Darrell Issa

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor, not because it is good enough. It is not. Not because it pleases the Democrats. It does not. But because it is the best we can do. I just came from speaking with the very small business people that you just heard somehow they were going to protect in another way. I just finished hearing that 300 million people is what it was all about, which is a rounding error up, and 7,500 that would pay the tax that die, but, of course, we are using two different figures, as we often do. It is not about 300 million, because 300 million people will not die next year, but it is about the businesses that will die if we do not do something, and this is not good enough. It is a down payment. I rise in support of this bill, not because it is good enough. It is not. It does not keep the promise I made to the people of my district to end once and for all the double taxation of the dead, but I do rise in support of this because it is the best we can do. I promise today to vote for this bill, and then I promise to come back until, in fact, we once and for all eliminate the unreasonable and unfair double taxation. So please support this piece of important legislation.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5638, the Permanent Estate Tax Relief Act of 2006. Thank you for bringing this important issue to the floor. I cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 8, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2005, which overwhelmingly passed in the House last year. I still believe in the permanent repeal of the estate tax, because without permanent repeal businesses will die. This bill simply isn't good enough. It doesn't keep the promise that I made to the people in my district to end, once and for all, the double taxation of the dead. I will vote for this bill today because it is the best we can do at this time. In my mind this is only a downpayment, and I will work with the Congress to permanently eliminate this unreasonable and unfair double taxation.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I certainly think it is important that this debate go back and forth as it has between the defeatist attitude of my colleagues and what I believe is the appropriate stay the course of this side of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, we are often alleged of only doing two things in the Congress, either nothing or overreacting. Today, by a measured response of saying stay the course, we are doing exactly what we need to do. This is not meaningless. Just in the last week a declassified document taken from the safehouse in which Zarqawi met his appropriate punishment, and I will read just short excerpts, our time is short, but they are meaningful and I think many Members listening throughout their offices and here on the floor probably have not yet read this. Zarqawi says, however, here in Iraq, speaking of why time is on the side of al Qaeda, however, here in Iraq, time is now beginning to be of service to the American forces and harmful to the resistance for the following reasons. He goes on to talk about the formation of the National Guard. He goes on to talk about the impact on the resistance of various improvements there. He goes on to talk about how we the Americans and the Iraqis have undertaken a media campaign against the resistance and it is working. He goes on to say, the resistance has had its financial outlets cut off and restricted. He talks about how, in fact, we have been effective in creating big divisions among the ranks of what he called the resistance. He then plots to find a way to get America embroiled in yet another conflict with another enemy. And he is speaking of Iran. He then plots on how he might convince us that Iran was further along in its weapons of mass destruction. He then plots no more. Mr. Speaker, we have done, for once, the even, middle-road thing we have to do. We did not go into this war the way we went into, as Congressman Murtha said, Beirut, only a little bit, only not enough, and only for a little while. We have gone into the war on terrorism with commitment from this Congress, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in the South of the Philippines, wherever the terrorists may be; and we said we will stay the long haul in each of these places. My time is short. I just want to do two things. One is, to say that, unlike Congressman Murtha, I did not serve in combat. But I entered the Army in 1970, and I entered as a grandson of Lebanese immigrants. And throughout the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s, I visited Lebanon, and I visited the region, and I got to know my fellow Arabs of the world. And I knew there was a problem and they knew there was a problem and we were not addressing it. We are now addressing it. So we will be punished by the opposition any time we either do nothing or do something. But I would rather do something in the interests of freedom.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 729, offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley). I am also a cosponsor of this resolution, and cosponsor of it for a good reason. The $1.3 trillion industry in travel and tourism is one that both Florida and California enjoy, and people from all over the world also enjoy it. The United States receives nearly 50 million international visitors, spending over $100 billion a year while touring within our country. In fact, the United States is the number one tourist destination in the world. The Travel Industry Association says if not for the taxes generated by the travel and tourism, every household in America would pay over $900 more in taxes each year to make up for the shortfall, much of that coming from foreign visitors. In addition, travel and tourism generate $100 billion in tax revenue for local, State and Federal governments. For this reason, it is important that we encourage and recognize the travel industry for its dedication to not only the accommodation of our vacation needs, but also in providing much-needed jobs and revenue for our country each year. I urge all Members to come together to support the vitally important travel and tourism industry by adopting H. Res. 729. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois is quite right. On Monday I left several tourist dollars on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building at that lovely, beautiful restaurant. Chicago is in fact a major tourist destination, and I have been to more trade shows than I care to, well, I care to remember them all. They were all quite good. Chicago hosts some wonderful McCormick-based facilities, and has some of the finest hotels. I have not stayed in all of the finest hotels, but you have some of the finest hotels. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this resolution to thank the travel and tourism industry for what they contribute to our economy.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 327) supporting the goals and ideals of National Passport Month.

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. Mr. Speaker, today in the United States, fewer than 23 percent of Americans have an issued passport, meaning that millions of our citizens are unable to take advantage of the culturally enriching opportunities presented by international travel. International travel can help promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect for other cultures and traditions around the world. National Passport Month would support the goal of encouraging and inspiring Americans to participate in the educational opportunities that having a passport can provide. By opening the doors to the rewards of traveling beyond the boarders and the equally important potential that we have to build bridges connecting cultures throughout the world, makes it extremely pertinent that we encourage especially the young and old to apply for past ports. Mr. Speaker, recently it became necessary to have a passport to go into Mexico. Most Americans are not yet aware of that. I would particularly remind people listening tonight throughout the world and those who will read the official record of our proceedings here today that having a passport takes time. I would encourage people to have them before they intend to travel so that they are prepared for the quick trip from San Diego to Tijuana or the trip from here to Abu Dhabi. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption and yield back.

Mr. ISSA. I have no further speakers on this side, Mr. Speaker, so I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the national pastime, obviously, is baseball and to honor the most valuable player of the 2005 season seems to be only appropriate. Certainly, there can be no more appropriate thing as we go into the heart of baseball season than to consider a resolution recognizing this amazingly great accomplishment and an amazing season in 2005. And so I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 626) congratulating Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleague from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, to recognize that it is now the 61st year to remember Normandy, to remember that special time when the world waited and hoped that the allies, led by the United States, dominated by the United States, would free Europe, the European mainland, from the effects of fascism, the effects of allowing a petty dictator to build an Army and begin expanding his borders. Mr. Speaker, I find it particularly appropriate that just a week ago at the Memorial Day commemoration at Mt. Soledad in San Diego where Congressman Hunter and I both live, we were faced with the exact same situation that we see in Normandy: crosses. We were faced looking at a memorial that remembers all of our fallen heroes from previous wars that was put there because of our fallen heroes of the Korean War and now is in jeopardy of being taken away because somebody says that if it is in the shape of a cross, it must by definition be a religious statement. My colleague and I, I believe, are here tonight to remember Normandy and remember those many crosses that we have seen across the land and above the cliffs of Normandy and remember that those crosses do not stand for Jesus Christ or for religion. Those crosses stand for the men and women buried below. With that, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), my colleague, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and I thank the Speaker for the opportunity to remind the world that the only land we ever covet are the small plots around the world in which we bury our dead.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 422) supporting the goals and ideals of the Vigil for Lost Promise day.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 763) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families Day, in order to encourage adults in the United States to support and listen to children and to help children throughout the Nation achieve their hopes and dreams, and for other purposes.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert).

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 399) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the victory of United States winemakers at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption and yield back.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, born in County Wicklow, Ireland, Matthew Lyon was a printer, farmer, soldier and politician who came to America as an indentured servant at the age of 14 in 1764. During the Revolution, Matthew Lyon fought with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys to capture Fort Ticonderoga. He later resigned from the Army in 1778, and became a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1779 to 1783. During this time he built and operated various kinds of mills, including one to manufacture paper. He also established a printing office in 1793 and published the Farmers' Library. In addition, he created the Fair Haven Gazette, a weekly newspaper, and served as publisher and editor while using the paper to express his political opinions in the early years of our Republic. Lyon was elected as a Republican to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1800. He then went on to relocate to the State of Kentucky in 1801, and settled in Caldwell County, now Lyon County, and became a member of the House of Representatives of Kentucky in 1802. He was then elected to the Eighth Congress and to three successive Congresses until he was unsuccessful in seeking reelection in 1810. He is certainly one of our Founding Fathers, and it is long overdue for him to be recognized with this post office. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5245) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the ``Matthew Lyon Post Office Building''.