Carolyn Kilpatrick

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I regret that Congress is being called in to this special session while official business requires me to be elsewhere at this time. However, I wish to insert these remarks for the Record in order to make public my views and position on the legislation before this body tonight, S. 686, that will provide for the Relief of the Parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo. We are playing a dangerous game here as we try to act as Solomons when the nine Solomons of the U.S. Supreme Court have refused to review the case involving Ms. Schiavo. The arguments we have heard tonight both ``pro'' and ``con'' give testimony to the difficulty of the decision before us this evening, but it is a decision we should not be making. Issues of life and death should be determined personally, medically, legally, spiritually, morally--but not politically. Congress, the political body that it is, should not be involved in this sad debate tonight, and I strongly believe we will ultimately regret the precedent we are setting by our intrusion into this affair. My heart goes out to the Schindlers this evening, and I share with them their concern and love for their daughter. Nonetheless, I do not think we have all the information we need to act wisely in this matter.

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I thank both our chairman as well as the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for their leadership on this most important effort. I rise to support the CBC budget, the only budget in this Congress at this time that invests in America's families. There are three things wrong with America and why we are not doing well. The permanent tax cuts cost $1.2 trillion. On the war in Iraq we have spent $300 billion, and the deficit is blooming. Our CBC budget reduces the deficit. Our CBC budget invests in defense, homeland security, and the veterans at the same numbers that were given to this House by the President. We must support the CBC budget. Americans have to be outraged that we are not investing in their families and their children and their health care. I hope that we will do right. The CBC budget must be adopted. Support the Congressional Black Caucus Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Substitute The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) fiscal year 2006 budget substitute focuses on the CBC's Agenda (Closing Disparities in America's Communities) and restoring fiscal responsibility to the federal budget process. The disparities that continue to exist in our society in education, health care, economic opportunity, justice, retirement security and foreign policy are addressed in the CBC budget. In addition, our budget focuses on strengthening our efforts at the Department of Homeland Security, meeting some of the critical needs of our troops and improving services to our veterans. And, while making these important investments in our country's future, our budget places a high priority on reducing the record federal budget deficit. The CBC budget uses the Republican budget as the base budget and makes the following adjustments: domestic It includes a reduction in the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 for an individual's adjusted gross income that exceeds $200,000; furthermore, it does not adopt the new Republican tax cuts. Most of the revenue raised in the CBC budget is used to address disparities in America's communities; a substantial portion is reserved to reduce the deficit. military Ballistic Missile Defense spending is reduced by $7.8 billion, leaving $1 billion for research and development. All of these funds are spent on other defense items to support our troops, homeland security needs, and veterans programs and benefits. The total for defense, homeland security and veterans is equal to the Republican budget. bottom line The CBC budget addresses critical domestic challenges, and supports our troops. The CBC budget reduces the deficit by $167 billion compared to the House majority's budget over the next five years; this fiscal responsibility is rewarded by a reduction of $27 billion in interest payments compared to the House majority's budget. The CBC budget focuses on closing disparities that exist in our society and investing in America's future. We hope you will join us in supporting these efforts by supporting the CBC budget substitute.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in reluctant support for the $81.1 billion emergency supplemental funding bill we are considering today. The only reason I am voting for the bill before us today is because it provides much needed equipment for our forces in theater, increases death gratuity to $100,000 for families of soldiers who have died or were killed on active duty. My support for this measure is tepid at best. What troubles me the most about this bill are two key concerns: One, there are no mechanisms for tracking if the money is properly spent. There is simply no mechanism for improving accountability of how taxpayers' dollars are spent. The Defense Department wants to take the money and provide little detail to Congress on how these dollars are being used or abused. The American people have a right to know how these dollars are spent. And, two, by increasing investments in our war and defense efforts, we further constrain budgetary resources for investments in education, highways, community development, first responders, health care, public health and more. What is at stake here is the very welfare of our states and communities, who find themselves financially strapped because of the economic policies of this administration. Our domestic economy cannot continue to pursue this trend. Despite my many misgivings over this spending bill, I will vote for its passage. We in Congress must call on the Defense Department to provide better accountability for the spending decisions it makes.

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I thank our ranking member for yielding me this time. This is a bad budget. The very safety net that we hoped to help American families is being shredded. The Republican budget is wrong; and the prescription is wrong for Medicaid, over 52 million children, women, elderly, seniors, disabled individuals, 52 million in America. The largest health care program and the only health care program for many. The Committee on Energy and Commerce has been instructed to cut $20 billion from the Medicaid health care program for so many vulnerable citizens. Medicaid pays for 70 percent of nursing home care in Michigan. Sixty-four percent of the costs are spent on the elderly and disabled. Do we really want to hurt the least of these who have built this country? This Republican budget cuts Medicaid even more than what the President sent to Congress. We can do better. I just left a meeting with my Governor in our Michigan delegation, both Democrats and Republicans. Unfortunately, the Republicans wanted to blame our Governor for Medicaid, and they said cut Medicaid back. When one is unemployed, when they have no health care, when jobs are being lost, unfortunately they need Medicaid. And it is unfortunate that this budget does not restore Medicaid, help the most vulnerable, and not ask for $20 billion cut for the elderly, for seniors, for the disabled. The budget is bad. It kills Medicaid. We can do better.

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, personal business in my district prevents me from being present for legislative business scheduled for today, Monday, March 14, 2005. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 135, authorizing the establishment of a House Democracy Assistance Commission (rollcall No. 66); ``yea'' on H. Res. 101, a resolution urging the European Union to Add Hezbollah to the List of Terrorist Organizations (rollcall No. 67); and ``yea'' on S. 384, to extend the Nazi and Japanese War Crimes Working Group (rollcall No. 68).

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Scott. As written, the underlying bill will make it legal for faith-based organizations that receive federal funds and run job-training programs to discriminate in their hiring practices. Throughout my life, I have fought against discrimination wherever it is practiced in our social, cultural, political and economic life. The language contained in this bill goes against that core principle. The president and I have our disagreements, but the one concern we do share is that Sunday is generally regarded as the most segregated day of the week. The bill before us today encourages faith-based organizations to practice discrimination within their employment practices with Federal funds during the workday week. I support the work of our religious institutions in sponsoring federal programs and delivering vital social and employment programs to our communities. I first sought elected office by the grace of our God and at the urging of my church. But supporters of this bill contend if you do not allow religious organizations to hire members of their own faith, we are denying religious institutions from participating in federal programs that deliver needed services to our local communities. In other words, they argue we are practicing religious bigotry. Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, I would suggest that this movement is reminiscent of the days of school desegregation when many parents withdrew their children from public school so they could attend so-called Christian academies for the purpose learning. Why does the federal government want to encourage that kind of action? This bill does just that. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the time of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month, and we are proud to celebrate the contributions that women have made to American society. As mothers, as caregivers, as teachers, as providers, we honor the women in America this month of March.

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise to talk about the budget that the President has delivered to the Committee on Appropriations. We began yesterday having hearings on that budget. We have got to invest in America's families and in America's children. This budget cuts $60 billion from Medicaid, an insurance program for children, the disabled, our States. Our States can ill-afford nursing home care for our residents. I am from the State of Michigan, with the highest unemployment rate in the country. We have to invest in our States and our cities. This budget does not do that. Community development block grants, grants to States and cities that would help cities build their infrastructure and fund various programs throughout the cities. Cuts to first responders and firefighters. Funding drug- free schools. The programs go on. We must find the money to fund these programs. COPS programs, $40 million. Madam Speaker, our cities need our help. We have got to do better as appropriators. We have to do better as this Congress. Fund American families, fund the cities and States so that America can stay strong, as God intends.

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, this week the President delivered a $2.5 trillion budget to Congress and the American people. What was missing was nearly a trillion dollars for his plan for Social Security. What was missing was the $1.8 billion, the cost of making the tax cuts permanent and retiring tax cuts. What was missing was the cost of the war in Iraq. He has already spent $280 billion. He has asked for $80 billion more, none of it in the budget. What was in the budget was $60 billion cut for Medicaid. Over 40 million people, children and poor people, a $60 billion cut. What was missing was a $2 billion cut that was in the budget for community development block grants, monies to cities and towns to build their infrastructure, to help in their housing and other local community programs. What was in the budget was a cut to Upward Bound, TRIO and other education programs, cuts to our firefighters, at the same time asking for permanent tax cuts. We have got to do better and I hope we will.

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 2 minutes. I, too, want to add my appreciation for the soul of Mr. Ossie Davis: courageous, king, gentleman, warrior, friend. We honor him today and his memory, for when he walked in a room, we knew that the strength of African American men was being represented wherever he went. When he spoke, when he gave his time, when he reached out to all of us to let us know that we could be whatever it is that we wanted to be and with God in us, as he was in Mr. Davis, we knew that we would overcome. To Ruby Dee and her family for over 50 years, thank you for sharing him with us. Mr. Ossie Davis, he lives today and he will always live because he is an example to all of us how we should live with dignity and pride, face challenges head on, and speak the truth. Thank you, Mr. Davis, and may you rest in peace.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask to address the House for 5 minutes.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, whether we like it or not, on November 2 across America, tens of thousands of people were unable to cast their vote. Many voted and their votes were not counted. I rise to support the gentlewoman's effort from Ohio. I thank her very much. Our United States Constitution gives us the opportunity and the right to represent the millions of people that we represent daily to be on this House floor today. This is their right to speak through us on what happened to them on November 2. The rules of the House of Representatives allow us as elected representatives, representing 700,000 plus people apiece, the right to be on this floor at this time. This is the only way as we represent those people that we might express their dismay that they felt on November 2. As our leader said, this has nothing to do with overturning the election. This is why we are sent here to represent, and that is what we are doing. Regardless of what we have heard the last hour and a half, we the Members on this side of the aisle object to the process that failed many Americans on November 2. Long lines, cold, in the rain. It was in Ohio that we talk today; but Michigan, a neighboring State, had many problems. I was in my voting area called down to count the votes after the polls closed. All day long we had reports of intimidation, of men in suits intimidating my voters, asking for identification every time they went to vote all day long. But they stayed in line, they pressed forward, and they voted. Something was very wrong on November 2. When the polls closed at 11 o'clock that night, November 2, and we were there overlooking the vote, men in suits were touching my vote counters, touching our ballots. I went on TV, live TV, the 11 o'clock news and said, That is a felony. You cannot touch our counter. You cannot touch our voters. You cannot touch the ballots. It could have been Michigan, but you chose Ohio; and I am here to stand with you today. Something is very wrong with our voting process. Every vote must count. Every vote must be counted. We have got to fix this, and I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for his efforts, but we have got more work to do. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green). (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, personal reasons require me to return to my district, and I am unable to be present for legislative business scheduled after 3 p.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2004. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 1417, the Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004 (Rollcall No. 532), and ``aye'' on S. 2302, a bill to improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas (Rollcall No. 533). I would appreciate it if my remarks would appear in the appropriate place in the Record.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, personal reasons require me to return to my district, and I am unable to be present for legislative business scheduled after 3 p.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2004. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 1417, the Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004 (rollcall Vote No. 532), and ``aye'' on S. 2302, a bill to improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas (rollcall Vote No. 533).

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 10, the 9/ 11 Recommendations Implementation Act. I do so not because I disagree on the urgent need to reform our intelligence infrastructure. On the contrary, the 9/11 Commission clearly, articulately and convincingly makes a compelling case that the U.S. intelligence network is in great need of overhauling. My reasons for voting against the measure deal less with the concept of intelligence reform and more with the substance of the bill we are considering today. The measure before us today is improperly titled. The ``9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act'' should really be re- titled as the ``Immigration Reform Act of 2004.'' I am particularly sensitive to issues of homeland security and intelligence capabilities. My district encompasses the majority of the City of Detroit, which borders our northern neighbor--Canada. Detroit is the Motor City capital of the world, and as such, we are economically dependent on the cross-border auto trade transported through the Port of Detroit. Securing the critical infrastructure such as the Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and the Port of Detroit is vital to the economic wellbeing of our city, region, state, and nation. Protecting the rights of way of these thoroughfares is critical to the health of the American automobile industry, the largest industry in the manufacturing sector. Protecting these assets against terrorist attack is so important that the City of Detroit is one of the few major cities in the United States that has created an Office of Homeland Security. Matters of homeland security and enhanced intelligence capabilities are urgent concerns to my district and they should not be trivialized. The Republican Leadership in this chamber had the opportunity to stitch together a bill that would strengthen the nation's intelligence apparatus, but frankly it has ``pooched'' the job. The Leadership has confused the 9/11 Commission's urging to enhance America's security apparatus with its predilection to crackdown on the nation's immigrants. The only area where the bill makes its mark on strengthening the intelligence community is the establishment of a National Intelligence Director (NID). But all progress at intelligence reform ends there-- with the creation of NID. We create a position but gives the person occupying it no powers and no authority to implement any significant changes in the intelligence bureaucracy. For example, the NID has no budget authority, no hiring authority, and on reprogramming authority. By establishing a position of power without authority to hire or fire or to control the budget, we are in fact creating a paper tiger, a position with a lot of roar and no bite. The members of the 9/11 Commission have expressed their support for a strong NID, but the bill crafted by the Republican leadership fails to meet their expectations. This bill does very little in the way of strengthening the intelligence community. It goes a long way in turning the U.S. immigration system upside down. I support immigration reform, but we should not be enacting such sweeping changes under a bill whose purpose is to reform and reorganize the intelligence community. The Republican Leadership is confused. It took its eye off the goal of intelligence reform and moved forward with a bill that cracks down on immigrants. Let me highlight some of the more egregious provisions of this bill. The ``Lone Wolf'' provision would remove the requirement that non- citizen targets of secret intelligence surveillance be connected to a foreign power. The bill would permit the deportation of individuals to countries lacking a functioning government--an issue that is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill makes asylum claims more restrictive. The bill restricts the use of internationally accepted consular identification cards. Immigrants are being used as a wedge issue in this presidential election year. The bill is designed to mobilize the base vote of neo-isolationists and not the legitimate security concerns confronting our country and our countrymen and women. By using immigration as a wedge issue, we are distracted from taking a thoughtful approach to improving our intelligence capability. We are undermining our efforts to combat terrorism. Many on my side of the aisle will be voting to support this bill in order to move the process forward in the hope that a final product will be closer to the bill that was approved in the other chamber. My vote today is based on the substance and the merit of the provisions contained in this bill before us today. If a conference agreement can produce a bill that truly strengthens our intelligence community, it will have my support. Today, I must cast my vote against the passage of H.R. 10.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, official business in my district prevents me from being present for legislative business scheduled for today, Thursday, October 7, 2004. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the motion to instruct conferees to H.R. 42567, Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 (Rollcall No. 502); ``aye'' on H.R. 4661, Internet Spyware Prevention Act (Rollcall No. 503); ``aye'' on H.R. 5213 (Rollcall No. 503); ``aye'' on H.R. 5186, a bill to reduce certain special allowance payments and provide additional teach loan forgiveness on Federal student loans (Rollcall No. 504); ``no'' on the adoption of H. Res. 828, a resolution waiving the requirement of clause 6(a) of Rule 13 to provide for same day consideration of H.R. 4520 (Rollcall No. 505); ``aye'' on S. 1134, the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Rollcall No. 506); and ``aye'' on H.R. 5061, the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act (Rollcall No. 507).

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The title of the conference bill is a misnomer. If enacted it will add to the loss of nearly 2.7 million manufacturing jobs. This conference bill will also increase tax incentives for large corporations to move manufacturing jobs overseas. It will increase the Federal deficit, endanger Social Security and Medicare which are directly impacted by burgeoning deficits, and limit the ability of states to fund public education in a high deficit environment. This conference report contains enhanced benefits for offshore operations of U.S. multinational corporations that were not in the Senate or House bills. This conference report is significantly flawed because some of the taxes paid by companies operating in high tax countries will be paid by our government in the form of tax credits. The Republican majority is rigging the tax system to advantage corporate interests overseas and further eroding the federal government's ability to invest in America's families. Corporate farms will directly benefit from the manufacturing provisions in this bill, not the family farmers who desperately need help. Finally, my opposition to this bill is based on the fact that the conference report offers a complex solution to a simple problem. Instead of pulling the tax code up by its roots, the conference bill adds hundreds of complex rules and loopholes. This conference bill contains $140 billion in gross tax breaks for companies. It is a flawed bill that will cause additional out-sourcing of U.S. jobs. Mr. Speaker, this bill has dropped the provision that was in the Rangel substitute and the Senate-passed bill that rewards companies for keeping jobs in America. This conference report makes a bad situation worse, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no on this measure.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), our senior chairman for the Committee on Appropriations, and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), our ranking member, for bringing the bill to the floor. I want to thank them on their speediness. I know $2 billion has already been appropriated. This allows another $10 billion, not near enough, but it is certainly a start. Florida very definitely must be helped. The residents there have shown that they are true patriots and Americans, and yes, they need the help. Also, the countries in the Caribbean, I thank my colleagues for the $100 million, and it is most important that we help our neighbors in this time of devastation. Whole countries have been devastated, 80 percent of some of their housing, their schools, their hospitals. This will begin to help them, and I thank my colleagues for that. It is not enough, but it is a start, and I hope we will continue to work on it. There is much more to be done in the Caribbean, in Florida, and as was mentioned, I am sure this Congress will be there. In Darfur, as has been mentioned, in the Sudan, they, too, are in a crisis. People are dying every day, Mr. Chairman. We need to help them. The President has declared a genocide. The Secretary of State has declared a genocide. We need to help them. I call on the World Bank and the Inter-Development Bank to forgive the loans of those Caribbean nations, to offer grants for those nations. Those people need to get back on their feet as well. I call on the World Bank and the Inter-Development Bank to help Darfur, to help the Sudanese people. I think it is time to issue sanctions against Sudan. That would help to make sure that the Janjaweed would not terrorize the community, the nation, the people; and they are doing just that. So I ask for our President and this Congress, we must be the leaders that God intends that we be. We must stand up, yes, help Florida, give those people what they need. They have been there with us, and we owe it to them. The Caribbean neighbors that we have, Haiti devastated, and this appropriations bill that is now a supplemental moving quickly, and we thank the leadership for that. We need to do more for Darfur. We have got to do it. We ask for one- half percent of the money that was appropriated to Iraq, $20 billion appropriated, $2 billion spent. We can do better and I hope we will. Today we are considering H.R. 5212, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Hurricane Disasters. The funding levels within the supplemental will provide $100 million for the Caribbean region which has been devastated by recent hurricanes and tropical storms. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, I have advocated for funds sufficient to address humanitarian and reconstruction needs for countries affected in the Caribbean. While I am happy that funds have been provided, I am dismayed that more funds were not provided. The good news is that Haiti, which is in dire need of assistance, will receive perhaps as much as $72 million in aid. The bad news is that other countries in the region will not receive anything close to the monies necessary to rebuild schools and to repair their infrastructures. The country of Jamaica will receive only $17 million, but the government estimates that it will take $250 million to rebuild homes, replant crops, and build seawalls to protect against future hurricanes and tropical storms. Grenada was also hit hard by storms and will receive approximately $9 million in aid. Preliminary government estimates are that 80 percent of the housing stock has been damaged, 10 percent or 10,000 homes will need to be replaced and 82,000 persons have been displaced from their homes. Clearly Grenada needs more money, and so do the countries of the Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines that will receive $500,000 respectively. Mr. Chairman, our Caribbean neighbors and friends are confronting destruction of such magnitude that it will take them years to recover. Many of these countries have previously received loans from the World Bank and Inter-Development Bank. Virtually all of the countries affected by the hurricanes can ill afford to carry more loan debt. I call on the World Bank and the Inter-Development Bank to forgive the debt of Caribbean countries affected by recent hurricanes. I also ask both institutions to issue immediate grants to these countries to help restore their schools, hospitals, food production capability, and the other essentials of everyday life. These international lending institutions must re-evaluate how to facilitate a policy of loan forgiveness or grants for these storm ravaged Caribbean countries. It is an unfortunate reality that the region will continue to confront seasonal hurricanes and storms. Invariably, the region will continue to rely on the United States to provide humanitarian and disaster assistance in the future. Although our nation is limited in its ability to fully fund post-hurricane reconstruction efforts, we must endeavor to provide greater resources than the allocation in the supplemental. I support the bill before us. I regret that we could not provide greater funding to address the dire circumstances that exist in the Caribbean.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 106, the Marriage Protection Amendment under consideration by the House, and stand in support of the Constitution. My opposition to this amendment is based on my fundamental support for the Constitution, which has been amended only 17 times to broaden as opposed to limiting the rights of Americans. When I took my oath of office, I committed to uphold the Constitution. Today's debate and consideration of this bill is a concerted and direct assault on the beloved Constitution. We are in effect debating and voting on a bill that will do absolutely nothing to promote the institution of marriage. Our deliberation will not ensure that our most precious resource, children, the fruit of marriages between men and women, will be protected by passing this legislation. Our efforts today are nothing more than a symbolic act that will not result in any appreciable change in current law. The Republican majority knows that this House will not pass this measure with the two- thirds majority vote necessary for it to be enacted. Previously, the Senate defeated a similar measure. Finally, there is absolutely no change that three-quarters of the states would pass a law to support amending the Constitution on this subject. A federal amendment would intrude on the jurisdiction of state courts to establish rules for marriage. States rights are the philosophical and procedural cornerstone of the judicial framework utilized by state courts. If we pass this amendment in the House, we will be undermining the authority of state courts, and enabling the federal government to override the jurisdiction of those states. This measure will not ensure that marriage couples will protect our children from abuse or ensure that marriages between men and women will endure and not end in divorce. It is for the reasons outlined, that I cast a no vote against this amendment, and a vote to continue to support the Constitution.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the State of Michigan's longest serving public officials, Mr. William Griggs. Born in Wyandotte on August 20, 1941, Bill is the youngest of four boys in the Griggs family. His father, Lloyd, was employed at National Steel, in Ecorse, Michigan, for 39 years. In 1959, Bill was involved in a severe automobile accident which left him a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair. He finished high school while recovering in the University of Michigan Hospital. Graduating from Wayne State University with a bachelors degree in business administration in 1967, Bill went on to receive a Masters Degree in Recreation and Parks from Wayne State in 1975. Bill is married to the former Judy Mierzewjewski and together they share the love of her children Lorrie McQuiston and Patrick McGrath. Lorrie resides in Trenton, MI and has two children, while Patrick resides in Chicago, IL and has four children. Bill Griggs was elected City Clerk by the voters of Wyandotte in 1973 and has been re-elected 13 times since--for a total of 31 years service to the citizens of Wyandotte, Michigan. Bill was appointed to the Michigan Commission on the Employment of the Handicapped in 1976 by Governor William Milliken and served for three years. He was appointed, by Governor James Blanchard, to the Michigan Job Training Coordinating Council in 1985 and served for one year. Bill represented the United States in eleven different International Wheelchair competitions, including those held in England, Israel, Argentina, Mexico, Canada and Peru: Bill has been the President, Vice-President and Treasurer of the Michigan Wheelchair Athletic Committee and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Wheelchair Athletic Committee from 1971 to 1976. Bill Griggs has received many honors over the years from numerous local clubs and organizations, including being named Outstanding Wheelchair Athletic of the year, based on a nationwide poll, in 1971; Outstanding Downriver Citizen by the Downriver Pennsylvania Club in 1974; Outstanding Young Man by the Wyandotte Jaycees in 1975; recipient of the Citation of Honor from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in 1975; Outstanding Government Official by the Michigan Rehabilitation Association in 1976; the 1986 Wyandotte Citizen of the Year award from the Wyandotte Service Clubs Council; elected to the Theodore Roosevelt High School Hall of Fame in 1991; inducted into the U.S. Wheelchair Sports Hall of Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame; and many more. As you can see Mr. William Griggs is well deserving of our recognition for his many years of service to this community.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the State of Michigan's longest serving public officials Mr. Andrew Swiecki. Andy was born on August 2, 1939 in the city of Wyandotte, the forth of five children of Andrew and Sophia Swiecki. He attended school in Wyandotte, and after graduating from Mt. Carmel High School he attended the University of Detroit and graduated with a degree in Industrial Relations in 1963. He is married to the former Pat Prosniewski, and they are the parents of three children: Andrew Kenneth, Jeffrey Allen and Susan Nicole Swiecki-Radel. Andy, and his wife Pat, have three grandchildren and are expecting a fourth grandchild in 2005. First elected to Wyandotte's City Council in 1967, Andy served on the Council for 12 years, being elected to six 2-year terms. He was then elected Wyandotte's City Treasurer in 1979 and has been re-elected to that position 10 times. Andy has served the citizens of Wyandotte for 37 years. He is a member in good standing of many clubs and professional organizations, including: Wyandotte Goodfellows; Downriver YMCA Board; Wayne County Treasurers Association; Downriver Community Conference; Southeast Michigan Community Alliance; Municipal Treasures USA/Canada Association; Chairman of Wyandotte Employees Retirement Commission; the Polish Legion of American Veterans; St. Stanislaus Kostka Club 30; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Ushers Club and Holy Name Society; Polish Roman Catholic Union; Knights of Columbus; and many others. Andy was named Citizen of the Year by Wyandotte Service Clubs in 1990 and was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the YMCA in 2003. As you can see Mr. Andrew Swiecki is well deserving of our recognition for his many years of service to his community.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1308. My opposition is based on principle and facts. The principle that is important to me is that the majority through this bill, will exacerbate an already enormous budget deficit by $150 billion. I am outraged and dismayed that once again, my Republican colleagues have opted to offer legislation under the guise that it will provide tax relief. In reality, this bill is really nothing more than corporate welfare. According to recent reports, 82 of the country's largest corporations paid no Federal income taxes for at least 1 year of the Bush administration's first 3 years. In this bill, we are offering these same corporations with over $5 billion in corporate refunds. This bill, when passed, will increase the tax burden for 4.3 million families whose combined income is less than $10,750. It will have a negative impact on 9.2 million poor children. In effect this bill either has limited positive impact or profound negative impact on low wage and military families. At the end of the day, this bill will increase the Federal deficit by an additional $150 million on top of the current $423 billion deficit for FY 2005. H.R. 1308 will further burden my children and grandchildren with debt that they will be forced to pay for years to come. I will vote no on this bill, and urge my colleagues to do likewise.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I thank our ranking member for allowing me the 2 minutes. I am a member of the subcommittee. We did have extensive debate on this issue, but more than that, my district is a border city. The State of Michigan and the country of Canada border each other. Part of my district carries these trucks and buses. What the Bush administration wants to do is to not have some trucks and buses, some foreign trucks and buses inspected. At a time of terrorism, is that not about the Teamsters? At a time of terrorism, inspection is what all trucks and buses must have. As one who represents thousands of people who live in a border city, I want all the buses and trucks inspected, and so do all the people who live in my area. As the Bush administration asks for some of them to be exempted, I think that is wrong. How can we talk about terrorism on one hand and then want to exempt some of the buses and trucks that come into my district and in other border cities around the country? The Olver amendment would not allow that administrative rule to go into effect. It is simple. It is not hard to understand. Thousands of buses and trucks come into my district every day. We have the largest border crossing in America, with over $1 billion of commerce coming every day. I want all the buses and trucks inspected and inspected thoroughly. I do not want any exempted. This is a good amendment. We must support it to protect American citizens who deserve our respect.