Darrell Issa

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, the one bipartisan thing that we can all agree on today that we will address in a resolution today is that the conduct which we have all witnessed in pictures spread around the world by a few misguided and perhaps sadistic and criminally accountable young men and women in charge of prisoners of war was wrong. There is no debate on that. There is no debate outside the American military. There is no debate inside the Congress that this was wrong. But I do believe it is important, Mr. Speaker, for the American people to understand that every soldier is instructed that this is unacceptable. Every officer is trained that this is unacceptable. From my experience both as an enlisted man and as an officer, the military will see that these individuals who were instructed that this was not acceptable and then broke the regulations will be punished. This Congress will oversee that. That is a word that the people of the Arab world need to understand, that the people of Iraq need to understand. Things have changed. This Congress will not tolerate this behavior.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in recognizing the contributions of military impacted schools. My district includes Camp Pendleton, the home of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, which has deployed to Iraq and has recently conducted major operations in cities throughout the Sunni Triangle, including Fallujah. The 1 MEF has participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and is now serving in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The schools that care for and educate the children of Camp Pendleton Marines provide vital educational and counseling services that have helped ease the stresses associated with this latest deployment. They provide military children with a normal daily routine--a critical need in this age when news from the front lines is brought home almost immediately. They also have provided these children with an excellent education. Mary Faye Pendleton and San Onofre Elementary Schools, both of which are located on-base are the highest-performing schools in the entire Fallbrook Elementary School district. In addition, Oceanside Unified's three on-base schools were all recognized as California Distinguished Schools this past year. I am proud of the teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteers of all the military impacted schools in my district. Oceanside Unified, Vista Unified, Fallbrook Elementary, Fallbrook High School, Bonsall Unified, Julian Unified, Valley Center Unified, and Warner Unified School District have all provided a great service to our men and women in uniform. I am particularly proud of the way these schools have continued to provide quality education to these military children despite major shortfalls in federal funding for Impact Aid, which funds military impacted schools. Every year we have a budget battle over Impact Aid. We need to remind ourselves that military impacted schools are a critical element in the support of our military families. If we are going to recognize the importance of these schools to our military men and women serving overseas, we must support them with the resources they need to do their jobs well. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, as you perhaps know, H.R. 243, the Hybrid Vehicle Incentive Act, which I authored in the previous Congress and again in this Congress, serves to do a similar incentive program for HOV use by hybrid vehicles. Since it is tied up in the energy bill and since the transportation language was at best vague as to whether or not charges must occur, I thank my colleague for his leadership in seeing that there was an easy remedy to ensure that municipalities and States could charge zero, thus eliminating the requirement to put a toll on these efficient vehicles that are leading the way toward ending or at least reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Lee Farmer for his service to the country for over 30 years in the United States Marine Corps. On March 4, Colonel Farmer will be retiring from the Corps, completing a career marked by dedication and excellence. Colonel Farmer was commissioned as an officer in November 1973. Early in his career he served as a Rifle and Weapons Platoon Commander as well as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. He remained with the Battalion as it became the first unit to initiate the unit Rotation Program, relocating to Twentynine Palms, Calif. There he served as a Rifle Company Commander for two years and was later assigned as the Staff Secretary of the 7th Marine Amphibious Brigade. After graduating from the Amphibious Warfare School in 1982, Colonel Farmer served as Aide-de-camp to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. In July 1984 he was reassigned to the Basic School, Quantico, VA, where he eventually assumed command of Company A. He then attended Marines Corps Command and Staff College. He later transferred to Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the Assistant Plans Officer to Marine Aircraft Group-36. Transferring to Camp Pendleton in 1987, Colonel Farmer was later deployed to Southwest Asia and participated in Operation Desert Shield. Following the war, he attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, in preparation for his two-year assignment to Chile where he attended the Chilean Naval War College. He was reassigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, at the Pentagon, in July 1993, where he worked counter-narcotics issues until his assignment as the Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Following this assignment, he returned to Camp Pendleton to command the School of Infantry. After leaving Camp Pendleton for another brief assignment in Okinawa, Japan, he again returned to Camp Pendleton, where he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Training until his reassignment as the Chief of Staff in May 2001. Since Colonel Farmer assumed his role as Chief of Staff, he has worked closely with my office on a number of issues. Colonel Farmer has distinguished himself as an honest, sincere, and hard-working leader-- ready to listen and always ready to help. During Colonel Farmer's tenure, Camp Pendleton has become one of our Nation's finest defense installations, training Marines who have served on the front lines of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Camp Pendleton Marines are in the process of returning to Iraq, replacing the Army's 4th Infantry Division in the largest troop rotation in history. These Marines will now carry out a task that is critical to our national security and to the security of the entire Middle East. They have been prepared by the leadership of Camp Pendleton--Colonel Farmer and the commanding officers who serve alongside him. These leaders of Marines have good reason to be proud of their service. It has been a pleasure working with Colonel Farmer. We are grateful for his distinguished service to our country. He will be missed.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the good works of the Oceanside Rotary Club on the occasion of their 80th Anniversary. The Oceanside Rotary Club was founded in 1924 and during the past 80 years has undertaken numerous philanthropic projects in its community, the nation and around the World. The Oceanside Rotary Club has a proud motto of ``Service Above Self''. The club has contributed in renovation of historic structures and provides books for Marines on deployment. Oceanside Rotarians have sponsored an orphanage and senior center in Baja, Mexico and provided wheel chairs for seriously injured people in the country of Malawi. Five years ago, Oceanside Rotary raised more than $35,000 to buy and donate automatic external defibrillators to the City of Oceanside. In 2002 the Oceanside Rotary Club began providing musical instruments for Oceanside Unified elementary and middle school students. This year the Oceanside Rotary Club raised money to feed 200 needy families during the holiday season. The Oceanside Rotary Club continues to support Rotary International's ``Polio Plus'' program, which is on track to eradicate this disease world-wide by the year 2005. It gives me great pleasure to recognize the Oceanside Rotary Club for over 80 years of noteworthy service. It is these types of organizations that make our country strong. We are proud of their service to our community.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lupus International for their dedication and commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals living with lupus. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that afflicts 2.8 million people in the United States. The disease affects more people than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined, yet many people have never heard of the disease. There is no known cure for lupus and there are few treatments specific to the disease. Founded in 1983, Lupus International is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness, patient education, and supporting lupus research. For over 20 years, Lupus International has played a vital role in the battle against this destructive disease. I commend Lupus International for their service to millions of Americans suffering from lupus. Mr. Speaker, by supporting such private efforts as Lupus International, we pay tribute to the victims suffering from this disease. We also honor those whose efforts will one day eradicate lupus as a life-threatening disease.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and praise the people of the City of Temecula, who are doing their duty, as citizens, public servants, and elected officials, to make our homes and communities more secure. They have accomplished this through the Temecula Citizen Corps--an innovative new program that was inspired by President George Bush's 2002 State of the Union address. Two years ago, President Bush asked communities to take greater responsibility for their own emergency preparedness. The City of Temecula took this charge to heart and began building what has become a model program for local level homeland security concerns. The Temecula Citizen Corps program coordinates the efforts of private citizens, neighborhood leaders, public safety agencies, and city officials, to enhance emergency and disaster preparedness. It has trained representatives from each neighborhood in the city on emergency notification methods, damage assessment, and special needs of community residents. It has also trained citizens in first aid, crime prevention, and neighborhood safety. The program is designed to meet one of the critical homeland security needs: citizen self-sufficiency and self-reliance. In the immediate 72 hours following a disaster, emergency management agencies are often overwhelmed and unable to deal with all the needs of the affected communities. This program trains private citizens to provide basic emergency care for their own neighborhoods in the critical time immediately following a disaster. The Temecula Citizen Corps has achieved such impressive results that the Department of Homeland Security considers it a standard setter for local communities. It has also won widespread praise throughout the Southern California region for its efficiency and quality of training and is inspiring many other cities and communities to follow its example. Last week, the men and women of Temecula were recognized publicly by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, for the excellent program they have developed. I am extremely proud of the City of Temecula for the dedication and effort they have invested in the Temecula Citizen Corps program. I am pleased to have had this opportunity to recognize them today and I encourage my colleagues to review their program as an example of what is possible when communities decide to take responsibility for their security needs.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to make my colleagues aware of H.R. 3651, a bill I dropped just today at the end of 3 years of service in the House. It is titled the Alien Accountability Act. I can only apologize to the House that I was not able to bring it to the House sooner. It deals with the 8\1/2\ million people who are here in America outside our laws. It deals in a post-September 11 era with a challenge that America has been trying to face to know who is here, why they are here, and whether or not they threaten Americans, all Americans. This is not a partisan issue. I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting the Alien Accountability Act to once and for all bring to the awareness of civil authorities the 8\1/2\ million people that are here, according to our census, outside the law and find a way to register these people and to bring about some equitable conclusion to what has been a failed system of illegal immigration.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, my colleague who just spoke, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), spoke from the heart and from years of experience in this body. In Congress talk is cheap. This resolution splendidly lays out our feelings as a body for the brave and courageous acts of firefighters during this statewide fire emergency. As the firestorms spread throughout California at a rate never before seen, we became acutely aware of just how much we depend on the brave men and women who come from all over the country to fight our wild fires. But here today as we speak in such kind words of Steven Rucker, and we talk about his important contribution and we talk about the loss of 22 innocent people, it is certainly my profound wish and my dedication here that they not die in vain. And although these losses of life seem senseless today, they will be even more senseless if a year from now we have more wild fires with more build-up of fuel that could have been cleared away if the President's Healthy Forest Initiative which has now been passed by both of our bodies does not, in fact, become law. If we talk profoundly and then our actions are hollow, then talk is cheap. So I ask this body here today in the passing of this resolution, a very appropriate one, to cast your vote not just for this resolution but to have this resolution have meaning a year from now. A year from now someone probably will die, but if fewer die because we acted between now and then to streamline firefighting, yes, to facilitate the dollars necessary to clear underbrush and fuel that has been building up but also to work on the core cause of that fuel building up, the fact that America has not managed its forests properly, the President laid down a marker asking us to produce a bill to manage forests, we have done so. Once conferenced and becoming law, we would begin the process of giving meaning to these firefighters' selfless acts by ensuring that in years to come there will be for the first time in a generation fewer wild fires rather than more. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 425, recognizing and honoring the firefighters and public servants who responded to the October, 2003 wildfires in California. The fires of the past 2 weeks have ravaged the southern California landscape, consuming over 746,000 acres and destroying 3,587 homes. The fires have also claimed the lives of at least 22 in San Diego County. The sense of loss and devastation that is felt by many of my constituents and other residents of southern California cannot be overstated. The scope of these fires, in terms of lives lost and property damaged, was beyond comparison to anything we have experienced in recent memory. These events were truly a catastrophe, and we mourn with those who have suffered loss. But I also want to take this opportunity to honor the thousands of men and women who put themselves in harm's way to fight the fires and provide emergency humanitarian assistance to people in need. Over 14,000 firefighters from five different states participated in the firefighting effort. This was particularly dangerous duty, with firefighters confronting quickly-moving wind-driven blazes. Firefighters exhibited resilience and courage, often working back-to- back shifts on the front lines while knowing that, in some cases, their own homes were threatened. I am particularly proud of the incredible effort made by firefighters to save the town of Julian in my district. Early last week, the Cedar Fire, which eventually destroyed nearly 300,000 acres and more than 2,200 homes, was burning a direct path toward Julian. It looked like the town would be completely destroyed. Through an incredibly heroic effort, firefighters were able to save the town and the lives of dozens of people who were trapped by the fires. One of these firefighters was Steven Rucker of Marin County. He was battling a part of the Cedar Fire that was dangerously approaching the outskirts of Julian, when his crew was entrapped by a wind-driven blaze. The fire moved so quickly they were not able to reach their engine before becoming engulfed in the flames. Three of his colleagues, Captain Doug McDonald, Shawn Kreps, and Barret Smith were seriously injured in the incident. These men will be remembered as heroes. Their resolve, in the face of extreme danger, is a testament to the fine men and women we have serving us in fire departments throughout California and its neighboring states. I also want to honor the thousands of men and women who have assisted with the relief and support effort these past 2 weeks. Private non- profit charities, public emergency organizations like the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, local and state law enforcement agencies, emergency medical teams, as well as thousands of community volunteers have all extended themselves to bring critical relief to those who were in the greatest need. These efforts saved lives and brought comfort to those who had lost property. We would be in a much more difficult situation without them. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H. Res. 425, which honors the brave men and women who stood in the face of danger and saved the lives and property of so many. We owe these heroes a debt of gratitude. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to speak on the FY 2004 Interior appropriations bill. I wish to thank the House Appropriations Committee for providing the much needed increases in funding for the fire-fighting and fire prevention accounts within the Department of Interior. As my constituents and the constituents of my other colleagues representing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura have discovered first hand over the last week, it is imperative that Congress fund the necessary resources needed to prevent fires and fight fires. Though I do plan on voting in support of this bill because of this funding and the funding of other important programs, I am concerned about the inclusion of a provision in this bill to halt a historical accounting of errors in the Indian trust fund accounts. While I recognize the need to address this issue quickly, the Interior appropriations bill is not the appropriate vehicle. An issue of this magnitude is better addressed through the normal legislative process. The House Resources Committee, chaired by Representative Richard Pombo, has already held numerous hearings on this issue, developing the necessary legislative history. Mr. Pombo is committed in working towards a more complete solution. I strongly disagree with the decision to include language in this bill that preempts the Resources Committee's thoughtful work on the trust fund issue.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, October 29, the Oceanside community will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Brother Benno foundation. The foundation was established by Harold and Kay Kutler in 1983 based on the work of a Benedictine monk, Brother Benno Garrity, from the Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, CA. Brother Benno died in 1992 after dedicating his life to feeding the poor and homeless. The foundation began with a small soup kitchen at 307 Minnesota Street in Oceanside. It has since grown into a ministry addressing many types of social problems in San Diego County including hunger, homelessness, and alcohol and drug addiction. Anyone needing help can come to Brother Bennos and register for services provided by the foundation. In their 20 years of service the foundation has provided 132,000 nights of lodging, more than 434,000 articles of clothing, 18,900 blankets and medical and dental care. On behalf of all the people whose lives have been touched by the Brother Benno Foundation I want to recognize the volunteers and support staff at the Brother Benno Foundation. Thank you for 20 years of service.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, there will be an estimated 21,100 new cases of female breast cancer in California this year. Breast cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. Every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. All of us know someone who has been touched by this disease. That is why I am proud to announce that this Sunday, October 19, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation will sponsor the fifth annual Race for the Cure in Temecula, CA. All the funds raised during the event will go to support breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards, educational and scientific conferences and local breast health and breast cancer outreach programs. Mr. Speaker by supporting such private efforts as the annual Race for the Cure, we pay tribute to the victims and survivors of breast cancer. We also honor those whose efforts will one day eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2004. This is a critical decision-- too important to be colored by partisan political agendas. At stake is the future of the Iraqi people, the lives of 150,000 American soldiers, and our status as the leader of the free world. Our intervention into Iraq has the potential to be the greatest foreign policy success since the rebuilding of Germany following World War II. We have the chance to help the Iraqi people transform a country torn apart by totalitarian rule into a beacon of freedom, opportunity and democracy. We have the chance to put to rest the misguided belief that Muslim countries are not capable of living in democracy. We have the chance to demonstrate to the rest of the world that America embraces its role as defender of the oppressed, and leader of the free world. We have rejected the contradictions of colonialism. We did not send our troops to Iraq to take their oil or force the Iraqi people to pay tribute. We came to give a people who were crushed and oppressed a chance to change their destiny. To finish this effort, we must be willing to make sacrifices. Already, Iraqi children are going to new schools that have been refurbished, where there are no longer pictures of Saddam Hussein on the wall, and where curriculums teach math and science rather than loyalty to the Baath Party. Men and women are able to build businesses, develop new ideas, and express their political views freely. We must enable this to continue by investing in Iraq's future. We must also guarantee that our troops will have the resources they need to maintain order throughout the country. There can be no substitute for success in Iraq. I urge my colleagues to support our continued efforts in Iraq and to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jeannine Martineau, a board member in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District and the outgoing President of the California School Boards Association. Jeannine Martineau is an exceptional community leader and citizen of Lake Elsinore. Ms. Martineau has a distinguished record of service throughout her community and the State of California. She has served on the California School Boards Association for the past 12 years. She was a member of the association's delegate assembly and served as a regional director since 1992. This year Ms. Martineau was named chair of the Cities, Counties, and Schools Partnership. Jeannine has also been a model of personal involvement. She has been active in many community organizations including the Elsinore Woman's Club, Elsinore Valley Human Services Commission and was named 2003 Tri- County Youth Services Volunteer of the Year. Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally thank Ms. Martineau for her service to her community and wish her good fortune in the future.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to enter into the Record an opinion piece that I wrote about the future of our relationship with Syria. This piece was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on October 14, 2003. I also want to join my colleagues today in expressing deep concern about the choices that Syria has made over the past year. This is a sad day for American diplomacy. The passage of this bill, after more than two years of debate, marks the refusal of Syria to accept our diplomatic overtures. Syria has had numerous opportunities to demonstrate that it intends to move away from the policies that keep it on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terror. It has consistently missed those opportunities, and now faces the specter of isolation. Syria had the chance to play a key role in securing the release of Elhanan Tenebaum, Adi Avitan, Benny Avraham, and Omar Sawayid--Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah. They refused, perpetuating a hostage situation that makes peace negotiations more difficult. Syria had the chance to grant the United States use of its airspace for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They refused, thereby dramatically increasing the risk of mission failure for American pilots. Syria had the chance to build good will toward the United States by staying out of the war in Iraq. They refused, allowing jihadis and military equipment to flow across their borders to kill American soldiers. Syria had the chance to demonstrate its commitment to the peace process by supporting President Bush's Roadmap to Peace initiative. Secretary Powell specifically asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to close offices of Palestinian terrorist groups and to expel terrorist leaders operating out of Damascus. He refused, choosing instead to continue Syrian financial and logistical support for terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. Following the war in Iraq, Syria had the chance to build good will in the United Nations. They were repeatedly asked to support a constructive UN presence in Iraq. Instead, they opted to pursue a diplomatic agenda that drove divisions between the United States and other members of the UN Security Council. Syria has had the chance to withdraw its troops and end its dominance of Lebanon. They refused, choosing to maintain their intimidating military and intelligence presence in Lebanon. And finally, Syria has had the chance to rein in Hezbollah. I have personally asked senior Syrian government officials to disarm Hezbollah, arguing that Syria's interests are best served through peace negotiations. These requests have been consistently rejected. Syria continues to provide strategic, financial, and logistical support to Hezbollah in a misguided effort to keep the Lebanese conflict with Israel burning. These issues are not imagined and they are not part of some secret Israeli agenda, as the Syrians believe. They are real problems that have driven a wedge between our two nations. I don't know if this bill will succeed in changing Syria's behavior--sanctions are rarely an effective long-term solution. But we cannot ignore the fact that Syria and the United States are moving in two very different directions. Diplomacy with Syria has failed. Syria has been given a choice and it has chosen poorly. [From the San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 14, 2003] Opinion/Editorial (By Darrell Issa) During a recent visit to Damascus, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told me ``we want to be part of this world--we do not want to be isolated like North Korea.'' This statement demonstrated that the young Syrian president understands that Syria is heading down a path toward complete isolation. Unfortunately, President Assad also appears to believe that he can postpone isolation indefinitely by straddling two very different paths. One is the path of cooperation. The Bush administration has noted that, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Syria provided us with valuable intelligence on al Qaeda that ultimately saved American lives. President Assad opened up his office to visiting American officials--something his father, the late Hafez Assad--was reluctant to do. He has talked about Syria becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and expressed interest in visiting the United States. But Bashar Assad has also perpetuated Syrian policies that keep it on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism. He has failed to fully shut down Palestinian terrorist offices that operate out of Damascus. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he failed to stop the flow of jihadis and military equipment across the border that killed American soldiers. The most troubling concern for America, however, is Syria's intention to support Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that continues to fight a proxy war with Israel and provide assistance to other terrorist groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has referred to Hezbollah as the ``A-team of terrorism.'' Hezbollah operatives are responsible for the murder of more than 250 American peacekeepers and diplomats in Beirut in the 1980s. They are suspected in carrying out two bombings in Argentina that killed over 100 civilians. Imad Mughniah, the suspected mastermind of numerous terrorist attacks against Americans, is a senior adviser in Hezbollah's organizational structure. There is evidence that Hezbollah operatives have infiltrated Iraq to join attacks against American soldiers. As senior Bush administration officials have stated repeatedly, Bashar Assad has a choice to make: Either cooperate and be rewarded or continue to support terrorism and risk total isolation. Assad's strategy of trying to keep one foot on each path will not work much longer. He may be faced with isolation sooner than he thinks. The Syria Accountability Act, which could mandate isolation at the levels of Libya or Iran, is now poised to move quickly through Congress. Until recently, the Bush administration opposed the act, arguing that it is the president's constitutional responsibility to determine the nature of diplomatic relations with foreign countries. But as Syria consistently showed no sign of changing its dangerous policies, the White House changed its mind and has now given the act the green light. The result for Syria will be devastating. Libya has learned the costs of total isolation as a result of supporting global terrorism. Only after a decade of international rejection has Libya begun to dig its way out of isolation. Bashar Assad has but a few days left to change direction: to put both feet on the path of cooperation and lead Syria into the community of nations.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 234. I am delighted to have had the honor of authoring this resolution with my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Ohio, Marcy Kaptur. I also am grateful to the gentleman from Wisconsin, Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, for his fine work in moving this bill through his Committee to the House floor. I am pleased to be joined by over 52 Members who co-sponsored this resolution. Twenty other Members have also expressed their strong support for the resolution since it passed out of the Judiciary Committee on the 25th of July. Alcee Hastings, Jan Schakowsky, Bob Filner, Martin Sabo, Maurice Hinchey, Denise Majette, Chris Shays, Neil Abercrombie, Lee Terry, Henry Waxman, John Olver, Judy Biggert, Rod Kind, Lloyd Doggett, Ciro Rodriguez, Bill Pascrell, and Robert Matsui have all told me that they would like to be formally recognized for their support of this resolution. I thank them for their support. This is an important moment for Arab-American, Muslim American, Sikh- American, and South Asian American communities throughout the United States. These communities have experienced increased levels of bigotry and violence since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the first nine weeks following the September 11 tragedy, there were about 700 violent incidents directed at Arab-Americans or those perceived to be Arab-Americans, like Sikh Americans and South Asian Americans. Fortunately, this rate dropped very quickly after those first nine weeks, thanks in large part to President Bush's repeated calls for tolerance. The President's leadership on this issue prompted thousands of state and local officials, community leaders, and private citizens across the country to reach out to these minority groups with voices of compassion and support. I am delighted that Congress can now formally join them in standing by our fellow Americans who have unfairly had to live a cloud of suspicion. Arab-Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans and South Asian Americans have all contributed greatly to this nation. Many serve in elected office, law enforcement agencies, or the military. The Commanding General of CENTCOM, John Abizaid, is an American of Arab ancestry. These men and women are part of the kaleidoscope of cultures that makes up this country. While they come from many diverse backgrounds, all of them traveled to America for one main reason: to taste freedom. We treat them as brothers and sisters because they share our desire to live in a nation that is tolerant, just, and free. Again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your fine work on this effort.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah of Kuwait to express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to him and his government for their steadfast support for the United States-led coalition in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since its independence in 1961, Kuwait has maintained close relations with the United States. Like the people of Iraq, Kuwait is in a unique position to understand the brutality of Saddam Hussein's regime. It was invaded by Iraq in August of 1990, and the Kuwaiti people experienced firsthand Saddam's brutality throughout the seven months of occupation until February of 1991, when coalition forces liberated Kuwait. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Kuwait has been an active partner with the United States in the global war on terrorism. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kuwait provided vital assistance to the United States and its coalition partners, including access to airports, port facilities and bases. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kuwait was subject to attack by twenty ballistic Iraqi missiles. Despite these attacks, Kuwait was unwavering in its support of the United States, providing us with protection and basing support for our troops. In addition, since the end of the major hostilities with the Saddam Hussein regime, Kuwait has stepped forward to provide substantial humanitarian assistance to Iraq in support of coalition goals. I am pleased that Prime Minister Al-Sabah has this opportunity to visit. I thank him for his work in building the friendship between our two countries.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the purpose of recognizing all small businesses as part of National Small Business Week. This week we honor the small business owners across the nation who work to make our country strong. Small businesses represent the backbone of the American economy and are the key to economic stimulus. Small business accounts for 99.7 percent of the nation's employers, employing 52 percent of the private work force, contributing 47 percent of all sales in the country and 50 percent of the private gross domestic product. This year, Congress has passed legislation that provides new tax incentives to make it easier for small businesses to make job-creating investments and given small business owners more power to provide health care for their employees. It is important that Congress continue to champion legislation designed to encourage this shared prosperity. Again, it is my pleasure to recognize the men and women who run and own small businesses. Let's continue to support hardworking American workers and entrepreneurs by encouraging small businesses growth.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) regarding a serious problem my constituents are facing with the Department of Justice. I had originally planned to file an amendment to limit funding for the Department of Justice by $1.5 million until they settled over 90 administrative claims that my constituents filed against the Department of Justice as a result of the destruction of their property during the Pines Fire of 2002. In the summer of 2002, the Drug Enforcement Administration borrowed a National Guard helicopter to perform a marijuana search in Julian, California. The helicopter pilot made a mistake and clipped a power line causing a fire that destroyed 41 homes and thousands of acres of private property. The DEA took responsibility for the incident and agreed to give claimants fair compensation for their loss. About 200 claims were filed. It has been nearly a year since the first claim was filed and the Department of Justice still has failed to settle over 90 of the largest claims. Some of my constituents have resorted to living in tents on their property because they do not have the money to rebuild their homes. This morning I met with senior officials of Department of Justice and I believe that we are on the path to resolving this issue. I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for working with me to ensure that the Department of Justice successfully settles every claim, and I look forward to putting this matter behind us.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I object.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1472.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Hunter amendment. This amendment is critically important in both its timing and substance. The beaches of San Diego County are suffering from a massive pollution problem that has crippled the tourism industry and disrupted the lives of thousands of beach enthusiasts. For the past few years, pollution has forced San Diego County beaches to close for as many as 200 days of the year. This problem originates from an estimated 60 million gallons of raw sewage that is pumped into the Tijuana River in Mexico on a daily basis. The problem has grown from a minor annoyance to a major health crisis. I find it frustrating that this problem was to have been addressed by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in 2000, yet little has been done since then. On September 12, 2000, the House passed the Tijuana River Valle Estuary and Beach Sewage Cleanup Act, which required the IBWC to negotiate a resolution to this problem with the government of Mexico. So what has been happening these past three years? A review of the progress on this project is a frustrating lesson in the damage that an ineffective and slow-moving bureaucracy can do to a good idea. The IBWC opposed the idea of building a wastewater treatment plant in Mexico because they insisted on maintaining total control over the project. They demanded the authority and the extra money they felt they needed to build it on the U.S. side of the border. In their effort to develop this plant, the IBWC completely lost financial control of the project, forcing Congress to cap it at $239 million--over $100 million more than had been authorized for the project. Despite the massive cost overrun, the plant still did not meet U.S. Clean Water Act standards and may soon be forced to close as a result of numerous Clean Water Act violations. In an attempt to find an innovative solution to this problem, the House authorized a public-private partnership that will keep the cost for a new plant low, while meeting the need to provide water treatment for the City of Tijuana. Furthermore, an estimated 56 percent of Tijuana's water needs will be met by reclaimed water from this proposed plant. More importantly, this project will be built in Mexico, at the source of the problem and it will be built quicker and cheaper than any public-only alternative. This amendment requires the IBWC to make this project a priority and finally, after 70 years of misery for San Diego beach communities, end the pollution problem that has damaged our coastline. This project is critical for the future of San Diego County, and it is critical for California. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan, Republican-led, legendary, historic event that we are participating in here today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to comment Chairman Thomas, Chairman Tauzin, and the House Republican leadership for their work on H.R. 1. This landmark legislation will provide America's seniors with a lifetime prescription drug benefit through Medicare. This new benefit will mean permanent prescription drug access, lower drug costs and a limit on catastrophic drug expenses for all beneficiaries. I am especially pleased to see that this bill enacts meaningful Medicare reforms that specifically affect California and my constituents in the 49th Congressional District. H.R. 1 includes language that allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate plans that serve special needs beneficiaries as Specialized Medicare Advantage plans. This provision enhances the development of more effective approaches to chronic illness care by providing an opportunity for additional frail elderly demonstrations to move into mainstream Medicare. One example of this type of demonstration is the SCAN program, which currently serves over 50,000 Southern Californians--including 10,000 who live inside the 49th Congressional District. I also want to thank leadership for their work to ensure stable funding in the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program. H.R. 1 provides all states with a one time 20% increase in their DSH allotments. This 20% increase means an additional $184 million in Fiscal Year 2004 for California's safety net hospitals. This additional funding will help ensure that services to the most vulnerable populations remain available. I believe that we must bring Medicare into the 21st century and that no American should be denied needed prescription drugs because he or she cannot afford them. I recognize that the lack of a prescription drug benefit for our seniors signifies the fact that Medicare has fallen behind the times. H.R. 1 is the best prescription drug benefit plan for America and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to remember the life and work of former Congressman Bob Stump. Mr. Stump was a true gentleman with whom I had the privilege of serving in this body for two years. Before being elected to Congress, Mr. Stump served in the United States Navy and also served in the Arizona House of Representatives and in the Arizona State Senate. He was first elected to Congress November 3, 1976, where he faithfully served the people of Arizona for 26 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Stump was a man whose congressional career was spent working for our Nation's men and women in uniform. His commitment to the military and to our Nation's defense should be an example to us all. I send my condolences to his wife Nancy, three children, and five grandchildren.

Mr. ISSA

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to remember the life and service of Officer Tony Zeppetella of the Oceanside Police Department. Tony was killed in the line of duty this past Friday, June 13, just two days before he would have celebrated his first Father's Day with his six-month-old son. My heart goes out to Tony's wife, Jamie, and his young son, Jakob, who will never have the opportunity to play catch or go fishing, or learn to ride a bike with his father. Jakob will only know of his father as a hero, who died in service to his community and his country. This is a tragedy. It is unfair that such a good young man like Tony should have his life taken by a violent gang member with a long history of criminal behavior. Tony was a well-respected and promising young member of the Oceanside police force. Friends and relatives of Tony say that he was a terrific father, a man deeply committed to raising his son well, and looking forward to his first Father's Day. After graduating from high school, Tony enlisted in the Navy for six years, serving as a Fire Controlman 2nd class. Tony also attended college while serving in the Navy, and then graduated from the Police Academy in October, 2002. Tony's friends describe him as a man deeply committed to community service, with a strong passion for police service. Capt. David Heering of the Oceanside Police Department said of Tony: ``[He] had said it was his lifelong dream to become an officer-- it's unfortunate his dream was cut short and ended so tragically.'' This murder has not only split apart a family--it has terrorized a community. Tony Zeppetella was the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty in Oceanside since 1916. This Friday, June 20, Tony's friends and family, the Oceanside Police Department, and the community of Oceanside, will come together for a memorial service to honor the life of Tony Zeppetella. I join with them in remembering this fine young man. Tony's murder has hurt all of us. He gave the ultimate sacrifice as a public servant and protector of our freedoms.