Michael Michaud

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 281 is a bill to designate the Federal building and courthouse in Dayton, Ohio, as the Tony Hall Federal Building and the United States Courthouse in honor of our former colleague from Ohio, Tony Hall. The bill has strong bipartisan support. Tony Hall is a true son of Ohio. He was born in Dayton in 1942. After attending local schools, he graduated from Denison University in 1964. He was accepted into the Peace Corps and served as a volunteer in Thailand from 1966 until 1968. Upon his return he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, and in 1972 he was elected to the Ohio Senate. In 1978, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served for 12 terms. Tony Hall currently serves as United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. Tony Hall was a founder and cochair of the Congressional Hunger Center, a nonprofit organization created to bring awareness to the growing persistent problem of world hunger. He also served as chairman of the House Select Committee on Hunger from 1989 until 1993. Congressman Hall sponsored legislation to help immunize the world's children against major diseases and to increase United States funding for Vitamin A and C. His passion for protecting and ensuring human rights and combating hunger brought Congressman Hall to such places as North Korea, Peru, Sudan, Bosnia, Rwanda, Somalia, Bangladesh, and Haiti. In 1994, he helped nominate Bishop Carlos Belo for the Nobel Peace Prize for the bishop's role in protecting civilians during armed conflict. Congressman Hall was an example to all with his steadfast commitment to promoting humanity and peace in a world stricken with poverty and war. This designation is a fitting tribute to his exceptional public service, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 281. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 517, a bill to authorize the conveyance of two Coast Guard cutters to nonprofit organizations so they can use them for education and historic displays. The 180-foot buoy tender Bramble was commissioned in 1944 and served our Nation until its decommissioning on May 22, 2002. The Bramble has sailed the waters from Alaska and Hawaii to Puerto Rico. Since 1962, she has served on the Great Lakes and has been homeported in Port Huron, Michigan, since 1975. H.R. 517 will authorize the conveyance of Bramble to the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History where she will continue to be open to the public for educational and historical display purposes. H.R. 517 also provides for the conveyance of the 180-foot buoy tender Planetree to the Jewish Life Corporation. The Planetree was commissioned in 1943 and served our Nation until it was decommissioned in 1999. During her service to our country, the Planetree served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Since 1974, the Planetree has served in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Jewish Life Organization will use the Planetree to teach the public about the original 66 Exodus ships, their crewmembers and the 77,000 Holocaust survivors those vessels carried to Israel. These conveyances include the standard requirements that Congress has used in the past for similar vessel conveyance, including prohibition of the vessel from being used for commercial transportation purposes, agreeing to make the vessels available to the Federal Government in a time of war or national emergency, and a requirement that the organizations have the necessary funds to operate and maintain the vessels in good working condition. There must be a minimum amount of at least $700,000 in financial resources available. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 517. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this event needs little introduction. 2003 marks the 35th anniversary of the D.C. Special Olympics. The torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics in the District of Columbia. Each year, approximately 2,500 Special Olympians compete in over a dozen events. More than 1 million children and adults with special needs participate in the Special Olympics worldwide programs. The event is supported by literally thousands of volunteers. The goal of the games is to help bring mentally challenged individuals into larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted and respected. Confidence and self-esteem are the building blocks of these Olympic games. I enthusiastically support the resolution and the very worthwhile endeavor of the Special Olympics. I urge support for House Concurrent Resolution 128.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, today in some parts of Maine, unemployment is over 30 percent. Under this plan, 94 percent of the people in my district will get an average tax cut totaling only $52 from the cuts on capital gains and dividends. How will this plan put money in their pockets to spend and consume so we can stimulate the economy? How will this help them get jobs? I spent the last 29 years before I was elected to Congress working in a paper mill. I know what working people need, and this bill will not help the working people at all. I have no problem with tax cuts. I support the marriage penalty relief, estate relief tax, bonus depreciation, additional expensing, and expanding the 10 percent tax bracket; but we have got to choose measures that we can afford, and we have to choose measures that actually stimulate the economy. Let us not run up a greater deficit or put Social Security in danger with a tax cut that even Alan Greenspan thinks will not help the economy.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of H.R. 100, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), ranking member, for their leadership on this legislation which restates, modernizes and improves the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act gives our military personnel the piece of mind they deserve. It allows them to do their military duty for our country and to provide for the national defense without having to worry about their obligations back home. Beyond clarifying and updating, H.R. 100 expands legal and administrative protections for our men and women in uniform. It would increase the rental eviction protection from $1,200 to $1,700; allow for termination of property releases if personnel are activated or deployed before living in the property; and provide professional liability protection, health insurance, and guaranteed residency for military purposes. I am also pleased that this legislation acknowledges the importance of women in military service and is appropriately titled Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. And I am pleased that H.R. 100 includes recognition of the Federal protections recently extended to members of the National Guard who are called upon under title 32 of the U.S. Code. When our men and women risk their lives to protect this country, it should not matter under which law that they are called. Mr. Speaker, the war on terrorism is not over, and the peace in Iraq is not yet won. Our military personnel are still in harm's way overseas, and they deserve to know that their sacrifices will not have a negative impact on their obligations here at home. I fully support H.R. 100 and urge my colleagues to do the same. I would also like to take this opportunity to say good-bye and good luck to Michael Durishin, the Democratic staff director for the Committee on Veterans Affairs. While I have not known Michael for long, I would like to thank him for the years of his dedication and service to this institution and to the people of the United States.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, with our nation at war, young men and women in uniform are placed in harm's way and risk losing their lives. Sadly, some have already made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe these brave individuals a great debt, and we also owe that debt to their families. The surviving spouses of military personnel who die in service and veterans who die as a result of service-connected disabilities become the sole caregivers for their children. They deserve the best assistance that our nation can provide. For this reason I am introducing the Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act. In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs completed a congressionally mandated evaluation of survivorship benefits paid to the families of men and women who have given their lives for their country. According to the results, a surviving spouse with dependent children needed to receive an additional $250 per month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). With the additional $250 per month, the benefits provided to a surviving spouse with children would be comparable to the benefits received by a surviving spouse who did not have children. The study found a $250 increase in monthly benefits was needed regardless of the number of children in the family. The Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act would provide a $250 monthly increase in survivor benefits recommended for surviving spouses with children. While no amount of money can ever compensate a child for the loss of a parent, I believe that we should assure that surviving spouses with children have their needs met to at least the same extent as surviving spouses without children. I ask my colleagues to join me in providing this small but necessary comfort to the surviving children of military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, today, nearly 65 million Americans go without adequate prescription drug coverage, yet drug prices continue to rise, forcing more people to choose between medicine and food. Today, I am introducing America RX, which uses the power of the free market to negotiate fairer drug prices for Americans. Like the law we passed in Maine, it is a fresh approach that will not cost the taxpayer a single dime. This approach is simple, it is fair and it works. Everyone has heard of a volume discount. That is exactly what we are talking about when we are talking about America RX. More Americans can afford to buy prescription drugs, which means higher volume, low prices. The time has come to lower drug prices so that more Americans are not forced to ride a bus to Canada. I invite my colleagues to join me in moving this initiative forward.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today out of deep concern about the budget that was passed last week. The Committee on the Budget resolution cut mandatory spending in many areas, but one of the most unconscionable cuts is the $15 billion reduction for veterans programs like service disability compensation, pension for low-income wartime veterans, and veterans housing programs. At a time of war, how can we vote to neglect our veterans like this? In recent days we have heard from the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, all strongly opposed to these cuts. I will continue to stand with them and to oppose this dishonorable treatment of our most honorable men and women. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Keeley for his tireless leadership over two decades in the field of coastal resource management and to congratulate him for receiving the 2003 Walter B. Jones Memorial Award for Coastal Steward of the Year. For over 25 years, Mr. Keeley has worked at the local, state and regional level in environmental management, policy development and planning with an emphasis on coastal and estuarine issues. Over thirteen years ago, Mr. Keeley created the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, a voluntary regional governance structure that includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as representatives from Canadian and U.S. federal agencies. The Council is an excellent example of a bilateral regional governance organization and is one of the best in North America. It is also a wonderful example of David's dedication and leadership. The success of the Council can be, in large part, directly attributed to the activism and involvement of Mr. Keeley, who nurtured, encouraged and challenged the group to succeed. Like so many other coastal issues and projects in which David becomes involved, the Council is where it is today because of his long- term guidance and support, and his unwavering ability to question, respond, and deliver. For all of his hard work and dedication, David was recently honored with the 2003 Walter B. Jones Memorial Award for Coastal Steward of the Year. Mr. Speaker, Maine is honored, grateful and fortunate to have a devoted citizen like David Keeley. His tireless work to protect our coastal resources has truly made a difference to the great state of Maine and to the entire nation.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of this resolution that expresses our appreciation for our Armed Forces and their families. As a proud member of the Veterans Committee, I have worked to champion the causes of our brave men and women in uniform every day. As we enter a time of peril for our troops, and a time of concern in the hearts of their loved ones, it is important that the Congress is steadfast in our support. I do have reservations, however, about the full content of this resolution. It mixes a statement of support for our troops, a sentiment that unites this Congress and our Nation, with support for the policies and plans of the administration--policies that remain controversial in this body and among many Americans. It is the right--indeed, it is the duty--of elected representatives in a Democracy to question, to debate, and to voice the concerns of their constitutes. This resolution seeks to suppress all such concerns in a cynical act of politics, by forcing members either to vote in favor of all of the policies, or risk showing disdain for the troops. This kind of politicking has no place in what should be a pure and genuine expression of national unity. I am voting for this resolution tonight because the sacrifice of our troops and their families deserves to be honored. But I object to the way in which this was brought forward, and I hope that this body will show a greater regard for all of the voices in our Nation in the future.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Blue Dog budget. As a cochair of the Blue Dog Caucus, I was proud to work with my colleagues on this fine proposal. In my 22 years as a State legislator in Maine, I have always delivered a balanced budget, and I can tell you that the Blue Dog budget is a great budget. My time is brief, so I just want to make three vital points about the Blue Dog approach. First, this budget is balanced. We achieve a $15 billion surplus by the year 2009, and we have $2 trillion less in debt over the next 10 years than the President's budget. Today we spend 18 cents of every dollar on servicing our debt. What a waste of money. This is a debt tax that every American pays, 18 cents on every hard-earned dollar. We balance the budget and control the debt. The Blue Dog approach reduces waste, and it lowers the taxes that we all pay. Now, that is a tax cut that we all can agree on. Second, this budget is fair. It funds defense at the same level as the President, it gives tax relief to everyone, and it includes $60 billion in immediate economic stimulus, including desperately needed assistance to States, States like the State of Maine, which the Committee on the Budget does not provide for. Third, this budget is just. The Committee on the Budget resolution cuts mandatory spending in many areas. One of the most unconscionable cuts is a $15 billion reduction for veteran programs. On the very day we go to war, how can we vote to neglect our veterans like this? Not only does the Blue Dog budget restore these cuts, but it also restores other funding to vital domestic programs like education, child care, dislocated workers programs and homeland security, and it does all of this within a balanced budget. I say to my colleagues that this is not a party issue, it is not a political issue. This is about keeping our commitments, investing in our priorities and meeting our responsibilities. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach across the line that sometimes divides us and unite today for a budget that is balanced, that is fair and that is just.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, today, along with my good friend Tom Allen, I am introducing the Commercial Truck Highway Safety Demonstration Program Act of 2003. This bill would allow Maine to increase the weight limits for trucks on interstate highways, by granting a three-year waiver of federal rules. It mandates a study process that will help demonstrate the positive safety effects of these changes, and permit the waiver to be extended pending these safety determinations. This bill is important both for public safety and economic reasons. The administration of the current 80,000 pound federal weight limit law in Maine has forced heavy tractor-trailer and tractor-semitrailer combination vehicles, traveling into Maine from neighboring States and Canada, to divert onto small State and local roads where higher vehicle weight limits apply under Maine law. The diversion of those vehicles onto such roads causes significant economic hardships and safety challenges for small communities located along those roads. Permitting heavy commercial vehicles to travel on Interstate System highways in Maine would enhance public safety by reducing the number of heavy vehicles that use town and city streets, and as a result, the number of dangerous interactions between those heavy vehicles and other vehicles such as school buses and private cars. It would also reduce the net highway maintenance costs in Maine because the Interstate System highways, unlike the secondary roads of Maine, are built to accommodate heavy vehicles and are, therefore, more durable. Finally, this bill would ensure that Maine can remain competitive in the transportation and manufacturing sectors, and that our neighbors do not pass us by in development. This change is fair, and will promote parity in transportation throughout New England. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, which will enhance safety, lower maintenance costs, and promote economic development.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, today, the House considered the Omnibus appropriations measure for Fiscal Year 2003. It is the legal duty of the Congress to fund the government, and the time to vote on this funding was long overdue. As is often the case, the majority decided to use this desperately- need bill as a vehicle to insert ``riders'' and other language that would be unlikely to pass on its own. In this bill, there was language that would open the way to preliminary studies of the feasibility of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There was language that would increase logging in national forests. There was a cut to conservation programs, and a severe underfunding of border security and first responders money. I object to these provisions in the strongest terms. This is a sneaky, underhanded way of creating policy. At a time when funding for so many valuable programs in Maine and across the country is desperately needed, it is wrong to extort the Members of Congress into voting on these highly controversial measures. The majority is saying: vote in favor of this bill, with these odious measures included, or lose the entire bill. So when the Motion to Recommit was offered, I gladly voted in favor of it. This motion would have instructed the Appropriations Committee to remove this offensive language, and pass a clean bill to fund the government. I would welcome the idea of a short delay in passing the omnibus if it were to mean removing these environmental sneak-attacks. However, when that motion failed, I felt that the remainder of the bill was too important for Maine to be allowed to fail. The omnibus includes millions of dollars in direct aid to Maine. I have worked hard to obtain funding for projects in agriculture, health, transportation, construction, science, and labor. This includes $900,000 that I was able to convince my colleagues to include to help the workers in Millinocket and East Millinocket who have lost their health care in the wake of the Great Northern Paper Bankruptcy. This includes language that I was able to insert prohibiting the Department of Labor from consolidating the Bangor and Portland OSHA offices without further consultation with Congress. This includes Medicare payments to physicians and support to rural hospitals in Maine, money to develop the East-West Highways, money for education, federal housing loans, and small business loans. I voted in favor of the omnibus so that Maine would not be deprived of all of these vital resources. I am extremely disappointed that this bill contained such detrimental, misguided environmental policy as well. I will continue to oppose measures such as these. I have already worked hard in my first month in Congress to oppose drilling in ANWR, to safeguard our environment, and to promote energy efficiency and alternative fuel sources. I have written letters, cosponsored bills, and worked with my colleagues already on these issues, and my determination to advance these causes will not diminish. I am pleased that we could pass this bill, and bring important funding to programs in Maine and around the nation, and I wish that the majority party had not exacted such a high price.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Cardin Democratic alternative on the Welfare Reauthorization bill. This bill would reduce poverty, promote State flexibility, and help move welfare recipients into real jobs. It adds a strong new work requirement, but it also provides welfare recipients with support through education, training, and childcare, and it gives states adequate resources to fund these programs. In contrast, H.R. 4 would leave Maine with a $56 million dollar unfunded mandate over five years. Just as bad, right now, a Maine family of three receiving the maximum benefit only reaches 39 percent of the federal poverty level. H.R. 4 doesn't give any new resources to change that. Instead, it simply asks states and welfare recipients to meet new goals, without giving them a real change to achieve them. So let's support the alternative, and pass welfare reform that works.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 23, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the day when President Bush will deliver his State of the Union address to America. I can tell you that in Maine we are proud of America and hopeful about the future. But we are also concerned about where we are today. We are concerned because Maine's rate of unemployment keeps rising, in some counties as high as 9 percent, and in some labor-market areas as high as 32 percent unemployment. We are concerned because we have lost over 23,000 manufacturing jobs in the last 8 years. And we are concerned because just 3 weeks ago we received devastating news that Great Northern Paper Company, where I worked for 29 years and one of the largest employers in my district, has filed Chapter 11, and both mills have been shut down since December 26. I know that across the country people are hurting and they need our help. Unfortunately, I do not believe that the plan the President will discuss tonight will bring that help. The so-called economic stimulus package is based on tax cuts that go primarily to the wealthiest Americans. It does nothing to create jobs or fuel the economic activity that would help folks back home at Great Northern Paper Company. Mr. Speaker, there is another way. Today I ask the President along with my colleagues here on both sides of the aisle to at least consider the Democratic stimulus plan. This plan means targeted tax relief for working families, 1 million new jobs, money in the pockets of average Americans, a boost for consumer demand and business investment. The Democratic plan does all this, and it does it living within our means. It is fiscally sound. It does not borrow from our children or our grandchildren, burying them with debt and taxing them with interest on that debt. Mr. Speaker, we all have to work together on this because today Americans' number one worry is the economy. Americans are worried about whether their jobs will be there tomorrow. Americans are worried about earning a decent wage, and Americans are worried about being able to afford the same medicines as everyone else. That is why making prescription drugs affordable for all Americans should be a central part of our economic plan. In Maine we created a law that allows the State to negotiate with drug companies that uses the free market to get a better deal for consumers. We called it the Maine Rx program. In the coming weeks I will introduce legislation in this House to bring that historic innovation to the rest of the Nation. It is called America's Rx because all Americans deserve to have their government work on their behalf and using the free market system to get them affordable medicines. This means a lot to real people. A friend of mine, a man who worked next to me at the paper mill for almost three decades, has cancer. He cannot retire. He would have no health benefits if he does, and he cannot afford his medicine on his own. He has to keep working while he is sick, but now, with the company in bankruptcy, he does not know what he is going to do. These are the kind of people we need to help. This is why the cost of prescription drugs is so important, and this is why keeping people working in their jobs is so important, and this is why the health of our economy is so very important. I look forward to working with my colleagues here in Congress to create a real economic stimulus package, and to create real job security, and to create real health policies that works for all the people.