Jane Harman

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Administration's decision to withhold funds already appropriated for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Last year, after extensive negotiations between Congress and the Bush Administration, Congress passed and the President signed the FY02 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, including $34 million for UNFPA. The decision to withhold funding from this vital program was founded on the mistaken belief that UNFPA supported forced abortion in China. This decision is part of a disturbing trend of anti-choice opposition within the Administration to any type of family planning funding. This funding is vital to women's health and vital to sustainable international development, and the President should reverse this decision immediately. I would like to remind my colleagues that since 1973 no U.S. dollars have been used to pay for the performance of an abortion as a method of family planning or for involuntary sterilizations overseas--none. Turning UNFPA funding into a debate about abortion does a disservice to the millions of women throughout the world who do not have access to the health care and reproductive services, education and treatment that is available to women in this country. The World Health Organization estimates that close to 600,000 women die each year of causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. Three hundred fifty million women in developing countries don't have access to safe and effective family planning methods. More than 600,000 infants become infected with HIV each year worldwide. These statistics are appalling. How can we possibly claim to be working to prevent the spread of HIV if we do not offer counsel and education in family planning? UNFPA is the largest international source of population assistance to developing countries, often working in countries where few others go, such as Vietnam. UNFPA does not fund abortion in China and its program there is rigorously monitored to ensure that it does not support coercion in any form. We cannot allow yet another issue to get caught up in abortion politics. We have the chance to really make a difference for millions of women worldwide. Let's give women the opportunity to make informed and educated decisions about their reproductive health. Mr. President, reverse the decision to withhold UNFPA funds.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. I thank my friend for yielding me this time and stand here as the rookie member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce with some trepidation because I am opposing a bill supported by my chairman and ranking member. Nonetheless, I believe the bill before us effectively unravels the careful balance Congress struck with the enactment of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and in doing so fails to promote consumer access to high-speed Internet services. The 1996 Telecom Act was the product of extensive debate on the House floor and the adoption of carefully crafted amendments. I was there, and Congress distinguished itself. Today, we are being asked to overturn several critical components of that carefully crafted agreement; and, if we do, I fear that we will only retard achieving the goal of promoting broadband access. What is preventing broadband access is not the lack of broadband services. Satellite broadband is universally available. About half of all households that have a telephone could have broadband and about 70 percent of all cable subscribers could sign up for broadband if they wanted it. Consumers do not subscribe because they do not see the high- value content that they are willing to pay for. Content is not available in large part because the producers and owners of that content and the manufacturers of the products used to watch and transmit that content have not come to agreement about how best to protect its intellectual property value. Building that demand for broadband should be our focus, not reducing competition. The bill before us eliminates competition by removing the requirement enacted in the 1996 Act that Bell operating companies open their facilities to CLECs and other providers. This is not the way to build access to broadband. It is reinstating monopoly conditions, not promoting competition. I urge support for Cannon-Conyers and, absent its passage, defeat for H.R. 1542.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, with great pride I rise to praise the work and women of Hadassah on their 90th Anniversary. Hadassah has been in the forefront of support for women's rights, women's health, and Israel for almost a century, and its impact can be seen in countless ways. In Israel, Hadassah's hospitals and clinics provide the best medical care in the region to all those who need it. They treat patients without regard to race or religion, from the victims of the worst terrorist attacks in the region to individuals from across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Here in the United States, Hadassah's work in Los Angeles and across the Nation strengthens our community and our ties to Israel. Hadassah works to ensure access to medical care, prevent genetic discrimination, ensure women's reproductive rights and battle domestic violence. Its education and advocacy campaigns have brought people together in support of issues of vital importance to Jewish women around the world. Hadassah was founded, as the story goes, on Purim 90 years ago. It took its name from the Hebrew word for Esther, who thwarted a plot to kill all the Jews in Persia. Hadassah has thwarted efforts to harm the needs and interests of the Jewish community ever since, and has reached out to all in need. Congratulations to Hadassah, and thank you.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Chairman, for ten years, I have supported every meaningful bill on campaign finance reform. Today, the House has a chance to make history by passing a bill that can become law. Many say this bill does not go far enough--and they are right. But it is a bill the Senate has passed--and passing it today avoids a conference, which could well become a graveyard. I say, let's take this important step. I have experienced the impact of soft money ads designed to distort my record. Approximately $4 million worth of these ads targeted me in the 2000 election cycle. This practice drives good people out of politics and discourages voters. Indeed, the whole point is to depress voting. I say enough. Shays-Meehan can pass today. The time has come.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, we have seen this movie before. Federal budget deficits as far as the eye can see; ``constraints'' on Federal spending as realistic as pie in the sky; heavy borrowing from Social Security and Medicare trust funds to pay for day-to-day spending. In the early nineties, this behavior by the Federal Government retarded economic growth. The annual Federal deficit was $300 billion a year; post-Cold War defense spending cuts sent unemployment in my congressional district into double digits; long-term interest rates stayed high, putting business borrowing and home mortgages out of reach. Only after a series of hard-fought battles and the enactment of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 did budget surpluses begin to emerge and to spur economic growth and millions of jobs. With the release of Monday's budget, Mr. Speaker, it may be ``deja vu all over again.'' Mr. Speaker, we need a wartime budget which recognizes that defense and homeland security are our top priorities, protects Social Security, and puts everything else, spending and future tax cuts, back on the table. We need to return to a balanced budget. Homeland security, Mr. Speaker, must also mean economic security.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of a true leader of the city of Torrance and dear friend. I met Jim Armstrong when I first ran for Congress. As a teacher of government and former mayor, he shared with me his great insight into the community. Indeed, in the years since, I came to value him as an advisor and friend. He helped me in every campaign and served as a member of my advisory committee on public education. He called himself a ``Harman man,'' and I was clearly an ``Armstrong woman.'' It is hard to do justice to the true extent of Jim's reputation, influence, and impact. As teacher, councilman, mayor, and citizen, he exemplified the highest standard of community leadership and public service. During his six years on the Torrance City Council and eight more as Mayor, Jim fought for more parkland, for the Cultural Arts Center, for a new police station, and oversaw Torrance's renaissance into a beautiful and modern city. Even in retirement, Jim remained an active leader in the community, serving in leadership roles in the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, Torrance Education Foundation, and Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce. While Jim's work can be seen in buildings and parks across Torrance, his true legacy lies in the generation of students he inspired as a teacher. Countless students he taught have since pursued careers in which they too serve the community. I am proud to count myself among his students of politics, and am proud to be a part of establishing a college scholarship in Jim Armstrong's honor. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who exemplifies Jim's outstanding community leadership and scholastic aptitude. No one was more committed to Torrance, to service, or to education than Jim Armstrong. I will miss his counsel, his sense of humor, and his generosity, but mostly, my family and I will miss Jim.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, with my colleague Nancy Pelosi, I am pleased to introduce legislation today to strengthen our nation's commitment to preventing teen pregnancy. The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Nearly four in 10 young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20-- one million a year. This is a problem that has a devastating impact on California as a whole (which has the second worst teen pregnancy rate in the nation) and Hispanic teenagers in particular, who have the highest rates of teen pregnancy of any ethnic group. The cost to the United States in health care and education alone is at least $7 billion annually, and the human cost in dreams deferred and children with limited opportunities is immeasurable. Reducing unwanted pregnancies also reduces the number of abortions. We must act now to build on the success of existing programs that have helped reduce teen pregnancy rates nationwide so that we may ensure young women and men have the information and confidence they need to make wise choices about their sexual behavior. The approach of our legislation is very straightforward: fund programs that work. Over the past decade, a wide variety of teen pregnancy prevention programs have shown dramatic results in delaying teenagers' sexual activity, promoting the safe use of contraceptives, and reducing teen pregnancy. These programs don't fit a particular model: some provide comprehensive sex and HIV education, some provide information on and access to contraception, some provide economic or service opportunities to youth. Some use media campaigns, some intervention and counseling, and some youth development programs. Successful education programs do, however, all share a common feature: they deliver the message that abstaining from sexual activity is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent teen pregnancy, but recognizing that teens will not always abstain from sex, also provide accurate information on contraception and other means to prevent pregnancy. The grant program authorized by the bill we introduce today targets new funding at high-risk communities and groups, and allows a wide range of organizations--from local coalitions to State agencies--to apply for funds. This bill represents an effective and proven way to move forward on teen pregnancy prevention. The program will fund diverse teen pregnancy prevention programs, so long as they are based on methods and programs that work. This legislation is a win-win deal for teens, their families, and their communities across the nation, and I urge all of my colleague to support it.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend, Mary Lou Weiss, who retires this month from the Hermosa Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees, on which she has served as Trustee for 16 years, including 6 tours as President. In her capacity as a School Board Trustee, Mary Lou has been a strong advocate for Hermosa Beach children, helping to ensure they receive the best educational opportunities. Because of her knowledge and expertise, I asked her to serve on my Education Advisory Committee. A long time resident of Hermosa Beach, Mary Lou has contributed to the community in so many other ways as well. She has served as an advisory member for the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce, coached AYSO boys soccer, and served on the advisory board for the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. For her active contributions, she was named 1989 Hermosa Beach Woman of the Year. Of special interest, she has managed several local farmers' markets, making sure the vendors get the space they need and that the markets run smoothly. I have taken advantage of these markets many times-- during my campaigns, the farmers' markets have always been a great way to reach a lot of people, and as a member of Congress, my staff and I often bring our office resources to the community by setting up our own booth. Mary Lou not only accommodates these important visits for me, but she is always thoughtful enough to provide flowers and to remember that I like Diet Coke. Mary Lou also is a tremendous resource to my staff, always available to answer questions about policy, politics, or which vendor has the best produce. My staff members over the years consider Mary Lou as an additional ``mother.'' This year, Mary Lou chose not to run for another term as a School Board Trustee in order to apply her years of experience to a run for Hermosa Beach City Council. Although she was not successful in this endeavor, she once again demonstrated her leadership and commitment to the community through the classy way she ran her campaign, I will miss Mary Lou on the School Board, but I know we will continue to work together to ensure that we do the best we can for the children of our community. I join the citizens of Hermosa Beach in wishing Mary Lou and her family well in their future endeavors.]

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and also say that though I support this legislation, I very much respect his views and his leadership on competition issues. Mr. Speaker, I want to alert this body that one of the principal sponsors of this legislation, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), is on her way in from the airport. Sadly, she may miss this debate. I stand here to salute her leadership on this issue, along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood), and to say that even if she does miss this debate, she will not miss the fact that through her contribution, we today will overwhelmingly, I predict, pass this legislation. Notwithstanding the importance of competition, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is about harnessing the promise of the most advanced pharmaceuticals for the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. Dr. Jay Lieberman, a pediatric disease specialist from my district, has told me that literally every day he sees children with serious, sometimes life-threatening infections on whom he must use the antibiotics and other drugs that have not been tested to determine how safe they are for kids. We must do all we can to end this lack of knowledge, and the extension of patent exclusivity for companies that test their pharmaceuticals for children is the proven way to help kids. Over the past 4 years, pharmaceutical companies have dramatically increased the number of pediatric trials for new prescription drugs. More products are being labeled with proper dosage for children and potentially harmful interactions, and more companies are conducting research into special drug formulations for children. What we are doing today, Mr. Speaker, is not enacting a new law; we are renewing good law that has brought about better treatments for children. We also clarify that drug companies cannot draw more than 6 months exclusivity for conducting pediatric trials. We must do all we can to improve the safety of pharmaceuticals for kids. This bill is the narrowest way to do this, consistent with protecting competition and consistent with assuring that drug companies already doing this work will continue to do it. I want to salute the bipartisan sponsorship of the bill, our chairman, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) who is standing here and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood), and to say that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), were she here, would be saying the same things. I thank the chairman for his leadership. I urge passage of this bill.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend, Mel Nichols, who retires later this month after eight years as Chief of the Redondo Beach Police Department. My district office is located in Redondo Beach, and Mel and his department have kept my staff and local residents well protected. I met Mel as he was leaving the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, where over three decades he rose from Sergeant to Assistant Sheriff. Mel accompanied me on a visit to the Mexican border, where we observed the value of technology in the fight against illegal immigration. I was pleased, subsequently, to help obtain night vision goggles for Mel's department. Mr. Speaker, of particular value to me has been Mel's involvement in the South Bay Chiefs' Association, of which he served as Chairman from 1996-1998. This organization encompasses nine South Bay cities most of which lie completely in my district, California's 36th Congressional District. Although no longer the Chairman, Mel continues to be heavily involved in this association, which has been a helpful outlet for me to communicate with the chiefs in my district. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Mel took it upon himself to launch within the South Bay Chiefs Association a Terrorism Response Advisory Group, and tasked one of his staff to pull it together. This Advisory Group, comprised of select experts in a variety of law enforcement disciplines from agencies throughout the greater South Bay area, is already working to explore and identify the appropriate local law enforcement response to the possibility of increased terrorist activity in our region. This includes training, contingency planning, threat assessments, liaison with federal and military agencies, resource availability, and intelligence. Mr. Speaker, this could not be more important. The group hopes that its findings and recommendations will become a model for other regions across the nation in how our local law enforcement agencies can best work in concert with county, state and federal agencies. This vitally important advisory group will be Mel's legacy. I know Mel will not forget this community that he loves, and I wish him and his family well in their future endeavors.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, Today my colleague Zoe Lofgren and I are introducing legislation to authorize the President to use military tribunals to try foreign terrorists captured abroad. Today's Washington Post details the likelihood that up to 10,000 Taliban fighters and others could be detained in Afghanistan as a conclusion to the military campaign there. The Administration's intention is to interview those who could provide information, and to prosecute the senior leadership--possibly by using several military tribunals set up pursuant to the President's November 13 military order. This is a good strategy, and I support it. But to execute that strategy consistent with Constitutional requirements, the use of those tribunals needs specific authorization from Congress. Our bill provides that authorization and, we believe, important limitations on the use of military tribunals consistent with the Administration's intent. We hope the Administration will embrace our concepts, and that members of Congress on a bipartisan basis will join us. As attorneys, we believe our bill represents mainstream legal doctrine. First, we authorize military tribunals to try foreign nationals in venues like military bases or aircraft carriers outside the United States. Our federal courts and courts martial operated pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice are capable of trying U.S. citizens, legal residents, and others within the United States. In this regard, we applaud yesterday's news that Zacarias Moussaoui has been indicted and will be tried in Federal Court on conspiracy charges. Second, our bill ties those who are tried by military tribunals to actions specifically enumerated by Congress in the Joint Resolution authorizing the use of force following September 11. Third, we include the same sunset clause contained in the PATRIOT Act: December 31, 2005. Fourth, we make clear that habeas corpus is not waived. Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution requires action by Congress to suspend this right: a President cannot waive it by military order. Congressional action will contribute to public and international acceptance of the use of military tribunals by making sure they are done right. In our nation's history, military tribunals have had an important place in our prosecution of war criminals, but always in conjunction with Congressional action. Our legislation ensures the right balance between protecting our Constitutional principles and taking strong action against terrorists, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, as a product of the Los Angeles public school system, I know the value of public education. As a businesswoman, I also know the value of flexibility to allow our schools to develop innovative solutions to the problems our public education system faces today. Too many of our schools today are starved for funding, frustrated by regulations that hamstring their ability to create the programs they know will help students, or held unaccountable for providing a substandard education to students. The status quo for public education is unacceptable. Thoughtful reform that improves opportunities for all students is the only path that builds an exceptional education system. By improving our public education system, we reduce inequalities between individuals of different economic and racial backgrounds. I firmly believe that a quality education for all students is the best affirmative action program for our nation. To achieve this goal, elementary and secondary education must provide students the skills they need to excel in the new economy. This means first and foremost an emphasis on basic skills--schools cannot graduate students without strong reading, writing, and analytical skills. But we must also ensure that students are well versed in the latest technologies and have the opportunity to develop their full potential in the arts, sciences, or literature. The Conference Report helps us take the first step toward reinvigorating our public education system--and provides schools the resources they need to implement reform. This legislation will require an unprecedented testing regime to hold schools accountable for improving the achievement of all students. Schools that fail to make the grade will at first receive more federal assistance to improve their curricula, then if they continue to fail, will have to provide funds to their students for tutoring or to travel to another public school. The bill provides funds to local school districts to implement these reforms. It increases federal education funding by 20 percent--an increase of almost $4 billion--to allow schools to develop accurate tests, improve the training and recruitment of teachers, buy computers, and develop afterschool programs. It targets these funds at the school districts that need it most--those with a large number of low income students--while allowing all school districts more flexibility in how they use federal funds. I am however, deeply disappointed that this Conference Report did not increase federal funding for special education. Special education remains the biggest constraint on the budget for school districts in my district and the federal government must live up to its commitment to pay 40 percent of the cost of educating students with special needs. I will continue to fight for increased appropriations for special education while I am in Congress. There are legitimate arguments for why this program needs reform, but these concerns cannot be an excuse for not meeting our federal obligation on special education. I support this Conference Report as a strong and significant step toward an education system for the 21st century.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding time to me, and I join in saluting American heroes who have given their lives in the fight against terrorism in the aftermath of September 11. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss) and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), for their leadership in bringing this conference report to the House. I also commend the hard work of our committee colleagues and staff, whose bipartisan approach attempts to ensure that this Nation has the best intelligence capabilities. I love serving on this committee and as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security. It is a high honor, and it honors the constituents of California's 36th Congressional District, who design and build most of our Nation's intelligence satellites. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, President Bush spoke to 1,900 cadets at the Citadel and laid out three priorities for national defense: first, speeding the transformation of the military to face 21st century threats; second, protecting against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and third, strengthening our intelligence capability. All these goals are important, and I strongly support them. This bill goes a long way toward accomplishing the third: this bill provides increased funding for human, technical, and tactical counterterrorist activities; it rescinds the CIA guidelines that may have restricted recruitment of some people with critical information on terrorist groups; and it requires the issuance of new guidelines to rebalance the recruitment process. Also, it requires the administration to explain why it has not implemented the recommendations of three national commissions that studied terrorism and homeland security. I served on one of those commissions, the congressionally mandated Commission on Terrorism. All three produced good ideas that are still good today. Our committee has served notice that it will do even more to push restructuring of the intelligence community next year; but meanwhile, this restructuring cannot happen in a vacuum. I believe the lesson learned from 9-11 is that good people had poor tools, and that our homeland security effort needs a leader with adequate power to conduct a unified threat assessment, develop a national plan, and compel agencies at all levels to share information and coordinate seamlessly to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism. Governor Tom Ridge has this top job. Ridge is charged with coordinating all Federal efforts related to homeland security with those of State and local governments. The President's executive order also makes Ridge the chief communicator of homeland security policy. Two months have passed since Tom Ridge started as director of the Office of Homeland Security; but in my view, he is losing power every day. He is a capable man with the skills and resume needed; but without the authority to influence Federal budgets, Ridge cannot enforce the changes that this committee has required and that this country needs. A bipartisan bill, H.R. 3026, would give him that authority. Finally, Mr. Speaker, as I stated in a letter to the President on Monday, I continue to be concerned that the release of the new bin Laden videotape could prove damaging to American security. Those who do not believe bin Laden is guilty will not be persuaded by this tape. To me, the benefit of showing the tape is outweighed by the risks that secret messages, signals, or facial expressions of bin Laden or in the background are embedded in the tape. I would have preferred that its distribution be limited to those with a need to know, possibly including foreign leaders. But Mr. Speaker, returning to this conference report, it gives the right tools to good people in our intelligence community. I thank them for working 24-7 before and after September 11 to protect this country from terrorist attacks. Mr. Speaker, I urge strong bipartisan support for this bill.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of HR 3295, the ``Help America Vote Act,'' introduced by my colleagues, Bob Ney and Steny Hoyer. The bill before us is an important step in reforming our electoral process and rebuilding public confidence. We are well aware that our administration of elections was tested by last year's presidential election contest. The American political system proved resilient, but not before putting many aspects of the election process under a microscope. That microscope revealed many problems, beginning with ballot design, voting machines, and the rules by which registration lists are respected and ballots counted. Most importantly, those problems were not isolated in one or just a few states. The election fiasco did have the benefit of returning to the legislative agenda the issue of election reform. Beginning with the National Commission on Federal Election Reform and culminating in this bill, the cause of reform has taken significant strides since last November. We must continue that momentum. Like the main sponsors of the bill, I believe we need to enact a bill that improves the balloting process before the 2002 elections. If we stake out the perfect positions--however principled--we could well face the same kind of delays and difficulties that prevented for months enactment of a much-needed aviation security bill. Election reform is needed and we must use the sense of urgency to achieve results, and achieve them quickly. Importantly, the bill before us starts with the premise echoed in the Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution that ``the times, places and manner of holding elections . . . shall be prescribed in each State.'' This admonition is balanced against language in the same Section of the Constitution simultaneously giving Congress the discretion to alter such regulations. And, in fact, the exercise of that Congressional authority has been critical to protecting our citizens' right to vote and ensuring the basic fairness and integrity of the election process. H.R. 3295 is part of that historic legacy. For my own State of California and County of Los Angeles, passage of the bill is critically important. Several months ago, California Secretary of State Bill Jones decertified every one of Los Angeles County's punch card machines. This means that Los Angeles County, the largest election jurisdiction in the United States with over 4 million registered voters, must purchase and install tens of thousands of new machines under an incredible time constraint. Conny McCormack, the Country Registrar-Recorder, estimates that replacing the machines will cost more than $100 million--an impossible financial burden without federal assistance. H.R. 3295 provides that assistance--more than $2.6 billion to improve election systems through poll worker training, access for disabled, and removal of punch card ballot machines. In doing so, the bill strikes the right balance in setting out the federal government's role in this partnership by requiring every state to be in compliance with minimum standards. These minimum standards will ensure that voter registration rolls be accurate and complete, making them less vulnerable to fraud and incorrect removal of eligible voters. The minimum standards will also allow for inprecinct provisional ballots, so that a voter who believes he or she has been wrongfully removed from the voter rolls will have the opportunity to immediately cast a ballot and have their eligibility determined later. The standards required by the Act will assist both military and overseas voters as well as voters with disabilities. Furthermore, the Act leaves every one of the existing, landmark voting rights laws intact and strengthens compliance. Mr. Speaker, as a mother, I am well aware that perfection is not an option. The bill is endorsed by an impressive list of individuals, including California's Secretary of State, Bill Jones, who said the ``measure makes a critical investment in the foundation of our Republic.'' It is also supported by the co-chairs of the National Commission on Election Reform--Presidents Carter and Ford, Bob Michel and Lloyd Carter--who said in a recent Washington Post op-ed, that the commission's ``most important recommendations are fully adopted in (H.R. 3295).'' I urge prompt passage of H.R. 3295.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001, and I commend Chairman Tauzin and Ranking Member Dingell for their leadership in fashioning this bipartisan measure. This important piece of legislation will take the first step toward ensuring that we will be able to prevent--and better respond to--any future bioterrorist attack. The National Commission on Terrorism, on which I served last year, concluded that it is not a matter of if a bioterrorist attack will occur, but only a question of when. We saw that expectation realized in October and November, when anthrax-laden letters caused the death of six Americans. And we will likely see it happen again. Substantial evidence exists that al Qaeda and rogue states like Iraq have attempted to acquire biological agents, and they have certainly proven their ability to inflict mass death on the United States. the treat of bioterrorism is real, and our nation must be prepared to respond to any eventuality. Our Government's response to the bioterrorist attacks of October was deeply flawed. We have talented people and good plans, but we have been lacking the resources and coordination to make our response effective. We must act now to improve our terrorism response, before another tragedy occurs. This legislation improves the coordination and capacity of bioterrorism response, the security of biological agents, and the safety of our food and water supplies. It makes a substantial investment in programs that fund communications systems, laboratory improvements, and training programs across the nation. Most important, the bill directs this investment to the state and local governments that need it most. All terrorism response is local, but in the past far too much of our counterterrorism funding has remained at the federal level. This bill will begin to correct this deficiency. I am particularly glad that this bill includes funds to speed up the renovation of CDC's buildings and facilities. I have visited to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and seen talented people working in shabby conditions. This legislation will invest $300 million in each of the next two years to improve the security of CDC facilities and construct much-needed research facilities. Improving our bioterrorism response must begin with the basics--and that means investing in critical infrastructure and facilities. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, and encourage all of my colleagues to support these needed measures.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, this has been a long day in a needlessly partisan fight. I support Trade Promotion Authority and have voted for it in the past. The bill I voted for in 1998 is not as good as the text before us today. I represent a trade-dependent district, and understand very well why trade helps our economy. But context matters. Our country was in a serious economic recession before September 11, and now faces enormous hardships just as the holiday season arrives. Forty-one thousand workers are out of jobs in the communities surrounding Los Angeles International Airport. Their airline and airport-affiliated jobs evaporated in the aftermath of 9- 11. Workers first, Mr. Chairman. Those workers and those negatively impacted by September 11 and trade must be helped first before we pass TPA. I support the package of worker benefits that the House leadership supports: $20 billion for unemployment, health insurance and worker training. The President has told me he supports it too. My wish was that working together we could vote and pass it first as evidence that we would keep our promises to workers. Sadly we didn't. Sadly I can't support TPA today until we do.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, five years ago, Tim Grimmond, the Police Chief of El Segundo, a small town in my district, came to me with a little problem called ``public safety radio interoperability.'' Basically, he explained, police departments are organized by city and county jurisdictions. Criminals are not. And the radios carried by the police in El Segundo were not always compatible with the radios carried by the L.A. Country sheriffs or police departments in neighboring towns like Redondo and Manhattan Beach. As a result, law enforcement agencies pursuing a suspect couldn't talk to each other on the radio. They sometimes resorted to hand signals out car windows to communicate. Or they used a jerry-rigged system of radio-patching and multiple radios to make it work. The problem was not with the equipment. The problem was the shortage of spectrum--the airwaves used for radio and TV. Police and fire departments had not been allocated enough of the spectrum for their radios to be interoperable. In response to Chief Grimmond's concerns, I introduced legislation that directed the FCC to license unused frequencies to public safety agencies. This bill became law. The same year, Congress took another major step towards interoperability. It directed the FCC to allocate to public safety users 24 megahertz of spectrum licensed to analog television stations. Congress set a deadline of 2006 for that transition. Unfortunately, that law also left a big loophole. It said the TV stations don't have to move to new spectrum until 85 percent of the household have a TV that can receive digital TV signals. Currently, only 1 percent of homes in the U.S. meet that criteria. So unless we act now, public safety agencies will never be able to use the spectrum that Congress promised them back in 1997. That means * * * fire departments will continue to have problems talking at the scenes of major fires. Police and sheriff's departments chasing a suspect across city and county jurisdictions will still not be able to communicate by radio. Police officers on the beat will still worry about hitting a ``dead spot'' where their radios don't work because of interference or poor signal penetration. The HERO Act that I and my colleagues, Rep. Weldon of PA, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Moran of VA, Mr. McIntyre, Ballenger, and Mr. Frelinghuysen are introducing here today eliminates that 85 percent threshold requirement--but only for channels 63, 64, 68 and 69, which the FCC allocated to public safety at Congress' direction in 1997. Our bill directs the FCC to assign the frequencies Congress promised to public safety agencies by the end of 2006. This legislation is supported virtually every public safety and municipal organization, including * * *. The International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the Congressional Fire Services Institute; the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major County Sheriff's Association; the National League of Cities, the National Governors' Association and the National Association of Counties; the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials- International (APCO) and the International Association of Arson Investigators. Attached to this statement are letters of support for the legislation. They all agree: Public safety needs this spectrum. And Congress should keep its commitment. Congressional Fire Services Institute, Washington, DC, November 28, 2001. Hon. Jane Harman, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman Harman: As Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Institute's National Advisory Committee, I extend to you the support of the committee for the Homeland Emergency Response Operations Network Act. Composed of 40 national fire and emergency services organizations, the NAC provides counsel to CFSI on public safety issues. Among the organizations that serve on this committee are the International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Fire Service Training Association, International Society of Fire Service Instructors, National Fire Protection Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, and the North American Fire Training Directors. These are the associations that represent the interest of our 1.2 million first responders. Following the release of the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee report in 1996, CFSI has worked aggressively in support of the report's recommendations. First and foremost is the set aside of 24 megahertz of broadcast spectrum for public safety use. This spectrum will address an immediate need of public safety, clearing the way for interoperable wireless communication systems. Following the terrorists attacks on September 11th, the need for this spectrum has become a top priority for public safety. We can no longer afford to run the risk of responding to large-scale disasters without interoperable communication systems. Otherwise, we will jeopardize the lives of all first responders at the scene. Congress needs to remove the 85 percent exemption on penetration of digital television receivers and any other exemptions, and hold firm on the previously set 2006 deadline in the best interest of public safety! I look forward to working with you, Congressman Curt Weldon and all other federal legislators who will offer their support for this legislation. Sincerely, Dennis Compton, Chair, National Advisory Committee. Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, Inc., December 3, 2001. Hon. Jane Harman, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Harman: On behalf of the Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials-International, Inc and its 15,000 members, I want to thank you for introducing legislation to address the serious radio spectrum issues facing our nation's police, fire, EMS, and other public safety agencies. Your proposed legislation would establish a firm date for clearing television broadcast stations from spectrum allocated for public safety radio systems pursuant to a 1997 Congressional mandate. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, demonstrated yet again that public safety personal all too often lack access to sufficient radio spectrum to provide effective and interoperable communications when responding to emergencies. On a day-to-day basis, public safety personnel from different agencies and jurisdictions are often unable to communicate at emergency scenes, usually because spectrum shortages have forced them to operate their radio systems over different, incompatible frequency bands. In many metropolitan areas, public safety personnel also confront dangerous radio frequency congestion, again due to the inadequacy of public safety spectrum allocations. These problems, and proposed solutions, were documented by the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC) in a report dated September 11, 1996. Among PSWAC's recommendations was that approximately 25 MHz of new radio spectrum be made available for public safety within five years. Congress required such an allocation in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and the FCC responded with a specific spectrum allocation in 1998. However, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon exactly five years after the PSWAC report, public safety personnel responding to those horrific events were still unable to use the newly allocated spectrum. The difficulty is that the spectrum remains blocked by ongoing television broadcast operations in much of the nation (including New York and Washington). The legislation that you are offering will establish a firm date for television stations to vacate spectrum already allocated for public safety. If adopted, the legislation will open the door for state and local governments to plan, fund, and even construct the new radio systems they need, confident that the necessary radio spectrum will be available for use on a specific date. We hope that your colleagues in Congress will give this matter immediate and favorable consideration. Sincerely, Glen Nash, President. Major County Sheriffs' Association, Minneapolis, MN, December 3, 2001. Hon. Jane Harman, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman Harman: The members of the Major County Sheriffs' Association and other public safety organizations in the United States continue to be in urgent need of additional radio spectrum to safely perform their mission critical duties. In response to that need, in 1997 the Congress directed the FCC to make 24 MHz of spectrum (currently TV Channels 63, 64, 68, 69) available for use by public safety. Unfortunately the legislation was linked to transition of TV stations in those channels from analog to digital signals and there is no date- certain deadline by which public safety will be able to use this spectrum. We are in support of legislation to be known as ``THE

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, one of the best parts of seeking my seat in Congress was meeting Maureen Reagan in 1992, when she ran in the primary for her party's nomination. It was my good fortune that, after Maureen lost, her supporters became mine and she and I became great friends. Maureen brought an intelligence and vibrancy to the campaign and although she did not win her party's nomination, she continued to influence many policy debates, particularly in health care after her father revealed he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. I am deeply saddened to lose a friend. California and the nation have lost a strong and active voice. I join my colleagues in honoring the life of Maureen Reagan.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to the Terrorism Risk Protection Act. I do not disagree that the business of commercial insurance underwriting faces difficult times ahead as we confront the threat of terrorism against our homeland. But we have our priorities backward. Insurance underwriters are not the only ones facing difficult times. Since September 11, hundreds of thousands of workers have lost their jobs because of the attacks and subsequent accelerated economic slowdown. Indeed, I have met on several occasions with hundreds of workers in California's 36th District whose livelihoods and futures were suspended when they were laid off following the attacks. Many of these workers were directly employed in the aviation industry, which took a tremendous hit on September 11. Many thousands more were employed at Los Angeles International Airport and in the associated hospitality industry, which relies on business travelers and tourists. Hundreds more were affected as the consequences of September 11 rippled through the local economy. Mr. Speaker, these individuals and their families are my top priorities. Last month I introduced legislation to give first preference to qualified laid-off aviation workers for the new airport security positions created by the Aviation Security Act. Regrettably, that bill languishes in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, though 44 of my colleagues recently joined me in writing Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta requesting that he incorporate this initiative in the regulations he issues to implement the new Airline Security Act. Aiding unemployed workers can no longer take a back seat. Indeed, the House is still waiting for the Speaker of the House to fulfill the promise he made at the time of the Airline Bailout Bill to bring to the floor legislation providing relief to these individuals. Until Congress and the Administration act to aid these unemployed workers, I cannot in good conscience support a bill that addresses one more industry, however meritorious their claim.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Chairman, I support this bill, but believe we have missed an unprecedented opportunity to transform the United States military. The attacks of September 11 and the threat of anthrax across the country have shown that threats to U.S. security no longer come just from tanks and bombs. The war in Afghanistan demonstrates that the military increasingly relies on information superiority, long-range power projection, stealth technology, and precision-guided munitions. It is time to invest more in a defense for the 21st century, and to move away from unneeded bureaucracy and outmoded platforms. We must transform our military into a more flexible, multi-functional force. We need technologies for intelligence gathering, more robust use of uninhabited vehicles and long-range platforms. President Bush promised in his campaign to skip ahead to the next generation of military technology. Where is the transformation? The Quadrennial Defense Review talked grandly about progress but put its money into funding the status quo. It was as true before September 11 as it is now that enemies will use asymmetric means to exploit American vulnerabilities and use terror to inflict both psychological and physical damage. Our defense must reflect the revolution in military affairs--in weapons systems, in bureaucratic organization, and in military infrastructure. We must improve the ``tooth-to-tail'' ratio of fighting capability to support structure. Most importantly, defense spending on specific weapons or strategies should be proportional to the likelihood and seriousness of the threats. Mr. Speaker, we all know that resources are limited. We risk buying less defense for more money if we buy the wrong things. Now that the public is tuned in and the stakes are higher than any point in our history, we fail to act at our own peril.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Julie Oakes, who retires today from 8 years as a member of the Hermosa Beach City Council, including two as mayor. Julie is only the seventh woman to serve on the Hermosa Beach City Council in its 90-year history. As a female elected official myself, I respect and admire the challenges that Julie has had to face in running for and maintaining her seat all these years, and she has done a terrific job. In my observation, she balances her roles as professional architect, politician, mother, and spouse extremely well. Julie has been instrumental in reshaping and refocusing the Hermosa Beach City Council, and has been a constructive and knowledgeable voice in the recent ``Renaissance'' of Hermosa Beach, and particularly its downtown area. I have enjoyed working with Julie through the years, and join the citizens of Hermosa Beach in thanking her for her service and wishing her well.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3330, the Afghan Women And Children Relief Act. This legislation will ensure that educational and health care assistance reaches the women and children of Afghanistan. The Taliban's crimes against women have by now become well-known. Against the teaching of Islam and against the will of women across Afghanistan, the Taliban: Ended education for girls over eight; Shut down the women's university; Forbade women doctors from practicing medicine; and Then forbade women from receiving care from male doctors. This deliberate, cruel treatment compounded the suffering of more than 20 years of war, extreme poverty, and drought in Afghanistan to create a dire health situation for women and children. Afghanistan has the world's second worst maternal death rate during childbirth. One hundred sixty five out of every thousand babies die before their first birthday. The Taliban has done untold harm to its own people with these actions, and we must now help repair the damage done. Rebuilding Afghanistan is part of the promise we have made to provide a comprehensive solution to the root causes of terrorism. We must offer hope to the people of Afghanistan, and we must work toward creating a stable Afghan government. Aid to the women and children of Afghanistan will accomplish both of these goals. It will improve the lives of millions and increase opportunities for all members of Afghan society--including women--to have their voices heard. The overwhelming bipartisan support by Congress today demonstrates that our support is no short-term political ploy. We are here for the long haul, and we expect to see results.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend, John Bowler, who is retiring today from eight years on the Hermosa Beach City Council, including two terms as the town's mayor. John is retiring in order to spend more time with his family and friends and to devote more of his energies to civic groups and causes. I admire his decision, Mr. Speaker, because all of us in the House know how hard it is to pursue an active public schedule and still maintain a private one. But I will miss John on the City Council. He has hosted and fed me and my staff in his city many times. John has been instrumental in the revitalization of Hermosa's downtown areas, including the construction of the Pier Plaza--now a popular hot spot. His former restaurant, Fat Face Fenner's, is a Pier landmark. Leaving the City Council does not mean John is leaving the city, because I'm counting on him to continue to be involved in our community. I join the citizens of Hermosa Beach in thanking him for his services and wishing him well.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of my constituent and good friend, Ben Traina, who retires this month from the Lomita City Council after years of exceptional service to his community, including two terms as Mayor. I have known Ben since I first ran for Congress in 1992. Ben was often my host in the City of Lomita, a small town in the true sense of the phrase, nestled in the hustle and bustle of the South Bay of Los Angeles. Ben barely knew me then, but he enthusiastically escorted me to small coffees and community events so that I could meet the residents of his city. We had a great time. Since then, we have worked closely together on an issue that is a high priority for me. The Lomita Little League is the cornerstone of the Lomita community. Virtually every kid in Lomita plays in the Little League, and the parents are great fans. Baseball is simply what the town does on Saturdays. For years, the League played on otherwise unusable Navy property, but had to renegotiate the agreement annually. The uncertainty was hard on the community. It was reluctant to make investments in vital capital improvements--such as a new clubhouse and functioning restrooms--or making the infield free of bad hops. Ben and I worked hard together to develop a system that would serve the League's interest better yet comply with Navy regulations on land use. After months of meetings with Navy personnel, Ben and I negotiated a ten-year license agreement, beginning in 1995, under which the League would be able to use the land for its primary mission--playing baseball. But a problem remained: the League also needed a way to raise money. For years it had been selling Christmas trees on the lot as its primary source of revenue. But the Navy objected to the procedures for selling the trees and for the past several years, those sales were stopped. Once again, Ben and I launched a months-long process to re-negotiate the terms of the license agreement and convince the Navy that the League should be able to do its fundraising. With the help of Assistant Secretary of the Navy, H.T. Johnson, I am happy to report that the Traina-Harman partnership has prevailed, and the Christmas tree sale was approved just in time for this year's Christmas season. Mr. Speaker, I will miss working with Ben in his capacity as an elected official. But I know we will continue to work together to preserve the ability of Lomita kids and families to enjoy the spirit of baseball. I am proud of Ben's efforts, and I join the citizens of Lomita in thanking him for exceptional service and wishing him well.

Ms. HARMAN

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from California for the opportunity to speak in support of this important legislation. The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act is about harnessing the promise of the most advanced pharmaceuticals for the most vulnerable members of our society. Dr. Jay Lieberman, a pediatric disease specialist from my district, has told me that literally every day he sees children with serious, sometimes life-threatening infections, on whom he must use antibiotics and other drugs that have not been tested to determine how safe they are for children. ``Are we using too much drug?'' he asks. ``Not enough? Will there be adverse effects in children that have not been seen in adults? We can only hope that our sickest infants and children don't die because of our ignorance.'' We must do all we can to end this ignorance, and thanks to the extension of patent exclusivity for companies that test their pharmaceuticals for children, we have already accomplished much. Over the past four years. pharmaceutical companies have dramatically increased the number of pediatric trials for new prescription drugs. More products are being labeled with the proper dosage for children and potentially harmful interactions, and more companies are conducting research into special drug formulations for children. Today we have the opportunity to act to renew and strengthen the legislation that has made this possible. I urge all my colleagues to vote for the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act.