Karen McCarthy

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, during rollcall vote No. 385, the Buyer Amendment, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Sanders

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 384, tabling the appeal of the ruling of the Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 15, legislation to protect our Nation from future biological and chemical terrorist attacks. The House passed H.R. 2122, similar legislation, last year by an overwhelming margin of 421 to 2. As a member of both the Homeland Security Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have been proud of the bipartisan work that has gone into this legislation which will add to our effort to protect the Nation from biochemical attack. Mr. Speaker, although five people were killed in the anthrax attacks of 2001, the death toll was kept relatively low because effective medical countermeasures were available. After the outbreak, strong antibiotics were immediately prescribed to deal with the crisis. In 2002, Congress further enhanced our ability to respond by enacting the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act (PL 107-188), which authorized funds to increase the Nation's stockpile of medicines and vaccines--particularly for smallpox--and provided aid to state and local governments and health facilities to help them prepare for possible attacks. Unfortunately, effective vaccines or treatments do not exist for many biological threats deemed by the U.S. government to be most dangerous, including botulinum toxin, plague, and viral hemorrhagic fevers such as the Ebola virus. The development of effective countermeasures has been hindered by the lack of a significant commercial market. Currently, companies have little financial incentive to invest the funds needed to research, develop or produce vaccines or other countermeasures because there is little or no market. Despite these challenges, in my district, the Stowers Institute and the Kansas City Life Sciences Institute are both trailblazers in the field of research. The Stowers Institute's new research facility in Kansas City incorporates the best that present technology can offer. In my community, the best and the brightest are working to broaden the base of knowledge in hopes of discovering cures and vaccines for today's diseases and future threats. Today's legislation will encourage and support these efforts by providing additional funding for research and development of new countermeasures and vaccines. The bill will also provide for an expedited approval process to ensure that the fruits of our research can protect the public as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, all over this Nation, our first responders serve on the front lines when disasters occur and continue to be the eyes and ears of our Nation. They are a significant part of the effort to protect our homeland and guard against the invisible threat of a chemical and biological attack. Today's legislation is an important step in that process and I support it.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Australia Free Trade Agreement but also to express reservations about the precedent it may set for future trade agreements. Australia has been a strong ally for decades and it is appropriate that the United States enjoy an open and fruitful trading relationship with Australia. Locally, this trade agreement will give a strong boost to trade and investments. My state of Missouri sent $137 million dollars worth of goods and services in 2003 to Australia, an increase of 9 percent over the previous year, in a variety of sectors. For example, chemical manufacturers export $46.4 million worth of goods to Australia and machinery manufacturers send $28.1 million worth of their products to the Australian market. This trade agreement has received strong support from a variety of interests. The agreement contains many positive provisions such as strong protections for copyright owners and it provides exporters with a sound legal environment for the export of goods to the United States. Our country enjoys a trade surplus with Australia and has a long standing economic relationship with the United States that this agreement will continue. Passage of this agreement is a positive step for our relationship with one of our closest allies.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a notable Kansas City resident, Patricia McCunniff Regan, on her 79th birthday. Patty, as she is affectionately called by all who know her, has devoted her life to being a spirit of friendliness and benevolence wherever she goes. With her late husband, Bob, and friends and neighbors, she created ``Westports of the World,'' an assembly of Westport sister cities stretching across our great nation and the globe from New Zealand to Ireland. Global Westport residents have been meeting in a sister city since the assembly's inception. Westport in Kansas City hosted a pioneer meeting in 1985 and a worldwide convention in 1995. Throughout her life, Patty has focused on creating positive change in the community around her by participating in campaigns and exercising her rights as a citizen. She assists those in need and is a model of exemplary public service. Patty and Bob worked for civil rights and fair housing in the 1960's while raising their children. As she approaches her eighth decade, Patty continues to make our community and country a better place. Patty and Bob welcomed nine children into this world. Without doubt, their children and grandchildren are a tribute and a great source of pride. Despite e.g.. losing son Timothy at age seven in 1961 and husband Bob in 1986, Patty maintains her ``joie de vivre.'' Terry Leager, Amy Schulz, Danny Regan, Becky Regan, Peggy Regan, Jenny Krizman, Patrick Regan, and Carol Braun are fortunate, indeed, as are their children. They exemplify the generosity of character and fun loving spirit of Patty and Bob. Patty truly lives the axiom she taught her children--to think of others before oneself. She demonstrates selfless optimism and generosity through her community activities, by her service as a Eucharistic minister in the Guardian Angels parish, and in giving blood every eight weeks for most of her adult life. I have personally benefited from her loving generosity on numerous occasions in the more than quarter century we Irish lassies have depended upon each other. What would Christmas be without Regan cookies and luminarias created at their Roanoke abode? Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Patty Regan on her 79th birthday. I am grateful for her friendship and am honored to recognize her for a lifetime of giving back to her community. Westport is a better place for her being in it, as are all the lives she has touched in her 79 years of extraordinary good works.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 325, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 324, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 323, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Hefley

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 321, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment Offered by Mrs. Wilson of new mexico

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I rise to address H.R. 4614, the FY05 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Although I am pleased that this legislation includes funding for a number of important water projects in my district, including the Blue River Channel, Blue River Basin, Swope Park Industrial Area, Brush Creek Basin, Seven River Levees, and the Missouri Riverfront Habitat Restoration, I continue to have serious concerns about the overall level of funding in this legislation. In particular, today's legislation provides only 3% more funding for critical energy and water projects than was provided in FY04. This is barely enough to account for the rate of inflation. Because of this shortage of funding, H.R. 4614 does not include any funding for new projects or studies, leaving us unprepared to properly respond to new flood control emergencies. In my own district, $100,000 is urgently needed to begin addressing critical flood and stormwater control issues surrounding the Little Blue River watershed in Jackson County, Missouri. Rapid growth in this area has created numerous flood control and storm drainage challenges for communities throughout my district. Left unaddressed, these flood threats could cost local communities and businesses millions of dollars. We need to act now to adequately investigate and plan for these developing challenges. Delaying action will only force more expensive intervention at a later date. I hope that Chairman Hobson and Ranking Member Visclosky will work with our colleagues in the Senate to ensure that these issues and other emerging flood threats are properly addressed in Conference. This legislation also fails to address our renewable energy needs. The bill provides only $343 million for renewable energy programs, $31 million less than the administration requested. During a time when energy prices are soaring, we must remain committed to investments in long term renewable energy alternatives. In my own district, we have had great success encouraging the use of biodiesel as an alternative to dirtier, non-renewable fuel sources. We need to continue our commitment to this important initiative. Finally, I am very concerned that this legislation fails to guarantee adequate funding for the Yucca Mountain Project. Specifically, I am alarmed that funding does not exist to ensure that all transportation routes to the mountain are as secure as possible. Missouri is a railroad and interstate hub. Given the likelihood that a majority of waste from east of the Mississippi River will be transported through Missouri, it is downright frightening to think of the consequences if we do not properly fund the secure transport of this waste. It is my understanding that the Office of Management and Budget has the ability to secure the additional funding for this project. I am hopeful that they will take on this responsibility or that additional funds will be found in Conference.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I commend the members and staff of the Appropriations Committee for their work on the FY 05 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Securing the resources we need for this country's long term war on terrorism is a formidable task; one we must accomplish in a bipartisan manner. I support the appropriations bill before us today, but I remain concerned with the inadequate levels of funding for first responders, interoperability and port security. The American people depend on homeland security, and we must find the means to provide the resources needed to protect our communities. As the Ranking Member of the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, I support the funding needed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide accurate and timely intelligence assessments. Unfortunately, this bill reduces funding for first responder programs at DHS from the current $4.4 billion funding level to $4.1 billion, a cut of $327 million below the 2004 enacted level. First responders must have the resources they need to do their jobs. My firefighters, police and emergency workers tell me that they have difficulty communicating with each other because of incompatible equipment. This problem affects first responders throughout the country and it is unacceptable. Adequate funds must be available to adequately equip our Nation's first responders. Missouri has the seventh largest highway system in the Nation and the second and third largest railroad terminals in the Nation. Port and transportation security is crucial to our Nation's economy. Six million cargo containers enter U.S. ports every year, but only about 5 percent of these containers are ever screened. This appropriations bill fails to adequately fund port security and freezes funding for port security grants at the 2004 level of $124 million. Mr. Obey, Ranking Member on the Appropriations Committee, attempted to counter these shortfalls with an amendment to H.R. 4567. Mr. Obey's amendment would have created a $3 billion contingent emergency fund for homeland security. Even though this emergency funding would be contingent upon the President requesting it, the amendment was rejected by Republicans on the House Rules Committee. The rejection of Mr. Obey's amendment prevents a more secure America, and seriously weakens the legislation. Mr. Turner, my distinguished colleague and Ranking Member on the Select Committee on Homeland Security, has pointed out that our annual spending on homeland security amounts to less than one half of one percent of our Nations Gross National Produce (GNP). He also points out that since 9/11, we increased spending on the agencies which make up the Department of Homeland Security by approximately $15 billion. At the same time, our defense budget has increased by approximately $100 billion. I strongly agree with Mr. Turner that as we devote resources to winning the war on terror abroad, we must also invest in our homeland security needs here at home. I urge my colleagues who will reconcile the House Appropriations Act in joint conference with the Senate to agree to adequate funds for our emergency responders nationwide.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Slaughter-Shays-Dicks amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). These endowment programs are vital to supporting the creation, preservation and presentation of the arts and humanities in America. In my district, NEA and NEH grants have brought partnership projects such as the Coterie Theater and the Friends of Alvin Ailey's AileyCamp that help provide collaborative artist and youth activities which have enriched the local economy and educational experiences of our children. Studies have demonstrated that reading and math scores improve with participation in arts education classes. Test results from the College Board have shown that college bound students involved in the arts and humanities have higher overall SAT scores than other students. There is no jurisdiction for funding for the NEA at a level that is 30 percent below the 1994 level. Adopting the amendment before us would increase funding by $10 million for the NEA and $3.5 million for the NEH. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment which would keep up with inflation. Investment in the arts and humanities has proven to be an invaluable contribution to the American economy, or local communities, and the education success of our children.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support a comprehensive national solution to our energy needs. In developing a national energy policy, it is imperative that we address cost, reliability, environmental impact, and consumer protection. We must consider ways to invest in alternative energy technologies to reduce dependence on foreign oil, provide stable prices for consumers and businesses, address global warming and bolster our nation's energy security. I supported the original Energy and Commerce Committee measure which accomplished these objectives. H.R. 4503 reinforces our dependency on foreign sources rather than providing the American people with a more secure system, H.R. 4503 exempts energy production companies from vital environmental regulations. Further, it repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act, a law specifically designed to protect ratepayers from risky investments. Instead of preventing another California energy crisis or Enron scam, this legislation opens the door for more corporate fraud. This legislation fails to offer any meaningful assistance in the effort to update and modernize our nation's transmission system. Although Missouri was not affected by the recent blackouts, much of our transmission system suffers from the same outdated equipment that left our neighbors to the north and east in the dark. This legislation also fails to secure our nation's drinking water. Despite the fervent objections of communities who experienced the devastating effects of the dangerous fuel additive MTBE, this legislation includes a waiver of all liability for MTBE manufacturers. MTBE has contaminated the drinking water of hundreds of towns and cities across the national and this legislation forces taxpayers instead of polluters to pay the bill. The Senate has already voiced its displeasure with this provision and the Republican leadership knows that this bill could actually become law if they removed this harmful waiver. Today, the House is also considering H.R. 4513, the Renewable Energy Project Siting Improvement Act. As a strong advocate of renewable power, I fully support efforts to expand our reliance on renewable energy sources. In addition to their numerous environmental benefits, renewable energies also decrease our reliance on foreign sources of energy. Unfortunately, today's bill is actually opposed by leading advocates of renewable energy because it shortchanges federal, state, and local policymakers who want to be involved in the careful and correct planning of renewable energy projects. Mr. Speaker, renewable projects in this bill, including incinerators and dams, often leave an enormous footprint on surrounding communities and ecosystems. Yet this legislation would limit the options available to policymakers when considering the approval of these projects. The bill would also severely limit the public comment period available to local communities and leaders concerned about the impact of these projects. I would hope all of my colleagues will join me in rejecting this ill conceived legislation. This week, the House is also expected to consider H.R. 4517, the Refinery Revitalization Act. This bill, which was never considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee, creates procedures intended to expedite the process of restarting idle oil refineries or constructing new refineries. To accomplish this goal, this legislation would designate the Energy Department as the lead agency for all refinery permitting. Under this bill, local, state, and EPA permitting processes would be skipped. The Energy Department would be given the authority to impose strict deadlines for completion of permitting, and would have the ability to drastically limit public comment and appeals. I hope my colleagues reject this measure and work together for a solution that reduces cost to consumers without detriment to our environment. Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve an energy policy that protects our consumers, our environment, and our national security. I support legislation that will provide a real, long-term, comprehensive energy policy. The Democratic motion to recommit will work to lower gas prices, stop price gouging, and prevent future blackouts. I urge all my colleagues to support this sensible, long term alternative.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 231 (H. Res. 664--Honoring the late Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan), I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former President Ronald Wilson Reagan and to extend my deepest sympathies to former First Lady Nancy Reagan and the Reagan family. I join with the millions of Americans who mourn the death of our 40th President. President Reagan demonstrated an unwavering commitment to freedom, justice and democracy and left an indelible mark upon our Nation and the world. On this occasion of remembrance, we are reminded of the pain and devastation wrought by Alzheimer's disease, a neurological illness which President Reagan endured during the last decade of his life. From this challenge, Mrs. Reagan has led a valiant effort to enable ongoing embryonic stem cell research, in the hope for a cure for this debilitating disease, as well as Parkinson's, Diabetes, Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. On April 28, I joined more than 200 of my colleagues in the House of Representatives in sending a letter to President George W. Bush in support of Mrs. Reagan's efforts on behalf of scientific research on stem cells. In February 2003, Senators Hatch, Feinstein, Kennedy, Specter and Harkin introduced legislation to ban human reproductive cloning but allow nuclear transplantation research to continue under strict federal guidelines. I commend them for their leadership on this important issue and know that with the continued support of Mrs. Reagan, progress toward a cure for Alzheimer's and other diseases will be possible, ensuring a brighter future for millions of Americans. As we honor the life and legacy of President Reagan and extend our condolences to his family and friends, let us remember the dignity and grace with which he lived his life and provide a fitting tribute to his memory by renewing the commitment to this noble cause.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, a landmark Supreme Court case that gave rise to Linda Brown's dream of equality in education in this country, a dream deferred that has become for many a broken promise. The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision marked a turning point in our history and incited a movement to break down barriers of race that had long plagued communities across the nation. It helped pave the road toward integral measures such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Fair Housing Act of 1968 and began the movement for desegregation. Chief Justice Earl Warren felt the ruling was so historic he issued a rare public statement: ``We conclude that in the field of public education, the doctrine of `separate but equal' has no place.'' In declaring segregation unconstitutional, the Supreme Court mandated a focus on equality not only in education, but also in public transportation, accommodations and commerce. The Brown v. Board of Education decision demanded that all Americans be entitled to the fundamental right to equal educational opportunities, regardless of race, and the resources to achieve their dreams. But by the time Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed America from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, nearly ten years later, that promise remained unfulfilled. And half a century later, with the convulsing explosions of the Civil Rights Movement behind us, the future assured to Linda Brown in that historic ruling has been approached, but not yet reached. And we are left to wonder, like Langston Hughes in his poem ``A Dream Deferred,'' whether those promises, if not fulfilled, will one day cease to exist. Fifty years ago, Linda Brown, a third grader in Topeka, Kansas, and her father had the courage to protest the long accepted ``separate but equal'' principle that required her to walk for over an hour every morning because she was not permitted to attend the white-only school just blocks from her house. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court struck down the ``badge of inferiority for African Americans'' that the principle of ``separate but equal'' had come to signify. This week we honor all those who fought for the dream of equality of opportunity: the valiant families who came forward in these five cases; the NAACP legal defense team, including Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, Robert L. Carter, Kenneth B. Clark and Judge Constance Motley; and the community which held on to the dream through years of bitter opposition and violent protest in the South. But half a century later, urban and rural schools across America lack the funding to provide equal education opportunities for all students. An Education Trust study released last week reveals alarming statistics about the state of education: Minority students are about three years behind other students by the time they reach eighth grade; 17-year-old African American and Latino students have reading and math skills similar to those of 13-year-old white students; and African American and Latino and American Indian youth are less likely to be enrolled in full college prep coursework. No Child Left Behind, underfunded by $27 billion, could achieve the dream of Brown v. Board of Education if provided with the resources to dismantle unequal opportunities and enhance the quality of education for every community. Fifty years after Brown, we continue to make promises we cannot keep. As we remember today the dream of Linda Brown and the courageous civil rights leaders to whom we owe our progress, let us remember that the most fitting tribute to them is a continued effort to fulfill their vision for our nation. Let us continue the promise of Brown by breaking down the barriers that still persist in our classrooms and giving schools the resources they need to provide a safe and productive learning environment for our children. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this historic anniversary and renewing the effort to achieve the promise of Brown v. Board of Education: equal educational opportunities for all children. Let us not defer the dream any longer.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully rise during this moment of silence to honor and acknowledge members of the armed forces from my district, Missouri's Fifth, and commend those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our grateful nation for their valor, strength and commitment. I also commend those six Missouri soldiers injured while serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan who are being treated at the VA Hospital in Kansas City. These courageous men have performed admirably and served unconditionally on behalf of our country. I extend to them my deepest respect and gratitude. I was honored to visit Private Phillip Ramsey of Kansas City on several occasions at Walter Reed Hospital. Private Ramsey suffered injuries this past September to his left arm and right leg when an explosive device hit his convoy en route between Tikrit and Baghdad, Iraq. He has exemplified courage and strength in his service to our nation and was awarded the Purple Heart and promoted to Specialist for his bravery. He is now back in Kansas City after spending eight months in recovery at Walter Reed Hospital and continues his service in the military. He has made his family and our country proud. Army Spc. Joel L. Bertoldie of Independence, Mo. was killed on July 18, 2003 when his vehicle ran over an explosive in Fallujah, Iraq. I was privileged to present his family with a flag flown over the Capitol in his honor, and to join them at his memorial service to pay tribute to a fine son, father and citizen. A former Truman high school student, Specialist Bertoldie served honorably in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, National Defense Service Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal for his valor. His spirit will live on in his son, and his memory will inspire all those whose lives he touched. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join with my colleagues to praise these heroic soldiers and the sacrifices they have made. God bless them and God bless our Nation.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 209, I was unavoidably detained on H.R. 4359, Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a champion of the arts, Jacqueline Z. Davis, who will receive the insignia of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from Jean- Rene Gehan, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy, in a ceremony this evening at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, where she has served with distinction as Executive Director for the past four years. Ms. Davis' vision for the performing arts has made a global impact. The Chevalier recognizes her outstanding career and her contribution to the culture of our two great nations. The Chevalier is a distinguished honor reserved for a select few deemed by the French Minister of Culture and Communication to have made groundbreaking contributions to the arts in France and throughout the world. For nearly 25 years, Ms. Davis has been a devoted advocate of the performing arts and a leader in her field. As Executive Director of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, she has launched compelling exhibitions and performances representing cultures around the world and has been instrumental in the renovation of the Library's new building at Lincoln Center, a project that included the creation of a grand, light filled reading room, several loft exhibition galleries and state of the art audiovisual stations that have revolutionized the educational experience. Ms. Davis has a profound understanding of the history, art and culture of France influenced by her numerous visits and her time spent there as a student at L' Institut Catholique in Paris, where she received a Certificats Des Etudes De La Langue Francaise. Her passion for the arts is visible in the many performances and exhibits produced under her leadership, earning her the respect of her colleagues by her unwavering dedication to preservation of the performing arts. Upon Ms. Davis' appointment to the position of Executive Director of the Performing Arts Library, Library President Paul LeClerc noted ``After an exhaustive national search, I am delighted that . . . Jacqueline Davis will head one of the New York Public Library's greatest collections. She has had a brilliant career to date in performing arts administration, and she will be a superb addition to the Library's leadership.'' Tonight the world of arts and letters will acknowledge her contributions to the arts and to the Library as she is awarded The Chevalier. Prior to her appointment at the Library of the Performing Arts, Jacqueline served as Executive Director of the Lied Center at the University of Kansas, one of the leading university arts presenters in the nation. In 1994, she received the Governor's Arts Award for ``outstanding contribution to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in Kansas.'' Ms. Davis has served on the boards of Chamber Music America, Dance USA and the American Arts Alliance, as President of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters and been a frequent panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts International. She was named one of 11 Outstanding Presenters in the United States through a study commissioned by Pew Charitable Trusts. She currently serves on the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards Nominating Committee. Mr. Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to Jacqueline Davis, recipient of the 2004 Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Her lifelong passion for the arts (des arts) and letters (et des lettres) has made an impact on her family, her friends, and all those whose lives she has touched and those whose future will be enhanced by her lifelong commitment to furthering artistic excellence recognized by the Chevalier. Merci beaucoup, Jacqueline.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Walter Cronkite, recipient of the 2004 Harry S Truman Good Neighbor Award. In 1953, longtime friends arranged an annual birthday luncheon for the then retired 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman. After his death in 1972, the birthday celebration was continued in his honor through a local foundation established to continue to pay tribute to his virtues of courage and leadership. Each year, the Harry S Truman Good Neighbor Award Foundation recognizes the national and international ideals of President Truman and preserves his memory by honoring such local individuals and encouraging young people to pursue international study. This year, the foundation has selected Walter Cronkite to receive the prestigious Good Neighbor Award in recognition of his outstanding career in broadcasting. For more than 60 years Americans nightly received unbiased and factual national and international wisdom from the golden voice of Walter Cronkite. This Northwest Missourian brought us reports from the European theater in World War II and reported on the Nuremburg trials. His insights to the turbulent 60's awakened us to civil rights and human rights issues. He comforted us through the grief of three assassinations in that same decade, reporting the dreadful news to a shocked nation with his characteristic insight and somber vision. When President John F. Kennedy was struck down in November of 1963, followed by the murder of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. just before Palm Sunday in 1968, and then Sen. Robert Kennedy's killing on the eve of his California primary victory in June of the same year, the loss of these great leaders was all but unbearable, were it not for the constant and reassuring presence of Walter Cronkite, reaching out to us with straightforward and thoughtful news reporting. Walter Cronkite became a war correspondent again in the late 60's when he reported to a divided country on Vietnam. Following the Tet offensive in January of 1968, often considered a turning point in the war, Cronkite visited the war torn country and called for diplomatic negotiations to end the stalemate. By then, the tide of public opinion had begun to turn against the war and President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not seek reelection in March of that year. The decade ended on a high note, however, when the first manned spacecraft was sent to the moon and Walter Cronkite reported the launch with his infamous, ``Go Baby, Go.'' On July 20, 1969, he shared the moon landing with an awestruck nation in what some called ``Walter to Walter'' coverage on CBS news. He provided continuous coverage for the almost 30 hours it took Apollo XI to complete its mission. The 70's brought political scandal and Walter Cronkite reported to the nation with accuracy and balance from June 17, 1972, the morning after the Watergate break-in, through August 8, 1974, when Richard M. Nixon became the first President of the United States to resign from office because of scandal. Walter Cronkite's incredible career included interviews with international heads of state, while keeping the nation informed of world-wide events, as well as audiences with every U.S. president since Harry Truman. He officially retired in 1981, but we are grateful that he continues to work on documentaries and programs for broadcast on PBS and the Discovery and Learning Channels. The news has become the information tool that informs, stimulates interest, evokes debate, and ultimately protects our democracy. Walter Cronkite's dedication to his professional career is exemplary for its objective reporting, credibility and his trademark delivery that has made an American icon. President Truman's high regard of Walter Cronkite is reflected best in a letter to Mr. Raymond E. Dix, President of the Ohio Newspaper Association on January 1, 1966. Dear Mr. Dix: I was glad to have your letter informing me of the contemplated presentation of the Distinguished Service to Journalism Award to Walter Cronkite. I know of no one more worthy of being so honored by a jury of his peers. For one who has had some slight exposure to the press--the spoken and the written--with some misadventures and collisions along the way, I continue to have a healthy respect for that all important free institution. Here and there, over a span of time, some of the practitioners in that estate manage to rise to a special place of their own and become a force in their own right. Walter Cronkite looms large in that category and I always associate him with the quality of never failing credibility. Please give Walter my warm personal greetings. Sincerely yours, Harry S Truman. Mr. Speaker, please join me in warm congratulations to our native son, Walter Cronkite, for receiving the Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award for his outstanding contribution to journalism and his ``never failing credibility.'' As a role model, he has inspired individuals like me to fight the good fight for a just cause, secure in the knowledge that armed with the facts and the passion for what is right and just, one can make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you, Walter Cronkite. And that's the way it is, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Walter Cronkite, recipient of the 2004 Harry S Truman Good Neighbor Award. In 1953, longtime friends arranged an annual birthday luncheon for the then-retired 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman. After his death in 1972, the birthday celebration was continued in his honor through a local foundation established to continue to pay tribute to his virtues of courage and leadership. Each year, the Harry S Truman Good Neighbor Award Foundation recognizes the national and international ideals of President Truman and preserves his memory by honoring such local individuals and encouraging young people to pursue international study. This year, the foundation has selected Walter Cronkite to the prestigious Good Neighbor Award in recognition of his outstanding career in broadcasting. For more than 60 years Americans nightly received unbiased and factual national and international wisdom from the golden voice of Walter Cronkite. This Northwest Missourian brought us reports from the European theater in World War II and reported on the Nuremburg trials. His insights to the turbulent 60's awakened us to civil rights and human rights issues. He comforted us through the grief of three assassinations in that same decade, reporting the dreadful news to a shocked nation with his characteristic insight and somber vision. When President John F. Kennedy was struck down in November of 1963, followed by the murder of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. just before Palm Sunday in 1968, and then-Senator Robert Kennedy's killing on the eve of his California primary victory in June of the same year, the loss of these great leaders was all but unbearable, were it not for the constant and reassuring presence of Walter Cronkite, reaching out to us with straightforward and thoughtful news reporting. Walter Cronkite became a war correspondent again in the late 60's when he reported to a divided country on Vietnam. Following the Tet offensive in January 1968, often considered a turning point in the war, Cronkite visited the war torn country and called for diplomatic negotiations to end the stalemate. By then, the tide of public opinion had begun to turn against the war and President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not seek reelection in March of that year. The decade ended on a high note, however, when the first manned spacecraft was sent to the moon and Walter Cronkite reported the launch with his infamous, ``Go Baby, Go.'' On July 20, 1969, he shared the moon landing with an awestruck nation in what some called ``Walter to Walter'' coverage on CBS news. He provided continuous coverage for the almost 30 hours it took Apollo XI to complete its mission. The 70's brought political scandal and Walter Cronkite reported to the nation with accuracy and balance from June 17, 1972, the morning after the Watergate breakin, through August 8, 1974, when Richard M. Nixon became the first President of the United States to resign from office because of scandal. Walter Cronkite's incredible career included interviews with international heads of state, while keeping the nation informed of worldwide events, as well as audiences with every U.S. President since Harry Truman. He officially retired in 1981, but we are grateful that he continues to work on documentaries and programs for broadcast on PBS and the Discovery and Learning Channels. The news has become the information tool that informs, stimulates interest, evokes debate, and ultimately protects our democracy. Walter Cronkite's dedication to his professional career is exemplary for its objective reporting, credibility, and his trademark delivery that has made an American icon. President Truman's high regard of Walter Cronkite is reflected best in a letter to Mr. Raymond E. Dix, President of the Ohio Newspaper Association on January 1, 1966. Dear Mr. Dix: I was glad to have your letter informing me of the contemplated presentation of the Distinguished Service to Journalism Award to Walter Cronkite. I know of no one more worthy of being so honored by a jury of his peers. For one who has had some slight exposure to the press--the spoken and the written--with some misadventures and collisions along the way, I continue to have a healthy respect for that all important free institution. Here and there, over a span of time, some of the practitioners in that estate manage to rise to a special place of their own and become a force in their own right. Walter Cronkite looms large in that category and I always associate him with the quality of never failing credibility. Please give Walter my warm personal greetings. Sincerely yours, Harry S Truman. Mr. Speaker, please join me in warm congratulations to our native son, Walter Cronkite, for receiving the Harry S Truman Good Neighbor Award for his outstanding contribution to journalism and his ``neverfailing credibility.'' As a role model, he has inspired individuals like me to fight the good fight for a just cause, secure in the knowledge that armed with the facts and the passion for what is right and just, one can make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you, Walter Cronkite.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 627, a resolution condemning the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, however I do so with great concern. The mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by members of the Armed Forces and civilian U.S. contractors is shameful and inexcusable. I am outraged that these actions committed by a few reflect negatively upon our Nation and the many men and women who continue to serve our Nation with strength, honor and courage. We must investigate these allegations and take immediate and decisive action to reestablish our Nation's credibility and regain the trust of the Iraqi people and the world community. I support provisions of this resolution that deplore and condemn these events and urge the Department of Defense to investigate every report of mistreatment of all prisoners in the custody of the U.S. military at all levels and locations including Guantanamo and Afghanistan. We have a breakdown in the chain of command at the highest level. We must require heightened accountability of the senior leadership at the Department of Defense and determine why there was an intelligence breakdown. We need to know when Secretary Rumsfeld learned of these events, why he did not take immediate action and why he did not make this information available to Congress in a timely way. Above all, we must ensure that events like these never occur again. Throughout our history, the United States has been a leader throughout the world and a strong voice for the principles of democracy, freedom, human rights and justice. The tragic events we are addressing today have jeopardized our credibility and our relationships with the people of Iraq and the international community. In his thoughtful column in Today's New York Times, Thomas Friedman writes, ``I have never known a time in my life when America and its President were more hated around the world than today.'' It is our responsibility to restore our Nation's credibility, and I urge my colleagues to investigate these shocking allegations. I conclude by joining with other thoughtful individuals in calling upon the Secretary of Defense to take full responsibility for these human rights atrocities and fundamental breakdown in command and to act honorably and resign.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Michael R. Beschloss, who is receiving the 2004 Harry S Truman Award for Public Service from the City of Independence at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library on May 7, 2004. After President Truman's death on December 26, 1972, the City of Independence established this award to honor an outstanding individual who possesses the qualities of Harry S Truman. Since 1974, the annual award has honored individuals who have demonstrated ``dedication, industry, ability, honesty and integrity'' in their significant contributions to our country. This year's recipient is the award winning historian and highly acclaimed author, Michael Beschloss. Last year, Beschloss generously agreed to be the keynote speaker for the Truman Presidential Library and Museum ``Wild About Harry'' fundraiser. Mr. Beschloss received rave reviews, as he captivated the audience with his humor and knowledge of presidential history. In his presentation, Mr. Beschloss said, ``There is library so much on the cutting edge of what a library should do than the Truman Library.'' Mr. Beschloss's participation was the laudable attraction that generated the funds to ensure the expansion of educational programs and exhibits at the Truman Library. With seven books to his credit, Newsweek has called him ``the nation's leading Presidential historian,'' and he has found a number of venues to pursue his career. As a respected author, essayist, editor, and television commentator, he continually lends an insightful eye to his informative and authoritative commentary and analysis of current and historic events in American culture. Beschloss has taken us behind the scenes in his research of many of the presidents since Roosevelt. Like President Harry S Truman, Michael Beschloss found common ground in the belief that men are driven by history. President Truman stated, ``It takes men to make history, or there would be no history. History does not make the man.'' Michael Beschloss has traditionally examined the inner workings of the presidency and political events throughout his publications and media appearances. His research has led him to explore presidential decision making and pinpoint administrative paradigm shifts in his analysis of new directions and he has explained their impact on domestic and foreign affairs. President Truman said, ``My debt to history is one which cannot be calculated. I know of no other motivation which so accounts for my awakening interest as a young lad in the principles of leadership and government.'' Michael Beschloss has examined the principles and actions of our nation's leaders and his writing is distinguished with analysis and illumination of the political process. For the past twenty years, he has articulated the deeper layers of thought and action that color the American political process, and he has earned the status as one of the most trusted experts on Presidents and the election process. It was Mr. Beschloss's senior honors thesis at Williams College that launched his writing career. The writing project evolved into his first book, Kennedy and Roosevelt: The Uneasy Alliance, published in 1980. May Day: Eisenhower, Khrushchev and the U-2 Affair followed in 1986. The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev, 1960-1963, published in 1991, won the Ambassador Book Prize. In 1993, Mr. Beschloss co-wrote At the Highest Levels: The Inside Story of the End of the Cold War. He has written two volumes of a trilogy on the Lyndon B. Johnson presidency, published in 1997 and 2001: Taking Charge and Reaching for Glory. Both are based on President Johnson's secret White House tapes and have been received with high praise. Research at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library provided material for his seventh book, a best seller, The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945. His insights into the influences on presidential staff debates throughout the war, including what to do with Germany at war's end, have received critical acclaim. In addition to his best selling book career, Michael Beschloss is a trustee of the White House Historical Association, the National Archives Foundation, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the Urban Institute, and the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs. He has cultivated his talent and expertise through his experiences at Williams College and Harvard University, his service on the staff of the Smithsonian from 1982-1986, as a Senior Associate at Oxford University, 1986-87, and as a Senior Fellow at the Annenberg Foundation, 1988-96. Mr. Beschloss can be seen on PBS's The News Hour and is a consultant to ABC News. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Michael Beschloss on his distinguished career and his many contributions to greater understanding of American culture through his research and analysis. I am proud that the City of Independence has selected him for recognition this year. He is most deserving of this honor. He shares President Truman's belief that an understanding of history is essential to leadership in world affairs. Mr. Speaker, please join me in warm congratulations to Michael R. Beschloss, this year's recipient of the 2004 Harry S Truman Award for Public Service, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the evaluation and preservation of history. I applaud his contribution to the Truman Library and Museum and to our world.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 34th anniversary of Earth Day, I rise to recognize the ongoing struggle to preserve and protect our environment for future generations. We have made significant progress since the first Earth Day in 1970, but recent funding cuts and policy changes are now jeopardizing vital environmental programs such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. The Natural Resources Defense Council, a national organization that advocates environmental action, recently released a report, ``Rewriting the Rules,'' which documents more than 150 assaults on our environmental safeguards between January 2003 and March 2004. Of particular concern is the rollback of environmental regulations that keep sewage out of our waterways and drinking water, protect our public lands, and limit mercury pollution in our air. As the principal sponsor of Missouri's Clean Air and Air Emissions Standards Acts during my tenure in the state legislature and as Chairwoman of the Missouri Commission on Global Climate Change and Ozone Depletion, I am alarmed and concerned by these weakened standards. Earth Day was created in 1970 as a call to action after drastic environmental events such as the chemical emergency at Love Canal and the ``death'' of Lake Erie. This massive environmental protest drew attention to environmental problems plaguing communities across our country. Today, we must continue that commitment to preserve our planet not only on our continent, but around the world. As we honor the 34th anniversary of Earth Day, we acknowledge the achievements of some of our most conscientious global environmental leaders. On April 19, the Sierra Club awarded the 15th annual Goldman Environmental Prize to several grassroots activists who have worked to make our world a better place to live. These seven leaders, Rudolf Amenga-Etego of Ghana, Rashida Bee and Chama Devi Shukla of India, Manana Kochladze of Georgia, Demetrio Do Amaral de Carvalho of East Timor, Margie Eugene-Richard of the U.S., and Libia Grueson of Colombia, have made significant contributions to their communities: providing safe drinking water for the people, seeking justice for world disaster survivors, blocking the construction of environmentally damaging oil pipelines, leading reforestation and watershed management programs, fighting pollution and protecting rainforests. Yet as these global activists serve their communities and work to better their environment, here in the United States we are rolling back much of the progress our own leaders have made. We must reverse this direction and restore our commitment to the environment, to breathable air and drinkable water, and to preservation of wildlife and our quality of life. On the first Earth Day in 1970, I joined more than 20 million Americans in demonstrating for a healthy, sustainable environment. I have worked at the state and federal levels for landmark legislation such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, Global Climate Change and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, among other legislative initiatives. This Saturday, I join members of my community in celebrating our local progress at the Eighth Annual Bridging the Gap Earth Day Walk. Kansas City has developed a plan to restore and maintain our natural resources for current and future generations. I worked with the city to assure biodiesel as an alternative source of energy for our buses in order to maintain our air quality for the health of our citizens. There is much more we must do to ensure the protection of our environment. We must strengthen, not weaken, regulations that protect our natural resources. We must provide necessary funding for programs that ensure the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. On this 34th anniversary of Earth Day, we must pledge to continue our commitment to protecting and preserving our environment. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this important anniversary of Earth Day and saluting organizations like the Sierra Club that act globally to honor those who work for sustaining our planet.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, April 23, Salem Shapiro, a retired city planner now living in Redding, Connecticut, will celebrate his 95th birthday. Normally on an occasion like this, I would hail his service in the Pacific Theater during WWI and salute the idealism with which he battled suburban sprawl and exclusionary zoning. But such a standard tribute to his 60-year career misses the larger message of his life: his joyful refusal to bow to the cliches of old age. Like many senior citizens today, Salem Shapiro took up writing in his late eighties. But instead of dwelling on autobiography and family genealogy, he composed satirical essays that channeled the spirit of Jonathan Swift. Claiming to be a master of ``Non-Euclidean, Non-Linear Logic,'' he puckishly suggested that the elderly were fast becoming an endangered species because of their ``unusually low birth rate when compared with other sectors of the population.'' His remedy was to champion the mythical organization called ``Save the Elderly from Themselves.'' Then there was his mocking proposal to deal with the high cost of campaigning by suggesting that the presidency be let out for auction, thereby enriching the Federal Treasury rather than individual TV stations. But nothing better captures Salem Shapiro's indomitable spirit as well as a poem he wrote a few years ago entitled ``An Attitude.'' The last two stanzas deftly summarize his philosophy of aging: I too have lived a lifetime Enjoying myself and serving society But I will not allow me To be cast off like the leaf In the Fall of my life. I shall continue my activity In interacting with friends And people and groups such as this That constitutes my tree And resist turning dry and crumble. Longevity encompasses far more than luck and genes. It is, in many ways, the ultimate art form. Mr. Speaker, please join me as I hail Salem Shapiro on his 95th birthday.