Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, as one of the co-chairs of the Mentoring Caucus, I rise today in support of House Resolution 46, to express the sense of Congress and the House of Representatives regarding the many benefits of mentoring. Mentoring programs, as we are talking about them here today, link children with caring, responsible adults to provide opportunities for young people to develop strong character and new capabilities. Mentoring opportunities are a proven method, as has been pointed out, to help children who may be struggling in school or at home or just in life. We need to take advantage of mentoring opportunities to allow every child to become self-sufficient, have better self-esteem, and feel that they too can achieve the American Dream. In my own state of Minnesota, there are over 350 mentoring programs that connect youth with positive role models. One valuable mentoring program is Big Brothers Big Sisters. In the St. Paul/Minneapolis region alone, more than 2,000 children benefit from this mentoring program. In 2005, they hope to reach 5,000 children. Sergeant Mamie Singleton, of the St. Paul Police Department and founder of Youth Initiative Mentoring Academies, is one example of many in Minnesota who in her spare time mentors youth. Youth Initiative Mentoring Academies is a non-profit organization for at-risk youth that utilizes a mentoring model through aviation education. I cannot tell you how proud I am when I go to their gradation day and each and every one of those children receives a certificate for their aviation education and for their civic education projects. It is a special time for the mentors as well, as they witness their generous gifts of time and hard work payoff for these children. Mentors make a difference, for a mentor can be a friend, a listener, a coach, a tutor, or just a confidante. A mentor is simply a person who cares enough to be a good listener at times and to offer the opportunity to open new doors and new worlds by offering encouragement and support along the way. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution, and to look for opportunities for Members to be mentors themselves. As the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) pointed out, many of our staff are mentors. J.D. Burton, who recently left my staff, was a mentor for Horton's Kids. He tutored for 3 years, and, at times, we worked our schedule around his mentoring schedule. I have many others in my office who are also mentors, and each and every one of them says that they get more out of the opportunity of mentoring than they could ever imagine. I would also like to thank the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), for, you see, his family comes from a mentoring background. His cousin, the Honorable Kathleen Vellenga, took time to be a mentor of mine when I was in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Mentoring--you never know where it might lead you.

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, as one of the co-chairs of the Mentoring Caucus, I rise today in support of House Resolution 46, to express the sense of Congress and the House of Representatives regarding the many benefits of mentoring. Mentoring programs, as we are talking about them here today, link children with caring, responsible adults to provide opportunities for young people to develop strong character and new capabilities. Mentoring opportunities are a proven method, as has been pointed out, to help children who may be struggling in school or at home or just in life. We need to take advantage of mentoring opportunities to allow every child to become self-sufficient, have better self-esteem, and feel that they too can achieve the American Dream. In my own State of Minnesota, there are over 350 mentoring programs. They connect youth with positive role models. In Minnesota, in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area, we have Big Brothers and Big Sisters. In that two-city area alone, 2,000 children benefit from mentoring programs; and in 2005, Big Brothers and Big Sisters in St. Paul-Minneapolis hope to reach 5,000 children. There is a St. Paul police officer, and she in her spare time mentors youth. She does so because she has the help of a local church in which to meet. I cannot tell you how proud I am when I go to graduation day and each and every one of those children receives a certificate, but she always remembers to give a certificate to the adults who mentor. Mentors make a difference, for a mentor can be a friend, a listener, a coach, a tutor, or just a confidante. A mentor is simply a person who cares enough to be a good listener at times and to offer the opportunity to open new doors and new worlds by offering encouragement and support along the way. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution, and I look for opportunities for Members to be mentors themselves. As the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) pointed out, many of our staff are mentors. J.D. Burton, who recently left my staff, was a mentor for Thorton's Kids. He tutored for 3 years, and we worked at times our schedule around his mentoring schedule. I have many others in my office who are also mentors, and each and every one of them says that they get more out of the opportunity of mentoring than they could ever imagine. I would also like to thank the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), for, you see, his family comes from a mentoring background. His cousin, the Honorable Kathleen Vellenga, took time to be a mentor of mine when I was in the Minnesota House of Representatives mentoring. You never know where it might lead you.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 39, I rise today to support this resolution marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and exposing the world to this dark chapter in human history. An estimated 6 million Jewish men, women and children, more than 60 percent of the pre-Second World War Jewish population of Europe, were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz and other death camps during World War II. The Holocaust and the human suffering perpetrated by the Nazi regime against the Jews of Europe deserves to be commemorated with prayer, reflection and the solemn words of this resolution. On this day, as we remember the victims of Auschwitz and the genocide which ravaged Europe during World War II, genocide is not a relic of history, but a reality in today's world. The human race has not conquered the tyranny of men willing to commit mass murder--genocide-- against other human beings. At this moment in the Darfur region of Sudan our own Secretary of State has called the systematic murder and rape of tens of thousands--along with the forced dislocation of some 1.8 million people--a modern day ``genocide.'' In fact, it is because I am traveling back from the Sudan and eastern Chad having visited directly with the victims of the ethnic cleansing in Darfur that I am not present to vote in support of H. Res. 39. Today, as we remember the liberation of Auschwitz, the liberation of human beings forced to suffer unimaginable horrors, let us commit this House as well as the will and power of our great Nation, to the cause of eradicating genocide and holding the perpetrators of such grotesque crimes against humanity accountable. I commend my friend Mr. Lantos for his leadership on this resolution and I look forward to working closely with him and Chairman Hyde to end the tyranny of genocide in the world today.

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Sister Mary William Brady, who was an inspiration to her family and everyone who knew her, particularly the students, faculty and staff at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sister Mary passed away on January 10, 2005 at the age of 98. Sister Mary William Brady served as president of the College of St. Catherine from 1955 to 1961 and was associated with the college for more than 70 years. An outstanding professor and forward-looking president, she helped build St. Kate's into the largest Catholic college for women. As an alumna, I feel privileged to have known her. Sister Mary made lasting contributions to the College of St. Catherine, as well as to the education and preparation of many young women as leaders of our communities. Her dedication and integrity will be greatly missed at St. Kate's. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert into the Congressional Record the following Star Tribune article honoring Sister Mary William Brady: [From the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jan. 14, 2005] Sister Mary William Brady, 98 (By Mary Jane Smetanka) Sister Mary William Brady, the oldest living former president of the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, died Monday at Bethany Convent. She was 98. Brady, president of St. Kate's from 1955 to 1961, was associated with the college for more than 70 years. In an interview three weeks before her death, on the occasion of the college's centennial, she told a life story that made it seem she was destined for St. Kate's. A native of Fall River, Mass., she joined her brother William in St. Paul in 1930 after her father's death. ``I had no intention of staying in `the West,' '' Brady recalled. Each summer between classes at St. Kate's and an early job as a teacher at a St. Paul Catholic school, she returned to Fall River. Her mother finally told her there was nothing left for an educated woman to do there, and Brady moved back to St. Paul permanently. ``I liked it here very much,'' she said. Her brother went on to become archbishop of St. Paul from 1956 to 1961. Brady joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and became an English professor at St. Kate's, specializing in American literature. She became one of a corps of remarkably outward-looking nuns who built the school into the nation's largest Catholic college for women, earning her doctorate from the University of Chicago in a time when the sight of a black habit on that campus drew double-takes from other students. ``Every young sister had to develop herself as far as she could go,'' she said. ``They could barely afford to send me to the University of Minnesota or Chicago, but they did. ``You were educated not for yourself, but for what you could give to others.'' Brady downplayed her accomplishments as president, saying, ``I wasn't a good administrator--I preferred teaching.'' But it was during her tenure as president that the school built a much-needed new library. As students and faculty members carried the 95,000 books from the old building to the new, they received a brownie from a nun. When she left the presidency, Brady studied in Rome for a year, taught at a college in Los Angeles and rejoined St. Kate's as a professor and archivist. She retired in 1993, moving to Bethany Convent, a residence and nursing home for older sisters at the edge of the St. Kate's campus. Brady kept a rosary on the table next to her easy chair and had a keen memory up to the time of her death. Interested in horse racing, she insisted on going to a movie theater in her wheelchair to see ``Seabiscuit'' and had a portrait of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones taped to a cabinet in her room. ``I love that horse!'' she said. Brady's brother preceded her in death. There are no immediate survivors.

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a loyal public servant and a nationally renowned parliamentary expert, Edward A. Burdick. On January 10th, 2005, Minnesota paid tribute to Mr. Burdick, Chief Clerk of the Minnesota House of Representatives, upon his retirement after nearly four decades of service. After beginning work in the Minnesota House as a page in 1941, Mr. Burdick became the second full-time employee in House history when he took the job of desk clerk in 1955. At the age of 83, he leaves the position of Chief Clerk where he oversaw House operations with 250 full-time employees. He served through six changes in majority, alongside 12 speakers and more than 700 representatives. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Burdick worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of Minnesota's Representatives were met. Mr. Burdick has set a national standard as an expert, impartial parliamentary mediator and administrator of House operations. As a former Member of the Minnesota House, I was privileged to work with him and witnessed firsthand how he commands utmost respect and credibility through his selfless commitment to the institution. He taught me the Rules of the House, and the most important rule--that debate is about policy not personality. His faithful stewardship of the rules ensured that all voices could be heard. Mr. Burdick is among the most highly respected and honored individuals living in our State. He is the only living Minnesotan whose bust stands in the Capitol, where it is located outside the entrance to the House chambers. Mr. Burdick has been a vital part of the daily life of the Capitol, helping drive the business of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 1967. Few public servants have such a distinguished and lengthy record of service. Mr. Speaker, it is a true honor to thank Ed for his years of service and wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haigh on being named the new Executive Director of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. Ms. Haigh will assume this new position after she leaves her seat on the County Board on February 1st. For the past ten years, Commissioner Haigh served on the Ramsey County Board, championing affordable housing and improving the quality of life for the families of Ramsey County. Currently she chairs the Board's Human Services and Workforce Solutions Committee where she has advocated for families throughout Ramsey County. Before serving in her elected office, Haigh worked in the Ramsey County Attorney's Office, serving as chief legal counsel to the County Board, chief deputy prosecutor and managing attorney. Throughout her years of service, Commissioner Haigh has put the families of Ramsey County first. As county commissioner, Ms. Haigh led the creation of the Housing Endowment Fund, a $5 million incentive program to spur construction of affordable rental housing. This kind of valuable experience will help Twin Cities Habitat address the increasing challenges of affordable housing development. Commissioner Haigh brings fresh vision and wisdom of experience to Habitat for Humanity. I have had the privilege of working with her, and I know that she is deeply committed to affordable housing issues. Ms. Haigh believes in Habitat's mission of helping to build strong homes and strong families. Over the years, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has helped nearly 600 families become owners of quality, affordable housing. I am confident that Ms. Haigh will continue this record of success. It has been a privilege to work with Sue, and I wish her the best of luck on her new position.

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 12, expressing support to the victims of the tragic earthquake and tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004. I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, along with all of the children and families across South Asia and Eastern Africa, in the wake of this devastating event. The toll taken by this tragic earthquake and tsunami is staggering: More than 150,000 dead, thousands still missing, and 5 million lacking basic survival necessities like clean water, food and shelter, and healthcare. The world endured the largest earthquake since 1900 and the tsunami that followed took the lives of children, their parents, tourists and entire families. This is a region ill-prepared for such a colossal and devastating natural occurrence. It is a human tragedy of epic proportions. In response, the world community has embarked on a massive humanitarian relief effort unparalleled in the history of disaster relief. To date, the United States and other donors have pledged an estimated $2 billion in emergency and reconstruction assistance. As the wealthiest nation in the world, the United States must lead the effort to provide humanitarian assistance. A once belated and undervalued response by the United States must now be erased with aggressive and generous action. I call on Congress to swiftly authorize and appropriate the $350 million pledged by the President so it can be delivered promptly to those who need it immediately. I also call on the President to ensure that the money he pledged to provide humanitarian relief in the wake of this disaster does not come at the expense of existing international aid programs assisting millions of people across the globe. These programs, for example, help AIDS orphans, victims of drought, war refugees and the families in Iraq and Afghanistan that are rebuilding their homes and communities. Our assistance in these areas must remain a priority. The tragic loss of human life and destruction from the earthquake and tsunami unite the United States and the entire international community in solidarity and support. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy and I pledge my continued support and help for their families and the hundreds of relief workers who have come to their aid.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, this week, America mourns the lost of a steadfast heroine. The first African American woman elected to Congress and the first person of color to run for president of the United States, Shirley Chisholm broke barriers and set standards. She represented the people of Brooklyn, New York but she carried with her the hopes and highest ideals of our entire nation. As a former educator, Shirley Chisholm fought relentlessly in Congress to improve public education, particularly early childhood education. As one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Organization for Women, she hired an all-women staff during her first term in Congress. She was indeed resolute in her fight for equality, women's rights and civil rights. Ms. Chisholm was known and respected across the political spectrum for her uncompromising integrity. She was unflinching in the face of great odds and unfailing in her willingness to fight for what she believed was right. In her words, she was `unbought and unbossed.' In 1972, Shirley Chisholm made history by declaring her bid for president. Although she did not win the Democratic nomination, she broke barriers for African Americans and women, thus helping to open the door of opportunity for those who followed her. She is a woman of great courage and a strong role model for young women around the world. A trailblazer and triumphant spirit, Shirley Chisholm was truly a woman of the people. Her legacy will always be remembered.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the death of Congressman Robert Matsui is a tremendous loss for his family, the families he represented in California and everyone who knew him. Bob was a wonderful man, a kind and gentle spirit who loved his job and the people he worked for, and I feel privileged to have served as his colleague in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his distinguished career in public service, Congressman Matsui, a third generation American, vigorously defended justice and fairness--values forged very early in his life when his family was imprisoned in the Tule Lake internment camp in California during World War II. Despite being interned as a young boy, Bob remained optimistic and determined that everyone should be treated equally and with respect. He believed in the promise of America and took from his experience, a strong belief in civil rights as well as a passion for public service. In Congress, Mr. Matsui was steadfast in acting on these values, championing basic rights for all Americans and leading the effort in which the U.S. Government formally apologized to Japanese Americans for the World War II internment program. In the 26 years that he served in the U.S. House of Representatives, Bob rose to national prominence as a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, a national spokesman for Social Security, and as the first Asian American in the leadership of Congress. As a crusader for America's seniors, Mr. Matsui led the fight to preserve Social Security. He reached out to Members, new and old, helping them understand the complexities of Social Security as well as its impact on the daily lives of our seniors. Bob truly exemplified a gentleman. He served with distinction and integrity, winning the respect and admiration of all who worked with him. I extend my deepest condolences to the Matsui family--his wife Doris, son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy and granddaughter Anna--as well as to his staff and the people of California. Bob's integrity, devotion and compassion will be greatly missed.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant support of the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. I am disappointed that we are only now finishing the nine appropriations bills that should have been completed months ago. I am even more disappointed that this bill is inadequate in meeting the Nation's education, health care, and environment needs. It is outrageous that anti-environmental and anti- choice provisions have been slipped into this legislation without previous consideration by this House. I will vote for this bill today because it is $4 billion closer to meeting our Nation's investment responsibilities that would be in the case under a continuing resolution of last year's funding levels. While this bill includes $14 billion more for our top domestic priorities, this increase pales in comparison to the $280 billion in tax cuts for this year alone. Congress must work to do a better job of balancing our priorities. I will continue to work to ensure that we make responsible investments for working families in the future.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1350, the Conference Report to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). I commend the House and Senate conferees for putting the best interests of the students first in this reauthorization and reaching a compromise between parents, teachers, school administrators, and school districts. This legislation has my support because it responds to the needs of special education teachers and the children they serve. My vote in favor of H.R. 1350 when it passed the House originally was because of the work our committee did on provisions improving early identification and the goal for full funding. Yet I did have strong reservations about the sections pertaining to discipline and the definition of highly qualified teachers. At the time, I was assured that my concerns and those of my colleagues would be addressed in the Conference Committee. The conferees were able to craft a compromise that will receive broad bipartisan support today in the House. When a child is identified as having a disability at an early age, their parents and teachers are better able to address their needs and ensure they are integrated into the regular educational setting and curriculum. I have worked hard to secure funding for newborn hearing screening programs, which save schools millions of dollars in special education costs by ensuring early detection and intervention of infants with hearing loss. Further efforts to increase early identification, as H.R. 1350 will accomplish, will save our schools millions more in special education costs. I believe strongly that Congress must provide the funding promised nearly 30 years ago, and I have introduced legislation that would accomplish this goal. While this bill today does not require mandatory full funding, it is a step in the right direction in fulfilling the commitment we made our states and local school districts to provide 40 percent of the cost of IDEA. We owe it to our students, their families, and our communities, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this promise a reality. Because of the efforts of my colleagues, as well as families, teachers, and school administrators across the country, we are, today, able to put the needs of students and families first. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of bipartisan legislation that will move us forward in our goal to provide an equal, quality education for all students.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to S. 2986, legislation to raise the debt limit by a total of $800 billion, to $8.18 trillion. This marks the third time in three years that Congress has been forced to vote to raise the debt limit and burden our children and grandchildren for decades to come, raising the debt limit by a total of $2.2 trillion since 2001. It is completely irresponsible to be voting to raise the debt limit today without taking additional measures to put our fiscal policy back on track and institute the common sense pay-as-you-go rules which were in effect from 1990 through 2002 requiring that both tax cuts and spending increases be paid for. Five tax cuts in four years, soaring defense spending on the war in Iraq, in addition to our stifled economy have turned the record surpluses inherited by President Bush into a record deficit of $413 billion in the past fiscal year. Unfortunately, we are not considering a reform of our current fiscal policies today, allowing our national debt to continue to rise. As a result, the amount of interest on the national debt--the ``debt tax''-- that each American family will have to pay will climb to $9,400 by 2014. America's growing debt will ensure that our taxes will go toward paying interest on our debt instead of keeping our nation safe and strong, strengthening Social Security, or improving education for our children. I will not vote to raise the debt limit by $800 billion today, and will only support an increase of the debt limit along with the reinstituted common sense fiscal policy reforms.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and reflection that I rise today to honor Mrs. Margaret Hassan--a friend of the international community and a true humanitarian. Mrs. Hassan worked in humanitarian relief in Baghdad for more than 25 years, the last 12 for CARE International as CARE Iraq's country director. She was a British citizen from an Irish family--but her husband Tahseen and her friends would attest that she was an Iraqi through-and-through. She loved the country, the people and the challenge. While others would leave, her hard work never wavered. ``I'm staying with my people,'' she was quoted as saying. ``This is my home.'' I had the unique experience of talking with Mrs. Hassan about the challenges and difficulties facing the Iraqi people. We spoke at length about the people, the security and the future. While she expressed concern about the safety of the Iraqi people, she maintained a sense of optimism for the future of her adopted home. She was determined to continue her work, and her personality, courage and compassion kept her spirits high, even in the darkest of hours. In October, the Times of London described her resiliency and courage in the face of the utmost danger. They wrote, ``Even at the height of the air raids on Baghdad, she would travel around government departments in the city offering assistance to local officials who had helped her in the past and lobbying them to ensure that fresh water was available in the main hospitals'' (Times Newspapers, 10/20/04). She was always working for the betterment of the Iraqi people, even when it threatened her own personal safety. In her death, the Iraqi people have lost a hero, and the world has lost a true friend. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband, her family, her friends and the Iraqi people.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2781, the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004. There can be no mistake that the situation in Darfur constitutes a massive humanitarian disaster. There is indisputable evidence from Members of Congress, international observers and non-governmental organizations that thousands of people have been killed, countless numbers of women and girls have been raped, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Lives remain in danger as water and food is scarce and the potential of a cholera outbreak is very real. It is imperative that the United States and the international community become more actively engaged in this issue--we should not allow the human suffering to continue a day longer. The Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act is a significant measure designed to aid the suffering in Darfur while holding the perpetrators of these atrocities responsible for their actions. The Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars for humanitarian development and refugee assistance. At the same time, this legislation blocks the U.S. assets of complicit senior officials of the Sudanese government and seeks to prevent the travel of Sudanese government officials to the U.S. until demonstrated human rights protections are in place. The provisions in the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act are necessary steps toward ending the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, but they are far from sufficient. The U.S. and the international community must maintain pressure on the Sudanese government to end the violence immediately and unconditionally. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and the international community to end the genocide in Darfur and bring peace and stability to the Sudanese people.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a public servant, patriot and tireless advocate for veterans--Jeffrey Olson, Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. Commissioner Olson announced this week that he will be retiring at the end of the year from his post as commissioner which he served since 2001. Prior to this appointment, he served as deputy commissioner since 1983. At both posts, Commissioner Olson has worked to ensure that the needs of our veterans and soldiers are a priority. Commissioner Olson brought much experience through his work as a Washington County Veterans Service Officer and the Assistant Director of the Veterans Employment and Training Service at the University of Minnesota. During the Vietnam War, Jeff Olson served in the U.S. Army, attached to the United States Armed Forces Courier Service where he was responsible for preparing and transporting top-secret materials. Long a champion of Minnesota veterans, Jeff Olson is a member of numerous veterans' organizations and serves as Chair of the American Legion's National Convention Commission, Vice Chair of the National Legislature Council and is actively involved in the community. I personally worked with Jeff Olson on many issues. When he was deputy commissioner, he helped me pass an important amendment to the Minnesota constitution that provided our Gulf War veterans with a bonus for their service. I thank Jeff for his years of service on behalf of our veterans and wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 261, to support the efforts of food-assistance organizations and charities in providing food to the nation's families. This resolution encourages Americans to volunteer services to local anti-hunger advocacy groups and food-assistance providers, food banks, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters. Too many children and their families go hungry every day in a country that every year exports more than $56 billion worth of food around the world. More than 35 million Americans face hunger. Of these, 13 million are children. Chronic food insecurity remains a hard fact of life for thousands of Minnesotans. Food-assistance organizations and food banks help our neighbors get enough food to keep them healthy. Seniors and working families are making impossible choices every day between heating their homes and buying their groceries. Seniors debate between whether to purchase prescription drugs or to buy food. Families choose between finding an affordable place to live and putting food on the table. These choices are simply unacceptable. I am proud of the work of the food banks and food-assistance organizations in my district. Every year they help thousands of Minnesota families meet their nutritional needs. Groups like Second Harvest Heartland and its statewide network of 849 agencies distribute every year over 27 million pounds of food. Second Harvest Heartland is leading the forces in Minnesota to fight hunger. When I visited them last year I saw first hand how they provide nutritious snacks and meals to kids during the summer and to after- school enrichment programs. They reiterated for me how they and food banks around the state distribute millions of pounds of food to families and provide nutrition education to mothers and children every year. Unfortunately, their services are increasingly needed due to President Bush's jobs deficit. Between March 2001 and September 2003, 37 of 41 Minnesota counties served by Second Harvest Heartland saw an increase in new food support applications. Statewide, the demand for food support increased 10.2 percent. Minnesota has a long, rich tradition of caring for those in need. Food-assistance organizations and food banks in Minnesota truly represent this heritage of compassion. I am proud to support H. Res. 261 and honor Second Harvest Heartland and all organizations providing food to those in need. I hope my colleagues join me in supporting it as well.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, this House has a choice to make today. It has been more than 3 years since September 11. We can put the safety and security of America first, put the security of its people first and pass the Menendez substitute which has the Shays-Maloney language in it. This substitute bill will protect America, our families, our civil liberties; and it does not play politics with intelligence reform. Yesterday, the other body passed a bipartisan intelligence reform bill, 96 to 2. The other body's vote put America first and will help to make America safer, and it abandons cheap partisan politics. The Republican leadership's bill, H.R. 10, is a bipartisan bill intended to derail intelligence reform while al Qaeda plots against us. H.R. 10 ignores the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and it is a dangerous partisan distraction that should be defeated.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend of mine, the former First Lady of North Saint Paul, Dolores Sandberg. Dolores Sandberg passed away last month, surrounded by her family including her loving husband William, her daughter Karen and two grandchildren, Caroline and William. Dolores was a woman of great character and strength. She always had a tremendous sense of humor and wit and was always positive even as she dealt with her illness. She was also a woman who supported and loved North St. Paul and its people along with her husband Mayor Sandberg, our beloved mayor. I know that I am not the only one who will miss her kind words, warm smile and soft voice. We will miss Dolores dearly. She led a life of dignity and warmth, and will be remembered fondly in the hearts of many.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the men and women targeted by this constitutional amendment are Americans, loved and respected by their parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, children and grandchildren, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and this Member of Congress. Collectively, we believe in equal justice and strive to defeat discrimination and absolutely reject the State-sponsored hatred before the Congress today. The Constitution belongs to all Americans to protect and extend equality and justice for all. Our constitution must never be soiled by this type of bigotry and hate-filled amendment. My faith teaches me to believe in a loving God, and it is in this spirit that I proudly stand with millions of Americans, and especially with my gay and lesbian friends, neighbors, colleagues, constituents, and coworkers to oppose this constitutional amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, we will never forget the events of September 11, 2001--where we were, how we felt and how the America people came together as one Nation, undivided. On the third anniversary of this tragedy, we again stand together to honor the victims and their loved ones, and to pay tribute to the women and men who continue to protect and defend our Nation at home and around the world. As the American people move forward, we also know our lives have forever been changed. We understand the threat of terrorism is a reality that must be confronted and prevented. Yet, the spirit of this strong, proud Nation will overcome this threat and prevail against adversaries who attempt to harm us. As we look to the future, we must not forget the past. We must understand how and why the events of 9/11 happened and we must remain determined to keep our homeland and our families safe and secure. And, forever, we must remember the 3,000 men and women who lost their lives on this tragic day--they are forever enshrined in the memory of our nation.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, almost every Member of Congress has constituents who are honorably serving overseas in Afghanistan or Iraq. Many are regular military personnel, while others are serving in the National Guard or Reserves. They are all to be commended and thanked for their dedicated service to our nation. Today I would like to recognize the service of one particular group of Minnesota soldiers in the 367th Engineer Battalion. The 367th Battalion is currently serving in Afghanistan where they are helping to clear Afghanistan's minefields of the millions of explosive devices left over from decades of conflict. Donning body armor, protective boots and face shields, the men and women of the 367th canvass the countryside looking for unexploded ordnance and other remnants of past battles in Afghanistan. Their work is dangerous and difficult, but they are doing a tremendous job. All too often, the hard work of our military personnel in Afghanistan is overlooked and unknown to the American public. Unfortunately, many remarkable stories, like the story of the 367th Battalion, are never told. I am pleased that a local paper in Minnesota has highlighted the work of the 367th and put the article on the front page. I mailed this article to the soldiers of the 367th in Afghanistan, so they are reminded that the families they protect back home in Minnesota are thinking of them and are thankful for their service. I would like to include this article (``A delicate and dangerous job''--July 7, 2004) in the Record following my remarks. The reconstruction of Afghanistan will take many years and require a sustained U.S. commitment. Much more work needs to be done before the Afghan people can truly begin rebuilding their lives and providing for their children and families. I am proud that men and women from all across Minnesota--including those of the 367th Battalion--are playing an important role in this process. [From the Star Tribune, July 6, 2004] A Delicate and Dangerous Job (By Sharon Schmickle) Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.--Inviting the danger that Afghans dread every day, Sgt. Gary Feldewerd manipulated a control panel inside his armored cab and started slapping the ground with chains in search of land mines and other unexploded weapons. As the resulting dust plume drifted, Feldewerd, from New Munich, Minn., saw that the flail had uncovered a mortar shell and a battered explosives box. The work that Feldewerd and other Army reservists in Minnesota's 367th Engineer Battalion are doing to help clear Afghanistan's minefields came too late to save Parwana Meer's right leg and Gulmarjan's life. Gulmarjan, 13, was herding goats near his village, Lalander, in May. One goat strayed off the path. The boy ran to fetch it. And suddenly, his lower body exploded in a cloud of red vapor, his cousin said. A pile of stones marks where his family buried what was left of his remains. Meer, also 13, was cooking rice in her family's mud and stone house near Bagram when an explosion shattered one of her legs below the knee and severely burned the other. Sitting by her bed at a U.S. Army field hospital in June, her brother told a story that is all too familiar in this war-ravaged land where weapons continue to kill and maim long after the clashing armies have left. Meer and her family returned this year to the village they had fled when it became a battleground between the Taliban and rival northern tribes, Naseer Meer said. What the villagers didn't know is that the retreating Taliban forces had booby trapped their houses--in the Meers' case, planting a mine under the kitchen's dirt floor. Such tragedies are everyday occurrences in Afghanistan, one of the world's most heavily mined nations. Blasts from land mines and other ordnance kill or maim dozens of people every month. No one knows how much unexploded military junk remains strewn around Afghanistan. By any estimate, there are more than 10 million explosive devices in a space the size of Texas, said Maj. Paul Mason of the Australian Army. He coordinates the Minnesota battalion's mine-clearing projects under the United Nations' larger effort in Afghanistan involving work by military and civilian groups from many nations. children vulnerable In Afghanistan, where women have been secluded, three out of four victims are male. The blasts have been most deadly for children, however, because their vital organs are closer to the explosions. And children are more likely than adults to pick up strange objects. Especially tempting were toy-like ``butterfly mines'' the Soviets dropped from aircraft. Most of the mines uncovered in Afghanistan were laid by Soviet forces and their supporters from 1979 to 1992, according to Human Rights Watch. But the United States provided mines to anti-Soviet mujahedeen fighters in the 1980s. The United States is not known to have used anti-personnel land mines since the Gulf War in 1991. Still, it is sharply criticized by groups working to rid the world of land mines because it hasn't signed a mine ban treaty, ratified by 142 other nations, including Afghanistan. Beyond mines, cluster bombs are a major concern because they scatter explosives that often lie in wait rather than going off on impact. Many remnants of the bombs the U.S.-led forces dropped during 2001 and 2002 were designed to deactivate after a set period, Human Rights Watch said, but critics aren't satisfied that the feature works. The United States has paid for a good share of the land mine removal in Afghanistan, along with European nations, Japan and Canada. Despite the global cooperation, no one expects Afghanistan to be mine-free anytime soon. To understand why, join the Minnesota teams as they clear a patch of land near Bagram Air Base. The area is to be used for military operations now and eventually turned over to the Afghan people. the hydrema Climbing into the Hydrema, the mine-clearing vehicle, is like getting into the cab of a construction crane, except instead of a long arm, this beast has a turntable holding a steel blast shield and a 72-chain flail. The cab's windshield is pocked and battered by blasts. The last battalion to use these machines set off an anti-tank mine. It blew out an engine and rear axle, but the soldier inside the armored cab survived. There will be no stepping out of the cab, Feldewerd orders. Sometimes, he'll scramble over the top of the Hydrema to handle a problem. Feldewerd is operating one of three Hydremas working together to clear a lane just over 3 yards wide. Bounce. Jolt. Slap. Slap. Slap. Each of the 30-inch chains is spun into the ground with a force of 2,000 pounds per square inch. The dust is so blinding that Feldewerd has no idea what's being unearthed. The other two Hydrema operators spot for him. As the dust clears, they see an artillery casing from a tank round and a lot of other debris that may or may not blow up. Whenever possible, the soldiers try to spot explosives without detonating them. When Feldewerd saw the mortar shell, he fixed its location with a global positioning device and reported it to explosives teams for disposal. Since beginning work in late April, the Minnesota battalion and a private contractor working with the troops at Bagram and another airfield near Kandahar have uncovered hundreds of bombs, a dozen anti tank mines and more than 200 anti- personnel mines. They also have unearthed a well-fortified Soviet fighting position with a steel roof that was covered by dirt. Scary stuff? Maybe. But Feldewerd is a study in cool control. ``I like the minefields,'' he said. ``Mostly because there isn't anybody out here bothering you.'' Indeed. Once the heavy equipment operators have flailed a safe lane through a minefield, they hand off to a team that works the ground much like archeologists on a dig, probing and sifting dirt cupful by cupful. Except, of course, relics here are more volatile than dinosaur bones. This is slow, dusty work, much of it done while crawling or lying belly down. Sgt. Steven Tyler from Sleepy Eye, Minn., is training others to use a device that resembles a beachcomber's metal detector. Only this gadget also has ground-penetrating radar capable of sizing up objects as deep as 8 inches. Because this ground is littered with metal shrapnel and trash as banal as old sardine tins from Soviet mess kits, a metal detector alone would give so many false positives that the job would never get done, Tyler said. Further, some mines are mostly plastic and give only a weak hum on the metal detector. ``Ground-penetrating radar is a lifesaver out here,'' said Tyler, who learned to clear mines in Korea in 1988 and took extra training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri before deploying to Afghanistan. More than 100 troops are getting their first hands-on intensive training here in the minefields. Donning body armor, protective boots and face shields, they work in pairs to clear branches off the safe lane. First the soldiers check a patch of soil for visible debris, then scan it with the metal detector/radar gizmo, marking suspicious spots. Finally, they get down on the ground and gingerly dig around the marked spots with a probe and garden trowel. The hard-packed dirt is not helpful. A little heft behind the probe is needed to break the soil. Push too hard, though, and there's a danger of setting off a blast. The point is not to blow anything up but to mark the hot stuff for explosives teams. Inching forward hour-by-hour, the manual detection teams clear criss-crossing lanes through the field, leaving large patches in between. Next step: canines Now come the dogs, pacing each uncleared patch, nose to the ground. They belong to RONCO Consulting Corp., a Virginia- based contractor working with the Minnesota battalion. The military also owns dogs the troops will use after the teams are trained. The dogs are trained to smell explosives, plastics and metals, said Joel Murray, RONCO's program manager, and to signal a find by sitting in a certain way and looking at a handler. Trust between dog and handler must be unshakable, Murray said, and it takes months of training to develop. ``You have to trust the dog because you have to walk through the areas the dog has proofed,'' Murray said. Even so, the soldiers use a two-dog test before they trust a patch of land. And they're careful to work under conditions that are ideal for the dogs--never when the wind is behind the dogs or when the dogs are tired. When a dog makes a hit, the manual detection team follows through to size up and carefully uncover the find. Mine-clearing has become one of Afghanistan's largest industries since the United Nations began coordinating the effort in 1990. The work has been paced by fits and starts because Afghanistan has been so politically volatile. During the 1990s, the Taliban and other warring factions raided de-mining project offices, seizing equipment and assaulting staff members. Operations were sharply curtailed in 2001 as it became clear the United States would attack Taliban and Al-Qaida forces in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Since then, insurgents have plagued mine-removal teams. Last year, the United Nations suspended operations in eight provinces because of threats against workers. Assailants who ambushed their vehicle, shot and killed four U.N. de-miners in Farar Province in February, the Associated Press reported. Many casualties Despite the attacks, there is little doubt that most Afghans are deeply thankful for the effort. Almost every family has suffered the casualties seen at an orthopedic clinic in Kabul run by the International Committee for the Red Cross. Nine in 10 of the workers and most of the patients are mine victims, said the director, Najmuddin, who like many Afghans goes by a single name. He lost both of his legs 22 years ago while hauling sand from a riverbed near Kabul. His truck hit a land mine, knocking him unconscious for five days. When he woke, his life seemed to be over at age 18. After five empty years at home, he found the Red Cross clinic and a new life. ``I got prosthetics and they pushed me to walk,'' he said. Deeply grateful, Najmuddin volunteered to work for the clinic for free. Instead, the clinic hired him and educated him as a physical therapist. In the 16 years since then, Najmuddin has seen a heartbreaking parade of mine victims: ``I have seen many who lost one leg to a mine, then hit another and lost the second leg. I have seen one man who survived a third encounter. His wheelchair hit a mine, and he lost a hand and an eye.'' For land mine victims, this clinic offers physical rehabilitation--new feet, legs and hands, along with lessons in using them. It also provides social rehabilitation, from processing the emotional horror of the blast to learning work skills. Like Najmuddin, everyone has a story. Paranaz Spandyar, a 12-year-old wisp of a girl with haunting eyes, believed the pasture where she was herding goats had been cleared of mines. It wasn't. She lost her left leg below the knee in April. Abjalal Hormat was a soldier when he lost a leg 12 years ago. Fahim, 15, was walking near an abandoned Soviet checkpoint last year when a blast took one leg and severely burned the other, damaging his nerves. He dropped out of school after fifth grade. Nasir, also 15, took one step off a well-worn walking path in his village in Parwan Province and lost one leg above the knee. These are the lucky ones, Najmuddin said. They survived. Any rewards the Minnesota troops gain from mine-clearing come from a sense of duty and humanitarianism. They get hazard pay for being in Afghanistan, a war zone, but nothing extra for hunting mines. Many of them will leave Afghanistan with skills they don't expect to use in the mine-free Midwest. Specialist Douglas McLellan from Carlton, Minn., joked that the proof of his expertise will be going home in one piece: ``Ten fingers and 10 toes, that's my resume.'' Seriously, McLellan said, the mines are ``all the proof I need that the work we're doing here is important.''

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend of mine, former Ramsey County Commissioner Hal Norgard. Hal Norgard passed away on the morning of August 8th while I was traveling with a congressional delegation in Iraq. Hal was a wonderful man and friend. He was a man of boundless energy and a great heart. Most of all, I remember him as a person who loved his community like it was his family--because it was for him. Hal's work on the Ramsey County Board helped so many people, most of whom will never know how this very special man worked so hard to provide them with the opportunities they needed to improve their lives. Hal was a friend, leader, volunteer, director, developer, teacher, and coach. Everyone who knew him loved him. I have many fond memories of him. We all have our own Hal story. Hal, I will always remember you for your selfless service. Hal, I will miss you.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, Congress has three legislative days to vote before the ban on military assault weapons expires and weapons of terror, like the AK-47, will be legal in America. The Republican leadership won't even allow the 136 bipartisan supporters of the ban a vote on the House floor. Just last night, Congress could have voted to extend the ban, but instead Republican leaders decided it was more important to name four post offices. While I support the post office bills, I oppose the Republican's misdirected priorities. As a result, I chose to vote present on these post office bills. On September 14th, either the ban will be extended and our communities will remain safe or the weapons used by terrorists around the world will be legal on America's streets. President Bush and Republican leaders have a choice: allow Congress to vote an opportunity to extend the ban or do nothing and allow assault weapons to be used to terrorize police officers and our families.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the Purple Heart is a decoration symbolizing true sacrifice in defense of the United States. Since the days of Gen. George Washington, the Purple Heart has decorated the uniforms of hundreds of thousands of American heroes, including those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for America's freedom. Last week in New York, at the national convention of our president's political party, the Purple Heart was mocked and disgraced in a tasteless display. Some delegates to this convention transformed the symbol of the Purple Heart into band-aids to minimize and diminish the wounds received in battle during the Vietnam War by their political opponent. With American men and women fighting and taking casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan today, the Purple Heart is not a band-aid or a joke, but a true symbol of sacrifice. My support for America's military's men and women and the veterans who have served this nation, given their blood and their lives for our freedom, is absolute. These heroes and the Purple Hearts which honor their sacrifice deserve our respect, never abuse or cynical displays of ridicule.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this legislation. This legislation continues a vitally important environmental initiative started in the Clinton administration. With the extension of this program, millions of acres of endangered tropical forests around the world will be saved, and the biological diversity of our world will be further preserved. I would first like to recognize the efforts of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), who worked closely with our former colleague and former chair of the Committee on International Relations, the Honorable Lee Hamilton, in crafting this innovative measure in 1998. Mr. Speaker, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act has become one of the most effective foreign policy tools designed to encourage developing nations to protect and preserve tropical forests. Already the U.S. has entered into bilateral agreements with seven countries: Bangladesh, Belize, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, and Colombia. This innovative program has been a tremendous success. It has given the people of developing countries the opportunity to protect and invest in their local ecosystems, thus preserving our global environment while at the same time paying down interest on debt owed to the United States. The current bilateral agreements under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act will generate $70 million for tropical forest preservation. The most recent agreement has produced a pledge by Colombia to invest $10 million over 12 years to protect the nearly 11 million acres of this tropical forest. Among the areas that will be preserved in Colombia as a result is the Tuparo National Park. This unique forest contains a rich diversity of species, including jaguars, river dolphins, and the endangered giant armadillo. This also includes a threatened crocodile, which is found only in this part of South America. This area is also being protected because it serves as a base for migrating birds from North America. The bill before us would expand the Tropical Forest Conservation Act by allowing developing countries not only to service their debt by making payments to forest conservation funds, but also to pay down the principal on these debts. Right now, there are several debtor countries that are potentially eligible for the program but cannot participate because of the way in which the language was originally written. This new authority in this reauthorization would remedy this situation and increase the number of countries eligible to participate in the program. Mr. Speaker, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act is a shining example of good policy mixed with strong environmental protections. It is my hope that in the future we will be able to promote and support additional measures that balance economic stability and environmental sustainability both for these countries. Again, I strongly support the passage of this legislation to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, and I urge my colleagues to do so as well. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.