Katherine Harris

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Venice High School Lady Indians volleyball team, on their recent victory in the 2006 Class 5A state volleyball championship. The team's 26-7 regular season record and championship victory certainly deserve applause; however, the manner in which they achieved their goal truly makes them champions. Under the leadership of Coach Brian Wheatley, this band of sisters turned a potentially disappointing season into a modern-day Cinderella story. Runners-up in 2004, the team began the season with only two returning starters, offering little hope for anything more than a ``rebuilding'' season. However, a little hope and a lot of grit and determination was all this team needed. They saw in each other the desire to succeed, the willingness to sacrifice and the wisdom to work as a team; with perseverance and commitment to each other, they refused to give up. In the end, the season was a learning experience. And it was an experience in which the entire community shared. The Lady Indians deserve their championship, and they deserve our thanks for a season of inspiration. The members of the 2005 Venice High School Varsity volleyball team are: Leah Bodi, Marla Cooke, Dana Dumas, Natalie Gaudreau, Ashley Graf, Nickie Halbert, Julie Howlett, Casie Richards, Casey Taylor, Michaela Trimble, and Danielle Witte. To this collection of Cinderellas, I offer my congratulations.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, due to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Wilma on the State of Florida, I was unable to attend votes on Thursday, October 27, 2005 due to a visit to the State with President Bush and other delegation Members. While I am disappointed I was not able to be present, I am asking, that you include the following intended votes in the Congressional Record. I would have voted nay on H.J. Res. 65, the Schiff Amendment to H.R. 420, as well as the Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 420. I would have voted yea on H.R. 3945, H. Res. 368, Final Passage of H.R. 420, and the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3047. Again, I apologize for my absence and thank you in advance for your time and attention to this matter.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as a Girl Scout, First Class, to congratulate the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida on the recent opening of its new regional headquarters in Sarasota, Florida. The Searcy S. Koen Regional Girl Scout campus, located on 12-acres, designed around protected wetlands, focuses on conserving energy and protecting our environment. Notably, the facility is Sarasota County's second project certified for Leadership in Environmentally Engineered Design. The new Wetlands Learning Habitat, plus the Council Headquarters and Gulf Coast Event and Conference Center will create and enhance opportunities for Girl Scouts throughout Southwest Florida. The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, with over 9,700 registered girls, continues to build character, courage and confidence in girls who will strive to make the world a better place. Having experienced scouting for twelve years, I well know the extraordinary opportunities offered to these girls, from camping in Florida's beautiful State parks, to earning badges representing a plethora of skills and knowledge acquired. Attaining the Eagle Equivalent as a Girl Scout ``First Class'' was an extremely meaningful achievement for me as a young woman. In today's world, I believe we would all do well to reflect upon the Girl Scout Promise: ``On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law . . . I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do; and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.''

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I was proud to cast a firm vote in support of the Private Property Rights Protection Act. While this measure will not reverse the Supreme Court's mind-boggling 5-4 decision in the Kelo v. New London case, it will ensure that American taxpayers will not have their hard-earned dollars used in its support. No State or locality shall be permitted to employ the power of eminent domain to seize private property in the name of economic development. In addition, the bill will grant appropriate access to State and Federal courts for those who seek justice and remedy for any nonmeritorious seizure of their property. There is no question that Americans do not wish to shirk their responsibility to take care of their community through support for measures which serve the public good. However, most do not view fulfillment of this obligation as necessitating a forfeiture of their fundamental rights. Few rights are as central to the foundation of our great Nation as is the right of control over one's private property. As James Madison laid out in the Federalist Papers, private property rights lie at the foundation of our Constitution: ``Government is instituted no less for the protection of property than of the persons of individuals.'' Madison's declaration was echoed by Justice William Paterson in Vanhorne's Lessee v. Dorrance (1795) when he asserted: ``The right of acquiring and possessing private property and having it protected is one of the most natural, inherent, and inalienable rights of man. This does not require one to have expertise in constitutional law to conclude from these statements that the Framers did not intend for citizens to cede their ``natural, inherent, and inalienable rights'' in the name of expanding the local tax base or in the development of one of our favorite Starbucks or Wal-Marts. As Justice Clarence Thomas noted in his dissent, the text of the fifth amendment permits the taking of property ``only if in the public right to employ it.'' In response to the public concern of the Kelo decision, the Ohio State legislature recently passed a measure prohibiting cities from seizing unblighted land for economic development in 2006. And Ohio is not alone. Excluding bills prefiled for the 2006 legislative session, the National Council of State Legislatures found that 12 States have already taken legislative steps to prohibit in some form or fashion the use of eminent domain in private property seizure. Today, we join in the fight on behalf of all Americans who own or aspire to own their small piece of paradise and, more importantly, to own it without fear from unwarranted, unjustified, and unconstitutional seizure.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, today much attention is focused on our ability as a Nation to respond to the events, natural or unnatural, which have emerged on a visibly grand scale. Mother Nature's naked fury, clothed in hurricanes Katrina and Rita, exposed our vulnerability to her indiscriminate forces and its cruelty, but also its charity, exhibited by thousands of citizens who reached out to the victims' grasping hands. We also continue to respond to terrorism by engaging in a vigilant battle against religious and ideological extremism at home and abroad. No less vital to the security of our society is our response to the perniciously pervasive scourge of domestic violence. In 1994, this Congress recognized the threat posed by violence against women to the fabric of our society when it passed the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA. Set to expire in October, I strongly support the reauthorization of VAWA, which has made a valuable contribution to declining rates of violent crime. Yet it is not enough to simply herald the falling violent crimes rates for both males and females since 1984. It is not enough to celebrate the fact the number of total domestic violence cases in Florida started to decline in 1998 and, in 2004, fell a further 3.3 percent. For the 119,772 Floridians who were victims of abuse or violence in 2004, statistics provide neither comfort nor shelter. By reauthorizing and reinforcing the provision of VAWA, we demonstrate to those victims and their families that we have not lost focus or lost sight of them. By strengthening the enforcement provisions of VAWA and by making it gender-neutral, I believe it will serve to protect not only women but all victims of domestic abuse and those who suffer its effects. The effects of domestic violence are neither discriminatory nor confined to the bruises of the body. According to the Child Welfare League, between 3.3 million and 10 million children witness some form of violence in the home each year and children from violent homes exhibit more aggressive or delinquent behavior compared to their peers of nonviolent homes. Furthermore, it has been reported that between 50 and 70 percent of men who abuse their partners also abuse their children. And the cycle continues. Tomorrow I will proudly lend my support to extending the lifeline VAWA provides to thousands of families and the community organizations which provide them safety and refuge each year. I will reaffirm my support for putting the full force of the law behind the enforcement of our criminal laws while placing my full faith in the families and communities this program serves. I would also encourage my colleagues to offer the same support to language in the overall measure to prohibit the personal information of victims of domestic violence from being entered into the Homeless Management Information Systems Database. This would permit the use of nonpersonally identifying information for data collection and statistical purposes while safeguarding the identities of women who are most vulnerable to the violence and often dangerous ramifications of reporting domestic abuse. Our Nation faces many challenges, but few are more important than providing shelter for the body and hope for the soul.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 485, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, sometimes numbers paint a dramatic picture. According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, one in five children 10 to 17 years old are recipients of unwanted sexual solicitations online. One of every seven victims of sexual assault is under the age of 6. One in five girls will be sexually exploited before they reach adulthood. And one in 10 boys will become victims before they become men. According to the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children, the whereabouts of 100,00 to 150,000 of some 500,000 sexual offenders currently registered in the United States are unknown. What is known is that we are not powerless. I fully support the measures included in the Child Safety Act. The passage of this bill will do nothing to bring about the safe return of children like Carlie Brucia, a Sarasota Girl Scout who was brutally victimized and murdered by a sexual predator. However, it will save other families the most undeniable anguish of losing a child to the most unthinkable acts of violence. This bill takes commonsense steps toward ensuring sex offenders are not free to prey on the most vulnerable members of our society. H.R. 3132 will require States to alert other States when sexual offenders seek other locations. There are many, many things that keep parents awake at night. Passage of this bill should not be one of those.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which we observe this week. This landmark piece of legislation continues to make a daily difference in the lives of the American people--not only in the lives of those with disabilities, but in all of our lives. The Americans with Disabilities Act laid the groundwork to direct our nation toward equal opportunity for all. Today, the National Council on Disability, working with their federal partners, keeps up the hard work of striving to meet this vital goal. I am proud to have one of my Florida constituents serving as an appointee to the United States Access Board, which helps ensure accessibility in the design of Federal facilities. I applaud her commitment and dedication. As Florida Secretary of State, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to apply the mission of the ADA to the cause of election reform. In Florida, we worked to remove the obstacles that were preventing individuals with disabilities from participating fully in the political process. With this legislation, Florida became the first state in the Nation to enact a law to secure the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. We have fought hard to live up to the promise of our founding and to honor the dignity of every individual, and to extend the rights, privileges and opportunities of that promise to all our citizens. The Americans with Disabilities Act was part of a long line of landmark achievements that have expanded freedom and opportunity in the United States. Let us continue working toward the goals of this law--to remove the obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities from enjoying the full rights that too many Americans take for granted.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to pass the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement. I have spoken here many times on the benefits of this bill and what it would bring to our Nation and to the State of Florida, but let us remember also the benefits of free trade flow both ways. Not only would expanded trade opportunities help American businesses, agricultural products, ranchers, and workers by removing expensive trade impediments and leveling the trade playing field; but also with improved conditions, we can look forward to a time when the threat of illegal narcotics, human smuggling, illegal immigration, and other criminal activities is no longer part of the fabric of life in Central America, Mexico, and our southern United States border. Such a development would contribute to the security of the United States and all of our partners in this hemisphere and would greatly benefit the people of Central America. With greater development, it will contribute to more political stability and a strengthened rule of law for our partners in the DR-CAFTA region, a region that has suffered under the heels of civil war and political corruption for far too long. With expanded trade, the people of the Central American region will enjoy a higher standard of living and greatly improved work conditions. In the 1980s, Congress cast difficult votes to militarily assist these nations to foster fledgling democracies. Today, these efforts have proven successful, and we are voting to expand our trade opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical politically stabilizing act.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage our colleagues to pass the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement, or DR-CAFTA, when it comes before the House. DR-CAFTA is vital to our Nation's economic competitiveness in today's global marketplace and will serve as an economic engine for driving growth and economic opportunity in the United States and Central America. In Florida, the Nation's gateway for trade with Central America, we recognize the importance of this regional bloc. The DR-CAFTA countries represent our State's largest export market and the second largest United States market in Latin America. By lowering trade barriers, we can expand this market even further. That is good news for Florida businesses, good news for Florida agricultural products, and good news for Florida workers. The American Farm Bureau estimates that United States exports for agricultural goods could increase by $1.5 billion each year. This agreement has generated thoughtful bipartisan support from various agricultural, textile, business and political groups. Former United States President Carter as well as several key Clinton administration officials support DR-CAFTA. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this crucial trade agreement that will help promote economic growth, political stability and regional security.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important anniversary in our Nation's history. Eighty-five years ago, on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment to the Constitution was ratified, extending the right to vote to American women. The road to the 19th amendment was long and difficult, paved with hard work and struggle. The birth of the women's suffrage movement can be traced to the Women's Rights Commission in Seneca Falls, New York, in July of 1848, which laid out the principles that would guide the women's movement. More than seven decades later, those principles were at last codified into our Constitution, moving our Nation closer to meeting the promise of its founding. Today, we have more women than ever serving in elected and appointed positions in our local, State, and national governments. Not only in this Chamber, but also in the United States Senate, in the President's Cabinet, and in a wide range of Governors' offices, as well as other positions. This represents a vast change from where we stood 85 years ago, and our Nation is stronger for it. As we watch the spread of freedom across the globe, and as more and more women take on the rights and responsibilities of full political citizenship, let us pay tribute to those women who blazed the trail for those of us who have followed.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to join my colleague in offering an amendment that would restore funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOPE VI program. Created in 1992 by former Secretary Jack Kemp and President Bush, this program offers to renovate existing public housing sites and replace them with new mixed- income housing. This grant program has been remarkably successful in its revitalizing of some of the most troubled and distressed communities. We have all seen these conditions that exist in public housing developments throughout the Nation: dilapidated buildings and homes, rampant rodent and insect infestation, barely functioning plumbing, and sometimes sewage that flows into our children's playgrounds, with high rates of violence and crime. These are the conditions that have overtaken too many of our public housing facilities, the very same conditions in which too many families are struggling to live and to raise their children. This program is aptly named because hope is exactly what these grants supply to our communities. I can speak firsthand of the outstanding results of this program I have seen in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Bradenton, areas that have been completely revitalized as a result of HOPE VI. For example, in Bradenton Village the successful partnership between Federal and local governments, as well as the private sector, has restored and revitalized a community that years ago was left crumbling and suffering. Today, Bradenton Village is a vibrant and thriving area and a testament to the success of the HOPE VI grant program. That success is not limited to Florida programs; it has been remarkable and responsible for rebuilding substandard housing and replacing them with quality affordable housing across the country. It is not just about bricks and mortar. By creating more options, giving consumers more and better choices in housing, education, job training and job placement, HOPE VI grants transform lives. Our amendment, which I am so pleased to offer with the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis) who has been a stalwart friend and supporter of housing programs, will ensure that Hope VI can continue to deliver on its promises. The Davis-Harris amendment seeks to restore $60 million to the Hope VI program so it can continue its mission of revitalizing communities across America. $60 million is a far cry from the funding Hope VI has received in the past, but it is enough to keep the program going and keep hope alive, and we can continue to make a difference in our local communities. Let us invest in Hope VI and invest in the strength and possibilities of our communities. I urge my colleagues to support the Davis-Harris amendment. Let us keep hope alive.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National Homeownership Month. I am a strong advocate of homeownership, not only because it is a key component of the American dream but also because it is vital to America's economic security. Statistics show that higher levels of homeownership translate into safer and stronger communities, communities in which people feel more rooted and engaged, in which they feel stronger stakes in their local schools, civic organizations, businesses as well as their churches and synagogues. Additionally, children who are raised in families that own their own homes have shown greater academic success as well as greater levels of self-esteem. Two years ago, we passed the American Dream Downpayment Act which I introduced to help more American families enter the market for quality, affordable housing. This was an important step on the way toward making homeownership available to everyone, but it was only a first step. We still have much more work to do. I am proud to have been a cosponsor of the resolution we passed yesterday in honor of National Homeownership Month and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring the American dream of homeownership to more families across this country.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 305, the Obey Amendment, I was recorded as voting ``no'' and wished to vote ``aye.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Owens

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I encountered plane difficulties Monday, June 20, 2005, that caused me to miss floor votes regrding H.R. 2863, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006. Since this bIll is one that I believe is vital to our Nation, I am very dismayed that I was unable to participate. I would have voted ``nay'' on the Obey, Doggett, Velazquez, and DeFazio Amendments. Additionally, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Hunter Amendment and for final passage of H.R. 2863.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act. We have seen in recent years a steady stream of reports detailing mismanagement, corruption and outright abuse of the U.N. operations, from the Oil-for-Food Scandal in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, to reports of U.N. peacekeepers raping children in Bosnia and Sudan, to reports of nepotism, cronyism, and financial irregularities in the U.N. missions around the world. We have seen clearly evidence of mismanagement and corruption, fraud and abuse in this institution. The U.N. Reform Act was developed to address these failings by streamlining U.N. programs, restoring accountability, setting clear budget and operational priorities. These are baseline reforms that many U.N. supporters agree have been needed for years, and that can be achieved within a reasonable timeframe to restore the U.N.'s functionality and credibility. To drive the process of reform, this bill sets forth a strong enforcement mechanism by withholding 50 percent of U.S. dues if these reforms are not instituted by 2007. With this enforcement mechanism we can ensure that the U.N. lives up to the ideals it was founded to advance six decades ago. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Hyde for his leadership, for his wisdom and for his statesmanship in developing this legislative package to bring a new era of oversight and accountability to the U.N.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1544, the Faster and Smarter Funding For First Responders Act of 2005. This critical, bipartisan, and historic legislation implements the 9/ 11 Commission's recommendations in streamlining terrorism preparedness grants and making certain that our first responders have the resources they need when they need them. As police officers and first responders gather in Washington to honor their fallen comrades during National Police Week, the images of September 11 remain frozen in our minds and etched into our souls. Since fiscal year 2002, Congress has appropriated, and the Department of Homeland Security has awarded, $6.3 billion in terrorism preparedness grants. Yet shockingly, State, territorial, and local governments have spent just 31 percent of this funding. Clearly, our first responders and the communities they put their lives on the line to protect remain dangerously at risk, all due to government bureaucracy. H.R. 1544 requires State, territorial, and local governments to assess their greatest threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences before they request the Federal funding money. Then, it holds these Governments accountable, requiring them to issue grants to first responders within 45 days. In closing, Mr. Chairman, this legislation constitutes a long overdue dose of common sense. The gentleman from California (Chairman Cox) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Ranking Member Thompson) have already proven the wisdom in establishing the Committee on Homeland Security through their vision and leadership in producing this legislation so quickly. We remember the valor of firemen--who rushed through an inferno to save others, without regard for their own safety. We recall the courage of police officers--who braved falling bricks and mortar to provide those in danger with their hands and their reassurance. After many years during which our children searched among athletes, movie stars, and other celebrities for their role models, they learned the real definition of the word ``hero'' on that awful day. And as four hurricanes visited unprecedented devastation upon my district in southwest Florida last year, we learned once again how much we rely upon the bravery, expert training, and compassion of first responders when disaster strikes. Since Fiscal Year 2002, Congress has appropriated and the Department of Homeland Security has awarded 6.3 billion dollars in terrorism preparedness grants. Yet--shockingly--state, territorial, and local governments have spent just 31 percent of this funding. Clearly, our first responders and the communities they put their lives on the line to protect remain dangerously at risk--all due to government bureaucracy. H.R. 1544 requires State, territorial, and local governments to assess their greatest threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences before they request Federal grant money. Then, it holds these governments accountable--requiring them to issue grant awards to first responders within 45 days. H.R. 1544 also enables regional planning and coordination--allowing localities and States to jointly apply for terrorism preparedness grants, which must remain consistent with State homeland security plans. Mr. Chairman, this legislation constitutes a long overdue dose of common sense. Chairman Cox and Ranking Member Thompson have already proven the wisdom of establishing the Homeland Security Committee through their vision and leadership in producing this legislation so quickly.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8, which will finally free America's hard-working farmers and small business owners from the specter of the death tax. Benjamin Franklin said: ``In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes,'' but I doubt even the inventive Mr. Franklin imagined the taxation of death itself. Americans get taxed when they earn money. They get taxed again when they spend what is left, and government pursues them beyond the grave, devastating their relatives who must sell the family farm or liquidate the family business just to pay the taxes. The impact of the death tax extends far beyond the pain it inflicts upon grieving families. The death tax distorts economic decisions on a massive scale. It punishes thrift. It reduces savings and investment, and it diverts capital away from job creation to tax avoidance. The National Federation of Independent Businesses has estimated that the death tax will compel one-third of small business owners today to sell some or all of their business. The Center For the Study of Taxation found that 70 percent of all family businesses cannot survive the second generation and 87 percent do not make the third. All of this wasted money, energy and over 100,000 jobs lost per year and for what, a tax that the Joint Economic Committee says costs just as much to collect as it generates in revenue. Mr. Speaker, the opponents of H.R. 8 cannot provide any justification for the continued existence of this useless relic. It hurts the people it is intended to help, and it reduces stock in our economy by $497 billion a year. I urge my colleagues to drive the final nail in this coffin so 6 years from now Americans will not wake up to find that, like a vampire, this unfair tax has arisen from the dead to once again suck the blood from a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 190, which honors the heroic life and historic pontificate of Pope John Paul the Second. For over a quarter century, John Paul the Second provided powerful, charismatic, and effective leadership for the world's one billion Catholics. But his legacy will forever reach far beyond the boundaries of faith or nationality. In the faithful service of God, he confronted evil and injustice wherever he found them, from the Nazism and Communism that gripped his beloved Poland to the hunger, suffering, and poverty that continues to afflict the world. He affirmed life through his teachings and through his example. He lived vigorously and inquisitively--and he confronted suffering and death with courage and serenity. Today, we mourn his passing--while celebrating with thanksgiving the powerful and eternal spiritual model he left for us all.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman from Jacksonville for hosting such an honorable memory to Tillie Fowler. Mr. Speaker, America lost a remarkable leader last week. The people of Florida lost a passionate and effective ally, and our brave men and women in uniform lost a stellar advocate. I lost a dear friend. Congresswoman Tillie Fowler was much more than a role model for women who followed her into public service. Though her trail-blazing example and her indomitable spirit will always inspire us, she was much more than northwest Florida's greatest promoter. Through her service, her dedication to the people will always guide us. She was much more than a trusted colleague, to members of both parties, and her unimpeachable standard of honor and integrity will always instruct us. In fact, today, I was even speaking with one of her colleagues at Holland & Knight, and we said, you know, we feel like she is still here, we can still see her smile, we can still see those big glasses, we can still hear her laughter. Not often does someone leave you and you still feel them so strongly. Tillie Fowler's contributions as a public servant, as an attorney, as a civic volunteer and, most important, as a beloved wife and mother were routinely extraordinary. Why? Because at every stage of her life, she had the courage to follow common sense and uncommon dreams. Whether she was graduating as one of five women at Emory University Law School's class of 1967, or successfully challenging a political establishment dominated by male Democrats, Tillie Fowler never met a barrier that she could not shatter. Yet, while fighting relentlessly for her principles for Florida and for America, she never lost her love of humanity, her charity or her grace. Mr. Speaker, as we offer our prayers and condolences to her husband of 37 years, Buck, and her two lovely daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth, let us honor Congresswoman Tillie Fowler's memory by elevating our purpose as well as the means we choose to achieve it.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mote Marine Laboratory on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary. In 2004, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released a ground- breaking report that underscored the need to strengthen public awareness regarding the critical importance of the oceans in supporting life on earth. Based in my hometown of Sarasota, Florida, Mote Marine Laboratory has vigorously and successfully pursued this goal for 50 years. Through its manifold programs emphasizing research and education, Mote Marine Laboratory has advanced the science of the sea while enthralling children and adults alike with the adventure of discovery. Cape Haze Marine Laboratory was founded in 1955 by the now-famous shark researcher Dr. Eugenie Clark. William and Alfred Vanderbilt financed the project, issuing Dr. Clark the charge to ``teach people about the sea.'' While the Laboratory initially operated in the humble surroundings of a 12-foot-by-20-foot shed in Placida, Florida, Dr. Clark's able direction enabled it to develop a strong reputation as a shark research center during its first ten years of existence. As the Laboratory's standing grew, so did its facilities. The Laboratory moved to Siesta Key in 1960, where it benefited from the munificence of William R. Mote and his sister, Elizabeth Mote Rose. Accordingly, the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory became Mote Marine Laboratory in 1967. The Laboratory moved to its current location on City Island, Florida, in 1978, thanks to a public-private partnership with the City of Sarasota that continues to thrive today. Thanks to the expert leadership of William Mote, former directors Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Charles M. Breder, Jr., Dr. Perry W. Gilbert, Dr. William H. Taft, Dr. Robert F. Dunn; and current President Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, the Laboratory has expanded to encompass eight buildings on a 10.5-acre campus, providing nearly 200,000 square feet of research, education, and conference space. The Laboratory also performs research in a Sarasota inland aquaculture park and in field stations located on Charlotte Harbor and in the Florida Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory has become much more than an impressive facility, however. The little lab with a handful of researchers that once focused solely upon sharks has become a powerhouse of near-shore marine research. Through its seven centers, the Laboratory undertakes projects involving all kinds of marine life and ecology--from sharks to red tide to marine mammals and fisheries. Comprising one of the world's few remaining private, independent marine research centers, the Laboratory employs a staff of more than 230, which includes approximately 40 Ph.D. scientists who remain leaders in their respective fields. A diverse array of biologists, chemists, engineers, and education and information experts--as well as many other specialists--performs research under the aegis of Mote Marine Laboratory in more than 50 countries. Moreover, the Laboratory hosts visiting scientists from across America and around the world. Due to the expanse of its reach and the quality of its contributions to scientific understanding, Mote Marine Laboratory has earned international acclaim. Despite the evolution of its functions, however, Mote Marine Laboratory has never abandoned William and Alfred Vanderbilt's directive to ``teach people about the sea.'' In fact, education remains at the core of its mission. Children and adults alike learn about our world's fragile marine and estuarine ecosystems through the Laboratory's educational opportunities, which include an annual science lecture series, a speakers' bureau, and a multitude of adult and family programs. The Laboratory teaches nearly 50,000 children per year, many of whom study through the Laboratory's own distance learning program entitled ``SeaTrek.'' This innovative initiative utilizes interactive videoconferencing to reach students in places as far away as Switzerland and Hungary. Established in 1980, Mote Aquarium provides the keystone of Mote Marine Laboratory's commitment to education. The Aquarium hosts almost 400,000 visitors from the United States and abroad every year and provides educational materials in five languages. As in the Laboratory's other pursuits, the Aquarium's main strength rests in its people. Trained volunteers thrill visitors with tales of science and the sea, while a mobile aquarium ensures that all Floridians can enjoy a similar voyage through these wonders. For one-half century, Mote Marine Laboratory has explored some of the oceans' most pressing questions, sharing its findings with the world. This time of perpetual change has revealed one constant truth: Much remains to be discoved.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has made tremendous strides in securing our homeland since the 9/11 attacks. Americans have performed amazingly well in staying alert and aware, while the Federal Government has done an excellent job in making travel safer for airline passengers. Nevertheless, our achievements merely highlight how much more work remains. Before we can truly be safe, we must direct more funding and attention to securing our ports. America's seaports have become the locomotives of economic growth, receiving 95 percent of our Nation's imports. Florida alone has 14 deepwater seaports, and 56 percent of all of our imported oil comes through the Gulf of Mexico border region. Thus, terrorists know what devastating death and destruction would be wrought through the detonation of one dirty bomb in one cargo container, which would bring international commerce to a screeching halt. We spend a great deal of time debating how to secure our land border. We must start devoting the same amount of time and energy to the security of our water border, starting today. Through the Gulf of Mexico States Caucus, we will work to ensure that the House accomplishes this goal.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my distinguished friend and Florida colleague, Congressman C.W. Bill Young, as he concludes his remarkable tenure as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. During his 17 terms in Congress, Chairman Young has set the benchmark for integrity, compassion, and diligence in serving his constituents, our State, and our Nation. With his steady hand at its tiller, the Appropriations Committee has remained a sanctuary of comity and productivity as it navigated the heavy winds of terrorism, recession, the stock market crash, and corporate scandals, as well as the budgetary pressures that these crises produced. Of course, we Floridians were extremely fortunate that this island of calm resolve was serving as Appropriations Chairman when our State suffered the devastating, unprecedented blows of four hurricanes earlier this year. Within days after we returned from the August District Work Period, Chairman Young built a consensus around a $2 billion relief package that the victims of this disaster desperately needed--just as FEMA's available funds were exhausted. During our consideration of the subsequent $12.6 billion supplemental relief bill, the pressure to include other disasters naturally arose. Exhibiting the same empathy and fairness that served as the hallmark of his chairmanship, Chairman Young managed to address these concerns while achieving swift passage of this legislation. Our Nation has been just as fortunate that Chairman Young headed the Appropriations Committee as we confronted the daunting challenges of a changed world in the aftermath of September 11. A veteran of the Army National Guard, Chairman Young has garnered national recognition for his expertise on defense and security issues. He had previously chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, and he has served the longest term on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of any member in history. While ensuring that our military has the best resources available to fight the War on Terror, Chairman Young has always placed his highest priority upon the men and women who risk their lives to preserve our freedom. He regularly meets with enlisted personnel and officers to assess their needs. As a result of his unflagging efforts on their behalf, Congress has invested in improved base housing, better medical care, increased pay, and more modern equipment. Chairman Young has also successfully fought for the health security of every American. A leading advocate for increased biomedical research, he has worked to double Federal medical research over 5 years. He has striven to increase the immunization rate for preschoolers, improve public health programs, and provide the resources necessary to find cures for scourges like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. In 1986, Chairman Young played a leading role in founding a national registry for bone marrow donors, which now bears his name in his honor. Today, the registry contains more than 4 million volunteer donors for patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases and serves as a model for similar diseases around the world. Mr. Speaker, we look forward to many more years of effective, caring service from this dedicated public servant, who exemplifies the appellation, ``the gentleman from Florida.''

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, as we enter a new Congress with the American people's mandate to extend tax relief and reduce the deficit, I wish to remind my colleagues of the following wisdom: ``Our true choice is not between tax reduction on the one hand and the avoidance of large Federal deficits on the other . . . It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are far too high today and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut rates now.'' Who articulated this simple but powerful case for the economic policies of this President and this Congress? Not George W. Bush. Not even Ronald Reagan. President John F. Kennedy made these remarks just a month and a half following the hottest moment of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy and Reagan launched two of the longest economic boons in American history by cutting taxes. They also increased Federal revenues, more than double during the decade of President Kennedy's across-the-board tax cuts, and more than 75 percent over the 10 years following President Reagan's Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. But from 1981 to 1991, Federal spending increased a whopping 95 percent. Thus, the deficit quadrupled because of runaway government spending, not because the American people got to keep more of their hard-earned money. Once again, we have arrived at the moment of truth. This time, we cannot make excuses for the failure to restrain spending. This time, our philosophy of low taxes and limited government is on the line. This time, let us show the American people that tax relief and fiscal discipline are complementary, not conflicting objectives.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, the American people voted for much more than candidates or parties this election year. They embraced our bold vision, and they expect us to deliver results. They elected us with a mandate to keep our Nation on its path of economic growth and job creation, to continue tax relief for working families, and to pare back an inefficient, bloated bureaucracy that kills dreams. One of our first priorities must be to reform our wasteful and oppressive Tax Code. Year after year, working Americans pay accountants and tax lawyers to help them understand this confusing labyrinth of laws and regulations. Just think about what this energy and capital could accomplish if directed towards truly creative purposes. Just imagine what a fair and simpler Tax Code could do to help us build a 21st century economy. So let us engage in a vigorous debate. Let us begin rewarding the trust that the American people have placed in us, beginning today.