mariners) have written one of its most brilliant chapters. They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and most dangerous job ever taken.'' Despite their losses and their importance to the war effort, surviving mariners weren't met with parades and flags when they returned home. They weren't considered veterans. They couldn't take advantage of the GI Bill, small business loans or medical care for disabilities. Officially, they were civilians. If they were lucky, they received a thank you letter and a lapel pin from the President. After years of fighting the system and a long court battle, some World War II mariners finally received limited veteran status on Jan. 19, 1988. Sixty years after he last hung up his Merchant Marine uniform, Bodine and many of his Academy classmates still can't believe they weren't considered members of the U.S. Armed Forces during the war. ``I didn't know otherwise until I realized that I wasn't eligible for the GI Bill or any other veterans benefits,'' he said. Although some bitterness about the lack of recognition remains, the Merchant Marine sails on today. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, 29 Merchant Marine Academy students operated a fleet of boats into New York Harbor, transporting firefighters and other emergency workers, along with food and medical supplies. Today, more than 8,000 mariners serve in the Military Sealift Command, most of them working in support of the Iraqi war. An average vessel moves the equivalent of about 300 C-17 cargo aircraft, freeing up aircraft for other critical missions. From the Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. Merchant Marine has delivered the goods.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 464, on H. Res. 427, I was in route to my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today I acknowledge a great friend of labor, Art Cantu-- named the 2005 Labor Leader of the Year. Art is currently the Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Executive Officer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 36, which represents Building Material, Construction, Industrial, Professional and Technical Employees. Art is a native San Diegan and graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1975. Art also attended San Diego City College where he completed the Business and Labor Studies Program. Art began his career working at Nabisco Company for Teamsters Local 316 in Syracuse, New York in May of 1976. In December 1977, he transferred to Local 36 and began driving for Oberg Construction and later at Bechtel Power Corporation at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and then moved to Hubbard Construction Company. In January 1990, Art began working at Teamsters Local 36 as an Organizer and Business Agent, and in May of 1995 was elected as the Recording Secretary on the Executive Board of Teamsters Local 36. In August of 2000, Art was appointed Secretary-Treasurer. He has since been re- elected twice. Art serves as co-chair for San Diego County Teamsters Construction Trust for Health and Welfare, Pension, Vacation and Training Trusts, as well as Alternate Trustee of the San Diego County Teamsters Employers- Insurance Trust Fund. Art currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the Industrial Relations Research Association (IRRA), and the Executive Board of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council as well as being the Treasurer and Executive Board member of The San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council. His newest position is with the San Diego County Chamber of Commerce Transportation Sub-committee. Art also serves as the Recording Secretary of the California Teamsters Hispanic Caucus and the Executive Director of the National Teamsters Hispanic Caucus. Art is extremely proud of organizing the Annual Teamsters Hispanic Golf Tournament held at Torrey Pines every year. The event has raised over $300,000 in scholarships for the sons and daughters of Teamsters. Since 2000, Art and Kris Hartnett have co- chaired the John S. Lyons Memorial Banquet which has raised over $1.2 million. Art currently resides in Carmel Mountain Ranch in San Diego. Art has 2 sons, Art Jr., 26, and Wesley, 24. Art Jr. currently works in Seattle, Washington and is a software engineer for Marchex Corporation. Wes works for the City of Santa Monica in the Engineering Department. Art's proudest moment was seeing Art Jr. graduate from Berkeley and Stanford and Wes from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Art enjoys golf, tennis and traveling. I am proud to salute Art Cantu--Labor Leader of the Year.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 463, on H. Res. 428, I was in route to my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 461, on H.R. 3669, I was in route to my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, by the time Bea began her career in 1984 with the AFL-CIO Community Services Department with United Way of San Diego County, she had already learned that families have special needs due to unexpected events and circumstances. Those things she learned while she was a member of UFIWU and Seafarers International. Addressing those special needs gave her an advantage when chairing the Federal Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, Catholic Charities' SDG&E Utilities Program, and working in cooperation with the San Diego Food Bank. Under her leadership, the Adopt a Family Program and the Toy & Holiday Food Drive were developed and still continue to be a success. Bea Avina has always been dedicated to bringing her fellow brothers and sisters social and economic justice. She is a prime example of a person who always puts her neighbor's needs first. Since retiring in December 2003, Bea has not sat idle. She currently volunteers approximately four to six days a month as a Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP) for the San Diego Police Department and remains energetic in church and family activities. I am proud to salute Bea Avina on her recognition as the Johns Retiree of the Year.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today I acknowledge a great friend of labor--Macario Colmenero. ``Mac'' was born just south of downtown San Diego in Barrio Logan, formerly known as Logan Heights, to Ben and Guadalupe Colmenero. As a child, he helped out in his father's meat and grocery store at the corner of National and Sigsbee Streets. He also sold newspapers for the Tribune Sun and later delivered other newspapers in town. Mac attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School and was a graduate of their first class in June of 1950. He attended high school at Saint Augustine but left before graduating to join the Navy in 1952. After his tour of duty, he found a job at Harbor Box Company which manufactured wooden boxes and crates for tomatoes grown in Chula Vista. His starting wage was a $1.25 an hour with no benefits. In 1956, he worked for T. Claude Ryan and Rohr Aircraft Co. In 1957, he enrolled in the Cement Finisher Apprenticeship Program with Cement Masons Local #744 at the old Craftsmen Hall on Centre Street. Construction work was slow in San Diego, so he went to work for a Custom Auto repair shop for a short time. In August 1959, Mac went to work for Benton Roofing Co. as a roofer loader, then as a roofer for Veteran's Roof Co. He then advanced to journeyman, foreman and superintendent with Witherow Roofing Co. In 1978, he was elected as a delegate to the Roofers International Convention in Miami. In December of that year, he was elected to the office of Business Agent of Roofers Local #45 where he served also as the Apprentice Coordinator and Secretary of the JATC. He held this office for three terms, a total of nine years. In 1986, due to the finances of the local, the position of business agent was eliminated and he was voted in as president, a non-paying position. In 1987, he obtained a C-39 Roofing Contractor's license and signed an agreement with Local #45. In 1993, he was unanimously voted to the office of Business Manager, where he also serves as the Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Agent, Organizer, Apprentice Coordinator, Chairman of the Apprenticeship JATC, and Apprentice classroom instructor. Mac also serves as a trustee to the Roofers Trust and is one of the directors at the National City Parks Apartments. Mac re-joined the ``Johns'' in 1993 and plans to be a lifetime member. After serving 12 years in Roofers Local #45 as Business Manager, Mac plans to retire in December of this year, but will continue to assist with the Apprenticeship Program. Mac has been married to his wife Karen for 31 years and they have lived in North Park since 1974. I am proud to salute Mac Colmenero on his recognition with the Johns Fellowship Award!

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 462, on H.R. 3668, I was in route to my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act with Congressman Bennie Thompson. As a former ``Freedom Rider'' in Mississippi during the 1960s, I have seen first hand the need for this bill. While most are familiar with the recent prosecution of Edgar Ray Killen his participation in the slayings of Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, there are many other cases that aren't as well known or remain unsolved, like Emmett Till. These cases need to be investigated. We as a Congress have a moral obligation to bring justice to the families of these victims. Furthermore, as a society based on laws, we have a responsibility to ensure that criminals don't go unpunished. This bill creates a special section within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to focus specifically on unsolved pre-1970 Civil Rights' homicides. In addition, the bill authorizes up to $5 million annually for this new section, which will provide States assistance with prosecuting Civil Rights era cases that have grown cold over time. Unlike many other endeavors that have come before this House to address past racial injustice, this bill goes beyond mere rhetoric and ``lip service'' and provides an avenue to actually address Civil Rights' crimes. Our country has come a long way since the 1960s. For example, seven states, since 1989, have reexamined 29 killings from the Civil Rights era, leading to 27 arrests and 22 convictions. However, as most are aware, there are still many unsolved homicides from that time period. And, while we can't go back in time, we can acknowledge our past transgressions and do our best to work towards correcting them. ``Justice delayed'' is better than ``Justice denied''!

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, the Republic Leadership has insisted on bringing the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) before the House tonight. CAFTA tacitly endorses labor and environmental conditions in Central America that would be illegal in the U.S. CAFTA allows goods produced under these conditions to unfairly compete with the Imperial County sugar growers, of my district. If we pass this agreement, American farmers and ranchers that comply with U.S. environmental and labor standards will be at a grave disadvantage in the global economy. My district which encompasses the border of California and Mexico, has felt the negative impact from the failure of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). My district has seen NAFTA's promises broken, translating free trade into poverty; increasing social inequality; and creating severe environmental degradation. The current CAFTA proposal would expand on NAFTA's failures, and send the wrong message: labor and environmental standards are not as important as producing cheap goods under horrible labor conditions. At the minimum CAFTA should call for basic labor standards including child labor protections, and environmental standards. Make no mistake about it, CAFTA is not about national security, it's about the exploitation of cheap labor!

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding me this time and for his leadership on behalf of our Nation's veterans, leadership which has sorely been lacking in this House. This administration and this Congress has insulted our veterans community repeatedly in the last few months, insults which I hope we will remedy with today's motion. The head of the Office of Management and Budget actually had the nerve to testify before the Committee on the Budget that over the last 3 years the Veterans Administration had received $.5 billion more than it actually needed, more than it actually needed, when we have waiting lists which the gentleman outlined, when we have nursing and medical vacancies, when we have maintenance backlogs, when we have people waiting a year for an appointment for a dentist, and months and months for surgeries that are needed. OMB told the veterans that we have more than what was needed! Then the Secretary of our Veterans Administration testified before committees of this Congress that we got it wrong because we had a bad mathematical model. We had a mathematical model that did not take into account the fact that there was a war going on and thousands of troops were coming back with significant injuries and with post-traumatic stress disorder. We did not know a war was going on, so we underfunded the VA. That is an insult to our Nation's veterans, that we did not know a war was going on, and we did not provide the money. Many are suffering today as a result of that decision. And, Mr. Speaker, when we had a chance to help the veterans before our last recess, the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs said, we can only give $975 million, that that was the right number, while the Senate did $1.5 billion, which we are now instructing our House to accept today. We could have had this money flowing to our veterans' centers weeks ago. This could have been signed by the President several weeks ago, yet in my hometown of San Diego, we have 1,000 people on a waiting list just to have their first appointment. We have maintenance backlogs and nursing shortages, and we cannot get them the money because we did not have the right numbers, said the veterans chairman. Well, we had the right number all along, my colleagues. The Independent Budget, a professional document prepared by our veterans' service organizations, had the numbers exactly right. The mathematical model could have been tested against this, and we could have had the proper support for our Nation's veterans. So everybody who talked about our Nation's veterans when we had Memorial Day, when we had our July 4th celebrations, and we will hear it on November 11th as we have heard today, that we all support our veterans. Well, let us show it by the proper votes! The Democrats in this Congress have tried at every level, on the Committee on the Budget, on the Committee on Appropriations, in the Senate, in the House, and we tried on the floor of this House to give the Independent Budget numbers the force of law, but we were voted down on pure party-line votes. So I hear that everybody supports our veterans, but when the votes come, the majority party is not supporting our Nation's veterans. Let us pass this instruction motion. Let us honor our veterans and give the veterans the support they need, especially when they come home from war.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I, too, rise to speak about improvements in insurance for veterans and their families. This bill, H.R. 3200, will permanently, as we have heard, increase the amount of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance from $250,000 to $400,000 if a servicemember is killed in the line of duty. It would also provide the same permanent increase in the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program. These changes, of course, make the insurance more in line with today's economy, and we all should support the passage of H.R. 3200. But I think there are other changes beyond what is in this bill that we also should take before this Congress ends. These changes would, first of all, affect the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, the SDVI program. When this insurance program began in 1951, the premiums were based on a 1940 mortality rate. Current standard life insurance policies have premiums based on a 2001 mortality rate, except for this program, which still charges premiums based on a table that is 60 years out of date, which results in higher premiums. The Independent Budget, that document prepared and endorsed by many veterans service organizations, has recommended that the mortality table be updated. I have introduced a bill, H.R. 2747, the Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act, that would make this important change and decrease this premium payment for disabled veterans. A second part of my bill affects the mortgage life insurance for severely disabled veterans. Currently this insurance covers only about 55 percent of outstanding mortgage balances. We know how the cost of housing has skyrocketed in most areas of our Nation. In May of 2001, an evaluation by the Department of Veterans Affairs recommended increased coverage. And my bill, H.R. 2747, implements these recommendations by increasing the maximum which would be expected to cover 94 percent of mortgage balances. Finally, military families are currently provided with $10,000 of life insurance for each child when the servicemember is covered by the program. Some military families have been denied this benefit because their child was stillborn. My bill, H.R. 2747, would extend the $10,000 benefit to those families to help pay for funeral and burial expenses. I note that the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has taken up this issue in their June 23 hearing. Let us begin to update and fix the insurance for our servicemembers and our veterans by passing the bill before us, H.R. 3200. But I also encourage my colleagues to cosponsor and support my insurance bill, H.R. 2747, which expands what we are doing here today to additional insurance provisions and programs to support all of our Nation's veterans.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my friend from North Carolina for managing this bill. We refer to him as the maitre d' of marinas in the House, so I thank the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, there are 12,000 marinas in the United States providing safe harbor for millions of recreational vessels that operate on the lakes and navigable waters of the United States. This includes boat yards, yacht clubs, and public and private moorings across our country. Marinas in the United States provide employment for more than 140,000 of our citizens. But perhaps most importantly, marinas provide a means for millions of Americans to relax and enjoy themselves boating. National Marina Day is a time to celebrate the history of marinas and boating and to look to the future of this vibrant industry. National Marina Day activities across the United States will include environmental demonstrations, youth center events, fishing rodeos, boating safety demonstrations, and marina open houses. This day is going to be celebrated from Maine to Florida; from Maryland to my hometown of San Diego, California. Marina owners are working closely, also, with the United States Coast Guard to step up vigilance at their facilities to improve security on our waterways. This includes being on the watch for any suspicious activities; attempts to gain access to vehicles without proper identification; looking out for any fixtures attached to structures; keeping an eye out for unusual diving operations; and watching out for vehicles and vessels in unusual locations. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting and appropriate for the House of Representatives to recognize the ongoing contribution of marina operators in the United States to our economy, our security, our environment, and most of all for providing us with a way of enjoying a day on the beautiful waterways of the United States. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting H. Res. 308 which recognizes our support for the goals of National Marina Day on August 13, 2005.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) for her leadership and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar). I also want to thank the staff on both sides, but the staff on our side has kept us well informed of the progress of the bill, worked with us on the projects that we needed; and I greatly appreciate the work that they have all done on this. I support the underlying bill. I am looking forward to the manager's amendment from the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). Many of us throughout the Nation have projects in here. I just want to stress a couple that are important to my own constituents in Imperial and San Diego counties in California. The New River in my district starts in Mexico, flows into the Salton Sea, one of the biggest bodies of water in the United States which I share with the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono). This river, the New River, has been described as the world's most polluted river. Due to grossly inadequate sewage treatment and solid waste facilities in Mexico, raw sewage, industrial waste, and garbage, up to 50 million gallons a day, are constantly released into the New River. It violates every water quality standard we have. Plants and animals cannot survive in the New River, and it threatens the health and safety of the residents of my district. It also runs through the Imperial County farmlands that supply many of our Nation's winter crops. By supplying the funds to treat and clean up this river in this bill, we are assuring the health and well-being of the food that we feed to the children of our Nation. The New River also runs through the city of Brawley, California, which has its own water quality problems. The city's proximity to the United States-Mexico border makes both their air and water vulnerable to pollution that comes up from Mexico. This legislation will provide funds to the Brawley area to improve the conditions in their water. Finally, WRDA provides the appropriate funding level to San Diego County for the removal of non-native exotic species from the drinking water in the Sweetwater Reservoir. My constituents, like everyone throughout the country, deserve clean water. This legislation provides them with the resources to make this a reality. As our speakers have said, this is a bipartisan, well-written bill which will not only help in creating jobs across the Nation, but will help provide safe and clean water for our future. So please join me in supporting this bill and the manager's amendment. We are truly voting to ensure America's future.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, this morning in ``CQ Today'' we see: ``Shortfall in Veterans Funds Widened.'' The chairman of our committee says, well, we have to find the right number somewhere; we have to find the right number. Well, I tell you, we had a process where we had the right number. The veterans service organizations through this Independent Budget said exactly what was needed and what we should have both for this year and for the coming year. But did we listen to them? No. The Democrats on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Democrats on this floor tried to amend the appropriations bills so we would get the money that veterans need. They were voted down by a strict party-line vote: all the Democrats voting for the veterans, all the Republicans voting against. We are at war, Mr. Speaker. The way that we win a war is to make sure that the troops when they come home have sufficient funding for health care. I have a thousand veterans on the waiting list at my veterans hospital in San Diego. The brave young men and women who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will have a high probability of having post- traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. Will they get the treatment they need? No. Will they have to wait a year for a dental appointment? Yes. Let us support our troops by supporting them when they come home with proper VA health care funding.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time and for her leadership on veterans' issues. I too rise in support of H.R. 1220, the Veterans' Compensation Cost- of-Living Adjustment Act, and I would just like to speak briefly about two provisions in it. This bill will, in December, provide a cost-of-living adjustment to the disability compensation received by our Nation's veterans, and to compensation received by their widows. A transitional benefit to widows with minor children, who will receive an extra $250 per month for 2 years, is specifically included in this cost-of-living increase. The compensation that veterans and their widows receive does not adequately compensate them for their losses, but we hope it will ease their burden and let them know our Nation is grateful. It is important this compensation keep abreast of the rising cost of living. Another provision of the bill establishes, subject to appropriations, a Parkinson's Disease Research Educational and Clinical Center in six VA health care facilities, with appropriate geographical distribution of these centers. These centers would cooperate with an accredited medical school, one that provides education and training in neurology and attracts the participation of scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in their research efforts. The centers would provide the opportunity for VA clinicians to more fully understand Parkinson's Disease and collaborate on innovative treatments. The findings would be shared with facilities without research centers in order to ensure access to state-of-the-art information through our VA health care system. I am especially supportive of the provision which would advance our knowledge of Parkinson's Disease and would provide new treatments to those who are suffering. So let us support H.R. 1220, but let us not get too self- congratulatory about this bill. It is a necessary bill. It is already provided for in the appropriations process, but the amount of money we are talking about in this bill is very, very small compared to the shortfall in the health care budget of the VA that we have been informed about by our new Secretary of VA. Mr. Speaker, we are being irresponsible by not approving an adequate health care budget for our veterans. While today we approve the Disability Compensation COLA, we are still leaving our veterans health care short by billions of dollars, both in this year's and next year's budget. And for those who say, well, we did not know about it, or it was a bad mathematical model that was used, these are rather ridiculous statements. The Independent Budget, which has been formulated by our veterans' service organizations in a very professional, a very detailed way, forecast the exact amount that we would need in the health care budget. While the chairman of our committee is going around searching for a right number, the number was right here in the independent budget. And, in fact, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats in this House tried to get this budget number into our budget. But were we allowed to? No, we were not allowed to vote on it in our committee. We were not allowed to vote on it on the floor. There were attempts to do that by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley). I had an amendment on the floor to put the required money in the budget that we were lacking for our veterans, and I was ruled out of order. Out of order to help our veterans? I will tell you what was out of order, and that was the process that the majority party set up. Mr. Speaker, I have a thousand veterans in San Diego, California, who are on a waiting list to get into the VA health system. Does that sound like we were adequately funding our health care? We will have thousands of returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, many with PTSD, post- traumatic stress disorder, who will not be able to get the required counseling at our VA centers. They will have to wait a year for a dental appointment. Is this supporting our troops? Is this showing how much we care about them? Mr. Speaker, the way to show that we support our troops is to treat them well when they return home. We already have unsettling reports of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have reports of veterans who suffer from PTSD probably, who are committing domestic violence, who have not gotten help from the VA and who may be on the streets already. We know what happens to the troops when they do not get the proper help. Half of the homeless on the streets today are Vietnam vets. That is a tragedy, that is a disgrace, and an incredible immoral act that we have allowed this country to commit, to put our veterans on the streets. But the same thing is going to happen again. The same thing is going to happen again if we do not adequately fund this budget. This House voted a week ago to put $900 million into this year's budget. The Senate appropriated 1.5 billion. And the Veteran's Committee chairman said, oh, I do not know how they got their number. Well, that is the right number. We should vote for the Senate number. We can get this passed for veterans immediately, and then we can fix the 2006 budget in our regular appropriations process. Mr. Speaker, when the President says support our troops, support our troops, support our troops, and then does not provide the adequate funding when those troops come home, we are not doing the job that we should be doing to thank the veterans for their service. It is time to adequately fund the health care budget. It is time to listen to the Independent Budget. It is time for the chairman to listen to those who have been saying this for years. It is time to show proper respect for the veterans who have given us our freedom today.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 363, on H. Con. Res. 168, I was in my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 364, on H. Res. 333, I was in my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''