Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of our nation's greatest minds. Last week, the scientific world and the nanotechnology community in particular lost a giant. Dr. Richard Smalley, the Nobel Prize-winning nanotechnology researcher, died after a long battle with cancer at age 62. Professor Smalley shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996 for discovering the C60 molecule, a soccer ball-shaped form of carbon called buckminsterfullerene. A professor in the physics and chemistry departments at Rice University, he was the founding director of the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice and was director of the Carbon Nanotechnology Laboratory. It is hard to overstate the role Dr. Smalley played in founding and fostering the development of nanotechnology, one of the most important and exciting new areas of scientific inquiry to arise in the past quarter century. The discovery of fullerenes is one of the earliest and most influential discoveries in the development of nanotechnology. Dr. James Heath, one of his former graduate students on the buckyball discovery who has become a leading nanotechnology researcher himself, described Dr. Smalley as ``a Moses for the field. Without a Moses, there's no trip to the promised land.'' Dr. Smalley was a key player in the development of the United States' National Nanotechnology Initiative, launched in 2000. His testimony on Capitol Hill, where he spoke about the promise of nanotechnology for treating cancer and other diseases even as he battled the disease himself, made a deep impression on policymakers. In recent years, Dr. Smalley was an ardent supporter of commercial development of nanotechnology, helping to found Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc. to make sure his discoveries made it to the marketplace where they could benefit society. He was also a scientific adviser to biotech startup C Sixty, which is investigating the use of fullerenes for biopharmaceutical applications. In 2002, Dr. Smalley embarked upon a crusade to promote the use of nanotechnology to solve what he described as the No. 1 problem facing humanity in the 21st century--the need for cheap, clean energy. Smalley crisscrossed the country, gave dozens of keynote addresses, testified before Congress and met with countless government, academic and industrial leaders. Some of his friends and colleagues have said that they thought he fought so hard against his disease so that he could one day see nanotechnology deliver the societal benefits in clean energy that he so passionately believed in. Citizens of the world were fortunate to have Rick Smalley, and will certainly benefit from his discoveries. We owe it to him to continue his efforts to use nanotechnology to solve the need for cheap, clean energy. As ranking member of the Science Committee's Energy Subcommittee, I intend to do what I can to honor Dr. Smalley's memory and continue his good work.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this week, the U.S. Department of Defense acknowledged that the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq has reached 2,000. Sadly, Californians represented the majority of these deaths, with 215 falling victim in the conflict. I, along with all other Americans, mourn the loss of these brave American patriots and insist that we all continue to support those courageous men and women who bear the burden of this military action in Iraq. As we pause to remember the 2,000 patriots who gave their lives and console the families they left behind, we must demand that the remainder of our troops begin their journey home. This unfounded war began with the false belief that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction and has continued under a shortsighted and flawed military strategy. While the Administration chooses to ``stay the course'' and insists that there is significant progress in Iraq, the insurgency continues unabated and too many of our soldiers are returning to their families as only a memory. Others return with emotional and physical wounds that may never heal. Let this week's grim milestone not slip away without a renewed demand that the President provide to the American public, as well as the U.S. soldiers in Iraq, a clear strategy for success. Only through the creation of a coherent and realistic plan can this Administration begin to stem the loss of American life.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, October 25, 2005, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall votes on that day. Had I been present I would have voted the following: ``yea'' on rollcall vote number 536, the American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote number 537, Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the White House Fellows Program.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the millions of Americans whose lives have been touched by domestic violence. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we must continue to raise awareness and address the problem of violence that still affects so many American families. One out of every four American women will experience violence by an intimate partner at some point in her life, and one out of every six women will be raped during her lifetime. Domestic violence crosses ethnic, racial, age, national origin, sexual orientation, religious, and socio-economic lines. Although great strides have been made toward breaking the cycle of violence, much work remains to be done. During the past decade, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and 2000 have provided tremendous protections and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. VAWA funding has provided law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters with the expertise and services they need to do the work of prevention and protection of those affected by violence. Both the House and the Senate have passed bills reauthorizing VAWA, which will provide important prevention initiatives that have the potential to keep millions of women and children safe. As both chambers meet to work out differences in the respective pieces of legislation, I encourage the Committee to retain the Senate provision that addresses the needs of girls in the juvenile justice system and correct flaws in the bills, such as improving the immigrant provisions and restoring the funding stream for communities of color, including key health, housing, and economic security provisions. I am particularly concerned about violence against women of color. In Santa Clara County, of the women killed in domestic-violence related homicides between 1993 and 1997, 7 percent were African Americans, 31 percent were Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, 22 percent were Hispanic/Latino, and 35 percent were White. Asian American and Pacific Islander women had the highest rates of domestic-violence related homicides when compared to their proportion of the population. The Congressional Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific American Caucuses (``Congressional Tri-Caucus'') continue to work together to address issues that disproportionately affect people of color. Last month, the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault, in collaboration with the Congressional Tri-Caucus, held an educational briefing about the needs of victims of color and the importance of culturally-specific messaging that ultimately provides a more comprehensive response to addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence in racial and ethnic communities. The needs of immigrant women are also important to consider. Although VAWA 1994 and 2000 made significant progress in reducing violence against immigrant women, many women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, or trafficking are still being deported. Others remain economically trapped by abusers or traffickers in life-threatening environments. I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 3188, the Immigration Victims of Violence Protection Act, which would stop the deportation of immigrant victims of violence, extend immigration relief to all victims of family violence, and guarantee economic security for immigrant victims and their children. Domestic violence is not solely a woman's issue--it is also a health, social, economic, and criminal justice issue, and must be addressed on multiple levels. We must all do our part to prevent and address violence in our homes, in our communities, and in our society in order to build a safe and healthy nation.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 420, a measure that purports to reduce frivolous lawsuits. While no one likes to see unnecessary, merit-less lawsuits clogging our court system, this bill only serves as an unneeded intrusion of Federal authority into State matters. H.R. 420 substantially changes State court procedure by forcing State judges, within 30 days of a case being filed, to conduct an extensive and lengthy pre-trial hearing to determine whether Federal sanctions must be imposed in a State proceeding. This would require a judge to examine evidence in detail and even to make a pre-trial judgment as to what the outcome of a case might be. These requirements will only serve to add time and expense to the proceedings. Federal judges overwhelmingly agree that the Federal court rules operate more efficiently and fairly when they are discretionary rather than mandatory. Mr. Chairman, States already have some version of the rule that is exactly or substantially similar to the federally available sanction. State courts should not be forced to spend scarce taxpayer money to conduct an expensive hearing in order to apply a Federal rule that mirrors a mechanism they already have in place.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Irma Edna Henry, who is celebrating her 100th birthday. Irma has been a joy to the community and has profoundly impacted the lives of her friends, family, and neighbors. Irma Edna Henry was born to Bertha and Frank Daniels on November 7, 1905 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has lived in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania for most of her life. Growing up with three sisters and two brothers, Irma has always greatly valued family life. At the age of sixteen, Irma began working for the phone company, a job which she maintained intermittently after her marriage to Ralph Dewitt Henry on August 22, 1927. During the 1950s, Ralph, an employee at Gulf Oil, was transferred to Texas, where Irma became a nursing assistant at a local hospital. She then started a career at the county office in Pittsburgh, where she worked for several years until her retirement. Wherever she worked, Irma was well known for her extraordinary work ethic. As much as she enjoyed each of her jobs, Irma has always treasured staying at home with her family. Irma and Ralph raised three sons, Ralph Jr., Herman, and Kenneth, and gained three daughters-in-law, Justina, Phyllis, and Arlene. Irma's husband Ralph passed away on December 8, 1984 at the age of eighty-six; however, Irma enjoys the company of her seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Throughout her life, Irma has been an active member of the community and of the Democratic Party. She was elected committee woman for the Fourth Ward of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania and has always enjoyed advocating for others. Today, Irma is still very active and lives independently in her own apartment. She attends church services at her high-rise apartment and listens to country, western, and gospel music, enjoying the music of Daniel O'Donnell in particular. Irma is also a fan of Jeopardy, never missing an episode, and often spends her afternoons drinking coffee with her friends. Friends and neighbors appreciate her hospitality and her delicious cooking, always considering a meal at her home to be a special treat. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding member of the community. Irma Henry's great dedication to her friends and neighbors and her love of assisting others have inspired those around her to serve the community as much as Irma has done. Irma has touched the lives of many, and all those who know her feel privileged for having had the opportunity to meet such a remarkable woman.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we lost one of the truly great figures in American history, Rosa Parks. I rise to honor the life of the Civil Rights icon known for her strong and quite courage. Ms. Parks was a seamstress at the Montgomery Fair department store in Montgomery, Alabama. It was her refusal to surrender a bus seat to a white man that launched the modern civil rights movement 50 years ago and inspired generations of activists. During the 1950's, this nation was at a turning point in the area of race relations. Looking back, the Civil Rights movement had been building up, but a special moment, a spark, was needed to wake the national conscious. Rosa Parks stand provided that spark, and later became known as the ``mother of the civil rights movement''. The arrest of Rosa Parks inspired a young Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. to organize the famous Montgomery bus boycott. The 381 day Montgomery Bus Boycott, became one of the largest and most successful challenges of segregation, which drew more attention towards the civil rights movement. Ms. Parks dedicated her life towards achieving equality and freedom for all, serving as secretary of the NAACP and later the Adviser to the NAACP Youth Council, helping African Americans pass special tests which would allow them to register to vote. Mrs. Parks continued on her journey for racial equality when she tried to register to vote on several unsuccessful attempts. Over the years, Rosa Parks dedicated her time to educating her fellow Americans on the history of the civil rights struggle. In 1987, with the help of Elaine Eason Steele, Parks founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Improvement, a youth assistance organization in Detroit. The program takes young people on an educational tour that visits sites of importance in the civil rights movement. Because of the dedication Rosa Parks showed in the struggle for racial equality, her work has been recognized in receiving innumerable honors, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, the Eleanor Roosevelt Women of Courage Award, Medal of Honor, the highest award that the U.S. government bestows, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks continued her commitment to civil rights until her death. She will always be known as a person who was immensely concerned about equality, freedom, prosperity justice for all and she will be dearly missed.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern over S. 397, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The safe and lawful use of firearms is very important to me. When I was in the California State Assembly, I chaired the Public Safety Committee where I worked to pass sensible gun safety legislation and I have voted to ban assault weapons. I firmly believe we must pass sensible gun laws for the safety of all. The measure on the House floor today is intended to protect a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, from any legal liability stemming from the criminal or unlawful misuse of that firearm. The legislation also requires the immediate dismissal of pending lawsuits, even cases in which a court has found the suit to be meritorious. I fear this bill will deny justice to innocent victims of gun violence, and therefore I will oppose it. In recent years, dozens of individuals and municipalities have filed lawsuits against gun manufacturers for damages caused by gun violence. Such suits typically contend that gun makers knowingly provide weapons to irresponsible gun dealers, who then take advantage of gun sale loopholes to sell weapons to criminals. Some of these lawsuits by victims of gun violence have begun to expose how the gun industry's reckless, though not always technically criminal, sales tactics supply criminals with weapons. The gun lobby argues that S. 397 prohibits ``frivolous'' lawsuits, while allowing ``legitimate'' cases to proceed through the legal system. However, many legal experts confirm that this bill would give the gun industry sweeping immunity that no other industry has, and would bar many meritorious cases brought by victims of gun violence injured or killed by negligent gun sellers and manufacturers. The bill would even restrict many cases in which a product defect is at issue. S. 397 seeks to provide sweeping legal immunity to an industry that already enjoys exemptions from Federal health and safety regulations. It would dramatically re-write liability law for the direct benefit of a single industry. Furthermore, lawsuits brought on behalf of officers injured or killed in the line of duty by guns negligently sold by dealers, would be barred. If immunity for the gun industry is enacted, police officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect the public would have no legal recourse when they are harmed due to another's negligence. Mr. Speaker, we should not be providing this blanket immunity to the gun industry and I therefore oppose this measure.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the name of my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Franks) removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 551. His name was added in error.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my concern that we are again dealing with a notion that there is a crisis in our courts with obesity lawsuits. H.R. 554, the so-called ``Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act'' is a measure that seeks to give federal immunity to food manufacturers, sellers, and advertisers for obesity-related claims. The reality is there is only one such pending suit in the entire country, so I am hard pressed to see why we need to take up this measure today, especially since there are so many other important issues we need to address. I do not think it is the role of the United States Congress to intervene in every individual and private issue in America. Our Nation is plagued by childhood obesity and heart disease, and we should be looking into real solutions to this problem, we should not be focusing our efforts on getting rid of one lawsuit currently pending against a fast food outlet. Furthermore, the language in H.R. 554 is so broad it would cut off legitimate claims against the food industry, even where the industry acted to deceive the public and even where it violated State or Federal law. For instance, those in the food industry who fraudulently or deceptively market or sell low-fat products that are not really low-fat should be held accountable but this measure would let them off the hook. Lawsuits aimed at unscrupulous tactics help to change the behavior of the bad actors in the industry we should allow our legal system to process these legitimate cases. Mr. Chairman, our legal system has multiple procedural safeguards to ensure that frivolous litigation is thrown out and that meritorious claims are preserved. That is why I oppose H.R. 554.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 3893. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused tremendous devastation along the Gulf coast, and I appreciate the need to address the suffering and destruction that resulted. However, I am appalled at this effort by the Republican majority to exploit this national tragedy to weaken environmental, public health, and consumer protections under the guise of lower gasoline prices; and protect consumers from price-gouging on gasoline. Sadly, the bill will accomplish none of these things, while being loaded down with controversial unrelated provisions. This is why it was opposed by every Democrat on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. While claiming to protect consumers, this bill actually weakens the Federal Trade Commission's authority to deal with price gouging, at a time when we have seen gasoline prices rise at astronomical rates. It focuses all price gouging efforts on mom-and-pop retailers, rather than the big oil companies and refiners who are actually reaping enormous profits. This bill limits the areas that can be investigated for price- gouging, and there is no real enforcement authority to prosecute bad behavior. The bill gives new regulatory subsidies to the refining industry at a time when that industry's profits are breaking records. The Washington Post reported last month that over the past year, refinery profit margins on a gallon of gasoline have increased over 255 percent. Yet the bill could also put taxpayers on the hook for unlimited damages if a refinery is stalled in litigation or must meet new regulatory standards. The fact is that refineries are not being built in this country because the companies do not want to build them for economic reasons. And this bill will undermine local control by forcing some communities with closed military bases to accept refineries without having any input in the process. These communities will not be able to develop sites for years even if the Federal Government does not ultimately build refineries on them. I was at a roundtable with high tech leaders last weekend, and the one thing they talked most about was energy. They emphasized the need for new alternative energy supplies and highlighted the role that new technologies can play in using energy more efficiently and generating it in new ways. Sadly, the Republican bill will do nothing in this area. And one amendment that would have led to real strides in efficiency, the Boehlert-Markey amendment which would have increased fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to 33 miles per gallon by 2015, was not even allowed by the Rules Committee. I am incredulous as to how we could be considering a bill that is supposed to address high gasoline prices and not have a debate on increasing the efficiency with which vehicles use fuel. Even the President is now advocating conservation, which his own Vice President once claimed was a virtue but not a policy. That is why I oppose H.R. 3893 and support the Democratic substitute, which will provide real enforcement against energy price gouging and establish a Strategic Refinery Reserve, patterned on the successful Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to protect against loss of refinery capacity.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the anniversary of the Republic of China's (Taiwan) Independence Day, a day commonly referred to as Double 10 Day. Double 10 Day celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty. It is therefore also known in Chinese as National Celebration Day. I am proud to join with the people of Taiwan and their leader President Chen Shui-bian in commemorating the Chinese people's struggle for independence. Double 10 Day offers those of us in Congress an opportunity to recognize Taiwan's friendship and unwavering alliance with the United States. This strong alliance is predicated in part on shared values. In fact, Taiwan has nurtured a stable democracy and vibrant economy that encourages the entrepreneurial spirit. Taiwan has also become a model society. It has excellent schools, outstanding medical care, a strong economy, and many of its people enjoy one of the highest standards of living. Taiwan's social welfare programs have been making laudable efforts to raise the standard of living for all. Mr. Speaker, I would also take this opportunity to praise the good work of Taiwan Representative David Tawei Lee. He is a fine diplomat who has kept those of us in Congress well informed and well briefed on all of the latest developments in Taiwan. Again, congratulations to the people of Taiwan on their Independence Day and I wish the 23 million people of Taiwan continued progress and prosperity.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two very special people, Victor and Mae LoBue, who are celebrating seventy-five years of marriage on September 10, 2005. Victor LoBue and Mae DiSalvo were both born in 1910 in San Jose, in a neighborhood of Italian-American immigrants called ``Little Orchard'' near the Sacred Heart Church. Both of their families were in the ranching and canning business. Vic and Mae each have three siblings, who all reside in San Jose, and Mae survives her late sister, Dolly. Vic and Mae have been close since childhood when they met in elementary school. The nuns at school were constantly busy trying to interfere in the couple's endless chase, but to no avail! Vic would chase Mae, and when stopped, Mae would in turn chase Vic. The couple married on September 10, 1930, at Sacred Heart Church in San Jose when Vic was twenty and Mae was nineteen. They settled into a home on Willow Street, near their cherry orchards, where Vic worked in the family business. In 1966, when Vic became a partner in the Indian Wells Country Club, home of the ``Bob Hope Classic Golf Tournament'', Vic and Mae moved to Southern California. The couple has homes in Carmel Valley Ranch Country Club and Indian Wells Country Club. They have also maintained a long-time membership to The Thunderbird Club in Rancho Mirage. Vic and Mae have one child, Victor, Jr. Victor, Jr. and his wife, Jeannie, lived in Gilroy for many years but moved to Indian Wells, California in 1990. Vic has generously contributed to the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Jose throughout his life. He, along with his brother, Salvador, donated a room at Santa Clara University. Vic was an active member of the Jaycees, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Clara County Horseman's Association. He was also a member of the Sheriff's Posse. Today, Vic and Mae divide their time between San Jose and Southern California. They have lived a long, healthy and happy life. Congratulations to Vic and Mae LoBue on the occasion of their seventy-fifth wedding anniversary. Their marriage is a testament to happiness, commitment and fulfillment: What began as a childhood game of chase has become a lifetime of love.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and contributions of Ms. Andrea Leiderman who recently passed away. Andrea is survived by her parents and siblings, and her loving husband, Hayes Alexander, III. She will be sorely missed by her many friends and our community. Today, I honor her energy, her determination and her life-long service to the Bay Area community. Andrea Naomi Leiderman was born on August 8, 1959 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Drs. Herbert and Gloria Leiderman. The family moved west when Andrea, the youngest of four children, was four years old. Andrea grew up on the Stanford campus where her father is a professor emeritus, and has always been politically active. As a child, she organized a school grape boycott in support of the United Farm Workers; as an adult, she worked on the presidential campaigns of George McGovern, Jimmy Carter and Alan Cranston. Andrea attended Vassar College, majoring in political science. After college, she worked as a legislative assistant to former New York Representative Matt McHugh and, later, as the LBJ Congressional Fellow to former California Representative Norman Mineta, currently U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Andrea also served as an aide to County Supervisor Jim Beall during his tenure on the San Jose City Council. Andrea was only 28 years old when she was elected as chairwoman of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. She was also elected as chair of the Women's Caucus, and received the highest number of votes in delegate elections. Andrea served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, including two terms as President of the Board in 1995 and 2000. Andrea spearheaded school board policy on neighborhood outreach while advocating workforce education and emphasizing assistance to underrepresented students. She was also a valued trustee of the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District. Most recently, Andrea was Director of Government and Community Relations for Kaiser Permanente's South Bay facilities, using her experience in the public sector to promote healthcare. She was a dedicated and committed worker until the end. Andrea Leiderman died at the very young age of 46, on September 11, 2005. When she passed away, our community lost one of its most dynamic community activists--an advocate of minority rights, social justice, education and equality.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, the Endangered Species Act is a safety net for wildlife, plants and fish that are on the brink of extinction. Over its 32-year history, the Endangered Species Act has been 99 percent successful in saving species from extinction, with only 7 out of over 1,200 species having gone extinct after being listed under the Act. The number of species that have fully recovered is not as high, however, and at this point there is a recognition that the current critical habitat arrangement doesn't work, for a whole host of reasons. I believe that any legislation amending the Endangered Species Act should include a number of critical principles. It should not weaken existing law, nor should changes be adopted that would alter the original intent of the Endangered Species Act. The Act was written to protect all plants and animals in the United States from extinction and to restore them to stable populations. Limiting protections for imperiled species now would serve only to make protection and recovery much more difficult and expensive in the future. I also believe that habitat protections for threatened and endangered species should not be weakened. The loss of habitat is widely considered by scientists to be the primary cause of species extinction and endangerment. Preservation of habitat is an essential element to any and all efforts to protect and recover endangered species. Additionally, any amendments should maintain the mandate for the Endangered Species Act to work towards recovery. The Endangered Species Act requires not only that we protect species from extinction but also that we recover species to the point where protection is no longer needed. Merely maintaining the survival of a species contradicts the spirit and letter of the law, which is why we need to hold federal actions to the standard of recovering species. Citizen input and oversight are vital to good Endangered Species Act decisions and management, so any changes to the Act should avoid unnecessary hurdles to public participation. It is also important to uphold the scientific process behind Endangered Species Act decisions. The scientific review of matters relating to the Endangered Species Act is already sufficiently rigorous. Adding another layer of bureaucracy would serve only to slow the process, to the detriment of both the species in question and affected citizens. Finally, I believe that while vigilant Congressional oversight is critical to the success of any law, putting an arbitrary expiration date on the Endangered Species Act would place the protection of species at the mercy of the legislative calendar. Mr. Chairman, white I realize that the Endangered Species Act is not perfect, I believe that the version of the bill that is before us today will eliminate critical habitat without including other mechanisms to protect species' homes. Unless substantial amendments to address this and other shortcomings are passed on the floor today, I will not support H.R. 3824. I applaud the efforts of a bipartisan group of my colleagues, including Mr. Miller, Mr. Boehlert, and the original author of ESA, Representative Dingell, who have worked hard to develop an alternative bill that I am happy to support.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the citizens of Taiwan and to recognize their democratically elected President Chen Shui-bian who has made a stopover in the United States en route to Central America. I trust that President Chen has had a good visit in the U.S. In the last five years, Taiwan has continued to impress the world as a prosperous island nation, free and democratic. Taiwan is truly committed to genuine democratization, as evidenced by the third direct presidential election of 2004. By working together, Taiwan and China will have the potential to make significant contributions to peace, security and prosperity in the entire Pacific Rim. I sincerely hope that a framework will soon be established for peaceful interactions between the two sides. It is everyone's dream that rapprochement between Taiwan and China be possible within the shortest period of time and to all parties' satisfaction. The people of the U.S. appreciate Taiwan's cooperation with the U.S. government in combating global terrorism and Taiwan's monetary contributions to the Twin Towers Fund and the Pentagon Memorial Fund. The relationship between Taiwan and the United States is strong and healthy. Ambassador David Tawei Lee is an effective bridge between the government of Taiwan and the government of the U.S. Mr. Speaker, we must always remember Taiwan's important role in maintaining peace and stability in the Pacific Rim. To have permanent peace in the region, the U.S. must do its part in urging Taiwan and China to continue peaceful dialogue and exchanges.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge those in Santa Clara County, California who have offered assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Their efforts stand as a testament to the American spirit of generosity. The local governments of Santa Clara County have responded with munificent offerings to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The San Jose City Council and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors each authorized $500,000 for the Santa Clara Valley American Red Cross to provide services to hurricane victims who arrive in the area. The San Jose Fire Department deployed firefighters to assist in the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina and stand ready as needed. Local universities opened their academies and housing to those displaced by the hurricane. In fact, Santa Clara University admitted 75 students from New Orleans-based institutions Loyola University and Tulane University after the hurricane forced the campuses to close. The San Jose Recovery Center is providing interim shelter and services for evacuees at a former student housing complex at San Jose State University. So far, the Center has served sixty-six people. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority responded as well by providing free bus passes to individuals and families, assuring mobility to access the medical services, education, and jobs. United by the Santa Clara County CADRE (Collaborating Agencies Disaster Relief Efforts), many local community organizations have provided ongoing evacuee support. The Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley forwarded 900 housing offers while coordinating occupational opportunities for evacuees. Local businesses and individuals have also contributed generous cash, food, and supply donations to the recovery effort. I commend the many individuals, organizations and agencies of Santa Clara County that contributed to the relief effort. I know that these donations and others from across the country have made a meaningful impact on the lives of the thousands of Gulf Coast residents still living in a state of uncertainty.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the House rejected legislation naming a post office after longtime Berkeley Councilwoman Maudelle Shirek. I cosponsored this legislation, and I believe strongly that the Federal Government should honor Maudelle Shirek for her many civic contributions. This vote became a news sensation. My colleague, Rep. Steve King, told one newspaper that ``if Barbara Lee would read the history of Joe McCarthy, she would realize that he was a hero for America.'' I could not disagree more, and I am alarmed that my colleague would exalt such a mean, vindictive, tyrant. Senator McCarthy blindly accused his enemies of communism and homosexuality without any evidence or genuinely patriotic motive. This corrupt bully exploited the fears of the American people to boost his own political career. Senator McCarthy's only achievement was inspiring an anti-communist hysteria that ruined the lives of thousands of innocent Americans. As a Japanese American, I know the devastating effects of mass fear and hysteria. During World War II, my family and thousands of other Japanese American families were forced into camps--deprived of their dignity, liberty, and property. At a time like this, I am reminded of the words of Special Counsel for the Army Joseph Welch, who in a 1954 hearing poignantly asked of Senator McCarthy, ``Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?''

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3402, a measure that reauthorizes most Justice Department programs through FY 2009, with some extended through FY 2010. I support this measure because it provides crucial funding for Justice Department programs. The bill authorizes $95 billion through FY 2010, including $5.8 billion for the FBI in FY 2006, and $5 billion for Federal prisons. I am especially glad to see that this bill reauthorizes programs funded under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which is designed to combat crimes often targeted toward women, such as stalking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. During the past decade, VAWA of 1994 and 2000 have provided tremendous protections and support for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. VAWA funding has provided law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters with the expertise and services they need to do the work of prevention and protection of those affected by violence. The reauthorization of VAWA will allow us to continue to fund crucial and successful programs and expand on 10 years of progress to further provide safety and stability for survivors of gender-based violence. I am disappointed that late last night, Judiciary Majority staff submitted a manager's amendment which strikes ``racial and ethnic minorities'' from the definition of underserved populations in the STOP grants section of VAWA. STOP grants are the heart of VAWA funding. Without this language, domestic violence prevention and treatment services specifically targeting women of color and immigrant victims of domestic violence will continue to be shortchanged. This language change is a major flaw in the Manager's Amendment and I oppose the amendment. H.R. 3402 also merges the Byrne Grant Program and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program, and renames it the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. It authorizes $1.1 billion for this program in FY 2006 and such sums as are necessary for fiscal years 2007 through 2009. Finally, the bill re-organizes the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program by consolidating all the different grant programs into a single block grant program. The bill authorizes $1 billion in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for this important crime fighting program. Mr. Chairman, this is a very good bill overall and I am glad to see Republicans working with Democrats on such an important measure.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, as a former teacher and principal, I rise today to voice my support for H.R. 2123, the bipartisan Head Start bill. Since 1965, Head Start has helped over 20 million children build the confidence and skills they need to succeed in school and to become the leaders and productive citizens of the future. Children cannot learn when they are hungry, sick, or too worried about their families to concentrate in school. That is precisely why we need Head Start. Head Start is unique in its comprehensive approach to supporting children and families, offering early education, health care, social services, and nutrition services, while emphasizing parent involvement and support. This approach has represented a formula for success for nearly 40 years. I am pleased that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have not pursued their strategy of last year and have worked with Members from this side of the aisle to produce a bill that does not include the block grant proposal that was advanced in the last Congress. I am also pleased that the bill will align Head Start curricula with K-12 education while preserving the comprehensive nature of the Head Start program. This will support effective transitions for children's learning and development and ensure that children will enter school ready to learn. At the same time, the proposal will provide continuity for children by retaining the essential parental involvement, nutrition, and other non-academic features of Head Start. I am glad that H.R. 2123 has a strong focus on early childhood educator professional development. Improving teacher quality in Head Start is critical to increasing overall program quality and helping more children reach kindergarten better prepared to succeed. I am concerned, however, that while the bill requires teachers to have higher academic degrees, it provides no funding to support the implementation of its important teacher quality provisions. Improving teacher quality is very important, but without providing the means to support the provision, the initiative is severely undercut. I hope that this problem is addressed in conference. Despite my support for the bill, I will vote against it if the divisive amendment being offered by Mr. Boustany passes. I strongly oppose this amendment, which would allow faith based-sponsored Head Start programs to use Federal taxpayer dollars to discriminate against qualified teachers and other employees solely because of their religion or personal religious views. Head Start began as a civil rights platform--ensuring that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion--get a head start in life. This amendment would roll back civil rights for Head Start teachers and parent volunteers by allowing religious discrimination. This is an outright assault on religious liberty and civil rights in federally funded programs. To trample on this now will turn back the clock on the progress we have made in protecting the civil rights of the people we entrust to give our children a head start. Allowing discrimination based on religion would significantly impede the important goals of Head Start as well as sending a damaging message to students. Religious institutions have been providing invaluable Head Start services for years and do not need this misguided amendment to continue their good work. As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I recognize how important Head Start is to APA communities. Nationwide, over 25,000 APA children are served by Head Start. In California alone, over 6,000 APA children are enrolled in Head Start, with over half of them coming from homes where English is not the primary language. I want to support the improvements in Head Start that this bill will make in order to provide the children in these communities with the opportunities they richly deserve. But these communities, which have had to fight so hard to protect their own civil rights, do not want a Head Start program that discriminates and do not want Congress to act for the first time to specifically repeal civil rights protections against discrimination. Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to put the needs of children first, vote against the Boustany amendment which is a poison pill that will kill this bill, and make a real commitment to improve the Head Start program.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this weekend thousands of Americans will congregate on the National Mall and in cities all across this country to protest the Bush Administration's elective war in Iraq. By raising their voices en masse, they hope to send a message to President Bush that he and his Administration, thus far, has been unwilling to hear: the American people don't support this war. The war was always predicated on the false premise that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. This Congress was negligent in not demanding more proof of the President and then refusing to hold him accountable for his exaggerated and unfounded claims. His war strategy was equally flawed. He has failed to provide the resources our men and women in uniform need to be successful, and American lives have been lost as a result. In 2002 and 2003, Army Chief of Staff General Shinseki warned that not enough boots on the ground would lead to a power vacuum that our enemies would exploit. Tragically, his premonitions have been born out. To date, approximately 1,900 brave Americans have been killed in Iraq, and there appears to be no immediate end to the quagmire in Iraq. The American people are rightly asking whether we are any closer to a stable and democratic Iraq today than when the President declared ``Mission Accomplished.'' If experience has taught us anything, it is that democracy cannot be forced upon a nation by gun point. Yet, military force seems to be Bush's preferable strategy. A recent GAO report indicates that the Defense Department has no ability to account for billions of Federal dollars expended on the war in Iraq, and there are reports of widespread corruption within the Iraqi government. Iraq's own Finance Minister Ali Allawi admitted, ``Huge amounts of money have disappeared. In return, we got nothing but scraps of metal.'' Meanwhile, Congress continues to debate how the Federal Government will afford the recovery effort from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Some of my Republican colleagues have suggested that we cut spending on domestic programs for health care, education and transportation. The American people, by and large, reject this approach. A recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll revealed that a full 54 percent of the respondents felt that the relief effort should be financed by cutting funding for the war. Only 6 percent felt Congress should cut domestic spending. In the debate over guns and butter, the American people have spoken clearly. Now all we need is a President that is willing to carry out the will of the people.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit with instructions would amend the bill by adding an authorization of the Advanced Technology Program within the National Institute of Standards and Technology at a level of $140 million for fiscal year 2006. The Advanced Technology Program partners with industry by providing funds for early-stage technologies that are viewed to be too technically risky or too nascent by private funding sources. It is one of the Federal Government's best means of promoting risk- taking and promoting the pursuit of new technology that go well beyond the limits of conventional practices. Experts agree that these are key elements for maintaining American manufacturing competitiveness in the future. The opponents of this motion have claimed that ATP does not belong in a manufacturing bill, but the evidence shows that it does. In 43 peer reviewed ATP competitions, 39 percent of the awards have involved development of advanced manufacturing technologies. At a June 2003 Committee on Science hearing on manufacturing R&D, the witnesses were unanimous in their belief that ATP was an important element to improving the U.S. manufacturing infrastructure and competitiveness. Supporters of H.R. 250 have mentioned that the bill is supported by the National Association of Manufacturers. But you should be aware that NAM also supports ATP, as most recently expressed in a letter to Senator Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science. Other industry groups that support ATP funding include the Electronics Industries Alliance, the Alliance for Science and Technology Research in America, and the Council on Competitiveness. The Senate Committee on Science's own views and estimates on the fiscal year 2006 budget request state: ``The committee continues to support the Advanced Technology Program and is disappointed that the administration has again included no funds for the program in the budget request.'' It is the job of the Congress, not the President, to make these spending decisions. Year after year we provide funding for ATP in appropriations bills, but we fail to provide the certainty in the program that an authorization will bring. Today we have a chance to do so. ATP has been targeted for termination because it has been tagged as corporate welfare, but this is a mischaracterization. ATP conducts peer-reviewed competitions open to all technology areas with demanding standards for awardees. Awardees receive relatively small amounts of funding that they must match with their own contributions. Contrast this with the energy bill signed into law earlier this year that provides billions of dollars in direct spending, subsidies, loan guarantees, and tax breaks to an industry that is reaping record high profits. While we engage in a philosophical debate about whether to fund ATP, other nations are taking even bigger steps to improve their manufacturing capabilities, and as a result advanced manufacturing work is now being done outside of the U.S. It is essential that we do something to help American manufacturers stay at the cutting edge, ahead of foreign competitors, and keeping ATP alive is a good start. I merely seek to authorize funding for ATP for fiscal year 2006 at the same funding level that is included in the Senate's CJS bill for fiscal year 2006, a level that was supported just last week by a vote of 68 to 29. Given this level of Senate support, the conference report on that bill is almost certain to include funding for ATP, so we might as well pass this motion and authorize that spending. Now, I have heard claims that we cannot include ATP in this bill because the administration opposes it. Well, the administration opposed full funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, but this bill contains full funding for MEP. Congress overrode the administration when it was the right thing to do. Including ATP is the right thing to do, too. If the President has such a problem with it, he can make this bill his first veto. In April, President Bush told the National Small Business Conference that he ``appreciates the fact that the small business entrepreneurs are some of the great innovators of our Nation'' and that he ``appreciates the fact that our small business owners are taking risks and pursuing dreams.'' But his actions show that he fails to appreciate that some of the most important advances are extremely risky, and to take those risks, businesses need a little help from the government. That is what ATP does. The most risky ventures are the ones with the greatest potential. If we fail to provide that help to American businesses, other countries are going to do it. They are already doing it, and that is why jobs are going overseas. I urge a ``yes'' vote on my motion to recommit with instructions.

Mr. HONDA. I am, in its current form, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule for consideration of H.R. 250, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act. I oppose this rule because it does not make in order a very reasonable amendment which would have added a 1-year authorization for the Advanced Technology Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. There is no real logical reason for not allowing me to offer the amendment, and I think the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) has proven that over and over again when we provide opportunities for the other side to respond to the question. I think I have the answer. In our subcommittee meeting, we had a conversation when we were dealing with ATP, my amendment; and when I asked the question, why has this not been supported, the chairman said a little bit hesitantly, and I think he was a little embarrassed, he said that the President does not want to see this in the bill, and I will be just straightforward; that is what he said. It seems to me that the President proposes, as the saying goes, and Congress disposes. It is our job to put things into the bill. It is his job to either sign the bill or not sign the bill. If he does not like this, he should veto it; but at least we should have the opportunity to debate this on the floor, because we did not have that opportunity in subcommittee. It seems to me that if we understand that small business is 70 percent of the economic machine of this country, and if the President himself has said that he adores and he embraces small business in this country, his words seem to ring very hollow if he is not willing to fund ATP. There are no problems with ATP. It is a program that has been going for years, since the first Bush administration. It has been supported bipartisanly. What is happening is the funding is being cut slowly over and over and over again, so that what we do is end up starving the beast. Mr. Speaker, I urge that we allow this to be heard. It is an egregious abuse of power.