Michael Michaud

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. You are absolutely right. And actually speaking about in it together, we have been joined by another freshman Member from Pennsylvania, freshmen Member Jason Altmire, who has also taken an interest and a leading role in the whole trade deal. I would like to yield to Mr. Altmire for his comments.

Mr. MICHAUD. You are absolutely right. As a matter of fact, when you look at what is happening, a lot of municipalities, their primary business has been hit because of unfair trade deals. It has that rippling effect to other businesses within the community, but also the family structure. When you look at the fact that when Mills filed bankruptcy, and I have seen it in my own town, the divorce rate actually goes up. The alcoholism goes up, and you are losing that structure, and that is why we have to make sure that we do have fair trade deals. As we heard earlier today from Congressman Hare, he is not against trade deals. He just wants to make sure that they are fair trade deals. And that is what we have to do as a Congress is to make sure that we do have fair trade deals. I am very pleased to see that a lot of Members, new Members of Congress who have just come off the campaign trail, when they were campaigning, they were talking to their constituents, and they heard a lot about loss of manufacturing here in this country because of the trade deals. So I am very pleased to see that we have such a large group of freshmen Members on the floor this evening to talk about trade deals and what they are doing to this country, or what they are doing to their individual districts.

Mr. MICHAUD. As far as industries in the State of Maine, timber, the paper industry have definitely been devastated the most when you look at trade deals. We just actually had a few weeks ago Moosehead Manufacturing which closed its doors because of the imports from China. So it has had a negative impact primarily in the paper and in the timber industries.

Mr. MICHAUD. No, I was not. I was serving in the Maine legislature, and I was opposed to it then. I am opposed to it now, especially when you see what damage fast track has caused to this Nation, what it has caused to our manufacturing. Maine alone, over the last 6 years or so, we lost 23 percent of our manufacturing base alone in the State of Maine. Certain labor market areas had unemployment rates over 30 percent. It has really devastated the State of Maine because of these unfair trade deals, and it is all related to the unfair trade deals.

Mr. MICHAUD. I yield.

Mr. MICHAUD. Well, I thank the gentleman for his discussion on this issue. You brought up a very good point. You had mentioned fast track. And I think what a lot of people don't realize is the fact that fast track only allows Congress two options, to vote ``yes'' or ``no.'' We have no options to amend this trade deal. We just have to vote ``yes'' or ``no.'' And we are abdicating our responsibilities by allowing fast track to occur, which hopefully, with a new Congress and a new direction, when we look at trade deals, we will be able to change fast track so that we can have an opportunity to make sure that we do have fair trade deals.

Mr. MICHAUD. I thank you, Representative Hare, for your leadership role in this as well. If I understand your comments correctly, you are not against trade deals, but you want to make sure that they are fair trade deals. And I really appreciate your perspective. But especially just coming off of a campaign, being a freshman Member working up in your State of Illinois, you know what is going on. I think, all too often, once people get here in Washington, D.C., they tend to forget what is really happening in reality. And reality is, we have lost over 3 million jobs nationwide because of our unfair trade deals, and we have got to bring equity back in that. So I really appreciate your leadership in that role and look forward to working with you as we move forward to make sure that we do have fair trade deals here in this Congress. It is now my great pleasure to introduce another freshman Member who has also taken a leadership role, from Iowa, Congressman Bruce Braley.

Mr. MICHAUD. Thank you very much, Congressman Kagen. This has definitely been enlightening. I really appreciate all the charts that you have. And you are absolutely right, the American people want the new direction for this country and are very pleased particularly with the freshman class, yourself leading the charge to make sure that we do have fair trade agreements. I want to thank you for your time coming to the floor this evening to talk about this very important issue. I would now like to recognize another freshman Member of the 110th Congress class, the gentleman from Illinois who has taken a real leadership role as well on trade, but also on veterans affairs issues where he replaced a former colleague in this body, Lane Evans, who has been a mentor and has been a leader also on veterans' issues. I would like to yield to Congressman Hare of Illinois.

Mr. MICHAUD. At this time, I know the gentleman from Wisconsin has another meeting he has to attend, so I would recognize the Congressman Steve Kagen from Wisconsin.

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days with which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject matter of my special order.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Employee Free Choice Act. As a 30 year veteran of the Great Northern Paper Company mills and a proud union member, I know firsthand how crucial it is for workers to have the right to organize and bargain together to secure their rights in the workplace. On average, workers who belong to unions earn 30 percent more than nonunion workers, and they are much more likely to have health care and pension benefits. Polls tell us that 58 percent of eligible workers would join a union if they could, yet union membership in the private sector plummeted to 7.4 percent in 2006, a record low. The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers more freedom to form unions, so they can seek their share of America's prosperity, and fair treatment for an honest day's work. The current system for forming unions and bargaining is broken. EFCA is the right bill to fix it, and I urge my colleagues to give it their support. I yield the remainder of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Stephanie Dunton from Winterport, a small town in central Maine. Stephanie, a student at Samuel L. Wagner Middle School, was recently named one of the top two youth volunteers in Maine for the 12th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This program is America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism. Stephanie is a tireless young woman who has given her time and energy to help the less fortunate. Inspired by her sister's satisfaction from volunteering, Stephanie searched for her own community service project. Initially, she wanted to volunteer at her local food pantry, but was unable to do so since she attended classes during the pantry's hours of operations. Stephanie instead went above and beyond, creating and conducting her own monthly food drive called the ``Food Shuttle,'' which has collected more than one thousand pounds of donated food for a local pantry. Her dedication is truly extraordinary and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. While numerous studies have shown that Americans today are less involved in their communities than before, it is essential that we support the kind of selfless contributions that people like Stephanie have made. She is an inspiring example to all of us, serving as one of our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. I join with her family, friends and community in congratulating Stephanie for this fine honor. The citizens of the State of Maine are extremely fortunate to have such a fine, young public servant.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. And I will find that quote, because you know sometimes quotes get misquoted; so I will get that for the gentleman.

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of this resolution that expresses our unwavering support of our troops and our opposition to the escalation in Iraq. This is an extremely important debate and it is one that is long overdue. We have lost over 3,100 brave Americans. Many more will return home with mental health and physical wounds that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have lost their lives or fled their homes as their country has fallen into deeper civil war. Regardless of one's opinion on how we got into Iraq, we are there, and the situation is deteriorating. So the simple question before us is, What is the best plan for the future? The President has called for an escalation of troops; in other words, more of the same approach. I oppose an escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq. I will not support funding for the President's plan or blank checks for an open-ended commitment. We need a new plan, and escalation is not what the Iraq Study Group called for. It is not what our top generals have advised, and it is not what the American or Iraqi people want. When General John Abizaid, former top commander in Iraq, asked his commanders in the field if more U.S. troops would help, the unanimous answer was no. As he said: ``And the reason is because we want the Iraqis to do more. It's easy for the Iraqis to rely upon us to do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future.'' U.S. forces cannot clear and hold neighborhoods in Baghdad indefinitely. We have tried so-called ``surges'' before, and they have not stopped the violence. And as with these previous surges, when we leave, the same problems will return, and perhaps even worse. The reality is that United States military strength cannot solve the problems in Iraq nor should it. The future rests on the capability and the will of the Iraqi people. Our continued dominance only prevents Iraqis from taking control of their country and their destiny. The military mission of toppling Saddam Hussein is over. The political mission, the reconstruction mission, the nation-building that this administration said it would never do has all but failed. But that is what we must now address, not our strength of arms but our strength of diplomacy and our power to rebuild. Our new strategy should be to withdraw and redeploy our soldiers quickly while empowering the Iraqi security forces. We can help to rebuild and create economic opportunity, to train Iraqis and perform other assistance as asked, but we cannot remain the dominant force in Iraq. It is time for Iraqis to take control of their own country. A stabilized, secure and free Iraq can only be achieved when Iraqis take full control. Until that time our forces will be stuck in the middle of an increasingly violent civil war and all the while Afghanistan sliding back into danger and violence and al Qaeda continues to plot while our attention is being diverted. I have spoken with many people in Maine about this war. I have spoken with current military personnel, many who have served in Iraq, their families, veterans, and concerned citizens of all political stripes. Everyone agrees there is no simple solution to the challenges we face in Iraq and how to solve it. There is one opinion that is unanimous. We all support our men and women in uniform. They, like the generations before them, are heroes. They heard their country's call and they did not hesitate to answer. I am glad this resolution makes that support clear. We owe it to our military personnel to provide them with the very best when they are in harm's way and when they come home. I have heard from many Vietnam-era veterans who fear that our new veterans may face many of the hardships that they faced. This cannot happen. As a member of the Veterans Affairs' Committee, I am committed to addressing the mental health and physical needs of our returning heroes, and I know the American people are willing to do that as well. And as we discuss alternative strategies, it must be clear that we must do something that fully supports our military personnel. This resolution is not about politics. This issue should unite all of us. This is about the future of Iraq, our strategy abroad, and our welfare for our troops.

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Yes, that was a quote in a paper from General Abizaid where he said that they requested no additional troops, and I will try to find that article for the good gentleman to get it hopefully to him tomorrow.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a husband and wife who have been tireless advocates for many of the disadvantaged in rural northern Maine. Ross and Judy Paradis are from Frenchville, a small town along the St. Lawrence River overlooking our neighbor to the north, Canada. Through a range of professional positions, Ross and Judy Paradis have worked day and night to help make the lives of the residents of the St. John Valley better and more prosperous. They were both teachers, then state representatives in the Maine Legislature. Judy was also a state senator. Even today, with no direct ties to public office, the Paradis have championed the causes of their neighbors. They continue to work as advocates on education, housing, health and human services, and many other issues that affect the day- to-day lives of those around them. They champion Maine's children, Maine's rural. communities and Maine's way of life. They have also helped to preserve the stories and culture of Maine's Acadian heritage. Ross and Judy have always stepped up when faced with a challenge. As a result, they have gained the respect of their colleagues from all over the state and beyond. Their concern has always been the needs of their constituents in the Saint John Valley and the people of Maine. The citizens of the State of Maine are extremely fortunate to have such wonderful advocates and friends.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the families who 100 years ago, drawn by the promise of employment at Great Northern Paper Company's new 4-machine mill on the banks of the Penobscot River, founded the town of East Millinocket in northern Maine. Working together for the benefit of their new community, the people of East Millinocket quickly established a school, water and sewer system, and volunteer fire department. They also established a proud way of life. Today, equipped with the same community spirit and sense of common purpose, the people of East Millinocket continue to embrace the challenges and opportunities of living and working at the gateway to Maine's North Woods. Like my father and my grandfather before me, I joined these hardworking individuals as we all worked together to provide for ourselves and our families at the Great Northern Paper Company mill in East Millinocket. I am happy to have grown up and worked alongside these proud people, and it is these individuals and families along with the many other hardworking people of Maine that I remember every time I cast a vote here on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is an honor and a privilege to represent the people of East Millinocket and I am happy to have this opportunity to help this community, the ``town that paper made,'' celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding; and I also want to thank Congressman Hare for bringing this issue forward. Having worked with Congressman Hare over the last month or so, I know he is going to fill the shoes of Congressman Evans and fight for veterans issues. I really appreciate that. I rise in strong support of H.R. 521, designating the post office in Rock Island, Illinois, as the Lane Evans Post Office Building. It is right that we should honor Congressman Lane Evans. Lane Evans will be known for the years he spent fighting for veterans and their families and for attacking issues like mental health, toxic exposure and homelessness. These issues were once brushed aside. Now, because of Lane Evans, we face them and we deal with them. Because of Lane Evans, many Americans will lead healthier and better lives. He never sacrificed what he felt was important. He always remembered why he came to Washington and who sent him here. Even though he is no longer in Congress, I know that he will continue to fight for what he believes in. His influence will be felt in all the work that we do for the rest of our times here in Congress. Congressman Evans has been a mentor to me and many others in this body. It is an honor for me to speak in support of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 521 honoring our dear friend and colleague and fighter for our veterans.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this College Student Relief Act of 2007. This bill will help thousands of students throughout the State of Maine. Maine has one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country. However, only one out of four Mainers go on to complete college. That is because college costs are rising, and many Maine students cannot afford their tuition. Too many are being denied the opportunity that college provides. The legislation before us today would save students thousands of dollars on their loan repayment by cutting interest rates in half. Students in Maine beginning college in the fall of 2007 would save $2,107 on their loans, and those starting in 2011 would save $4,210. This bill is also consistent with the pay-as-you-go principle that my fellow Blue Dogs and I have long advocated and that the Speaker has committed to. So it will not increase the deficit one dime. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation to help all the young people live the American Dream.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, today I strongly support the prescription drug bill that will be coming up today for a vote. I commend the leadership for bringing this legislation to the floor as a central part of the first 100 hours. When the Medicare drug bill was being assembled, the pharmaceutical lobby convinced its authors to write rules into the bill that would forbid ever negotiating for lower-cost prescription drugs. These drug companies charged American consumers far more than anyone else in the world. This bill today would allow the Secretary to negotiate for lower-cost prescription drugs. This is a commonsense solution that could have enormous cost savings for seniors and the government. The VA Administration already does this effectively; so does every other industrialized country in the world. My own State of Maine has led the way in implementing this approach at the State level. I have introduced my America Rx bill based on Maine's approach in the past Congresses. I am so pleased that this bill today does that same thing, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. I thank the gentleman for yielding 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, I come to this floor as a proud union member after working 28 years at a paper mill in Maine. I come here as cochair of the Labor and Working Families Caucus. I come on behalf of the hardworking men and women of the State of Maine, and I am here to say we need to pass this legislation. The salaries of Members of Congress have increased by $31,600 since 1997, while the minimum wage continues to earn just $10,700 a year. Today, the average CEO earns more before lunchtime the very first day he goes to work than the minimum wage earner earns all year long. What kind of priorities are these? We sometimes forget the face of the minimum wage worker. They aren't the corporate giants. They aren't the special interests. They are the hardworking men and women of this country, and they deserve a raise. There is still more that we can do to help our people in this country work their way out of poverty and achieve prosperity, but increasing the minimum wage is a necessary first step.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dale E. Demers on the occasion of his retirement from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office at Togus, Maine after more than 30 years of dedicated service. Dale will be greatly missed, and I join his many friends, co-workers and the veterans he served in wishing him the best of luck in the next phase of his life. Dale's service to our country began in 1968, when he joined the U.S. Air Force. He began his VA career at the Togus Regional office in 1972 as a GS-1 Clerk. Dale has held several positions at Togus including Adjudicator, Supervisory Adjudicator, Assistant Service Center Manager, Service Center Manager, Assistant Center Director for Regional Office Activities, and most recently as the Director for the Regional Office. While working full time at Togus, Dale went back to school and in 1977 received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Maine. During Dale's career, he has been involved in many VBA initiatives. He was instrumental in Togus being chosen as a resource center site. The Togus Resource Center has been a huge success and has exceeded its goal every month since its inception. Dale was also extremely involved in the development of the current Claims Processing Improvement (CPI) Initiative, which has assisted VBA national in reducing both the duration of the response and backlog of claims processing. Dale will be missed for his dedication and for his compassion by the veterans of Maine. I am pleased to join his colleagues, his family, and his friends in congratulating Dale on this milestone. I wish him a rewarding and enjoyable retirement.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6342. I commend Chairman Buyer and the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and my colleagues on the committee and in the Senate for their work on this legislation. This bill does deserve bipartisan support. H.R. 6342 includes a number of must-pass provisions. It also improves education assistance for severely disabled service personnel. It is important that we do all that we can to help the individuals and their families to regain their independence and economic security. This legislation also puts VA specialized programs for homeless veterans on a more secure footing. I am proud that this Congress is acting to extend the soon-to-expire authorization of VA's grants and per diem program for homeless veterans. Extending these authorizations until the end of 2007 is an important step, but is not enough. Last year, VA's health care program for homeless veterans served nearly 600 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. It is shameful that any veteran spends a night on the street. We cannot leave those homeless veterans and those with psychiatric wounds behind. In this Congress, I introduced legislation to improve VA's capacity to help homeless veterans recover, rehabilitate and return to a full life in our society. I am glad that some of the key expiring provisions to help homeless veterans from my bill are in the legislation that we are considering now. I plan to reintroduce the bill in the next Congress to help homeless veterans, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address this issue. It is right that we are permanently establishing the six VA Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Care Centers along with VA's two MS Centers of Excellence. These centers are shining examples of how VA could help veterans with other chronic and debilitating diseases and injuries, such as traumatic brain injury. These centers have led the way in state-of-the-art research and clinical care. This bill sends a clear message to VA to keep supporting the clinical, research and educational work of these centers. Today is a bittersweet day because it may mark the end of an era. This may be the last veterans bill that the House will consider which has Ranking Member Lane Evans as an original cosponsor. I know this will not be the last bill to reflect his advocacy and passion for veterans and their families. Lane has been a great leader and mentor to so many of us on the committee and in Congress. His legacy is measured in the millions of veterans and their families who have benefited from his determination, compassion, and wisdom. I will deeply miss him, and I know this institution will miss him as well. It is my understanding that there may be also an opportunity for an omnibus veterans package on the floor tomorrow. I am glad that we may be able to move more legislation before the end of year, but it is unfortunate that we have waited until the last days of Congress to pass these provisions. The fact remains as we come to an end of the 109th Congress, we must be honest with the American people: We have much more work to do. We have not yet passed a funding bill for VA. It is simply unacceptable for Congress to tell VA you need to put a hold on hiring needed staff because we cannot and will not pass a budget in a timely manner. It is troubling that some 73,000 of our returning veterans who have come home to VA for medical care have received an initial diagnosis of a mental health disorder, and I am concerned that VA appears to want to deny that its veterans centers and medical facilities are straining to meet the needs of these veterans. Many are calling traumatic brain injury the signature wound of this war. Veterans with TBI and their families deserve state-of-the-art care from the VA. For service members, the transition from the military's health care system to enrollment in the VA health care system is far from seamless. For many of our returning National Guard members and reservists, the Montgomery GI bill does not meet their needs. Education benefits of the GI bill must be revamped and updated to meet the needs of current veterans. All of these issues, and more, require greater oversight and perhaps legislative solutions for us in the next Congress. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the subcommittee chairmen that I have worked with for the last two Congresses, Chairman Henry Brown, for working in a bipartisan manner, but also the staff of both the Republican side and the Democratic side for all of their hard work in getting these pieces of legislation to the floor. I would also like to thank Chairman Buyer for all his work. I also want to thank Mr. Filner for his leadership on this legislation and the committee as well. I look forward to working with Mr. Filner in the 110th Congress on matters important to America's veterans. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6342.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his time. I also want to thank Mr. Bilirakis for his time here working in a strong bipartisan manner on veterans issues. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6314. I commend the chairman of the committee, Steve Buyer, for his work on this legislation. This bill does deserve bipartisan support. As a member of this committee and as citizens, we are united in our dedication to address the needs of veterans and their families. Ensuring that the Department of Veterans Affairs has the authority and resources to provide veterans with the medical care and benefits they have earned is a mission that we will continue in the next Congress. H.R. 6314 is an important bill with a number of must-pass provisions. This legislation improves transition assistance for severely disabled service personnel. It is important that we do all we can to help the individuals and their families to regain their independence and economic security. This legislation also puts VA's specialized programs for homeless veterans on a more secure footing. I am proud that this Congress is acting to extend the soon-to-expire authorization of VA's grant and per diem program for homeless veterans. I am glad that we are extending the authorization for VA's treatment of severely mentally ill veterans. By acting to reauthorize these fundamental VA programs, we give veterans and their families hope for recovery and having a better life. Extending the authorization for these programs until the end of 2007 is an important first step, but it is not enough. In our great Nation, it is unacceptable that even one veteran should be homeless or go hungry. I am shocked that last year the VA's health care program for homeless veterans served nearly 600 veterans who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is troubling that more than one in three returning veterans who come home to the VA for medical care has received an initial diagnosis for a mental health disorder. Homeless veterans and those with psychological wounds should not be left behind. They have served our Nation and deserve a rich and full life. In this Congress I introduced legislation to improve VA's capacity to help homeless veterans recover, rehabilitate, and return to a full life in our society. I plan to reintroduce my bill in the next Congress to help homeless veterans. We must keep the faith that we can end homelessness among veterans. This September, the Health Care Subcommittee heard about how posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries are emerging concerns for veterans from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support H.R. 6314 because it helps keep our promise to veterans with these injuries. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs and this Congress must continue to address veterans' mental health care needs in the future. Next Congress I plan to reintroduce an updated version of Ranking Member Lane Evans' comprehensive bill on mental health. Lane Evans has been a great leader and mentor. His legacy is measured in the millions of veterans and their families who have benefited from his determination to fight for the needs of veterans. I will deeply miss him and so will this institution. I also want to thank Chairman Brown for his work in a bipartisan manner on issues dealing with veterans affairs. I enjoyed his service and will look forward to working with him in the upcoming Congress. Madam Speaker, this is a good bill. I want to thank Mr. Filner for his leadership on this legislation as well. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6314.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, the final language for the bill was brought to the floor quickly and without thorough review by the House. I believe that it is important to have a system to try accused terrorists for their war crimes in a quick and fair way. In my original review of the bill, I believed that it took steps to protect fundamental human rights, prevent torture and provide for a fair legal process. As I have heard from more and more legal experts and from my constituents, it is clear that this bill does not create a system that meets our high American standards for a fair trial and human rights. Make no mistake; I believe that convicted terrorists must be punished for their war crimes. But it must be done in such a way that the American people are confident that our values are upheld. I do not believe that this bill makes this clear to the American people or to the international community that looks to us as a place of human rights and fairness. Some people may question me for changing my vote. I believe that elected officials must have the strength to recognize new information and to take it into account to make the right decision. I wish President Bush would do the same thing with our policies in Iraq.