Jim Moran

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman from New York, the chairman of the committee, and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter). Thank you very much for bringing this resolution to the floor. The purpose is to help prevent attacks against Federal employees while they are engaged in or on account of the performance of their official duties. Last month, we commemorated the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. This act of violence claimed 168 lives and injured more than 680 people. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on United States soil until the September 11, 2001, attacks. The Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh, made Federal employees his target because he was angry at the United States Government. In the 15 years since that horrific bombing, Federal employees have been the target of a great number of attacks. Internal Revenue Service employees have borne the brunt, as those who are frustrated with tax problems have taken their frustrations out on IRS workers just doing their jobs, in fact, carrying out the laws that the Congress makes. The IRS has recorded some 1,200 attacks on its employees since September 2001. Attacking a Federal employee engaged in or because of his or her work is a Federal crime. The Justice Department investigates some 300 cases per year. We are a free society. Strong rhetoric is acceptable, even fashionable. But rhetoric should not inspire violence. Federal agencies devote significant resources and develop procedures to protect their employees. But two recent attacks on Federal employees highlight what I see as a worrying trend. In February, a plane was flown into the IRS building in Austin in an act of murder-suicide that claimed the life of a veteran of two tours in Vietnam. In March, another deranged individual walked up to the Pentagon entrance and opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon, injuring two Pentagon guards. These acts were more than sensational attempts at mass murder. They were acts of domestic terrorism with Federal employees as the target. We have the finest, most professional civil service in the world, and we take for granted that our Federal workers provide many forms of dedicated and important service to our Nation. Civilian employees serve in war zones providing essential support to our military. Federal workers maintain our national parks, our wildlife refuges and forests, secure our borders, and respond in times of natural disaster, as we can see in the gulf oil spill. Our diplomats advance our country's interests around the world, very often in dangerous environments. The more than 2 million civilian employees in the Federal workforce deserve a reasonable degree of personal safety and security while carrying out their duties implementing the laws we make. It is incumbent upon the Congress and the administration to ensure their safety. We have a responsibility and that's why I have introduced this bill, a responsibility to protect our Nation's Federal employees. House Resolution 1187 calls for a renewed commitment to our civil servants, and I urge my colleagues to unanimously support it.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am on the floor today acknowledging the upcoming 100th year anniversary of the passage of the Weeks Act, a significant conservation achievement in the history of the United States. John W. Weeks, a Republican Congressman from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was relentless in his efforts to pass this legislation, which authorized the federal purchase of cutover and denuded forestlands in the headwaters of navigable streams for the purpose of conserving the flow of streams and rivers and to restore lands for future timber production. Despite a fierce two year battle, Rep. Weeks was successful and the Weeks Act cleared Congress on March 1, 1911. At the turn of the 19th century, vast amounts of private forested land in the eastern United States had been ravaged by clear cut logging. In the absence of trees, vast areas of the East were prone to flooding and soil erosion, as well as destructive forest fires. No longer productive, these lands were often abandoned and came into state and local ownership for nonpayment of taxes. To bring these lands back from the ecological brink, Rep. John Weeks introduced legislation directing the federal government to relieve state and local governments from managing these lands and restore them to their former condition. Today 26 eastern states are home to 52 National Forests encompassing almost 25 million acres. These forests provide significant economic benefits. Not only are the forests recreational sanctuaries, they are also a major contributor in keeping America's drinking water clean. Many eastern municipal water supplies depend on National Forest watersheds and currently $450 billion in food and fiber, manufactured goods, and tourism depends on clean water and healthy watersheds. In addition, the timber supply managed by the Forest Service provides a significant monetary benefit. The timber resource was almost nonexistent when the federal government purchased the land, but today these lands host an estimated 42 billion cubic feet of growing stock and about 210 billion board feet of saw timber. With this resolution we recognize and commemorate the vision of John W. Weeks and his contribution to the conservation effort. Both Republicans and Democrats recognized the importance of federal government in conserving the forests and the water supply for long term environmental goals. Today I encourage both Congress and the Forest Service to begin preparing a centennial celebration commemorating this major bipartisan accomplishment. Our 52 National Forests in 26 eastern states may never have existed if the Weeks Act of 1911 had not been passed. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Christian Relief Services Charities for their 25 years of making a difference in the world to assist in the alleviation of human suffering, misery, disability, and pain by advancing and improving the welfare of all persons and the international community while preserving native cultures, heritages, customs and beliefs. Christian Relief Services, celebrating their 25th anniversary, oversees and guides a family of nonprofits. It is considered to be among the top charities in the country and is one of the original accredited charities allowed to display the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal on all of its publications. Americans Helping Americans builds and strengthens American Communities. It provides vital transitional housing to the homeless and victims of domestic violence in Virginia, and supports programs assisting the needy in a number of states, primarily in Appalachia, with emergency assistance, food, new shoes, blankets, winter coats, home repair, school supplies and efforts of self-sufficiency, assisting approximately 100,000 individuals. It provides affordable housing assistance to low and very low income working families located in Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Ohio and Virginia, and permanent housing for the homeless and chronically mentally ill adults in three group homes that the organization owns, located in Fairfax County. Running Strong for American Indian Youth and the Cheyenne River Youth Project, provide financial, technical and administrative support to their many programs assisting American Indian families across the nation on and off reservations. They help fund water development, food pantries, youth enrichment programs, shelter, utilities assistance, emergency assistance, food, new shoes, winter coats, home repair, school supplies and supports efforts at self-sufficiency, promoting positive change to 200,000 individuals. Bread and Water for Africa works with community-based grassroots organizations in Africa to provide basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, medical care, education and vocational training, lifting the despairing, wiping away sparse tears of the children, feeding the malnourished, changing sorrow into hope and benefiting hundreds of communities and many hundreds of thousands of people throughout Africa. Christian Relief Services Charities has always been there with emergency assistance when the need is the greatest. Recently, they met the huge challenge of the earthquake in Haiti by quickly donating life- saving relief supplies. At a time of economic instability, it is comforting to know that their services serve the 8th Congressional District and beyond. I am proud to salute the efforts of the staff, volunteers and the board of directors of Christian Relief Services Charities for their outstanding charitable work for a quarter of a century.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, the United States and Japan have a strong and critical alliance that is vitally important to both of our countries, to the Asia-Pacific region, and to the world. It is based on shared interests and values and our common support for political and economic freedoms, human rights, and international law. Japan now participates in our Pacific Partnership Initiative bringing humanitarian civic assistance to countries in Southeast Asia. Japan is second to none in supporting President Barack Obama's vision of a ``world without nuclear weapons'' and advocating for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Japan also supports our mission in Afghanistan and has recently doubled its civilian aid to the country providing much needed funds for job training, agriculture support, infrastructure and security training. But as a friend of Japan and the Japanese people, I am compelled to bring to their attention by resolution a concern involving 269 American children who have been abducted to and/or wrongfully retained in Japan since 1994. These American children are in Japan as a result of kidnapping by a parent with Japanese citizenship following the dissolution of their relationship to the American citizen parent. Research shows that abducted children are at risk of serious emotional and psychological problems and have been found to experience anxiety, eating problems, nightmares, mood swings, sleep disturbances, aggressive behavior, resentment, guilt and fearfulness, and as adults may struggle with identity issues, their own personal relationships and parenting. Despite a shared concern within the international community, the Japanese government has yet to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or create any other mechanism to resolve international child abductions. Japan's existing family law system neither recognizes joint custody nor actively enforces parental access agreements for either its own citizens or foreigners. Most troubling, the existing legal system relies exclusively on the voluntary cooperation of the parent or guardian who has abducted the child. American parents must beg to see their abducted children and have no legal recourse if the taking parent denies them access. Consequently, American parents are calling on the U.S. Government to urgently intervene and quickly find a diplomatic solution. I ask for my colleague's support on a bipartisan resolution supported by Rep. Christopher Smith, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, Rep. Gary Miller, and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, calling on the Japanese government to address the growing problem of abduction and retention of American children in Japan. The resolution calls for Japanese officials to work closely with the United States to return these children to their custodial parent or to the original jurisdiction for a custody determination in the United States, and to provide left-behind parents immediate access to their children. Finally, the resolution calls for Japan to adopt without delay the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The well-being of these children should be an issue where agreement can be reached and distraught parents are reunited with their children. I call on the Government of Japan to work closely with the U.S. Government to resolve current cases and establish an efficient mechanism to resolve future potential cases of abduction. Cosponsors of this legislation introduced by the Rep. James P. Moran: The Honorable Christopher H. Smith. The Honorable Maurice D. Hinchey. The Honorable Gary G. Miller. The Honorable Marsha Blackburn.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mr. Jerald F. terHorst, longtime reporter, columnist, and White House Press Secretary, who passed away on March 31, 2010 at his home in Asheville, North Carolina. He was surrounded and supported by his four children in his final hours. Born in Grand Rapids in 1922, Mr. terHorst discovered his passion for journalism while at Michigan State University. While working at the State News, the MSU college newspaper, he met Louise, his companion, confidante and best friend through 64 years of marriage. Mr. terHorst was a proud veteran having served as a Marine in World War II. Following the war, Jerry jumped head-first into his passion, reporting, while working for the Grand Rapids Press. During his time there, he covered future-President Gerald Ford's early political career during his successful bid for Congress. A few years later, after a stint in the Marine Corps, Mr. terHorst took a job as a political writer for the Detroit News. He moved to their Washington bureau and shortly thereafter became bureau chief in 1961. In 1974, when then-Vice President Ford inherited the presidency after Nixon's resignation, Mr. terHorst signed on as Press Secretary for the man he had been closely covering for close to 20 years. It was to be a short-lived tenure, however, lasting one month. His resignation of the prestigious role was due to his strong disagreement with President Nixon's pardoning. In his resignation letter and personal statements in the years following, terHorst stated that his decision was ultimately because he believed Ford had displayed a double standard of justice in choosing to pardon Nixon, yet refusing to pardon conscientious objectors to the Vietnam War. Jerry's resignation, risking his entire career, was a testament to his strong ethical values that had brought him so far in his career. Mr. terHorst received the first Conscience- in-Media Award for his decision. Following his tenure at the White House, Mr. terHorst reentered the profession he loved, signing on as a syndicated columnist for the Detroit News, finally retiring in 1981 after a long and distinguished career. Mr. terHorst was a friend, strong advocate for truth and justice, and inspiration to those who knew him and read his work. He forever left a mark on reporting and the role of the White House Press Secretary. Jerry will be deeply missed but his legacy lives on, serving as an example for future generations of journalists to model themselves after.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, as we mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, I ask my colleagues to consider cosponsoring a resolution I am introducing today to reduce the use of plastic and paper bags. Single-use retail plastic and paper bags are bad for the environment. Both paper and plastic bags consume valuable natural resources when produced, generate waste, and pollute the environment. They keep us dependent on nonrenewable resources and impose external costs that we bear in the form of higher waste disposal costs, visual blight, the destruction of wildlife and the deaths of tens of thousands of animal and marine life by entangling them in the plastic or poisoning them through toxins that leach into the ground and waterways. We use more than 100 billion plastic bags every year and because they don't biodegrade, each bag represents a persistent threat to the environment. While paper bags are less harmful to the environment, they require four times as much energy to produce and generate 70 percent more air pollution and 50 times more water pollution than plastic bags. And while recycling efforts should be applauded, recycling rates are dismally low. Between one and three percent of all plastic bags are recycled and between ten and 15 percent of all paper bags are recycled. The resolution encourages states to establish targets for businesses to reduce distribution of plastic and paper bag use by 40 percent over the next five years; educate the public about using reusable bags through public-private initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and other methods whenever possible; and facilitate the dissemination of best practices among businesses for reducing single-use retail bag consumption. It would also encourage businesses to adopt consumer credit programs to promote reusable bag use. One need look no further than the District of Columbia to measure success. Late last year the District imposed a 5 cent tax on plastic bags which led to a dramatic impact on bag use. The number of plastic bags used by supermarkets and other establishments dropped from the 2009 monthly average of 22.5 million to just 3 million in January 2010. I could conclude here, but that would be only half the story. This resolution was brought to my attention by two enterprising Georgetown University students, Mariel Reed and Brian Lin. Together with their fellow classmates they drafted the resolution in response to a bill I introduced last year to tax plastic and paper bag use. They used my bill as a case study on environmental legislation. Both students are very bright and realized that there is little prospect my bag tax bill would be enacted. My bill does point toward a worthwhile objective, and it builds on the actions of several local and foreign initiatives that have met with success. But, there is no group or organization that has backed it and few Members today prefer to be on record supporting a tax increase. And here is the second lesson these Georgetown students came to realize and what remains a valuable lesson that the environmental community needs to appreciate as a movement. The public and many elected officials are not always in sync with what we need to do to restore the environment and preserve it for future generations. Progress on the environmental front has never been a clear and straight line but erratic path with peaks and troughs. But, if we look back over the past 40 years, we have seen considerable progress. If you were to average out all the peaks and troughs, an upward progress would begin to appear. We can be proud of our achievements and the fact that such landmark laws like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and many others that we have passed since the 1970s, have gone a long way toward restoring the environment. Our land, air and water are cleaner than they were on the first Earth Day. While the science of today has led us to a better understanding of our relationship with nature, we must also appreciate that a democracy requires time for the public to accept and support the necessary changes. Just as the time may not be ripe to ban the use of plastic bags, we can encourage broader public participation in recycling and promoting alternatives that over time will achieve the same goal. There are a number of proven approaches that work to reduce plastic and paper bag use. All have merit and the states are the appropriate forum through which these approaches can be developed and implemented. Again I applaud the efforts of the two Georgetown students and their class for providing us a valuable political lesson on this 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue. As the chairman knows, I have some reservations about the effectiveness of a sanctions regime, but there is no question in my mind but that the worst thing that could happen is military confrontation because that would in fact unite the Iranian people against America and on the wrong side of history. Now, it is too easy to think of Iran as a monolithic people. The reality is that Iran is the successor to the great Persian civilization, and it is a very diverse civilization. I share the chairman's concern about the current Government of Iran, which I don't think is consistent with Persia's history; and in fact their actions have been inexplicable and inexcusable. And the chairman is right, obviously, to respond. But the reality is that a very substantial portion of the Iranian population, perhaps a majority, in fact embraces American values of democracy and human rights and individual freedoms of expression, collective gathering, and freedom of worship; but they are not able to do that today. I appreciate the fact that the chairman is determined to allow the technology that would enable the population to communicate their ideas, in fact to mobilize for the best interests of their nation and their future. We ought also to limit the availability of technology that the regime is using for precisely the opposite purposes: to censor and to perform surveillance against those people who would like to empower the Iranian people to take control of their own future. This bill will be supported, it should be supported, and, again, I appreciate the chairman's leadership.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Alma Powell as recipient of the Commonwealth Academy's 10th Annual CARE Award. The Commonwealth Academy is a college preparatory day school in Alexandria, Virginia. As a recipient of the CARE Award, Mrs. Powell has demonstrated outstanding leadership in efforts to empower young people, including those who struggle with learning differences and AD/HD, to discover and reach achievement levels commensurate with their abilities. Alma Powell sits on the boards of several educational, cultural, charitable and civic organizations. She is the chairman of the board of America's Promise Alliance, whose mission is to mobilize people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of youth. Mrs. Powell also chairs the advisory board for the Pew Center for Civic Change. From 1989 to 2000, she has served as the chairman of the National Council of the Best Friends Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of young girls. Mrs. Powell is the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Human Letters from Emerson College, an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Shenandoah University and the Civic Change Award from the Pew Partnership for Civic Change. She has also been honored by Washingtonian magazine as Washingtonian of the Year and is the recipient of the Leadership Award from the Women's Center in Virginia. In addition to her many service- minded activities, Mrs. Powell has added ``author'' to her list of credits. In 2003, her two children's books, My Little Wagon, and America's Promise were launched with great success. Mrs. Powell was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and went on to study speech pathology and audiology at Emerson College in Boston. She worked as the staff audiologist for the Boston Guild for the Hard of Hearing. Alma married Colin Powell in 1962. Mrs. Powell spent the next 33 years raising a family and accompanying her husband on his various military assignments in the United States and overseas. While her husband was stationed at the Pentagon, she served as the Army liaison to the National Red Cross as part of a team of volunteer consultants from the military services. During General Powell's tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, she was the Advisor to the Red Cross of the Military District of Washington. Most recently, during her husband's tenure as the 65th Secretary of State, Mrs. Powell served as the honorary president of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide. She also sat on the advisory board of the Hospitality and Information Service and was an honorary member of the Department of State Fine Arts Committee. It is my pleasure to congratulate Mrs. Powell on this prestigious award. I wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am on the floor today to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the creation of Columbia Pike and commend the Columbia Pike community for its achievements as a vibrant and visionary community. ``The Pike,'' as it is known more commonly to the citizens of Arlington, dates back to April 20, 1810, when Congress chartered a company to begin construction on the toll road. This legislation, which was signed into law by President James Madison, allowed the incorporation of a company for making certain turnpike roads in the District of Columbia. Columbia Pike began as a privately owned toll road providing westward access from Long Bridge, situated near the current 14th Street Bridge, into Northern Virginia. The road was not paved, however, until 1928. Columbia Pike has seen significant change in its two centuries of existence. In fact, the road became essential for military purposes during the Civil War. Several forts were built in Arlington to protect the federal city from attacks, and the Pike served as a means of transportation between the forts and district. It is likely that President Lincoln travelled on the Pike to Bailey's Crossroads in 1861 to attend the historic review of federal troops. I feel the road has had great historical significance not only for transportation, but also for communication and housing. The first cross-Atlantic radio broadcast was sent in 1915 from towers in the Penrose neighborhood, in the eastern Columbia Pike community, to the Eiffel Tower in France. In addition, during periods of rapid growth, such as the New Deal era and after World War II, the Pike became home to thousands of Federal employees. To accommodate the influx, garden and low-rise apartment buildings were constructed along Columbia Pike. Today, the road continues to be of great importance and several organizations, including the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, have dedicated themselves to improving and revitalizing the Pike area. Currently, Arlington County is working to establish a new transit system along Columbia Pike to improve the area surrounding the Pike through advancing redevelopment and increasing and improving local land use. Columbia Pike has a long and rich history. I wish Columbia Pike and its residents a heartfelt 200th anniversary.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank the gentleman. Perhaps now we could have a few moments of silence for both departed colleagues.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor former Congressman Stan Parris, who passed away on March 27. Mr. Parris represented the Eighth District in Virginia in the House from 1973 to 1974, and then again throughout the 1980s, from 1981 to 1990. He was a very hardworking advocate for Northern Virginia and his constituents. He was a fighter pilot, a veteran of the Korean War. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, and an Air Medal for his service. He was known for giving out his home phone number, for listening to people regardless of their views; I'm not sure his successor has given out his home phone as often. Mr. Parris had a major impact on Northern Virginia by supporting flood control projects and bridges. He laid the groundwork for the Four Mile Run project. He put carpool lanes on Interstate 395. He transferred control of the airports from the Federal Aviation Administration to a regional airport authority. He led an effort to move the D.C. prison from Lorton. When the National Football League blacked out broadcasts of games that were sold out, he got the league to change its policy. As a member of the Banking and Finance Committee, he proved prescient in cautioning about the looming savings and loan crisis in the 1980s. He graduated from George Washington University Law School. He owned several car dealerships. He was a State Delegate and was on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Martha Harper Parris of Mathews, Virginia, his three children, and his two grandchildren. I would now like to yield to my colleague, the dean of the Virginia delegation, Congressman Frank Wolf.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mary Hatwood Futrell on her remarkable career as the Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University. Many in this body will remember Dr. Futrell from her decades of involvement and leadership at the National Education Association, where she was president from 1983 to 1989. Throughout her entire distinguished career, Dr. Futrell has been a trailblazer in Virginia and the national education debate. Born and raised in Altavista, Virginia, she graduated from Dunbar High School in Lynchburg and received a Business Education Degree from Virginia State University. In 1965, she helped integrate the teaching staff at George Washington High School in Alexandria, where she would continue to teach until 1980--becoming chair of her department and an active participant in the Alexandria and Virginia Education Associations. In 1968, Dr. Futrell became the first African American president of the Virginia Education Association. She fought hard for teachers' rights, and in that same year she led a march of 7,000 teachers and public school employees on Richmond to protest a Virginia Supreme Court ruling striking down collective bargaining rights for public employees. At the time, it was one of the largest marches ever to take place in the history of Virginia. Dr. Futrell became president of the National Education Association in 1983. There she served an unprecedented three terms. She worked tirelessly to strengthen and grow the association, move it to take forceful positions on collective bargaining rights, and to bring a higher profile to important issues like drop-out rates and changing school curriculum needs. After stepping down as president of the NEA, Dr. Futrell joined The George Washington University as a fellow, earned her PhD, and quickly became a faculty member and the Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. In her role as Dean she contributed greatly to education both nationally and locally. Under her leadership the School's prominence has grown dramatically; its enrollments have increased 45 percent and it is now more selective than ever before. The Graduate School has raised more than $200 million in funding for research and educational efforts during her tenure and has started 10 centers of excellence that help guide education policy on the national stage and in local school districts across the country. Throughout that time, Dr. Futrell has always kept her close ties to the Commonwealth. She makes sure that her faculty teaches in all of GW's Virginia locations--Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn and Hampton Roads. Indeed, Dr. Futrell herself drives to the university's Hampton Roads Center to teach classes each semester. She has built a strong following and has personally educated many of the great principals, superintendents and education leaders in Virginia today. As she relinquishes her deanship, I want to wish Dr. Futrell many more successful years of teaching and thank her for her lifetime of dedication to her profession and to the students and teachers of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to require indexation of deferred annuities for departing federal employees. Federal employees who leave the U.S. Government before age 62 must either defer their retirement annuity until they turn 62, or immediately withdraw the amount they have contributed to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) for retirement. The amount of their annuity is not indexed for inflation, so younger employees have little incentive to opt for a deferred annuity that will lose real value over time. Paradoxically, changing the law to index deferred annuities would reduce the federal budget deficit for the first several years following enactment, as many more federal employees opt for a deferred annuity and outlays from the Treasury to pay departing employees an immediate lump sum decrease significantly. The long-term effect on the budget is likely to be neutral. Outlays for annuities to retirees several years in the future will increase, but because employees' contributions to the CSRDF must, by law, be invested in U.S. Treasury bonds, the interest will offset future increased outlays. At a time when the Federal Government is facing the challenge of an aging workforce and federal employees are paid 26 percent less than their counterparts in the private sector, the excellent benefits package the Federal Government offers is a key recruiting tool. Indexing federal employees' deferred annuities will improve that package, and at the same time reduce the deficit in the short term. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today we will define who we are-- as Americans, and as Democrats or Republicans. No Republican will vote for this bill because they say they want a smaller government, lower taxes, and less spending. Democrats, on the other hand, believe that America's government can be fiscally responsible and also play an essential role in helping America achieve its true greatness. We know that America is a lesser Nation when we have to pay twice what other countries citizens' pay for health care, while we live shorter and less healthy lives; We are a lesser nation when millions of America's families lose their homes and life savings because a loved one gets seriously sick. We know that we can reduce the suffering of our people, while lengthening and bettering their lives. And because we know this, we have a responsibility to change it. As with Social Security and Medicare and Civil Rights legislation, it is now time for another step in our historic progress toward greatness. That's why we chose public service and why we, as Democrats, will pass this bill today.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifetime of committed service to the United States of America and many of its critical federal agencies by a true public servant, Mr. Robert E. Doyle. This year, Mr. Doyle will retire following 36 years of dedicated civil service. Originally from Massachusetts, Doyle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and a Masters in Public Administration from Southern Methodist University in 1974. He also holds a certification in Financial Planning. Mr. Doyle began his career in 1974 at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where he worked his way up through the ranks within the management and administrative fields. After his successful tenure at HUD, Mr. Doyle changed agencies to work at the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM), under the Department of the Interior. There, he served as the Director for Finance and Administration for over 10 years. At the USBM, Robert aided in the protection of our nation's natural resources and worked to identify and develop new processes to improve the extraction of these national assets. After the USBM was restructured in 1995, Mr. Doyle is credited with making the transition to new positions within the government easier for his staff through his excellent guidance. Mr. Doyle later moved on to the Bureau of Land Management, where he served as the Chief Financial Officer, and later, as the Assistant Director of Business and Fiscal Resources. As the Assistant Director, he led efforts to employ an integrated management system for improving the agency's performance and accountability. Under Mr. Doyle's leadership, the BLM was chosen as a finalist for the Presidents Fiscal Year 2002 Quality Award, recognizing budget and performance integration. Robert's final stop on a distinguished trek through the civil service was with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), where, for almost 5 years, he served as the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director. During his time at the USGS, Robert provided key leadership to reorganize the agency's regional hubs and realigned operations to improve the structure of the agency's new Bureau for Science Strategy. Mr. Doyle also introduced a plan to open the USGS's huge store of satellite photography for public and commercial use. Additionally, he facilitated systematic and fundamental changes that restored financial integrity to the Federal Housing Insurance Fund through his extensive knowledge of finance systems and the mortgage insurance underwriting process. Today, we honor Mr. Doyle's long, distinguished career and congratulate him on his retirement. Robert is the epitome of a true public servant. His service to the government has contributed immensely to our country. He has been a true model to others who wish to succeed in federal service.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great concern that the Department of Defense is considering awarding a $1 billion contract to Blackwater, now known as Xe Services, to train the Afghan National Police. Blackwater-Xe is synonymous with abuse, unprovoked violence, and a ``shoot first'' attitude. Their personnel are directly responsible for killing dozens of innocent men, women, and children in Iraq. Clearly, they are not deserving of a U.S. contract to train the Afghan police. Hiring Xe may irreparably damage our efforts to work cooperatively with the Afghan people and will serve as a propaganda tool for our enemies. They will be seen as representing the American people, which they do not. Given Xe-Blackwater's past performance, our government should not be doing business with Xe, and Secretary Gates should prevent this contract from going forward.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I want to make note, Madam Speaker, of the fact that the Speaker of the House is here and the chairman of the Appropriations Committee has been here throughout the entire time of this tribute, out of respect. That's old school. Jack was old school. That's what would matter to him. You'd never see him with a BlackBerry. Can you imagine Jack Murtha with a BlackBerry? I am sure he's never used the Internet once in his life. You know, when we learned of Jack's passing, Norm Dicks and I were on the phone and, between sobs, we, at the same time, we blurted out the same thing: He was like a father to me. He kind of was. He sort of taught us in his own ways, really, by his conduct, the way we should conduct ourselves in this institution. That's why he is here. He's here. He's left his mark on each one of us individually and collectively. He's done so much to shape this institution. Family comes first. He would call his daughter, Donna, who's a teacher in Fairfax County schools, every night. Regardless of all the issues he was dealing with with Iraq and Afghanistan and so on, he'd want to know how her kids were doing in class. And, of course, he adored Joyce. Joyce was the queen. Of course, Joyce would sometimes acknowledge that I know I have to share him with you, Nancy, as Speaker, but he had that kind of reverence that was so important to this institution for leadership and for individuals. And he was also--he knew how to be a friend. Everyone who walked up to that corner, he welcomed. He knew their name. He made them feel welcome. If they had a letter that they wanted him to read, a little note or something, he'd take the time and read it. He'd say, Come on, sit down beside me. He also was strong enough that he could afford to be gentle. We know how he reached out to all of the soldiers, the men and women in uniform, really cared about them. He'd go over to Walter Reed. He would go and stand with them, hold their hand at times. He also did other things that, you know, if I didn't mention it, I doubt that anyone would know, and some people will think they seem a little silly perhaps. Charlie Horner knows, his long time aide. He heard that Army Navy Country Club had a problem with the cats, that they had proliferated. They were all over the place. And so they decided, we've got too many cats; we're going to kill them all. Jack found that out. It's true, isn't it? But Jack found that out. He called a General and he says, Don't you go killing any of those kitty cats at Army Navy Country Club. And he didn't. They didn't. They all survived. Just want to share an experience. 9/11, we were debating whether to put money into missile defense or into counterterrorism because Richard Clarke has told us that's the real threat. So it is the morning of 9/11 we were debating it, and Jack had decided the real threat is counterterrorism. And then Norm had seen the TV and the planes going into the World Trade Center, and we could hear this herd of people running down the corridor outside. The Capitol vacated immediately. But there wasn't a sign of anxiety, let alone fear, on Jack's face. I walked out with him. We stood there in the driveway and all the police were trying to clear everyone. Jack didn't feel any need to move, and he told me this story. He says, Jim, when I was in Vietnam, I was in a foxhole and we were taking fire. And a young private jumped in the foxhole. There was only room for one person, so I had to get out. And I ran into the line of fire looking for a foxhole and found one. A few minutes later, a grenade landed in that foxhole I had been in, blew the soldier up. Now, this is the soldier, of course, who forced him into the line of fire. And Jack said, I have always felt so bad for that young soldier. I wish I had stayed there and not seen him blown up.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respond to Army Secretary McHugh and to share the substance of an email from an active duty soldier in Afghanistan. In response to an inquiry from his commanding officer related to the military's review of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, the soldier shared how he and his partner of 10 years have managed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He explained that they survived like any couple does, except, because of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, his partner would not be informed in the event of his death and could not make any emergency decisions that would normally fall to a spouse. This situation is typical, even within his unit. He learned that a fellow soldier was also gay only after he was killed by an IED in Iraq. The partner of the deceased's soldier wrote the unit to say how much the victim had loved the military, how they were his family. As Admiral Mullen said, this issue is a matter of integrity. This immutable human trait--sexual orientation--like the color of one's skin, does not affect one's integrity, their honor, or their commitment to their country. Soldiers serving their country in combat should not have their sacrifices compounded by having to struggle with an antiquated Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Let's do the right and honorable thing and repeal this policy.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Michael Richard Codel, longtime journalist, Democratic activist and former member of the Peace Corps, who passed away January 13, 2010. Mr. Codel was a resident of Arlington and neighbor and dear friend of my colleague, Representative Mike Pence. He was born in Baltimore on April 20, 1939. Prior to graduating from Oberlin with a degree in political science in 1960, he spent many hours at the campus radio station, WOBC Radio. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his hours spent at the WOBC would become a launching pad for the endeavors he would delve into for the duration of his life. Mr. Codel lived a life that was nothing short of exciting. Following graduation, he worked as a copy boy at the Democratic National Presidential Convention, and shortly thereafter found a post at the Cincinnati Post for a year and a half as a desk reporter. In December of 1962 he traveled to Nigeria to teach English for his Peace Corps assignment. In June of 1963, he transferred to Radio Kaduna TV, where he produced educational TV programs, driving around on a moped with a cameraman and interviewing government officials. Mr. Codel returned to the States in 1964, and took a job as a desk assistant to Howard Cosell. Longing to return to Nigeria, he landed a job with the AP London office to return to Nigeria, where he was posted in the Congo, instead. For the next few years, Mr. Codel covered a number of coup d'etats in Africa up until 1967. In 1965, on a trip to Congo, Mr. Codel took a picture of a Congolese man rolling up his sleeves. Soon thereafter, this picture was used on all Congolese paper money. After he wrote an article that President Mobuto found displeasing, he was asked to leave the country. But, it was also in the Congo where he met his future wife Birte Nielsen, who was working for the Danish Red Cross at a teaching hospital. Mr. Codel returned to London to work for the AP until 1969. There, his son, Edward Kai Codel was born. In 1969, he moved his family to Geneva to work for Business International as an associate editor for the Magazine Business Europe covering Africa and Scandinavia. While working for Business International he wrote Sweden: Toward a Post-Industrial Society and Prospects for Business in Developing Africa, and his daughter, Kirsten Roslyn Trego was born. Mr. Codel and his family returned to the United States in 1974, where he worked as a Public Relations specialist for the American Health Care Association. During his time at the AHCA, he wrote the Patients Bill of Rights for nursing home residents. In 1982, Mr. Codel suffered a brain tumor, which left him unable to perform his duties at AHCA, and he became a free-lance writer. Along with his passion for family, travel, and work, he also had a great love for politics and the political process. He was involved with the Arlington Democratic Committee for many years, campaigning for several County Board members, several Governors of Virginia, and also volunteered under the Carter administration in the White House press section. Michael Codel led a good life and left behind a legacy which will keep him in our hearts forever. He will be greatly missed by many.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, how soon we forget. It's instructive to recall where we were 9 years ago. We had created 23 million new jobs; we were at peace throughout the world. In fact, we had a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion. By this time, we would have paid off our debt. Instead, after 8 years of Republican control of all three branches of government, 8 years later, we had $12 trillion of debt; we were engaged in two wars; health care costs were strangling our families and businesses. In fact, we were losing 700,000 jobs a month. One year later, that job loss has been cut by 90 percent. We have a health care reform bill that will enable all American families to have affordable health care at less cost. The process of governance is difficult. To just say ``no'' is irresponsible.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in reluctant support of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, IRPSA. President Obama has extended a hand to the Iranian government, offering a mutually beneficial deal that would severely limit Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon. This confidence building measure is intended to give us the space and time to reach a more comprehensive agreement that would seek to integrate Iran back into the international community as a responsible actor and to impose strong, verifiable safeguards to ensure that Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon. After agreeing in principle to an initial agreement to send Iran's enriched uranium to Russia, Iran has since backed away from it and even refused to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency a formal response to the proposal. Because of the seriousness of the challenges we face, I reluctantly support the IRSPA. It sends the clear message that Iran can either work cooperatively and beneficially with the international community or it can choose further international isolation. However, for sanctions to succeed, they must impose a cost on Iran's ruling regime. I am concerned that it is the Iranian people--rather than the Iranian regime--that will suffer the most under IRPSA. If we are able to limit Iran's ability to import refined petroleum, the Iranian government will simply deflect this cost onto the Iranian people, by eliminating petroleum subsidies and blaming the United States for the hardship such actions will cause the general public. A democratic uprising against the Iranian regime is currently under way. I believe we need to stand with the Iranian people as they fight for their freedoms. The Iranian government by contrast has brutally oppressed peaceful demonstrators. For that reason, Congress and the Obama administration should work to craft sanctions that affect the leaders of Iran and the IRGC. Only sanctions that hurt these decision makers will influence Iran's decision-making process. While we must make the Iranian regime aware of our displeasure with their rejection of our positive advances, we must also provide a helping hand to Iranian citizens. That is why it is important for Congress, in addition to these punitive sanctions, to also provide assistance to the democracy movement in Iran by aiding their access to the internet, in order to provide the Iranian people unfettered access to information, free of government censorship. Congress should also take steps to increase the ability of non-governmental organizations in the U.S. to work with their counterparts in Iran, so that the Iranian people can benefit from better health services, educational opportunities, the promotion of equal rights, and the facilitation of people to people exchanges. The Iranian people are among the most pro-American people in the Middle East. With passage of today's sanctions legislation, it is all the more important to reach out to, and around the Iranian government, to this pro-American society. This is the time to redouble our efforts to support the Iranian people and their courageous fight for democracy by increasing their access to information and communication both in country and internationally.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Iranian Digital Empowerment Act. In the aftermath of Iran's disputed 2009 presidential elections, millions of Iranians flooded the streets to stand-up to their government and make their voices heard. Empowered by communication services like Twitter and Facebook, Iranians were able to organize and communicate freely outside of the watchful eye of their government in what has become the first popular democratic uprising of the social media age. The Iranian people are among the most pro-Western people in the Middle East, and despite suffering under a totalitarian regime, their struggle to create a freer and democratic Iran continues to this day. This weekend marked the 6-month anniversary of fraudulent presidential elections. Once again, the Iranian people took to the streets in non- violent protest. The government of Iran has sought to counter the peaceful efforts of the Iranian people, launching unprecedented efforts to block access to Internet technology, infiltrate electronic social networks, and restrict Iranians from communicating freely. Unfortunately, due to outdated language in provisions regarding information services, U.S. sanctions have had the unintended consequence of denying the Iranian people the tools necessary to communicate freely and circumvent government monitors online. In an effort to assist the Iranian people fighting for a change in leadership, I am introducing the Iranian Digital Empowerment Act. This legislation will clarify that U.S. laws are not intended to prohibit the export of software that would enable the Iranian people to communicate freely by circumventing their government's censorship efforts. U.S. sanctions intended to change the behavior of the Iranian government must not have the effect of stamping out the voice of the Iranian people.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Edna Frady for her decades of service to the City of Falls Church, Virginia and its people. Moving to Falls Church at an early age, Edna has spent virtually her entire life in the community she has known and loved for over six decades. Through her charitable work and civic involvement, Edna, or ``Boss'' as she is known by many, has left an indelible mark on the City. A tireless community activist, leader, friend, and role model, Edna Frady has made a life-long commitment to improving the lives of others. The list of organizations she has served over the years is extensive. The Citizens for a Better City, Village Preservation and Improvement Society, League of Women Voters, Women's Club of Falls Church, Falls Church Lions Club, Falls Church Education Foundation, Falls Church Arts Council, and Falls Church Cable Access, have all benefitted from her membership and constant support. Ms. Frady was also an active member of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, where she served as a member of the Executive Committee, and in 2000, was awarded the Chamber's ``Pillar of the Community'' award. In recognition of her lifetime of achievement, the Mayor and City Council of Falls Church are planning to proclaim December 14, 2009, ``Edna Frady Day.'' As heavily involved as Ms. Frady was with non-profit community service organizations, she matched that effort as a stalwart force in the Democratic Party. For two decades, she helped lead the Falls Church Democratic Committee, serving on both the 8th Congressional District Committee, and the Democratic State Central Committee. In honor of her commitment, Ms. Frady received the Democratic State Central Committee's ``Grass Roots Award.'' In 2006, she was awarded the Falls Church Democratic Committee's ``Marian Driver Award for Outstanding Service.'' It's a true honor to recognize someone who so selflessly worked for the betterment of her community and fellow citizens. I know that even in retirement, Edna will continue to find ever more fulfilling challenges to assist those around her.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Endocrine Disruption Prevention Act of 2009,'' legislation that will not only established a much-needed comprehensive research program to identify chemicals that interfere with human reproduction and development, but that also will require regulatory agencies to provide an appropriate public response as to how they will respond to the scientific findings and what actions they will take to protect humans from exposure to such chemicals. Recent studies have convincingly demonstrated that a disturbing increase in the number of disorders of the human endocrine system is seriously undermining the health of our Nation. These disorders include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, juvenile and adult diabetes, juvenile cancer, autoimmune diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's dementia. These disorders began to increase noticeably in the early 1970s when the first generation exposed in the womb to post-World War II synthetic chemicals reached maturity. Today, 1 in 3 children and 1 in 2 minority children will develop diabetes; 1 in 6 children is born with neurological damage; 1 in 100 children has an autism spectrum disorder--among boys the occurrence is 1 in 58; and in 2007, an age- independent decline in testosterone levels over the past 20 years was discovered in American men. Evidence from human epidemiological and laboratory animal studies have linked these disorders to prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), yet the hands of federal agencies remain tied under existing law. In 1996, Congress recognized the need to study endocrine disruptions when it directed the EPA to develop an endocrine disruption screening program as part of the Food Quality Protection Act. Unfortunately, for various reasons, many being political, the program has been plagued by delays. Here we are, 13 years later, and it wasn't until October of this year that EPA announced the availability of initial assays and testing guidelines for a limited number of chemicals. Moreover, many question whether any testing conducted under EPA's program will even be as relevant or effective as it could be, as scientists' knowledge and understanding of endocrine disrupting chemicals, and how to best detect them, has increased rather profoundly since that time, and will continue to do so. Using a modernized 21st century testing paradigm that recognizes the known unique, subtle, and complex properties and effects of EDCs is necessary, as only then will be have accurate, practical data to inform appropriate and expeditious regulation of them. In the legislation I am introducing, the science, not politics, will set the stage for action to be taken by regulatory agencies. First, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) will undertake a comprehensive research and testing program, using the best available science, to identify chemicals with endocrine disrupting potential. In addition, an independent expert panel, guided by the scientific research, will develop a list of the chemicals and evaluate the potential threat they pose. If the expert panel expresses even a minimal level of concern over the potential threat a chemical poses, regulatory agencies will be required to explain how they plan to respond to the scientific findings. Hopefully, this process will lead to a greater public awareness of potentially dangerous chemicals, as well as a swift appropriate response by our regulatory agencies that will limit or prevent exposure to them. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and I ask that the full text of the legislation be printed in the Record at the conclusion of these remarks.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude to a long-time employee of the House of Representatives, Jeanne M. Mershon, who, on November 30th, retired after more than 27 years of dedicated service to this body. Ms. Mershon is a constituent of Virginia's 8th Congressional District, born and raised in Springfield, Virginia and currently resides in Arlington. Jeanne is a proud graduate of the Northern Virginia public school system and her alma mater, the College of William and Mary. Ms. Mershon began working for the House of Representatives in 1982 in the Office of the Clerk after a stint at the Federal Election Commission. She started in the Office of the Director of Non- Legislative and Financial Services and later joined the Chief Administrative Office in the Office of Facilities Management. After over a decade of making sure the operations of the House ran smoothly, in December of 1995, she joined the Parking Security Office for the House Sergeant at Arms, where she has since served as Assistant Director. Ms. Mershon is known by her peers as thorough and detail oriented, as well as someone they are able to turn to at any time, even with the most difficult questions. This past September, Ms. Mershon was the recipient of the Office of the Inspector General's ``Employee Excellence Award,'' a fitting tribute to her tireless efforts. We are fortunate to have had Ms. Mershon's service for so many years. She will be sorely missed by all her friends and colleagues. I wish her the best in all of her future endeavors and a lifetime ahead of even greater reward.