Steny Hoyer

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, as the 107th Congress draws to a close, I want to pay tribute to a great public servant and dear friend whose Government service is also now drawing to a close. Michael F. DiMario, the 23rd Public Printer of the United States, will soon retire from his post now that the Senate has confirmed his successor. Mike has served as Public Printer since November 1993, and he leaves the Government Printing Office a much different and better place than when he took office nine years ago. Mike's achievements as Public Printer are numerous and represent a sea-change in the way GPO produces and distributes government information to the American people. Mike's preeminent achievement has been the establishment and phenomenal growth of GPO Access (www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess), the GPO website established pursuant to a landmark 1993 act of Congress passed with his enthusiastic support. GPO Access today makes about 225,000 Federal titles available on-line, free of charge, to anyone with a computer and access to the Internet. Members of the public today use GPO Access to retrieve an average of 31 million documents each month, over a million every day; more than 1.1 billion Federal documents have been retrieved via GPO Access since it went live in 1994. The GPO site also serves as host to 19 other Federal websites, including the Supreme Court's, and the databases GPO prepares for GPO Access are indispensable to the Congress's prominent legislative website, THOMAS, which is operated by the Library of Congress. GPO Access was the primary site for several major Federal- document releases of the past decade, including the Microsoft anti- trust decision, the Supreme Court's decision in the Florida election cases, and the Starr Report, as well as all annual Federal budgets. GPO Access has won multiple awards from the on-line, library, legal, government, and educational communities, and will undoubtedly continue to revolutionize the distribution of government information. During his service, DiMario also strongly supported and successfully implemented the Congress' policy decision to transition the Federal Depository Library Program to a primarily electronic format. He worked closely with the library community to implement this transition in a way that met Congress' goals of economy and efficiency while continuing to serve the needs of the public. Today, more than 60 percent of the new titles going into depository libraries are electronic, and the program has realized sufficient savings to underwrite the costs of GPO Access without requiring substantial new appropriations. DiMario also brought other new technologies to GPO, streamlining its operations. Notable among these advances are the capacity to move print copy directly from computer to plate, which is now used to produce 90- 95 percent of all plates used in GPO; roll-fed on-demand printing; and new, smaller, more efficient presses. DiMario also enhanced GPO's electronic communications capabilities through establishment of an agency web site to facilitate online posting of most bid solicitations for printing contracts, and an office-wide Intranet. Working closely with the House, Senate and other Federal agencies, DiMario oversaw the successful Y2K transition at GPO with no disruption of service. On his watch, In-Plant Graphics magazine chose GPO as the top in-plant in the country for four consecutive years, and in 1999, PC Week magazine hailed GPO as one of the top technology innovators in the United States. GPO has received ``clean'' financial opinions on all independent audits conducted during DiMario's tenure, and a comprehensive management audit in 1998 found that GPO has strong support among its ``customers,'' i.e., the Congress, Federal agencies, and the public. During last year's anthrax crisis, DiMario offered GPO facilities for the use of various House and Senate offices, and he made available GPO's loading docks to the Capitol Police when Congress' own delivery-screening facilities were unusable. Since that time, he has worked to establish off-site printing and web capabilities to prevent disruptions of service in future emergencies. Throughout his tenure, DiMario has strived to cut costs at GPO, and as a consequence, GPO's appropriations have remained relatively flat. Total personnel strength has declined by more than 35 percent since 1993, and now stands at the lowest level in over a century. It is a testament to Mike DiMario's leadership that he achieved the reduction through attrition with no significant workforce dislocation. During his tenure, DiMario worked closely with GPO's unions to reach reasonable wage contracts and ensure the successful implementation of new technology and new ways of doing things. Through changing times, Mike stoutly defended the GPO against shortsighted proposals to reinvest or privatize its operations, regardless of their source. He clearly articulated how valuable GPO is to Congress's legislative operations, to the economical and effective procurement of printing for executive agencies, and to the public's ability to access Government information in a comprehensive, equitable manner. In the past several months, his defense of GPO against the ill- advised printing proposal of the Office of Management and Budget has been just as determined. The fact that GPO continues to operate today is due in no small part to the fact that Mike believes in the agency and never shirked from defending it when necessary. Mike DiMario has had the 4th longest consecutive term of service as Public Printer since it began operations in 1861. He resides in Bowie, Maryland, so he's not just my friend, he's also my constituent. As Mike departs the GPO for a well-deserved retirement following 40 years of Federal service, I am sure my colleagues join me in wishing him good luck, Godspeed, and offering him the thanks of a grateful Nation for a job well done.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. If the gentleman will continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, we shall see. We shall see.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Terry, your service has been recalled and set before us. All of us appreciate your service, that is clear. I think you are emblematic of the fine service that is given by those of you who do not get to speak on this floor, those of you whose names do not scroll across the screen, those of you who work anonymously but so effectively on behalf of the American public. Terry, I wanted to add my thanks and the thanks of all the Members of this side of the aisle, along with Tom on behalf of all the Members on that side of the aisle, because you work not in a partisan sense but you work for this institution to ensure that the people's House functions as the people would like. As Tom Davis said, we will miss you. You have served your country well. God bless you.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, much of the controversy swirling around this Homeland Security Act relates to our treatment of Federal employees, many of whom stand on the front lines in our war against terrorism. I share the deep concern of those who believe that the reorganization proposed under this bill will undermine the rights given by law to thousands of our Federal employees. And let me note: Earlier this year, I specifically asked OPM to cite even one example in our nation's history where union membership had threatened our national security. OPM could offer none. However, the controversy surrounding the rights of Federal employees is not the basis of my opposition to this Homeland Security Act. And I am deeply concerned that the attention devoted to it obscures the larger point. As the Baltimore Sun observed on September 23rd: ``Months of debate have made clear that this bureaucratic boondoggle offers no promise of making the homeland more secure. Worse, it takes the focus off the need for tighter oversight of the nation's security systems.'' I am greatly concerned, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation could actually harm our ability and readiness to protect our homeland. Under this legislation, 22 existing agencies and programs and 170,000 people would be integrated into this new department. Yet, many of the agencies that are critical to our homeland security would not even be part of this reorganization. Furthermore, this act fails to recognize that the FBI, DEA and INS are currently grouped within the Department of Justice, but do not effectively communicate with one another. As special agent Colleen Rowley's testimony indicated earlier this year, the FBI even has trouble communicating within its own agency. We must not delude ourselves into believing that rearranging deck chairs will protect our ship of state. What's needed is greater sharing of information within and among the agencies that protect our homeland, so that we may coordinate and synthesize the enormous amounts of information that our government collects. And we need a lean homeland security office that has the mission and authority to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for homeland security. In analyzing this issue, the General Accounting Office warned in July: It is clear that fixing the wrong problems, or even worse, fixing the right problems poorly, could cause more harm than good in our efforts to defend our country against terrorism.'' This act fails to fix our most obvious problem--effective information sharing among agencies. I urge my colleagues to vote against it.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, what is now becoming our weekly song and dance, passage of yet another continuing resolution, sounds more like Republican failure to me. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) and our friends on the other side of the aisle will no doubt march to this floor again today and fulminate about the other Chamber, and they are sure to boast: ``We have passed a budget.'' Well, Democrats in the House have been waiting for the last 7 weeks for the Republican leadership to summon the courage of its convictions and to actually bring spending bills to this House floor that adhere to the GOP's budget resolution. We are still waiting to see your spending bill for Labor, Health and Education programs, because we want to know this: Do you still plan to cut the ``No Child Left Behind Act'' off at the knees? Do you? Do you still plan to wipe out programs that coordinate health care for the uninsured? Mr. Speaker, we want to know, with winter just around the corner, do you still plan to cut LIHEAP formula grants by nearly 18 percent? LIHEAP, of course, is low income energy assistance to poor people and seniors. Some of the very same Republicans who lectured us about the importance of voting on the Iraq resolution before the November elections have now cynically recoiled from letting voters know where they stand on Federal spending for health care, education and others priorities before the election. While the GOP continues to dither and delay, the American people suffer the consequences. The unemployment rate is up. The poverty rate is up. Federal and State budget deficits are exploding. Real wages are down. The number of Americans with health insurance is down, and the stock market has dropped like a rock over the last 18 months. Yet, the self-styled revolutionaries seem to have no idea what to do. For starters, we might extend unemployment insurance benefits to save those who are falling off, increase the minimum wage which has not been increased since 1996, and pass real pension reform. Failing to do that, Mr. Speaker, failing to do that much is nothing but a signal of failure.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), a freshman Member of this House, an extraordinary Member of this House, who has been very much involved in the adoption of this bill as former Secretary of State in the administration of elections and a person who has confronted the challenges of barriers to participation. His participation was critical to the passage of this measure. (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney). (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the distinguished chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has been involved since the very first day in demanding that we pass election reform, in focusing in on election reform and working towards the adoption of the bill; and I thank her for her efforts. (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Twenty-three months ago, uncertainty gripped our great democracy. The United States of America, the wealthiest and most technologically advanced Nation in the world had failed, in my opinion, its most basic election duty: the duty to count every citizen's vote and count it accurately. The votes of an estimated 4 million to 6 million Americans went uncounted in November of 2000. This national disgrace cried out for comprehensive Federal reform. Thus, I am proud today to strongly support the historic, bipartisan conference report before us, the first Civil Rights Act of the 21st century. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 is the most comprehensive package of voting reforms since enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The conference report authorizes unprecedented Federal assistance: $3.9 billion over 3 years to help States improve and upgrade every aspect of their election systems. This funding will replace outdated voting equipment, train poll workers, educate voters, upgrade voter lists, and make polling places accessible for the disabled. Furthermore, this legislation prescribes an array of new voting rights and responsibilities. States will now be required to provide provisional balance to ensure no voter is turned away at the polls. It requires that we give voters the opportunity to check for and correct ballot errors. It provides at least one voting machine per precinct that allows disabled voters, including those with visual impairments, to vote privately and independently; and it provides for an implementation of a computerized statewide voter registration database to ensure accurate lists. In addition, the conference report will require States to set standards for counting ballots and to define what constitutes a vote. To ensure the integrity of our election system, first-time voters who register by mail will be required to produce some form of identification and States will be obligated to maintain accurate voting registration lists. This legislation, Mr. Speaker, also establishes a bipartisan 4-member elections assistance commission which will issue voluntary guidelines regarding voting systems, administer grants, and study election issues. To ensure compliance, the conference report requires States to set up administrative grievance procedures. The U.S. Department of Justice will also be responsible for Federal enforcement. Finally, let me remind my colleagues that passage of this conference report does not finish the journey. We now have, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, a moral opportunity to ensure that this authorization is fully funded. I urge my colleagues to support this conference report. It will strengthen the foundation of democracy and shore up public confidence in this most basic expression of American citizenship, the right to vote and to have one's vote counted. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), one of the most senior Members of this House, the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, a giant in the civil rights movement of this country, whose voice is always heard on behalf of those who are dispossessed, downtrodden, or discriminated against. It is an honor to be his friend and an honor to serve with him in this House.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his contribution; but not just tonight, I thank the gentleman for his contribution over a career of fighting for people and ensuring that their rights are observed and expanded. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), the son of an extraordinary Member of this House who fought for the little people of America all the time and was a giant in this House; and his son, of which he would be supremely proud, promises to be equally committed to people.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) for his comments. I think they were well taken, as the comments from the gentleman from Texas were well taken. And I will join him and I know the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) will as well to ensure that their fears are not realized. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on our side?

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), the next ranking Democrat on the committee who has been such a critical participant in forging this legislation.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I know the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), is on the floor and he is about to leave. With him is his deputy chief of staff, Mr. Stokke. Before he leaves, I want to take the opportunity to thank him and Mr. Stokke. Both of these gentlemen were vitally interested in this legislation. Both were extraordinarily helpful in seeking its passage. The Speaker has committed to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and I that he will work with us to make sure that this obligation is not an unfunded mandate, but in fact that we give the States the resources necessary. I wanted to thank the Speaker before he leaves the floor and thank Mr. Stokke, as well.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis), a member of our committee who has been intimately involved throughout this consideration and was so important in making sure that we had a bill that we could pass.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who chaired the special committee on election reform and held hearings all over this country and heard from literally hundreds of citizens on the issues confronting them at election time. ``Revitalizing Our Nation's Election System'' is a report issued by the Waters Commission, which was extraordinarily helpful to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and me in bringing this legislation to fruition. I thank her for that. I thank her for the contributions she has made. I am honored to serve with her.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments and again would pledge with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and myself and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and others to continue to work with her towards those solutions. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price). The gentleman has been involved with election reform as long as I can remember. He is an extraordinary leader on this bill and in this House on these issues.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), a member of the conference committee who succeeded Barbara Jordan in her seat, an extraordinary fighter for our Constitution and for our people, and she is following in that tradition. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), assistant Democratic leader, outspoken strong fighter for a citizen's right to vote, have that vote counted, an extraordinarily effective worker on behalf of the passage of this bill.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), an extraordinary Member of this body who will be leaving this body and we will be poorer for it, who experienced firsthand the trauma of people coming to the ballot box and being unable to cast their vote and being assured that it counts. (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick). (Ms. KILPATRICK asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), who has stood on this floor, stood up in Florida and stood in every forum to demand that we do what we can to ensure that every person's vote counts. (Ms. BROWN of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, we did not have the same numbers on the five bills we did pass.