Darrell Issa

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. I have no additional speakers at this time. I would urge strong support for this bill which, like so many, will help California deal with its water shortage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation. The author of the bill, who will speak in a moment, and I share the very banks of this water area of Lake Hodges. But, most importantly, at a time in which gas prices have risen to $4 a gallon, it's very clear that importing water or desalinating water in southern California, although necessary, should be avoided. We need to find ways to do better work, have more water, with less consumption of gasoline, diesel, and all the other fuels that are in such short supply and so expensive. So I strongly support this bill. I would yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California, the author of the bill, Mr. Bilbray.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of this bill. It's always a good thing when the Federal Government evaluates land it does not need, that has previously been owned by local municipalities or private individuals and takes steps to return that at no cost to the taxpayers. So I join with the gentlelady from Guam and my colleague from California, Lois Capps, in urging support for the return of this land to the Goleta Water District.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise too in support of H.R. 1771, the Crane Conservation Act. This bill is a worthy addition to existing multinational species conservation funds. They have demonstrated that even a small amount of taxpayers' money can make a real difference in saving flagship species from extinction around the globe, such as the highly endangered cranes. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1771. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1464, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to give tribute and credit and compliment to former Congressman Clay Shaw of Florida, who has long sponsored this legislation and in the previous Congress worked tirelessly to pass it. So today, as we pass this bill, I would like to remember our colleague, Clay Shaw, who in fact has recognized for a long time the need to make permanent the preservation of these large, and small, but beautiful animals. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would urge the passage of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this resolution and commend the gentleman from Michigan for offering this resolution that recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission's Historical Preservation and Museum Program. It is very clear that in America we do care about our natural resources, our natural beauty, and we find ways to show that. In the case of Michigan, this recognizes 50 years of, in fact, applauding and preserving the kinds of beauty that exist, I won't say only in Michigan, as a native Ohioan, but throughout the Midwest. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I too rise in support of Senate Joint Resolution 17, introduced by Senator Ted Stevens. Clearly, he knows firsthand the importance of fishing to the United States, to the State of Alaska, and to the world. He also has seen, in his tenure in the Congress, firsthand the effects of overfishing. As one after another worldwide fleets begin deploying to our shores when their own shores have been overfished, we will have and will see a reduction in our domestic catches. For that reason I believe this resolution sends a strong statement of America's policy to manage scientifically our fisheries both onshore and offshore, and I join with the gentlewoman from Guam in support of this resolution and urge its success. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this resolution. House Concurrent Resolution 300 does make an important point to the American people and to the world that the United States has been a leader in the preservation and restoration of our coral reefs. Like the gentlewoman from Guam, I have a long coastline and recognize that without the often-called ``rain forest of the ocean,'' the world would not eat, our coastlines would be eroded, and, without a doubt, life as we know it would not prevail. So, Mr. Speaker, I do ask strong support in favor of this resolution.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1153. I think the gentlelady from Hawaii did a wonderful job of going through the highlights and contributions of Asian Americans, and I think, quite frankly, she did a very good job of recognizing some of the well-known and not-so-well-known examples of when we have failed the Asian Americans. I support the United States Asian American Heritage Month. I also support many of the things that were commented on that we have, in fact, left undone. Very, very clearly, when it comes to the Philippine veterans, we stand in shame in this body. The Rescission Act was signed by Truman while Truman said, in fact, we didn't live up to a moral obligation, and made it very clear that this would be yet another example of America not being proud. That was a long time ago. I am one of the cochairs of the Philippine Caucus and one of the authors of the underlying bill that is included in the Senate bill 1315, which is a package of noncontroversial U.S. benefit extensions for American veterans, but it's also an extension of a long-overdue benefit to people from the territory of the Philippines who fought with us in World War II. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that this body would take note that these Asian Americans, and they were Asian Americans, had a governor, his name was MacArthur, at the beginning of the war. They fought to keep us from being driven off by an invading Army until, hopelessly, they had to withdraw; and yet these Rangers and Scouts continued fighting whenever possible in the jungles for years, even while MacArthur planned to return. MacArthur made this promise, America made this promise. We haven't kept that promise. As the gentlelady rightfully so said, there were over 200,000 Filipinos who fought with us for their country. I take note that there are 4 million-plus Puerto Ricans today. I served in the United States Army from 1970 to 1980 and years beyond that in the Reserves. I was of the assumption that the Puerto Ricans who were in the service with me were Americans. I'm still of that assumption. Members of our territories are, in fact, Americans. I might further note that Senator McCain, a U.S. Senator who could well end up being President, was born in the Panama Canal Zone. Is he less an American because he was born in a sovereign asset of the United States? Of course not. He's fully eligible to be President, and these veterans, these Philippine veterans, are American veterans, and they cannot and should not have to come before this body asking us to unstrip what we stripped away in shame 60 years ago. So I join with the gentlelady in supporting this resolution, but I would like to emphasize as much as I can that we have an important vote this week, a vote about giving American veterans, veterans who are today Americans, veterans who, on that day, were Americans when they fought with us.

Mr. ISSA. Reclaiming my time, I might note that under our PAYGO rules, the bill that will come before the floor will even be less than that. It has been reduced below the mark that was set and passed 96-1 in the Senate in order to maintain a balance under PAYGO. So the gentleman is absolutely right. This represents one or two days of the cost of what we're doing for our future veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan and, in fact, should not be controversial. And I hope when it comes to the floor on a bipartisan basis, it clearly shouldn't and wouldn't be controversial. I reserve my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time and continue reserving.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of the gentlelady if she has additional speakers.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I had the opportunity to vote it out of our committee week before last. We did so with full expectation that it would be on the floor last week, as has been traditional when law enforcement leaders come from around the country for our peace officers gathering. It's with great trepidation that I support this, but also note that the partisan nature of our body, which has always caused this bill, in the past, to be up for that week so that the men and women could sit in the gallery and observe our recognition of the important work they do, did not happen. I would hope this is the last time that resolutions like this are held because, quote, we wouldn't get to them with all the recorded votes. The men and women, the 56,000-plus who are assaulted every year, the 181 who died last year, up from 151 the year before, they deserve our recognition in a timely fashion. They deserve our constant support. They deserve not to be part of partisan infighting. I believe that, in fact, most of us in the Congress, including the gentlelady from California, shares with me the nonpartisan support for our law enforcement people. I might additionally recognize at this time, that law enforcement is not only around the country, but it's also right here in the Capitol. We in the Congress could not do our business in an orderly fashion if it wasn't for the Capitol Hill Police who stand vigilantly with large weapons against an attack and, on a daily basis, ensure that the tens of thousands of people who come to see the Capitol are able to do so without interfering with the operations of this body. So in the jobs large and small I would like to join with the gentlelady in asking for this bill to be passed, but I'd also like to recognize the men and women of the Capitol Hill Police. H. Res. 1132 supports the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor federal, state, and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and encourages the citizens of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and respect. Law enforcement officers face dangers on the job every single day while fighting crime, violence and terrorism. On May 17, 1792, New York City's Deputy Sheriff, Isaac Smith, became the first police officer to be recorded as killed in the line of duty. Today, more than 56,000 officers are assaulted each year and just this past year, in 2007, 181 officers were killed while serving the American people. Last year was one of the deadliest years for U.S. law enforcement in nearly two decades. The number of officers killed in the line of duty last year increased nearly 20 percent from 2006, when there were 151 officer deaths. There is a quote by President George H.W. Bush engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located at Judiciary Square here in D.C. that summarizes the mission of the 900,000 current sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It states that it is their daily ``quest to preserve both democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream.'' May 15 was Peace Officers Memorial Day, a holiday created in 1961, by Congress to pay homage to the fallen law enforcement officers who have dedicated their lives to protecting this country and its citizens. On this day the flag is flown at half-staff and thousands of people visit the National Law Enforcement Memorial, which currently has 18,274 names engraved on its surface. Each of these names is evidence of the sacrifices these brave law enforcement officers have made to keep American citizens safe. With gratitude for our law enforcement officers' devotion and dedication, I ask all members to join me in supporting H. Res. 1132.

Ms. ISSA

Ms. ISSA. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.