Darlene Hooley

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the First Christian Church of Monmouth. In the past 150 years, the members of this church have proven again and again the depth of their caring and giving, not just to their community, but to all those in need. From 1850 to 1853, pioneers like Elijah Davidson, Ira F.M. Butler and others came to the Oregon Territory from their homes in Monmouth, Illinois--the inspiration for what became Monmouth, Oregon. These settlers, members of the Disciples of Christ Church, came to create a new community and school steeped in their religion and their values, tenets that they shared with the long history of pioneers going back to the Pilgrims. In 1856, Monmouth University (present-day Western Oregon University) was chartered, and it became the first home for the church. The First Christian Church has long since outgrown its small beginnings, a single 20 by 30 foot room on the comer of Monmouth Avenue and Church Street. The church moved to its current location in 1913 and remains there today, where it still acts as a staple of town fellowship and camaraderie. Just as the buildings that house this faith community have changed and grown over the years, so has the church's congregation. Active in the community, their good works include a teen center for local youth as well as the home for the Monmouth chapter of Meals on Wheels. This congregation represents the heart of the community and the goodness in people which we should all strive to achieve. I want to take this opportunity to honor this church for the efforts that they have made on behalf of the residents of Monmouth and students of Western Oregon University. On this, their sesquicentennial anniversary, I acknowledge and honor the First Christian Church of Monmouth for their service and dedication to their community.

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member. Container Security Devices, or CSDs, represent a ``today'' solution to secure the 14 million containers in circulation worldwide. The technology has been developed in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection and has been extensively tested and determined to be reliable. Container Security Devices are a vast improvement over the bolt seal, which is the low-tech guard against tampering used today. In addition to guarding against unauthorized container intrusions, many CSDs will be able to provide a wealth of additional data to U.S. Customs and DHS officials at U.S. ports. They can provide data on where a container has traveled from, the ports it has traveled through, and provide a unique, encrypted container ID. Throughout its journey, the status of a CSD, tampered with or not, can be verified. The amendment I am offering today is simple and straightforward. Currently, the bill, as written, simply defines a Container Security Device as a ``mechanical or electronic device designed to detect unauthorized intrusion of containers.'' My amendment changes that definition of a Container Security Device so it accomplishes three things. It will require a CSD positively identifies the container; that it detect and record any unauthorized intrusion of the container; have a false alarm rate that is demonstrated to be below 1 percent. Now, this is a minimum requirement. As written right now, this bill doesn't put a minimum requirement for the performances of container security devices. Over the past year, DHS has conducted tests on multiple technologies from multiple vendors that would be capable of tracking, monitoring and securing containers against compromise. The Department has been very clear that, before incorporating these devices into government- sponsored programs, the device must meet a strict 1 percent false- positive threshold. In addition to DHS, a coalition of industry groups supports this minimum requirement. The group includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Worldwide Shipping Council, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Business Alliance for Customs Modernization, and the American Trucking Association. In the comments the coalition submitted to Senator Collins and Senator Murray of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security on the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act, the companion bill to the SAFE Port Act, they explicitly state, ``Only Container Security Devices that meet the Department of Homeland Security's 99 percent false-positive and overall reliability requirements should be deemed qualified under this legislation.'' I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to answer the gentleman's question. First of all, there is a definition in this bill. Secondly, it doesn't have a minimum standard. Now, the 1 percent is what the Department of Homeland Security asked for, that it is 99 percent accurate. However, it can be more than that. It can be 99.2, 99.5. That is the very minimum that has to happen. So it can go well beyond that. Again, it is trying to make sure that you can take into account anything that has either been developed or on the market today or will be on the market so you have some flexibility and some competition amongst the companies.

Ms. HOOLEY. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Ms. HOOLEY. No, it doesn't mandate that it needs to be an RFID device. It doesn't mandate that. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOOLEY. Absolutely.

Ms. HOOLEY. Correct.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an amazing group of students. The fifth and sixth graders of Lake Grove Elementary School in Lake Oswego, Oregon, have taught us all a lesson about helping those in need. When these students learned about that many people around the world, and right in our own backyards, go hungry every day, they decided that they wanted to do something about it. They spearheaded an event called the Empty Bowl Project to raise awareness about hunger in their community and to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. The idea behind the Empty Bowl Project is simple. Participants create ceramic bowls, and then serve a meal of soup and bread. Guests choose a bowl to use that day and to keep as a reminder that there are always Empty Bowls in the world. In exchange for a meal and the bowl, the guest gives a donation to a local hunger organization. The Empty Bowl Project at Lake Grove consists of three parts. The fifth and sixth graders led their schoolmates in a food drive that has collected over 1,500 food items. Each class from pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade designed their own empty bowl to be raffled at the Soup Supper. And the culminating event will be held tonight with the fifth and sixth graders serving a meal of bread, soup, and water so that people gain a better understanding of what a real soup kitchen is like. I want to take this opportunity to honor these students for the efforts that they have made on behalf of the hungry of Oregon. With students like these, the future in Oregon is bright indeed.

Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon

Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, today, on Workers' Memorial Day, we honor the 54 Oregonians and the millions around the world who have died on the job since last year. These men and women were more than just workers. They were fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, friends and co-workers. On this 18th anniversary of the first Workers' Memorial Day in 1989, it is important not only to remember these people who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but to recognize the challenges and dangers facing employees in the workplace. We have made great strides as a Nation to address the issue of workplace safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Act, passed on April 28, 1971, has made a huge impact on workplace conditions. But we can, and we must, do better. There is always hope for the future and our communities, our legislators and our businesses must work together to keep workplace safety a highest priority. I acknowledge these brave Oregonians, and look forward to this list growing ever shorter. Justo Aguirre, Kurt Bell Heavy, Steven Brandt, Michael Breaux, Daniel Buckley, Brook Campbell, Gordon Cecil, Curtis Claflin, Howard Culver, David DeLacy, Loren Duncan, Thomas Ellsberg, Marty Erickson, Blake Foster, Robert Friedman, Dale Funk, Angel Gonzalez Cacho, Jason Gorman, Matthew Gregg, Rory Hanebrink, Mark Hauser, Harold Hawkins, David Henning, Lawrence Hoffman, Mark Howard, William Jobin, David Johnston, Christopher Jones, Brett Kulkarni, William Lanus, Paul Linck, Terry Little, Donald McCready, William McFarlane, Candace Mein, Bryant Myers, Kristine Okins, Ernest Oleman, Howard Pearsall, Mark Richardson, Gary Richey, Juan Rios, Vernon Robbins, Kevin Roberts, David Rossiter, Robert Smith, Gen Stewart, Joseph Sutton, Terry Sutton, Ronald Theus, Bobbi Thompson, Brian Tiller, Leobardo Velazquez, and Eric Yung.

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a great Oregonian innovator, businessman, and friend. Richard L. Kohnstamm passed away last Friday, just days after his 80th birthday. Like many Oregonians, Dick arrived in Oregon as a young man eager to forge his own future, and build his own adventure. What Dick couldn't possibly have known then, was that his future would become a true Oregon Legacy. In 1955, Dick took over the management of Oregon's Historic Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. With his imagination, vision, and dedication, Dick transformed the lodge from a neglected public works building to an Oregon landmark. He started the nation's first summer skiing, started a racing school, brought in Olympic Medalists as instructors, and completely revamped the lodge, making it a destination for Oregonians and visitors. With Dick's leadership, Timberline Lodge was the first ski area in the nation to receive the National Historic Landmark designation. Dick met his wife Molly, and raised their four sons on the Mountain. He was a father figure to hundreds of young employees away from home. He was a leader. He was a visionary. He was a pioneer in the best Oregon tradition. He was an Oregon Icon. I consider myself lucky to have known Dick, and I want to honor him for his extraordinary life and his many contributions to Mt. Hood and the State of Oregon.

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Lake Oswego High School boys' basketball team as Oregon State 4A champions. Capping a storybook season, the Lakers brought home the state title for the first time ever. The Lakers started strong this season, and never let up. They won 26 games to only 3 losses and were ranked No. 2 going into the championship game on Saturday, where they faced off against the No.1 South Medford Panthers. Like every good championship game, this one carne down to the final seconds with Lake Oswego winning 59-57. This successful season for the Lakers was more than just the sum of their skill and talent. The team and coaches played all year with heart, desire, and the confidence that they could win it all. Congratulations to Coach Mark Shoff, the players, their families and friends, and the community who cheered them on throughout the season. I am proud to represent this team and its supporters in Congress, and will close with this: Go Lakers!

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. HOOLEY. I thank my colleague for yielding me time and for all the hard work that has gone on with methamphetamine, and I rise today in support of the Baird-Cardoza-Hooley amendment. As meth has spread across this Nation, more and more States are taking action to cut off pseudoephedrine sales to meth makers who cannot make the poison without this common cold medication. But when 65 percent of the meth in this country comes from Mexico drug cartels, we cannot solve this problem through domestic means alone. This amendment requires that our drug office join with other affected countries to coordinate an effective international response in order to prevent methamphetamine production and precursor diversion. In a revealing investigation, the Oregonian newspaper determined that Mexico imports roughly 100 tons of pseudoephedrine more than is needed to fill its need for cold medicine. The rest, narcotic officials guess, is diverted from legitimate uses and turned into meth. Since roughly 200 tons of pseudoephedrine is needed to produce all the meth sold in the United States, this pseudoephedrine from Mexico can produce half of our Nation's supply of this deadly drug. This amendment will bring together international leaders so they can work together and collaborate on a broad-based strategy that will not only keep meth away from our communities and families but would limit production and use of this deadly drug worldwide. I urge the support of this amendment.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank Chairman Souder for all of his incredibly hard work that he has done on methamphetamine and all the work he has done in committee. In my three decades of public service, I do not think I have ever seen a problem as pervasive or as damaging as the methamphetamine epidemic that is sweeping our country. This epidemic is tearing apart families, neighborhoods, communities. More and more States are taking action to cut off pseudoephedrine sales to methamphetamine manufacturers who cannot make this poison without this common-cold medication. While a number of States, including Oregon, have enacted tough rules to control the availability of pseudoephedrine, this has become a national problem. The States need strong Federal support if we are going to have a fighting chance against this epidemic, and yet this administration and ONDCP have not focused on the drug as they should. The meth epidemic is impacting all of us. Children in particular can face some of the most devastating effects, with tens of thousands of children suffering the consequences of their family meth habit. When parents crash after speeding on meth, their children are left to fend for themselves, sometimes for days. Parents can become abusive, and their children are exposed to highly toxic chemicals. The cost is overwhelming both in terms of human lives and financial resources needed to take care of our children. Meth also brings increased crime to a community. A district attorney in Clackamas County, which is in my district, estimates that 99 percent of all ID thefts and 90 percent of all property crimes are related to meth. This amendment would require the Office of National Drug Control Policy to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy to address the increased threat of methamphetamine. The strategy would include interdiction and precursor chemical controls, demand reduction and treatment, efforts to prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals on an international level, and an assessment of the funding and resources necessary to significantly reduce the production and trafficking of methamphetamine. ONDCP must make fighting meth a top priority, and this amendment would ensure that they did. The spreading of methamphetamine is a multifaceted problem ranging from the mom-and-pop labs to the sophisticated illegal drug factories in foreign countries. It is one that requires a multifaceted solution. We must take action to control the supply of, and access to, its ingredients both on a domestic and international level, which we have begun to do with the Combat Meth Act. But we also need to reduce the demand for this drug by educating our youth about the dangers of methamphetamine and ensure that addicts get the treatment they need. The stated role of the Office of National Drug Control Policy is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug- control program. Their job is to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences; and yet they refuse to devote the resources or attention that is needed to fight our meth epidemic while more and more Americans become addicted to this deadly drug. As any cop in America will tell you, methamphetamine is destroying our communities; and fighting the production and importation of this dangerous drug has been one of my top priorities as a Member of Congress. It is long past time for ONDCP to join in the fight, and this amendment will require them to do so, so we have a fighting chance in this battle. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I was talking to a gentleman the other day, and he was talking about his daughter who was addicted to methamphetamine. She had six children, and all of the children are now living with someone else. The mother spent more time in prison than she had out on the streets. It is important that we have this kind of a treatment program for those in prison. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for the amendment.

Ms. HOOLEY

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and my friend, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy), for putting this piece of legislation together. In my 3 decades of public service, I do not think I have ever seen a problem as pervasive or damaging as the methamphetamine epidemic that is sweeping our country. While a number of States have enacted tough rules to control the availability of pseudoephedrine, this is not enough to solve the problem when the vast majority of meth consumed in this country is made in Mexico and smuggled into the U.S. by Mexican drug cartels. If we are going to stop the flow of meth into this country, we must have better information about where the meth precursor chemicals are going, but we cannot do it alone. Foreign governments who import large quantities of meth precursors must take steps within their own countries to ensure these chemicals do not fall into the hands of meth producers and drug traffickers. The spread of methamphetamine is a multifaceted problem ranging from the homemade mom and pop labs to the sophisticated illegal drug factories in foreign countries. This amendment represents an important step in dealing with the international meth production by preventing by diversion of precursor chemicals into the hands of meth producers. I urge Members to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, how much time is remaining?

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time and urge people to support this amendment. It is an important piece of legislation. It is time that we start dealing with this on an international level. Again, I thank my cosponsor and all of the other people that have worked so hard on this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.