Rick Larsen

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Dextromethorphan Destruction Act. DXM is a major ingredient in many over-the-counter cold medicines and is perfectly safe when used correctly. However, when taken in large amounts in its powdered form, it can cause hallucinations, brain damage, seizures and even death. DXM is not available to the public in its pure powder form but can be obtained. Unfortunately, as our Nation's kids search for ways to get high, they have begun abusing both cough syrup and pure DXM purchased over the Internet. As the parent of two young boys, I am concerned about the growing number of teens consuming unfinished DXM. According for the Partnership for Drug-Free America, one out of 11 teenagers used cough medicines to get high last year. Substance abuse experts have noticed sporadic reports of teens intentionally obtaining unfinished DXM to get high by consuming large amounts of powder or mixing it with other drugs or alcohol. In April 2005, two teenagers in my district overdosed on DXM they had purchased online and died. The investigation of their deaths showed that the teenagers had ordered the drug over the Internet from two men in Indiana who had set up shop in their garage. Three other kids from Florida and Virginia also died from overdosing on DXM they had ordered from the same two men. This is a simple piece of legislation that requires anyone who purchases bulk DXM to be registered with the FDA. This legislation is commonsense legislation. The only people who should be buying DXM in bulk are those who manufacture cough and cold medicines. We must protect our kids from a new form of drug dealer, dealers, men like these folks in Indiana who decided they could make money by selling DXM to the two teens in my district. This legislation send a strong message to individuals who are legally distributing DXM to our teenagers for recreational use. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for this simple, commonsense legislation that will keep our kids safer. I also want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) for his work in drafting this bill and making sure that it made it here to the floor today.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an often overlooked group of Americans who have made great contributions to the health and safety of our Nation. Those who have made a career out of counseling individuals with alcohol and drug addictions deserve our recognition, respect, and gratitude, as we celebrate National Addiction Recovery Month this September. Furthermore, I would like to recognize that September 20th is National Addiction Counselor's Day. Last year, over 19 million Americans used illicit drugs. Fifty-five million engaged in binge drinking, and over 16 million were considered heavy drinkers. These numbers are staggering. Imagine the entire populations of New York and Los Angeles as illicit drug users. Imagine if the entire population of Florida were heavy drinkers. This is a prevalent problem. The problem of addiction is not restricted to illicit, illegal drugs or products sold on the street. There are dangers in our homes and our medicine cabinets. Common household products, such as cough syrup, contain ingredients that can provide a high if taken in large enough doses. According to research conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in 10 teenagers, or 2.4 million young people, have intentionally abused cough medication to get high. Teens take excessively large amounts of over-the-counter cough medicine or abuse the main active ingredient in most cough syrups, dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM can be purchased over the Internet in bulk and is very dangerous when abused. Since cough medicine is a necessity in every home with a child, we must take action to ensure our kids are protected from DXM abuse. First, parents need to talk to their children about the dangers of overdosing on DXM and cough syrup. Second, Congress needs to ensure that bulk amounts of DXM are not sold over the counter, or over the Internet, to entities not registered to do so with the FDA. I urge congressional leadership to bring legislation I introduced with Rep. Fred Upton, H.R. 5280, the DXM Distribution Act of 2006, to the floor of the House for a vote. The professionals who treat the destructive disease of addiction are a dedicated, knowledgeable group. Today there are hundreds of thousands of clean and sober individuals living happy, productive lives because a counselor was there and made the difference. Not only do these counselors assist in recovery, but in prevention and intervention as well. Addiction professionals are an essential cog in the health services machine. Through training and experience, addiction professionals can help turn a life around and often even save a life. I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the invaluable contributions of addiction counselors. Congress has shown strong support for this issue in the past, yet we are far from victory. We must continue our steadfast fight against drug and alcohol addiction. The hard work of addiction professionals should be recognized, honored, and appreciated.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of John Watters Wright. I had the privilege of meeting John 3 short years ago when I was able to present a commendation and his Bronze Star he had earned in World War II. In 1944, as a soldier in World War II, actually as a marine in World War II, John was badly wounded during a sniper attack. Despite serious injuries, he kept fighting. He destroyed the enemy sniper's nest, saving himself and the lives of others in his division. His CO recognized John's heroism and promised to cite him for a deserved medal to commemorate his actions. In 2003, I had the privilege of presenting John with the awards that he had earned 59 years earlier. So nearly 60 years after his self- sacrificing actions, the United States finally acknowledged the heroism he displayed in World War II with a Bronze Star, but it was an acknowledgment delayed far too long. Corporal Wright died last month, and as we honor the life of Corporal Wright, we are challenged by his patriotism. He challenged us not only to recognize our veterans, but he challenged us to care for our veterans when they come home from deployments. He challenged us to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights without question, but do that through debate and sometimes dissents. So I stand today to honor the life of Corporal John Watters Wright, who is truly an American hero.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment to provide $5 million for the Drug Endangered Children Program. I want to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Mollohan for their work to increase funding for many law enforcement programs and the fight against methamphetamine. I am particularly encouraged by the $99 million allocated for the Meth Hot Spots Account in this appropriations bill. I respect the tough job our appropriators have in writing these spending bills. They have admirably allocated dollars to programs that help our law enforcement do their job. However, one authorized program that was not fortunate to receive dollars in this bill is the Drug Endangered Children Program. Children are too often the silent victims of drug abuse. As a cochair of the House Meth Caucus, I have talked to many social service workers and treatment providers about the risks that drug-endangered children face. I have heard repeated stories of meth users leaving their children unattended for days as they cook and use methamphetamine and sleep off its intense effects. We have often talked about the need for more money to help local law enforcement to bust the bad guys, but we rarely talk about the impact those busts have on the kids who may be living in drug-infested homes. So I want to thank the gentleman from California for his work on this amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I want to thank the chairman for accepting this amendment as well.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the current administration has gotten too many things wrong in Iraq and has totally misrepresented the lessons of the post-9/11 world. It is now up to Democrats to get things right in Iraq so we can focus our military efforts to fighting terrorists around the world who want to harm us. Today I ask my colleagues: Will we realistically confront terrorists and terrorism with all the elements of our national power, or will we continue to ignore a proven approach in order to follow a shop-worn, idealistic approach that drains our military of its resources and America of its goodwill with the very partners we need to fight terrorists? That is the choice that our country faces in Iraq and in our national security. Democrats must speak out against this administration's tendency to overlook problems and push for a policy that centers on oversight of U.S. taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, we do not practice oversight. This Congress practices ``overlook.'' We must respond to public frustrations by creating a secure future for our military and reestablish a foundation for American efforts to fight terrorists and terrorism across the globe. Congress must confront the legacy of the waste, fraud, and abuse that plagues our efforts in Iraq. As Democrats, we must continue our efforts, in spite of the current opposition, to bring this waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraq to light. Some talk about cutting and running. But I say we must confront the legacy of cutting and running from veterans health care. Just as the next generation of combat veterans return home, the long-term veterans health care budget falls $8.6 billion short from projected needs. We must reject that legacy of Iraq. And, finally, I join my colleagues in commending our U.S. military working in conjunction with Iraqi security and Iraqis themselves for locating and eliminating Abu Musad al Zarqawi. His terrorist violence is gone. But we have learned in Iraq that fighting a classic guerrilla- type war means that a victory like killing Zarqawi cannot be celebrated too long. Much remains to be done in Iraq, and Democrats have to make right where the administration has gone wrong. Our obligations compel us to ask the tough questions that are currently ignored.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. I rise today as we reexamine why Congress and the administration diverted attention from our fight against terrorists and terrorism in order to invade Iraq. The current administration has gotten too many things wrong in Iraq and has totally misinterpreted the lessons of the post-9/11 world. It is up to Democrats to get things right in Iraq so we can refocus our military efforts to fighting terrorists around the world who want to harm us. Today I ask my colleagues: Will we realistically confront terrorists and terrorism with all the elements of our national power, or will we continue to ignore a proven approach to follow a shop-worn, idealistic approach that drains our military of its resources and America of its good will with the very partners that we need to fight terrorism? That is the choice our country faces. The administration has made countless mistakes since the start of the war in Iraq. As Congress looks to clean up the mistakes that have been made, Democrats must speak out against this administration's tendency to overlook problems and instead push for a policy that centers on oversight of U.S. taxpayer dollars. We must respond to the public's frustrations by creating a secure future for our military and reestablish a foundation for American efforts to fight terrorists and terrorism around the globe. We can only do that by confronting and repairing the waste, fraud, and abuse that plagues our efforts in Iraq. We need to emphasize that our commitment to U.S. taxpayers is equally as important as the commitment we have made to the Iraqi people. I ask the American people to consider the legacy this administration has handed us in the defense budget as we spend billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars without the tools and ability to track these dollars. Will we tolerate the squeeze that will force choices between weapons and warriors because of a lack of administration foresight and lack of congressional oversight? I believe the answer is no. We must consider the legacy of waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraq. Why are we not getting results for our taxpayer dollars? We do not know because the institution endowed by the Constitution that is responsible for protecting your taxpayer dollars is practicing overlook instead of oversight. Parents who are monitoring their children on the Internet are providing more oversight than the United States Congress. We learn of events and stories through the media once the waste, fraud, or abuses have reached comic proportions. We know that Halliburton has overcharged both the U.S. Government and the Development Fund for Iraq by over $260 million. The Department of Justice brought criminal indictments against a former CPA contracting official and a contractor for a series of frauds costing taxpayers $13 million, and the CPA lost control of $19.6 billion in Iraqi oil funds. As Congress overlooks expenditures of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in Iraq, it ignores responsibility to provide a secure future for our military. Just in closing, I join my colleagues in commending our U.S. military working in conjunction with Iraqi security and Iraqis themselves for locating and eliminating Abu Musad al-Zarqawi. His terrorist violence is gone. But we have learned in Iraq that fighting a ``classic guerrilla-type war'' means that a victory like killing Zarqawi cannot be celebrated too long. Much remains to be done in Iraq, and Democrats have to make right where the administration has gone wrong. Our obligations compel us to ask the tough questions that are currently ignored.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate Howard A. Christianson, a resident of Washington's Second Congressional District, whose life has been defined by his service to his country, his family and his community. I congratulate Mr. Christianson on receiving the first-ever Stillaguamish Senior Center Lifetime Achievement Award. My hometown of Arlington, Washington, has benefited from 25 years of Mr. Christianson's vision and guidance as a city councilman, mayor and city administrator. His legacy of leadership extends beyond his public service to civic service as well. He has been active in the Kiwanis Club, American Legion, VFW and the Shriners, and his years of work with the Masonic Lodge have inspired leaders to name the lodge's new citizen of the year award the Howard A. Christianson Outstanding Citizenship Award. Madam Speaker, we should all be so fortunate to have community members back home in our districts who so visibly represent the meaning of service and leadership. At a time when many Americans are feeling disengaged from their communities and their leaders, Howard Christianson stands out as a shining example of why we must continue to serve and to lead for the sake of our country and for our communities.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I wish to quickly say thank you to the chairman of the subcommittee for agreeing to accept the amendment. There is a great amount of frustration in Washington State, all over Washington State. I represent an area that is the largest public utility district. I represent an area that has the only aluminum plant still standing because all the other aluminum plants had to go out of business because of some manipulation that took place on the market with Enron. We just want some time, some space for the parties to work this out, and this amendment will do that, and I appreciate the chairman's willingness to let us move forward.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this event needs really little introduction. Eunice Kennedy Shriver started the concept of the Special Olympics in the early 1960s when she established and opened a summer day camp for people with intellectual disabilities. 2006 marks the 35th anniversary of the D.C. Special Olympics. The torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics, which will take place at Catholic University. The torch relay event has become a highlight on Capitol Hill and is an integral part of the Special Olympics. Each year, approximately 2,500 Special Olympians compete in over a dozen events, and more than 1 million children and adults with special needs participate in Special Olympics programs worldwide. The event is supported by literally thousands of volunteers in the region and is attended by thousands of family and friends of the Olympians. The goal of the games is to bring mentally challenged individuals into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted and respected. Confidence and self-esteem are the building blocks for these Olympic games. So I stand in support of this resolution and urge my colleagues on my side of the aisle to support this resolution for this very worthwhile endeavor of the Special Olympics. I urge support of H. Con. Res. 359. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4700 authorizes the conveyance of any interest retained by the United States in St. Joseph Memorial Hall in St. Joseph, Michigan, in the City of St. Joseph, Michigan. This bill merely completes a land transfer between the Federal Government and the City of St. Joseph, Michigan, which began back in May, 1935. At that time, the city received a non-historic building and property with restricted use for a public park. In 1954, the public use restriction was lifted on the parcel just north of the building through Public Act 348. The city officials have requested this transfer as the city is contemplating a redevelopment plan for the downtown which would utilize the parcel of land and the building. The city is prepared to pay $10,000 to the General Services Administration for the transfer. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4700 and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Department of Defense for its recognition of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as a model military installation for the country. Base Commander Captain Syd Abernethy and the Island County community will accept the Annual Commander-in-Chiefs Award for Installation Excellence on Friday. This award recognizes the hard work and exceptional efforts of the people who operate NAS Whidbey, and I praise that team effort, from the men and women on the ground to those in the sky. They make this installation run. The community and the residents of Oak Harbor and Island County play an integral role in protecting and promoting NAS Whidbey. It is their support year after year that makes NAS Whidbey great. NAS Whidbey has emerged as a national center of electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare operations. These missions will be pivotal to creating the type of military the Department of Defense wants to build in the upcoming years. NAS Whidbey will likely have to accommodate tremendous growth in the future, and this award shows that the team and infrastructure are in place to do the job.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I also want to thank the chairman and the ranking member of the committee for their help and support on this. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise today to offer the Kirk-Larsen amendment to articulate our Nation's need to promote Chinese and Arabic cultural exchange and language education. I want to thank my fellow co-chair of the U.S.-China Working Group, Mr. Kirk of Illinois, on his work in drafting this important amendment. Today's global landscape is increasingly interconnected. China and the Middle East play critical roles towards international peace and security. Our ability to effectively engage China and the Arab world rests on shared economic and political interests and mutual understanding. From 1998 to 2002, foreign language enrollment in United States colleges and universities increased by 20 percent for Chinese and 92.3 percent for Arabic. By comparison, the learning of more traditional languages, such as French and German, grew by under 3 percent. Our schools and universities are already leading the movement towards Chinese and Arabic language. Congress must build on this infrastructure and support the education of future diplomats, business professionals, and teachers who are proficient in Arabic and Chinese. We must answer the call for an increased American competitiveness and national security, and in today's world we cannot answer that call just in English. So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, which is merely a sense of Congress amendment to promote language education in Arabic and Chinese. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment today, and I want to thank my fellow Meth Caucus cochairs, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Calvert, and Mr. Cannon, and also the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for their work in drafting this critical amendment. Methamphetamine is a highly dangerous drug that is wreaking havoc on families and communities throughout this country. The drug's use is spreading across the United States. And while meth produced in home- grown labs has actually decreased in certain parts of the country, meth use has exploded with the availability of crystal meth from superlabs from places like Mexico. Meth impacts every aspect of our community, every aspect of our neighborhoods, of our businesses, of the environment, and of our children. According to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Counties, 58 percent of the counties across the country reported meth as their greatest drug problem. The Federal Government needs to treat our Nation's meth problem with the same urgency and commitment that our State and local governments have been treating it for years. We must provide for local law enforcement, treatment professionals, and prevention experts with the tools they need to combat this deadly drug. Our amendment is a step in the right direction. For the past several years, the Meth Caucus has worked to engage the Office of National Drug Control Policy on this issue. We have tried to get their attention that meth requires a strong, comprehensive Federal policy. While some gains have been made, ONDCP must take meth more seriously and devote more resources to its eradication. Our amendment calls on ONDCP to increase reporting on several critical meth issues, including State Drug Endangered Children programs and State laws and access to meth precursors. These reports will help us develop a coherent and comprehensive national strategy to fight meth. It is also creates the National Methamphetamine Information Clearinghouse to provide current information to Federal, State, and local agencies about meth's trafficking, abuse, treatment, and abuse prevention. I want to conclude quickly by thanking the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) for working with us to craft this important amendment. I also want to thank him for his willingness to work with the Meth Caucus to get good meth policy passed. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroism of a man named Matthew Scott who nearly 9 years ago performed an act of uncommon courage that saved the life of a young woman in my congressional district. In August of 1997 a 15-year-old woman and her friend were out driving a truck near a very dangerous area in my congressional district called Deception Pass. The road was dark, and the two girls could not see the road in front of them. Leslie, the driver, yanked her steering wheel in the wrong direction and drove off a 185-foot cliff into the freezing ocean below. Her passenger managed to jump from the truck at the last second before it went over the edge. At the same time, Mathew Scott, a young Naval Chief Petty Officer, was driving by the location when he spotted a busted guardrail, and a hysterical group of people pointing to the ocean below. Matthew does not consider himself a hero. On that night in 1997, he was just there for another human being--a young girl he had never met. He scaled down a treacherous, dark cliff with only a small flashlight to guide him. At the bottom of his remarkable 185-foot descent, he swam 30 yards out in strong tides and frigid water to rescue young Leslie. She was in bad shape. Leslie suffered a broken back, leg, and arm and had numerous cuts and bruises covering her body. Because of his selfless, courageous heroics--Leslie is now 24-years- old and the manager of a local coffee shop. She is also the mother of a little girl and an upstanding member of her community. Matthew Scott has continued to dedicate his life to one of military service. He is now a Lieutenant studying for his MBA at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. Those who know Lt. Scott talk about his everyday heroics. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am honored to have had Lt. Scott serve at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state's 2nd Congressional District. He is the truest face of our U.S. Navy. Every day he honors what is described as the Navy's unofficial motto-- ``not self but country.'' Lt. Scott has spent his life serving his country. That dark night in 1997 was no different. But that night he served his country and his fellow Americans in a personal and profound way. Off duty, he still put his own life at risk to save the life of another. For this, I come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor him and call on all of my colleagues to look to Matthew's example to inspire us and spur us on to our own acts of selfless service and care. Because of Matthew's humble heroics, Leslie is alive today. Matthew is not just a good father--not just a good sailor--he's a good person. And he is a true hero.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroism of a man named Matthew Scott, who nearly 9 years ago performed an act of uncommon courage that saved the life of a young woman in my congressional district. In August of 1997, a 15-year-old woman and her friend were driving on a narrow, windy road near a dangerous area called Deception Pass. Unable to see the road, Leslie, the driver, drove off a 185-foot cliff into the freezing ocean below. Her passenger managed to jump to safety from the truck before it went over the edge. At the same time, Matthew Scott, a young Naval Chief Petty Officer, was driving by the location when he spotted a busted guardrail and a group of people pointing to the waters below. Matthew scaled down the treacherous, dark cliff with only a small flashlight to guide him. At the bottom of his 185-foot descent, he swam 30 yards out in strong tides and frigid water to rescue Leslie who had suffered a broken back, leg, and arm. Because of his selfless, courageous heroics, Leslie is now a 24-year-old mother and a manager of a local coffee shop. Matthew has continued to dedicate his life to one of military service and is now a lieutenant studying for his MBA at the Naval Post Graduate School in California. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am honored to have had Lieutenant Scott serve at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington State's Second Congressional District, so I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to honor him and call on all my colleagues to look to Matthew's example to inspire us and spur us on to our own acts of selfless service and care. Because of Matthew's humble heroics, Leslie is alive today. Matthew himself is not just a good father and not just a good sailor, he is a great person and a true hero.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to highlight the contents of H.R. 3889, the Combat Meth Epidemic Act, which has been included in the PATRIOT Act conference report. As a co-chair of the Meth Caucus, I worked with our caucus members to craft a comprehensive meth bill that would attack our Nation's meth problem on multiple fronts. While I would have preferred a straight up-or-down vote on a stand-alone meth bill, these meth provisions do benefit our communities. Meth has been attacking this country, starting on the west coast and moving steadily eastward. It devastates communities, affecting not just meth users, but families, neighborhoods, public health, the environment, and crime rates. This conference report takes necessary steps to limit access to a key meth precursor, pseudoephedrine. Significantly, it will allow for an additional prison sentence for individuals convicted of cooking or selling meth where children reside. Children are too often the silent victims of this drug. So this will help protect them by authorizing grants to assist children who have been found in meth labs. For the first time, Congress is passing comprehensive anti-meth legislation that gives our local law enforcement and communities the tools, resources, and standards to protect themselves against the scourge of meth.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 798, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act. I commend Mr. Gordon, Mr. Calvert, and Mr. Boehlert for their work introducing this important legislation; and bringing it to the floor. Meth is a scourge on our communities. It is literally a chemical cocktail, made from hazardous, caustic substances. In the process of cooking a batch of meth, those chemicals seep into the interior of a home. Often, unsuspecting, innocent families move into these houses and apartments, completely unaware that the new home was once used to cook meth. It isn't until they become ill that they learn something is wrong, terribly wrong. DEA reported over 17,000 meth lab busts last year in 47 states. There is currently no federal standard to determine when a former lab is safe to inhabit. This bill will do that. H.R. 798 will establish a research program to develop voluntary, health-based, model guidelines for the clean-up of former meth labs. It will establish a research program to develop meth detection equipment for use by first responders, and will require a study on the long-term health impacts on first responders and children taken from meth labs. It is important for us to know when a house used as a meth lab is safe to inhabit again. It is important that we know the health impacts of exposure to a meth lab. This bill will do both of these things. As a Co-Chair of the Meth Caucus, I am proud to see an important meth bill like this one finally see its day on the floor. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes''.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4228.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my support for the Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, and specifically title IV, the VAWA reauthorization. I want to thank and recognize the gentleman from Wisconsin and the gentleman from Michigan for their efforts drafting this bill and for including legislative provisions from my bill, the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act. This bill would protect the thousands of so-called ``mail-order brides'' who come to the U.S. each year through international marriage brokers. And although it is not a practice I particularly endorse, it is a practice that is largely unregulated. In December 2000, this issue hit close to home when Anastasia King, a mail-order bride in Washington State, was murdered and buried in a shallow grave by her husband. It was later discovered that her husband had abused a former wife whom he had also met through a marriage broker. Each year hundreds of Internet bride services recruit thousands of women, mostly from Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and other economically depressed parts of the globe, to marry their American clients. These marriage broker Web sites play off old stereotypes of foreign women as subservient wives. A 1999 report by the INS estimated that there were at least 200 marriage broker companies operating in the United States and that each year as many as 4,000 to 6,000 individuals in U.S., almost all male, found foreign spouses through for-profit international marriage brokers. My International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, and this DOJ authorization bill, will give these foreign women knowledge to protect themselves. They will know if their American fiance has a history of violence, and they will know their rights should they find themselves in an abusive relationship. This bill will also stop what I call the ``wife lottery,'' where men apply for several fiancee visas at the same time and marry the woman whose visa is approved first. This legislation is a giant step towards protecting women who use the services of marriage brokers. I want to thank the chairman and ranking member for including it in this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of ``Lights on Afterschool!'', and House Joint Resolution 66, which recognizes the goals and ideals of ``Lights on Afterschool!'' ``Lights on Afterschool!'' started in 2000, celebrating the importance of after-school programs, and it continues to grow 6 years later. This year's celebration is scheduled for October 20, and roughly 1 million Americans are expected to participate. After-school programs play an important role in keeping many kids safe and engaged in positive activities. The hours between 3 and 6 p.m. on school days represent the peak times for juvenile crime. During those few hours after school, kids are most likely to experiment with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Today, there are currently over 6 million students, kindergarten through grade 12 participating in after-school programs, and these children are growing and learning in a safe and healthy environment. Congress must protect this opportunity for kids. Congress must do more to give families and children who are not currently participating the chance to do so. ``Lights on Afterschool!'' reminds us all of our obligation to give children the resources they need to succeed in school and to succeed in the future. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today we mourn. We also remember. We mourn the loss of a public servant who worked to make government the best it could be. We remember his accomplishments and celebrate his legacy. And we take heart in the memories that we share of this great man. Congressman Lloyd Meeds was not a distant politician. He was a friend and a neighbor whose public work was devoted to maintaining and improving our unique quality of life for generations to come. He was, in the words of his colleague Congressman Morris Udall, ``a workhorse rather than a showhorse'', a ``glutton for the tough, detailed work that so many of us shun.'' These words paint an accurate picture of a true public servant and statesman. And they set a standard of excellence for those of us now serving in Congress. Congressman Meeds's tough, detailed work played a major role in creating Head Start and the Youth Conservation Corps. He took a stand as one of the first to support Title IX, the law that bans gender discrimination in our schools. He set an example for me personally with his work to preserve and protect land for future generations by brokering the North Cascades Act that created the North Cascades National Park and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. He later worked for a resolution to ensure passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, a vital piece of legislation that will protect some of the most pristine land in the United States for generations to come. His accomplishments were many, and his commitment to the Pacific Northwest was unyielding. That commitment certainly did not end when he left Congress. The State of Alaska declared February 28, 2005 ``Lloyd Meeds Day'' as a heartfelt thank-you for the Congressman's lifetime of effort on behalf of the environment and Native Americans. This is the legacy of Congressman Lloyd Meeds--a passionate and tireless advocate for the causes he embraced. We mourn a loss today. Congressman Meeds will be missed. The foundation he laid, however, provides the basis for the diversity and strength we see in our communities today.