Dale Kildee

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. I would be happy to yield.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Flint Community Schools' Citywide Title I Parent Advisory Council. The council will hold a celebration on June 5 in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, in honor of this event. Dr. Edward Hansberry founded the Citywide Title I Parent Advisory Council in 1967. The advisory council was born from the idea that parents should be honored for the work they do on behalf of their children. It has grown into a vehicle to teach parents and give them a voice in the education of their children. The advisory council allows for the parents to have positive interaction with teachers and social workers. This builds bonds between parents and administrators and gives parents a mechanism to provide feedback on the programs. David Solis, director of State, Federal and local programs for the Flint Community Schools will host the celebration. Named the ``40th Parent of the Year Celebration--A Journey of Joy, Challenge and Change'' this celebration will highlight the dedication and success of the students, parents and educators benefiting from title 1. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Citywide Title I Parent Advisory Council for 40 years of successfully involving parents in the title I program.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, today I would like to take the opportunity to extend congratulations to the UA Local 370 Plumbers and Pipefitters as they commemorate their 100th anniversary. A celebration will be held on June 7 in Flint Michigan. Local 370 was chartered on June 4, 1907 with 15 members. As a part of the United Association, Local 370 worked to change the 10-hour workday and the working conditions of its members. Over the years the benefits enjoyed by the membership have changed and grown. Base wages, initiation fees, and window dues have all changed to reflect changing economic times. The pension fund and insurance fund were created by in response to the needs of the membership. Over the past 100 years Local 370 has been an integral part for worker rights. Chartered 30 years before the famous UAW sitdown strike in 1937, members of Local 370 built the building where the sitdown strike took place. The members have been committed to protecting prevailing wages, working for laws to mandate plumbing licenses for anyone working in the plumbing industry, working with other labor organizations to improve the day-to-day lives of workers everywhere. Committed to the United Association motto, ``We Do It Right the First Time,'' Local 370 has created a first-class training center for apprentices to develop their skills. The current roster of almost 500 members can earn up to 70 different certifications from United Association. The members strive to be the best trained and most up to date in their professions. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Local 370 for their assurance to their craft, their customers, the public and to the American worker. We have all benefited from their desire to work in a safe, conscientious environment.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the memory of Galen Jamison. Galen passed away on Thursday, May 17, in my hometown of Flint, Michigan at the age of 71. Galen was a committed public servant, always striving to improve the quality of life for the people of the greater Flint area. He was a dear friend and a valued advisor. I will miss his knowledge and wisdom. He was a graduate of Central Michigan University and he had attended Arkansas State College and GMI. Mr. Jamison married Shirley J. Earns in 1955 and moved to Flint Township where he resided for over 50 years. Galen worked for General Motors as a General Supervisor. He was deeply committed to public service. Galen was elected as Flint Township supervisor and served 4 years. He was also elected 2 terms as Trustee on Flint Township Board of Trustees. Galen held several appointed positions over the years. These included State of Michigan Registered Codes Official and Inspector, Commercial Plan Reviewer, and 11 years on the Liquor Advisory Board where he drafted the first ordinance. He served on the Planning Commission for 9 years, the Board of Appeals for 6 years, the Economic Development Authority, the Central Business District Authority, the Bicentennial Committee, and was the Anti Annexation Drive Coordinator. Galen served on many Genesee County Boards including service as the Chairman of the Auto and Theft Grant Board. He held positions with the Water and Waste Board, the Retirement Board, the Parks Board, the Library Steering Committee, and as Genesee County Michigan Township Association Trustee. He had previously served on the CAMEO Executive Board and as a Flint Junior Achievement Advisor. He served as the Chairman for the Flushing Road Action Committee for Water for 4 years. At the time of his death Galen was currently serving as the Flint Township Chief Building Director and Chairman of the Genesee County Road Commission. Because of his commitment to public service Galen was awarded the G.M. Truck and Bus Plant Award for excellence in Community Activities. Galen is survived by his wife of 51 years, Shirley, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers, sister, numerous nieces and nephews and a Godchild. Madam Speaker, please join me in paying respects to a wonderful man and a true public servant, Galen Jamison. The Flint area mourns his passing and will miss his leadership, insight and zeal to make the Flint community a better place to live and work.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Beecher Community School District Project Head Start. A community celebration is planned for Friday, May 18th in Flint, Michigan. The celebration will be attended by alumni, current and former staff, parents, students and other members of the community. The Beecher Community School District is a delegate program of the Genesee County Community Action Resource Department. Over the past 40 years the Beecher Head Start program has served over 6,000 students. It is a comprehensive program providing medical, dental, nutrition, and child development. The teachers and social workers make home visits to assess the needs of the child and work to fully involve parents in the child's progress. This year 357 pupils benefited from participation in the program. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Beecher Community School District Project Head Start on 40 years of successfully preparing youngsters for school and enhancing the social and reasoning skills of thousands of students.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to express our deep appreciation for the dedication of our nation's teachers. It is therefore timely to also recognize the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month, for its dedication to teacher excellence. National Board certification is among the highest credentials in the teaching profession. Teachers speak of National Board certification with great pride. There are 55,000 National Board certified teachers nationwide and I look forward to seeing more National Board certified teachers in our schools as we seek to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Kevin D. Lyons the Illustrious Potentate of the Oman Temple Number 72 Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Prince Hall Affiliated. The Temple membership is honoring him at the Potentate's Ball on May 19th in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. A native of New Jersey, Kevin attended East Orange High School with an emphasis in College Preparatory Music. He graduated from Delaware State University with a major in Music Education and obtained his masters degree at Howard University in Performance and Jazz Studies. Bringing his love of music to Michigan, Kevin works for the Beecher Community School District as the district-wide assistant director of bands. He also provides private lessons in drum and percussion instruments and is a professional drummer with the music group ``Deep Blue.'' He is a life member of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. He belongs to the Music Educators National Conference, National Association of Rudimental Drummers, the Percussive Art Society International Conference, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and all Prince Hall Masonic Houses. In addition to being a committed music teacher, Kevin also uses his talent for the worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a member of Vermont Christian Church and is the Chairman of the Media Ministry. He is the former president of the Christian Men's Fellowship, a former co- sponsor of the Youth Ushers, and a participant on the Finance Team. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in applauding Kevin D. Lyons's devotion to his community, his students, his church, and to congratulate him for his service to the Oman Temple Number 72.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. I want to thank my chairman for yielding to engage in a colloquy on a matter of great importance to Native Americans. Congress has long been concerned about addressing the social ills that plague our Native American communities which stem from the policies of the United States that were designed to terminate tribal nations and their culture. While we cannot erase the deplorable history of Indian policy in the United States, Congress has sought to honor the political status of tribal governments by enacting a wide range of laws designed to promote Indian self-determination and economic self-sufficiency. The entirety of title 25 of the United States Code is a compilation of all Federal laws relating to Indians that seek to achieve those goals. Congress has established the Native 8(a) program in furtherance of those Federal policies to foster strong economies in Native communities. The program is an important tool which has significant benefits to Native communities. I understand that the authorizing committees have concerns relating to the Native 8(a) program, and I thank Chairman Waxman for agreeing to placeholder language at section 211 so we may continue our dialogue with the participants of that program to find a permanent solution to the committee's concern. In addressing the committee's concerns, however, it is my strong desire that we balance the interest of all parties and that any change to that program take into account our trust relationship with tribal nations and the communities they serve. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Fritz Bruening. Dr. Bruening is the 2007 recipient of the Jack Hamady Good Scout Award from the Burton Rotary Club. He will receive the award at a luncheon on May 10th. Dr. Bruening graduated from high school in Decorah, Iowa, where he was a member of the wrestling team, the Honor Society and Valedictorian of his graduating class. He continued his education at Notre Dame University, where he was the captain of the wrestling team, graduated Cum Laude and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree. After completing his studies at the University of Iowa, School of Medicine, Dr. Bruening finished his internships at Good Samaritan Hospital and East Mesa Emergency Center in Arizona. His residency in Ophthalmology was completed at North Carolina Baptist Hospital and Wake Forest Medical Center, where he was Chief Resident from 1984-1985. In 1994 Dr. Bruening relocated to Flint, Michigan, and joined the Park Eye and SurgiCenter after 6 years in private practice in Winston- Salem, North Carolina. At the time he was one of a handful of surgeons capable of performing the Clear Cornea cataract surgery. He has subsequently published two articles, ``Clear Cornea Surgery'' in the March issue of the Genesee County Medical Society Bulletin and ``Placement of a Secondary Foldable Intraocular Lens over a Capsule Remnant'' in the August issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Bruening has devoted countless hours to assisting the indigent and working poor. He continues to take referrals from optometrists to perform surgeries on patients without insurance and incapable of paying. He counts the restoration of sight to a man that had not been able to see for 20 years as his greatest achievement. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Dr. Fritz Bruening as he receives the Jack Hamady Good Scout Award from the Burton Rotary Club.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, we support the amendment. Many of these are included in the regulations, but you would put it in the statute now and expand them, and I think you have done a very good job in your expansion of that. I commend you for your work on this. I commend you for your concern for children. It is very important. We certainly want to protect our children, and I think this is a very good amendment and we support it. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the amendment.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, the Putnam amendment would jeopardize the seamless services that many high-quality Head Start programs with very deep roots in their communities provide to disadvantaged children. Because the quality of our Head Start programs is critical to ensuring that disadvantaged children receive the benefits of Head Start, this bill, which passed out with only one dissenting vote from committee, implements a new process to recompete underperforming programs. The amendment by Mr. Putnam guts the bill's provision to ensure that high- quality Head Start programs do not have to recompete for their grants. They are reviewed by a panel of experts we put in place to look at them. They are reviewed and have to satisfy that review, but they do not then have to recompete. The Putnam amendment also eliminates the bill's provisions to ensure a fair and equitable process for recompeting underperforming Head Start programs. And we worked hard to get a fair and equitable process for that. By striking those provisions, which he does in his amendment, the Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to create its own system for recompetition. We worked hard with the Head Start community to try to ensure that we would have a panel of experts that would assure that the unperforming programs were really improved or put out of the system but not have the high performing have to go through the recompetition process every 5 years, but be reviewed by the panel of experts. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I would just say in reading the amendment that States should generally follow the standards. I served in a State legislature for 12 years in appropriations, and I know what license that word ``generally'' gives to a State legislature in a State government. Generally it does not keep these really good high standards that we have worked on for 42 years on in this bill.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I don't question the motives of Mr. Mica, but his amendment would jeopardize program quality by speeding up the deadline for the 50 percent of the Head Start teachers having their bachelor's degrees. Budgets have really forced Head Start centers to make very difficult, sometime impossible decisions to reduce services or to serve fewer children. And I fear that the Mica amendment would exacerbate the hard choices which Head Start programs have faced over recent years because this Congress has not appropriated the kind of money we need. The bill that came out of committee, by 42-1, establishes, I think, a rather reasonable and ambitious time line for 50 percent of our Head Start teachers to attain their bachelor's degrees. Under this time line, the bill ensures that Congress can provide the necessary funding to achieve this goal. We have to, as I think we have done in this bill which came out of committee, we have to balance the improvements in the program with the real resources. If we had unlimited resources, we could do all these things. But I think the bill balances the improvements with the resources.

Mr. KILDEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, in March, the Education and Labor Committee overwhelming passed by a vote of 42-1 H.R. 1429, which was my privilege to introduce with both Democrats and Republicans as cosponsors. I hope at the close of today's debate the full House will do similarly. Head Start has served our most vulnerable children and families well for 42 years; and more recently, early Head Start has done the same for infants and toddlers. Head Start works, and this bill will make it work even better. This bill increases Head Start's authorization by $461 million to benefit as many as 10,000 more children, and increases funding for Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs. It sets aside 60 percent of new funds for activities such as teacher salaries, professional development and extended program hours. It suspends the flawed national reporting system. It improves teacher qualifications. It increases access to Early Head Start. It improves training and technical assistance to help programs identify their strengths and weaknesses. And it strengthens the quality of Head Start boards and maintains strong parental involvement through shared governance of Head Start programs. I would note that we are expecting a motion to recommit that would allow faith-based programs to discriminate in hiring based on religion using Federal funds. Before supporting this bill by 42-1, the committee considered and rejected such a policy. Faith-based programs can and do participate in Head Start and have done so for many years, and I support that strongly. However, this motion is wrong, and I encourage my colleagues to oppose it. In closing, I want to thank Chairman Miller for his outstanding work through the years on this program and for his specific work this year. This is a very good bill. I want to thank Ranking Members McKeon and Castle, it was really a pleasure to work with them, and all the members of the committee for their hard work on this bill. I would like to thank the staff, especially Ruth Friedman, Chairman Miller's senior policy adviser; Susan Ross and James Bergeron with Ranking Member McKeon; and Jessica Gross with Ranking Member Castle; and Lloyd Horwich of my staff. Mr. Chairman, I look forward to passage of this bill today and to working through the conference committee to see that this bill becomes law.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It has been suggested that we put this in the Higher Education bill, but the Higher Education bill has been kind of stalled. And I always believe you put your cargo on the train that is moving, and this train is moving. The Senate reported its version out of committee. I think we have a much better chance to get this done if we put it on this bill. This train is moving.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 518, the International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007, and am proud to join Chairman John Dingell, the Dean of the House of Representatives, my bi-partisan colleagues from Michigan and others in strong support of its passage. This legislation would require the U.S. to implement the ``notice and consent'' provisions of the 1992 bilateral U.S.-Canadian Agreement on municipal solid waste, and adds the necessary statutory enforcement authority. It also provides criteria to ensure that the views of the affected State and local governments are properly taken into account. The importation of foreign trash is of great concern to the residents of Michigan's Fifth Congressional District, and citizens across the State vocally oppose the importation of foreign trash. Nationally, more than 4 million tons of waste--about 400 truckloads per day--is transported from Canada to the U.S. each year, with three- quarters of it coming to Michigan. In Michigan alone, Canadian trash deposits have increased more than five-fold from 1999 to 2006--from about 710,000 tons to 3.67 million tons. The growing amount of foreign trash coming into Michigan is polluting our environment, clogging our roadways, increasing the health and safety risks in our State, and poses a growing a homeland security threat. In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General released a report finding that U.S. Customs does not have an effective method to screen and inspect the hundreds of truckloads of municipal solid waste that enter the U.S. daily through the Detroit and Port Huron ports of entry. In addition, multiple incidents have occurred on Michigan roadways where Canadian trash trucks have spilled waste on our roads. Congress has had numerous opportunities to address this problem, either through legislation or the implementation of a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada from 1992, which would allow Michigan to manage foreign waste being disposed of within its borders. Madam Speaker, the time has come for Congress to take action to address this serious matter. H.R. 518 has broad, bipartisan support reinforced by its clear passage through the House Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year without objection. Once again, Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 518, and urge my colleagues to pass this important legislation.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women of the Mott Community College basketball teams. This season the men's team won the National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Basketball National Championship. The women's team finished third in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Championship Tournament. The Mott Community College men's team is led by Head Coach Steve Schmidt. Coach Schmidt has guided his team to the second championship title in 5 years. The hard work by Coach Schmidt and the players has paid off. Mott Community College made history this year by becoming the only team that has played in four title games. The men's basketball program has the highest winning percentage in National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament play with a record of 16-3 since 2001. Overall the Mott Community College Bears have an 84.4 percent win record in the Michigan Community College Eastern Conference during the same time period. The team members are Terrence Watson, Jeremie Simmons, Willie Mustin, Darius Brents, Rob Giles, Lorenzo McClelland, LaMarr Drake, Thomas Kennedy, Alvin Pegues, Greg Hamlin and Kevin Tiggs. This year the NJCAA bestowed the 2007 Most Valuable Player Award on Kevin. The coaching staff consists of Assistant Coaches Carl Jones, Yusuf Harris, Nate Brown and Athletic Trainer Dick Benson. The women's basketball team, under the leadership of Head Coach Letitia Hughley, has worked diligently to bring about their 3rd place finish in the women's division. The team members are Tishara Fields, Lakeara Leslie, Alicia Bouldin, Sade Butler, Tara Smoots, Nicole Holmes, Janee Williamson, Sheria Hatcher, Michaella Weekes, Cari Pigott, and Shaquetta Mance. The coaching staff includes Assistant Coaches Lloyd Nicholson, Latisha Berry, and Athletic Trainer Dick Benson. Tom Healey is the Mott Community College Athletic Director. The players on both teams communicate effectively with each other and assess the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. Coupled with outstanding basketball skills honed through years of practice, and inspired coaching, this teamwork has made them winners. A community- wide celebration was held in Flint, Michigan on April 4 to honor the players, coaches, and staff with the Mott Community College basketball teams. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in applauding the dedication of the Mott Community College basketball teams and congratulate them on their achievements.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of the naming of Chavez Drive and the first annual Cesar Chavez March in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. A celebration and fundraiser for the United Farm Workers members will be held on March 31st to coincide with what would have been the late Cesar Chavez's 80th birthday. Born on a family farm, March 31, 1927, Cesar Chavez witnessed firsthand the suffering of migrant workers. When the family lost the farm during the Great Depression, Cesar toiled in the fields following crops across the Southwest. After serving in the US Navy during World War II he returned to farm work and began his lifelong commitment to justice for migrant workers. During the 1960s Cesar Chavez, in reaction to the conditions he witnessed in the fields, became a union activist. Adopting the techniques of industrial unions like the UAW, Cesar fought against agribusiness and unfair laws that forbade farm workers from organizing. A nationwide boycott of table grapes and a 25-day hunger strike brought the United Farm Workers international attention. His leadership and personal commitment forced agribusiness to sign the first union contract with the United Farm Workers. He labored to improve the health and safety of the workers. He fought successfully to end the use of harmful chemicals like DDT and benefited not only the worker but the consumer as well. When Cesar Chavez died in 1993, over 40,000 people attended his funeral. In a show of respect for the man who had changed so many lives, our nation posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Madam Speaker, Flint, Michigan was the first community in our nation to honor this great humanitarian by naming a street after Cesar Chavez. I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the memory of Cesar Chavez and his legacy to the American people.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 545, the Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement Treatment Act of 2007. I am pleased to join my colleague, Congressman Tom Udall, in championing this bill through the House. This bill allows Indian tribes to apply for three new grant programs--the cops hot spots program, the drug endangered children program, and the pregnant and parenting women offenders program. Methamphetamine use in Indian country has reached epidemic proportions, which has led to an increase in crime in Indian communities. This bill will give Indian tribes the opportunity to apply for Federal funds to assist them in the fight against meth use. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bishop Roger L. Jones, Sr. as he is appointed Jurisdictional Bishop of the Southeast Michigan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. After graduating from Saints College Church of God in Christ at Lexington, Mississippi in 1960, Bishop Roger Jones Sr. moved to Flint Michigan and founded Greater Holy Temple COGIC in 1963. Bishop Jones quickly established himself as an up and coming leader in the Church of God in Christ. Appointed District Superintendent in 1965 by Bishop J.S. Bailey, he also served as the Chair of the State Finance Committee the same year. Over the next several years Bishop Jones has also served in the following capacities: Chairman of State Expediting Committee, Vice- Chair and Chair of the State Elders Council, the National Platform Chair for the International Youth Congress, Vice-Chair of the International Trustee Board, and Chair of the International Trustee Board. Bishop Jones was consecrated a Bishop of the Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of South West Michigan in 1985. Along with his wife, Evangelist Sandra Smith Jones, Bishop Jones continues to affirm his faith every day and espouse the guiding principles of the Church of God in Christ. He strives to bring all to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Bishop Roger L. Jones, Sr. as he is appointed the Jurisdictional Bishop of Southeast Michigan and pray that he continues to work diligently to make a better life and future for his congregation and the people of Michigan.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker: I am proud to join many of my House colleagues today to present a strong voice in opposition to renewing Fast Track trade negotiating authority in any way, shape or form. Fast Track allows the President to negotiate trade agreements without input from Congress. In addition, Congress is prohibited from amending any trade agreements reached under Fast Track authority. Cynically repackaged as ``trade promotion authority'' in 2002, under President Bush's watch, Fast Track has been utilized to unjustifiable ends. Wages are flat, our trade deficit has skyrocketed and good-paying manufacturing jobs have been lost by the thousands. Increased imports from low-paid workers abroad, combined with threats made to workers by companies to move operations overseas, drive American workers' wages down. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the American middle-class grew and prospered. In 1973, the average U.S. worker made $16.06 an hour. Today, after adjusting for inflation, that same worker would make only $16.11 per hour. In stark contrast to hourly wages, average U.S. worker productivity has nearly doubled over the same period. Clearly, the divide in America between the ``haves'' and ``have-nots'' is growing, and the richest few, along with multi-national corporations, are the big winners under our nation's flawed trade policy. Up until 1973, the U.S. experienced relatively balanced trade, with small trade surpluses being the norm ($1.9 billion surplus in 1973). Since Fast Track was granted in 1974, the U.S. had a trade surplus in just one year (1975). Now, in 2006, our nation's trade deficit has skyrocketed to over $760 billion. Our trade deficit has more than doubled since President Bush took office. For 2001, our trade deficit was $362 billion. Last year, our trade deficit reached yet another new record high at $764 billion. Since WWII, good paying manufacturing jobs have been the driving force behind our nation's robust middle class allowing families to own homes, send their children to college and gain access to quality, affordable healthcare. Since President Bush took office, the U.S. has lost 3 million manufacturing jobs. Michigan alone has lost 213,000 manufacturing jobs, or about one-quarter of the state's manufacturing jobs. My record is clear. I voted against the Trade Act of 2002, which mistakenly granted this Administration ``trade promotion authority.'' Now, it is time for Congress to put the brakes on the Bush Administration's failed trade policies and come to our senses to realize the damage done. First, we must not make matters worse. Congress should reject the pending free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama. My colleagues should not be misled. Fast track trade negotiating authority is not required to negotiate or approve free trade agreements. Second, we need serious, thoughtful review of our nation's trade policies and their impact on wages, jobs and our trade balance. Pitting American industries against one another, political gamesmanship, and manipulation and sloganeering must come to an end so that Congress and the Administration should get down to business. The United States is a world leader, and we must enact trade policies that truly encourage positive standards and quality of life for both the United States and our foreign partners. Reject renewal of Fast Track trade negotiation authority, so we can get back to sensible and fair trade policy.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007. Labor unions are critically necessary to address the daily imbalance between employers and employees. We measure the quality of democracy in developing nations by their government's support for freedom of association to form and join unions. Unfortunately, an aggressive assault on American workers, and the institutions that represent them, has dangerously eroded these rights right here in the United States, resulting in a steady decline in the percentage of Americans in labor unions. Workers are not joining unions because our Nation's method of labor organization is a biased playing field, full of loopholes that unfairly advantage employers. The Employee Free Choice Act would address this unfair advantage by amending the National Labor Relations Act to replicate the majority sign up system currently used in Canada. H.R. 800 provides a simple, fair, and direct method for workers to form unions by signing cards or petitions. This legislation also sets firm time limits by which parties must begin and complete their negotiation of the tactics often used by employers during contract negotiation. first contract after union certification. This would eradicate the delaying tactics often used by employers during contract negotiation. I have always been a strong believer in unions and the benefits they provide to working families. My father, who started working at the Flint Buick plant, was one of the first members of the United Auto Workers. He was very proud of his union, and taught me the value of unions to all working families. I have dedicated my legislative career to helping people reach their dreams by protecting their right to collectively organize in order to ensure better economic opportunities. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act.