Elton Gallegly

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Thank you very much, Bob. At this time I yield to the gentlelady from New York, Nan Hayworth.

Mr. GALLEGLY. One of the things that creates a challenge for us on a Special Order like this is we have so many folks that want to speak and reminisce about what a great man Ronald Reagan was and I only have so much time. So if you will be sensitive to that, I want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to recognize Ronald Reagan this afternoon that would like to. At this point, I yield to my neighbor from California and good friend, Gary Miller.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I thank the gentleman. The next gentleman I would like to introduce is Scott Tipton from the State of Colorado. I had the real honor of showing Scott and his wife, Jean, around the library just last weekend. We had a great time, and I am sure you can attest to what a great venue that is and a tribute to a great man.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina, Trey Gowdy.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I would now yield to my good friend and freshman Member from the great State of Florida, Dennis Ross, and also, I might add, a fellow member on our Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I thank the gentlelady, our leader of the minority, and fellow Californian. I now yield to Paul Gosar from the great State of Arizona.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I now yield to Diane Black, a new Member from the great State of Tennessee.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Thank you very much, Dennis. I would now yield to Larry Bucshon, a new Member from Indiana. Indiana is well represented here this afternoon for President Reagan.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I would now yield to Kevin Brady from Texas, a longtime friend and one of our best baseball players on the congressional baseball team.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I would now yield to the gentleman from Georgia, Austin Scott.

Mr. GALLEGLY. May I again inquire of the time remaining, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I would now yield to Tim Walberg, making his second tour as a Member from the great State of Michigan. Welcome back, Tim.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I would now yield to Scott DesJarlais from the great State of Tennessee, a new Member.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I would now yield to Bobby Schilling from President Reagan's home State. Illinois is very well represented today.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Now it's my distinct honor and pleasure to recognize the gentleman from Illinois. Aaron, I don't know if you were even born when Ronald Reagan was first elected, were you?

Mr. GALLEGLY. But you knew who he was, and I have heard you speak about him. It is an honor to yield to the gentleman from Illinois, Aaron Schock.

Mr. GALLEGLY. I'd just also like to recognize your tribute to Ronald Reagan the other night at the Reagan Library. It was very inspiring. And it was an honor to have you there.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. Make no mistake, this bill is an amnesty for people who are in this country illegally. This will only encourage other people to send their children across the border illegally in the hope that Congress will grant another amnesty in the future. At a time when the unemployment rate is 9.8 percent, this Congress will actually force American workers to compete for jobs with at least two million additional people. It defies common sense to argue that this will not drive up the unemployment rate and drive down wages and working conditions for legal workers. The workers granted amnesty will not just be competing for jobs, but for admissions to good colleges, housing, health care, education, and other services. It defies common sense that this bill would not have a serious, negative impact on our economy, our workforce, our schools, our hospitals, and our communities. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in tribute to Harrison Industries, which is being recognized by the Ventura County Council, Boy Scouts of America, as Ventura County's Distinguished Citizen for 2010. Harrison Industries is one of the oldest and largest privately owned trash collection businesses in the United States. It provides residential, commercial and industrial services to about 80,000 customers in Ventura, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, the surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura County and Carpinteria. In addition, Harrison-owned Gold Coast Recycling processes and markets the curbside recyclables for Santa Barbara County. E.J. Harrison and Sons was founded in 1932. E.J. died in 1991 but his wife, Myra, remains with the company as founder. Four generations of Harrison family members are involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. Myra's oldest son, Ralph, is president while her other sons, Jim and Myron, serve as vice presidents. Harrison Industries is on the forefront of the recycling movement in California. In addition, Harrison Industries opened the first liquefied natural gas fueling station in western Ventura County and converted a significant number of its diesel trucks to run on the cleaner burning LNG. Harrison Industries has won many awards in recognition of its financial support of local non-profit organizations and community cultural events. The company has been particularly generous to organizations that help children such as the Boy Scouts of America. E.J. was a Pack leader for several years and taught his sons the traditions and expectations of the Boy Scouts. E.J.'s sons continue the Harrison family tradition of supporting the Boy Scouts. Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Harrison Industries for its business leadership, community service, deep commitment to public service and for exemplifying the values found in the Scout Oath and Law, and in congratulating the Harrison family for this well-earned recognition.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 5566, which would stop the sale of animal crush videos. Nearly everyone agrees that Congress must stop the creation and distribution of animal crush videos, which graphically depict the abuse and killing of animals. In 1999, legislation I introduced to prohibit crush videos was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. This bill effectively shut down the crush video industry. Unfortunately, after the Supreme Court ruling that struck down this law as too broad, however, crush videos came back on the market. H.R. 5566 passed the House July 20, 2010, by a 416-3 vote. The Senate passed a slightly modified version in September by unanimous consent. But instead of passing the Senate version, the House passed a resolution agreeing to the Senate version but with an amendment. The House amendment would strip language that makes it a federal crime, punishable by up to seven years in jail, to attempt or conspire to create or distribute a crush video. Under current statute, it is already a federal crime to conspire to violate any federal criminal law, with punishment up to five years in jail. Given the few remaining days left in this session of Congress, I am concerned that after the House passes this legislation, the Senate will not consider this bill once again and crush videos will continue to proliferate. I look forward to working with my friends on both sides of the aisle to enact a new law to ban crush videos as soon as possible.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in tribute to Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks--a good friend to my wife, Janice, and me and a consummate law enforcement professional. Sheriff Brooks is retiring after 37 years as a sworn officer for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, including three terms as Sheriff. Bob was elected Sheriff in 1998. Under his guidance, the Department's 1,300 employees and 2,000 volunteers provide law enforcement services to 800,000 people in the unincorporated parts of Ventura County and the cities of Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Ojai, Fillmore and Moorpark. Over the years, Bob and I have worked on many projects to enhance public safety in Ventura County, including initiatives to crack down on methamphetamine labs, clear cold case DNA felonies, suppress gang activity, screen inmates for illegal immigrants, and upgrade communications for deputies in the field. Bob rose through the ranks and never forgot what deputies face on the streets and what they need to do their jobs. Sheriff Brooks earned his Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from the University of Redlands, a Master's degree in Organizational Management from Regent University and graduated from the U.S. Department of Justice's National Sheriffs' Institute, the FBI's National Executive Institute, and with distinction from the P.O.S.T. Command College. He recently received his second Master's Degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Post Graduate School. Bob is in demand as a speaker at symposiums, conferences and community organizations, and more in demand by his community. He serves on the Board of Directors for several professional, educational and charitable organizations, and is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Preparedness Task Force. He is a past president of the Ventura County Council of Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of the Executive Boards of the California State Sheriffs' Association and the Major County Sheriffs' Association. Bob is also a trustee of Life Pacific College, and has served as an instructor at California State University, Northridge; California Lutheran University and Ventura County Community Colleges. Bob has been awarded the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is an honorary Rotarian, and serves on the Board of New Hope Christian Fellowship. A Ventura County resident since 1961, he and Debbie have been married for 40 years. They have two grown sons, Jeff and Brian, and two grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join Janice and me in congratulating Bob Brooks on his retirement, in wishing him and Debbie good health in the years ahead, and in thanking him for 37 years of dedicated service.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, this is my last opportunity to address the House as a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The past 8 years have been the opportunity of a lifetime for me. I want to thank former Speaker Denny Hastert and Minority Leader John Boehner for appointing me to this critically important committee. I also want to take a minute to express my great appreciation to the most impressive staff I've ever served with, particularly Jim Lewis, our staff director. Jim is clearly a true patriot, and the service he has provided our country I will carry throughout the rest of my life. I am going to miss the committee, but I will never forget the opportunities of the last 8 years.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of Keith Richman, a physician and California legislator who died earlier this month at the too-young age of 56. Keith was a big man with big ideas who repeatedly expressed optimism in our political system. He moved to California with his family when he was a toddler and made the San Fernando Valley his home. He was an early proponent of having the Valley secede from the City of Los Angeles. In 2000, the same year he was elected to the Assembly, the Valley electorate voted to secede from Los Angeles and voted Keith as mayor of the new city. However, Los Angeles voters outside of the Valley voted overwhelmingly against the change and the measure was defeated. As the assemblyman for the 38th District, Keith initially represented parts of the north San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita, and the cities of Simi Valley and Fillmore, which are also in my congressional district. In 2002, Keith's district was redrawn and Fillmore was removed. During that term, the California Journal named Keith the legislature's Rookie of the Year. He would serve until term limits forced him out in 2006. Keith was also one of the first leaders to advocate state pension reform. Although unsuccessful in qualifying a pension reform initiative for the state ballot, he continued his passion for controlling government spending by founding the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility after he left office. As part of the drive for reform, the Foundation posted the names of thousands of six-figure pension recipients online. Keith's other passion was medicine. He followed his father Monroe into the business, had a practice in Sun Valley and founded Glendale- based Lakeside Community HealthCare, Inc. Tragically, Keith's brain tumor was diagnosed two days after he married Suzan in 2009. In addition to Suzan, Keith is survived by two daughters, Dina and Rachel; his parents, Esther and Monroe; brothers, Craig and David; and a sister, Marla Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join my wife, Janice, and me in offering our condolences to the Richman family, and in remembering a remarkable man whose life of service will live on in all those whose lives he touched.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam. Speaker, I rise in memory of Dorill Wright, a close, personal friend of my wife, Janice, and me, who passed away on Sunday. Dorill served as Mayor of Port Hueneme, California, from 1974-1990 and served as a city councilman and planning commissioner before that. He decided to run for office, he said, because if you're unhappy with government, you should do something about it. It was that same philosophy that led me to my first run for public office. A member of the Christian Church of Oxnard, Dorill and Jacquelyn, his wife of 63 years, believed in God, community and family and devoted their efforts to all three. Born and raised in Missouri, Dorill served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After college, the Navy hired Dorill and four other engineers to form a research laboratory for structures with electrical check equipment. In 1950, the staff and laboratory were transferred to the Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Center and in 1957 Dorill transferred to Point Mugu. There he served as a field and design engineer and was later named head of the technical support department. In 1965, Dorill moved his family to Port Hueneme and Dorill started his long and lasting impact on the city. He joined the Chamber of Commerce, was appointed to the city Planning Commission, was elected to the City Council in 1970, and served on the California Coastal Commission, the Oxnard-Port Hueneme Wastewater Treatment Authority and the Ventura County Association of Governments. The dedication and love Dorill gave to Port Hueneme was reciprocated when the city named the cultural center in his honor. Jacqueline passed away in 2005. Surviving Dorill are his three daughters, Valory Wright-Pietruszenko, and her husband, George; Jacquelyn Jay, and her husband, William; and Dorilan Arko, and her husband, Ron; seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join Janice and me in offering our condolences to the Wright family, and in remembering a remarkable man whose life of service will live on in all those whose lives he touched.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, this past weekend marked the 36th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces. During the war, approximately 5,000 Cypriots were killed and close to 200,000 Greek Cypriots were forcibly removed from their homes. This anniversary also marks another year in which Cyprus is divided between north and south and between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities. However, despite 36 years of division in Cyprus, I remain hopeful about reaching a just and lasting settlement. Following his election in February 2008, President Demetris Christofias followed through on his commitment to make the solution of the Cyprus problem his top priority. In September of that year, he embarked on full-fledged negotiations with Mehmet Talat, who was at the time the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. I am encouraged that these negotiations are continuing under the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. The ongoing talks aim at reaching a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem with the goal of achieving the unification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The agreement should also lead to a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality for Cyprus. The House of Representatives has voiced its strong support for comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. On October 9, 2007, the House passed House Resolution 405, which expressed its support for the immediate implementation of the U.N.-brokered July 8, 2006 agreement as the way forward to prepare for new comprehensive negotiations leading to the reunification of Cyprus within a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. In addition, the resolution called upon the United States Government to fully support the immediate implementation this agreement in its entirety. There are still many difficult issues that need to be resolved before a comprehensive agreement to the Cyprus problem can be achieved. Turkey, which continues to deploy 43,000 troops in Cyprus, is critical to reaching such an agreement. I urge Turkey to work constructively with the Cypriots in support of a negotiated settlement and the peaceful reunification of the island.