Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The purpose of H.R. 467, as amended, introduced by our colleague Congressman Simpson, is to authorize early repayment of landowner obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the A&B Irrigation District in southeastern Idaho. The A&B Irrigation District receives part of its irrigation water supply from the Bureau of Reclamation's Minidoka Project. H.R. 467, as amended, will provide administrative consistency between the landowners within the A&B Irrigation District and those within other districts served by the Minidoka Project. Mr. Speaker, this legislation simply allows landowners to pay off their financial obligations related to the Bureau of Reclamation's Minidoka project. We believe this legislation is appropriate and, in fact, may provide a slight financial benefit to the United States. In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on similar legislation. This legislation was subsequently passed by the House. We have no objection to this noncontroversial bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 467) to authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the A&B Irrigation District in the State of Idaho, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, Representative Capps is traveling back from her district in California and could not be here on the floor. She has submitted a statement which we will be submitting for the Record today.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Piedras Blancas Light Station is one of only a handful of tall, seacoast lighthouses built on the West Coast. It is located in San Luis Obispo County in Southern California. Completed in 1875, the lighthouse was manned by the Coast Guard until 1975, when it was automated. The Coast Guard transferred the lighthouse and the surrounding public land to the Bureau of Land Management in 2001. This area is not only historically significant, but it is also home to a population of gulls, cormorants and an elephant seal colony, numbering 10,000 animals. H.R. 276, sponsored by my committee colleague Representative Lois Capps, would establish the Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the existing National Landscape Conservation System. This area would be managed by the BLM to conserve the significant historical and natural resources found there. Mr. Speaker, Representative Capps has worked tirelessly on behalf of this legislation, and we commend her for her efforts. Identical legislation was approved by the House in the last Congress, and we urge our colleagues to support this measure once again. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend and include extraneous material related to this bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 276) to designate the Piedras Blancas Light Station and the surrounding public land as an Outstanding Natural Area to be administered as a part of the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The purpose of H.R. 122, as amended, introduced by our colleague, Congressman Dreier of California, is to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire regional water recycling project and in the Cucamonga Valley Water District satellite recycling plant. H.R. 122, as amended, would add approximately 100,000 acre-feet of new water annually to one of the largest recycled water distribution systems in the Santa Ana River Watershed. Some of the recycled water will be used to reclaim the groundwater basin and help drought-proof the service area. These water recycling plants will develop recycled water near where it will be used, offsetting the energy costs associated with pumping. The Subcommittee on Water and Power held hearings on similar legislation in the 108th Congress. In the 109th Congress, similar legislation was passed by the House. H.R. 122, as amended, will provide a very modest amount of Federal financial assistance to help in the construction of these worthy water recycling projects. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 122) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire regional recycling project and in the Cucamonga Valley Water District recycling project, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007. This bill should be recognized for what it is: a major advance for human rights, the right ff of a worker to associate freely and to bargain collectively. The freedom to form a union is a human right recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the internationally recognized standard of the most basic and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Article 23 of this document states: ``Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.'' This Act restores and gives substance to the right to join a union. This right is a fundamental element of a healthy and vibrant economy. Further, reinforcing this right makes this prosperity accessible to working families and their communities. Workers who belong to unions earn 30 percent more than nonunion workers. They are 62 percent more likely to have employer-provided health coverage and four times more likely to have pensions. A December 2006 research study conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that 60 million U.S. workers say they would join a union if they could. Workers know that a union job means respect on the job, and a better life for their families. Fair wages. Good benefits. Secure retirement. These are core elements necessary to build the American Dream, and this legislation is a vital step toward renewing that promise to the workers of this Nation--the men and women on the ground, in whose labor and industry we rely to make this dream a reality. The Employee Free Choice Act preserves the option for workers to choose to vote by secret ballot, and adds the option of choosing majority sign-up as their method of gaining recognition. This bill removes the de facto veto power employers currently exercise over the option of majority sign-up. The rights and prerogatives of workers will increase. The right to form a union in America was born in struggle, and has been under attack ever since. This bill ensures participatory democracy in the workplace and returns workers their rights. The power to organize is the most powerful tool available to workers. It empowers workers to have their voice heard. The working families of this Nation deserve recognition for the fruits of their labor. Through this legislation, today we empower American workers to raise their voice, to reclaim their rights, and introduce a vital measure of democracy to the American workplace.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I am here today to support the resolution. Madam Speaker, I won't spend a lot of time assessing the blame and the responsibility for the quagmire that our Nation finds itself in in Iraq, but I do find it curious during this debate that the opponents of this resolution want us to believe that the history of the Iraq war begins today, that it has no past, that it has no consequences, just a doubtful future. This head-in-the-sand attitude, while politically expedient, denies reality and truth. Rest assured that history will not be kind to the decisionmakers and the decider of this war, nor will it be kind to a Congress that looked the other way. The resolution before us today is a first tentative step toward the removal of our troops from Iraq. The escalation proposed is another desperate act opposed by the American people and former military leaders. The resolution does not demoralize our troops nor embolden the insurgents. To the contrary, this resolution offers hope to our troops that an end is in sight and that their elected representatives in this House are not passing on their authority regarding the most important issue confronting our Nation today. I personally know families whose loved ones have been lost, badly injured or profoundly intangibly affected by this war. Our commitment should be to those families and veterans who need our full measure of support. Our gratitude should be measured in real resources for veterans, and not empty platitudes and political rhetoric expounded to justify an irreparable failure in Iraq. The focus of this debate is not centered on our soldiers who are nobly doing their duty and following their orders. It is directed at those who set policy and who have produced a war without end, with no plan of success or exit, with no international strategy, who now turn to a desperate and doomed escalation that only reinforces the failure and the desperation of those policymakers. Rest assured that the civil war in Iraq will not end with the influx of more American troops. I do believe this resolution should have teeth. We must send a message that binds all of us to real action, an unflinching message of opposition to the escalation and a message of support for our troops. Today marks a step in that direction. And I wonder, how many ways can the American people tell this Congress to act to prevent more loss of our blood and treasure in the war in Iraq? Weren't the elections that just happened a strong message? Isn't the loss of confidence by the public in their elected officials a strong message? Isn't the sacrifice and valor of our men and women fighting this war deserving of the respect of this government? Don't we have a duty to those men and women to protect them, reunite them with their families immediately, and, above all, share the truth with them, that the question is no longer if we get out of Iraq, it's how and when. The answer to that question for me and many other families is, the sooner the better. I could stand here and read poll after poll that talks about the public's overwhelming opposition to this war and even more overwhelming opposition to this escalation. But as I think about it, the most important poll for those of us who serve in Congress needs to be our conscience. The resolution before us is simple and direct. It speaks in a very clear way to the frustration we all feel about this misadventure in Iraq. And I said I would not belabor the question of who to blame, but it is important to address the obvious. Remember weapons of mass destruction? None found. Remember the links between Iraq and the attack on 9/11? It didn't exist. All the misspent funds in Iraq, misappropriated dollars. That was ignored by the administration. ``Mission Accomplished.'' What a premature political hype that was. And a strategy for Iraq. It doesn't exist. Funds for education, health care, our cities and towns, investments in our people here in this country, that has all been spent in Iraq. The litany of failures and untruths goes on and on. The lack of leadership by this administration requires, no, I think it demands that this Congress assert its constitutional duty to check and balance this administration by beginning with the important step of passing this resolution.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield as much time as he may consume to my good friend from California (Mr. Baca), for remarks on H.R. 512, in which he has been a participant and a hard worker getting the legislation to this point.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I would like again to commend Congressman Xavier Becerra of California for bringing H.R. 512 before us and yield him as much time as he may consume.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 512, which was introduced by my colleague from California, Representative Becerra. The legislation directs the establishment of a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino, to be located here in Washington, D.C. The commission will be composed of 23 qualified individuals, with seven appointed by the President and the remainder appointed by the majority and minority leadership of the House and Senate. Under H.R. 512, the commission would be required to prepare a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of the museum, including recommendations for a legislative plan of action to create and construct the museum. The commission's plan would be due not later than 24 months after the date of the commission's first meeting. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 512. Given the contributions that American Latinos have made and continue to make to the cultural and social history of the United States, this is a most fitting measure. The legislation was the subject of hearings in the House last Congress, and I would note that a nearly identical measure passed the House on September 27, 2006. As the face of this Nation is represented by many people, the museum would be an opportunity for all of America to look at the diversity, to appreciate the many peoples that make up this great country of ours. And I want to take this opportunity to also commend and congratulate my colleague from California, Xavier Becerra, for his leadership on this matter. He has worked very hard with many parties to bring this legislation to fruition. Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 512 and urge the adoption of the legislation by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 512) to establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino to develop a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, DC, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I would like to yield 6 minutes to my good friend and colleague from Oregon, Congressman Wu.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, as the President gets ready to ask this Congress for an additional $145 billion to fund his efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new report has come out showing tens of millions of dollars in wasteful spending by our government in Iraq. Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction, released his quarterly report last week. It concluded that the $300 billion U.S. war and reconstruction effort is plagued with waste, spiraling violence, and corruption. Among the worst misuses are $43.8 million for a residential training camp that stands empty, about $4.2 million for 20 VIP trailers and an Olympic-sized pool that was ordered by the Iraqi ministry of interior. Perhaps the most disconcerting, however, is that our government spent $36.4 million for armored vehicles, body armor and communications equipment that could greatly benefit our troops, but it is completely unaccounted for. Mr. Speaker, this abusive spending in Iraq must stop for the American taxpayer and for the troops.