Michael Michaud

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Donald Guimond, Town Manager of Fort Kent, Maine. On May 1, 2008, the town of Fort Kent suffered from severe flooding that impacted businesses, apartments, homes and elderly housing. Mr. Guimond oversaw an orderly evacuation and quick response by emergency teams. Despite working without sleep for more than thirty six hours, Mr. Guimond always knew which residents and businesses had been impacted, where individuals sought shelter, and what further assistance was necessary. His well-coordinated reaction prevented serious injury and the loss of life. Mr. Guimond continued to show his dedication to the residents of Fort Kent long after the flood waters receded. Through his efforts, the town provided the space necessary for disaster assistance teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and other entities. He and his staff coordinated an effort to provide emergency heaters to residents whose furnaces were damaged by the disaster. He played an active role in the town's Long-term Recovery Committee, making sure that residents and business owners applied for the assistance that they needed and that the town is ready to respond to ongoing issues which have arisen from the flood. The Small Business Administration has recognized Mr. Guimond's significant contributions by presenting him the Phoenix Award for Disaster Recovery as a Public Official. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Guimond's dedication to the residents of Fort Kent, Maine.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Alfreda Dumond of Fort Kent, Maine, who has been named ``Mother of the Year'' by the Ladies of St. Anne. Mrs. Dumond is well known for her strong commitment and dedication to her church and to her family. Alfreda Dumond's sole occupation is being a housewife and a mother. She was married for over 44 years, and raised five girls and two boys. A devoted mother who centered her life on her family, she raised her children with strong values and morals, and believed in being an example for them to follow. Alfreda devoted her life to making her home a place where her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren love to visit. Her daughter, Linda, mentions that her house is her castle, so carefully maintained that guests would often remark that ``the house is so clean that we can actually eat off the floor.'' And what a wonderful cook she is--known for her molasses cookies, her old fashioned spaghetti, her homemade rice soup, her boiled dinners and her ployes. Alfreda has always been an active member of her church, and throughout her life volunteered her time in service to the local clergy. For over 20 years, she has served as a Eucharistic Minister who visits the homes of shut-ins to deliver communion. This devotion to her church and to its congregation has earned her this important recognition--a woman who is committed to strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of her family, her home, and her community. Women like Alfreda Dumond give strength and joy to all of our lives, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing her for receiving this honor. I wish Alfreda and her family all the best, and congratulate her on this well-deserved award.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I am here this afternoon to strongly oppose the Bush-negotiated Panama Free Trade Agreement. We should not even be considering this agreement until Panama fixes its outrageous banking secrecy, its offshore tax haven, and financial service deregulation policies. Just when we thought we heard almost everything that there is to know about AIG's bailout and bonuses, many of you may not know AIG is suing United States taxpayers, claiming it overpaid U.S. taxes on activities in Panama. Panama is a country which applies low to no regulations and taxes on firms registered there. AIG wants to get back those taxes it dodged with its Panamanian front. Panama hides its tax liabilities and transactions behind banking secrecy rules. The United States and other firms can create unregulated subsidiaries with ease in Panama. According to the State Department, Panama has over 350,000 foreign-registered companies. AIG is very keen on tax havens like Panama. The New York Times just ran an article about how AIG is currently suing the United States Government for over $306 million in back taxes it claims it does not owe because of the Panamanian company entitled Starr International Company, otherwise known as SICO. SICO is AIG's largest shareholder. It is also the manager of a compensation fund for AIG employees who are paid in AIG shares. SICO's chairman is former AIG Chairman Hank Greenberg. The same company that got the government bailout money and used taxpayer dollars for outrageous bonuses is now demanding twice the amount of bonuses in paid back taxes. If you aren't already angry about the greed of AIG executives, the fact that they are using Panama's tax haven status as a way to sue the American taxpayers for back taxes is completely outrageous. The Bush- negotiated Panama Free Trade Agreement would make matters worse. It promotes the offshoring of investment by providing special treatment for firms who are in Panama. At a time of severe economic downturn and when the government is asking the United States taxpayers to foot the bill for Wall Street's mess, the last thing we need to do is pass a trade deal negotiated by the Bush administration that promotes offshoring, tax dodging, and privileges for foreign investors. This is simply outrageous. As elected officials of the people here in the United States, we ought to have transparency in what is going on; and that transparency has not been there, whether it is the bailout legislation or whether it is looking at the Panama trade negotiated under the Bush administration which will be a tax haven for companies who are registered in Panama. I urge my colleagues to vote against any Panama trade deal that has been negotiated by the previous administration. It's wrong. It's outrageous, and it is not the right thing to do.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to celebrate the 100th birthday of a native daughter of the State of Maine. Her unwavering dedication as an educator in Dennysville and other local communities will be cherished for years to come. Mina Phinney graduated from Dennysville High School and went on to continue her education at Colby College in Waterville, ME. Returning to Dennysville High School in 1931, Mina taught English and French until 1938 and then returned to resume teaching from 1952 until the school closed in 1961. Her career as a dedicated educator continued through the 1960s and 1970s at Washington Academy in East Machias. In 2000, she received the school's Distinguished Educator Award from the Washington Academy Board of Trustees. During her earlier years, Mina served as an organist at the Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church. She is an avid Boston Red Sox fan and has always maintained a keen interest in local, state and national happenings and always keeps up with current events. Mina has been a lifelong member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She contributed to the war effort as an Air Craft Spotter during World War II. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the 100th birthday of Mina H. Phinney.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said this week that the administration wants to move forward with the Bush-negotiated Panama and Colombia Free Trade Agreement ``sooner rather than later.'' This is absolutely outrageous and a serious mistake, and contrary to what the President campaigned on. Why would we be moving forward on a trade agreement negotiated by President Bush during a time where our economy is struggling? This makes no sense whatsoever. It does not represent a new model on trade. It represents a recycled model that doesn't work. At home, people are furious about these trade deals. During the economic downturn, do we really want to push forward a Bush-negotiated free trade agreement? I believe the American people deserve more. I believe they demand more from their elected officials. We have a historic opportunity with a new administration to reset the course of trade policy. I look forward to working with the administration to change the course of direction.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the dedication, service and commitment of Ron Sailor to the veterans of Maine. Ron was born in Orono, Maine, and is a graduate of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill. He attended Husson College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 1968. He then briefly worked for Great Northern Paper Company and the Internal Revenue Service. Ron served 32 years in the Maine Air National Guard, attaining the rank of Colonel. He served in a number of roles, including Chief of Staff to the Adjutant General, Public Affairs Officer, and Director of Operations and Training. Like so many veterans across our nation, Ron's service did not end when he took off his uniform. Following his Maine Air National Guard service, Ron became active in the American Legion, serving as Orono Post 84 Commander, the Penobscot County Vice Commander and the Department of Maine Commander. For the past 10 years, Ron has served as the Adjutant for the Department of Maine. Throughout his service to the American Legion, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of all the Maine legionnaires to ensure they receive the rights and benefits they have earned from their service. Maine veterans, both now and for generations to come, will benefit because of Ron's efforts. Through his hard work and dedication, Ron has left a lasting legacy and brought honor and credit to himself, his family, his community, the American Legion and his nation. I have valued his candor, his guidance and his friendship, and I extend my sincere thank you to him for his many years of service on behalf of the veterans of Maine.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, the State of Maine and the working families across the Nation lost a determined advocate when Bruce Roy passed away on April 7. I rise tonight to honor my dear friend. My heart goes out to his wife for over 29 years, Nancy; his two daughters, Jessica and Joanne; and his five grandchildren, Courtney, Britney, Logan, Isabell, and Cooper, as well as his extended family during this very difficult time. Bruce reminds us all of how short and precious life can be, but unlike most people who let life pass by them, Bruce lived in the moment. He gave everything he had to the betterment of his family's life and those around him. I believe that a true measure of a man should always be the size of his heart. And God knows, and everyone who knew Bruce knew, that the size of his heart was enormous. He loved so many, and he was loved by so many, and there is nothing more important in life than that. Bruce's idea of family far extends beyond the traditional norm; it includes his fellow mill workers, his union brothers and sisters, and his neighbors. He devoted his life to helping struggling families all across the State of Maine. And in the weeks preceding his death, helping the laid-off workers at Wausau Paper Mill get the assistance that they deserved. Bruce also was a member of PACE International Union, known today as United Steelworkers Local 11 of Jay. He also served as Treasurer/ Recording Secretary and President of the Maine Labor Council of the United Steelworkers, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Maine AFL-CIO. He was recently appointed and confirmed to the Maine Workers' Compensation Board. But in no way can Bruce's resume encapsulate who he was and what he stood for. When I first ran for Congress, many people did not believe that a mill worker could be elected. I was in a six-way primary in 2002, and the odds were stacked against me. Bruce devoted his life full-time to my campaign. And even though he wasn't a paid staffer, he was very much part of our campaign team. Bruce would get up at the crack of dawn to do mill gates, and spent long evenings plastering neighborhoods with campaign signs and literature. He was instrumental in my ``Get Out the Vote'' effort in the Katahdin region. I know he did all this at the expense of spending time with his loving family. He made an enormous sacrifice, but it was for a cause that he believed in. And that is how Bruce lived his life, he devoted his whole heart to the cause he believed in. When I won the seat to the United States Congress, my victory was not just for me, but for people like Bruce. Bruce always reminded me that you can't stop fighting for the working men and women of this country. He lived that pledge in everything that he did. I have never forgotten those words. They are the words that we all should live by today. Bruce always made a decision based on what was right. His approach to life was a combination of good humor, high ideals, and honor. He lived by that example. His son-in-law said about Bruce, ``He was the nicest guy I ever met,'' and I couldn't agree more. There are no words to express the pain we all feel with his passing away. We love you, Bruce, and we know that you are among the angels. Your work here on Earth will never be forgotten from your brothers and sisters in the labor movement, and from your families and friends who lived and worked by you each and every day of your life. May God bless you and your wonderful family.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important Maine institution and a bold step it is taking into the future. On October 11th, Husson College will become Husson University, a transition that marks a significant point in this school's history and its continued and growing contributions to the region and the State of Maine. Located in Bangor, Maine, Husson College has, for over 100 years, offered students an opportunity to develop the skills and the kind of innovative thinking that has allowed them to succeed. With over 20 academic disciplines, from degrees in business and psychology to certificates in paralegal work and boatbuilding--a skill of vital importance to Maine--Husson has offered the classroom and experiential learning resources our students and State need to compete. With this transition, Husson will be able to expand upon their current program, continuing to improve their ability serve students from Maine, the rest of the country, and the world. I congratulate President William Beardsley for his steadfast stewardship of the University as it grows to meet these new opportunities for Husson and thank him for the tremendous graduates his institution is producing for our State and Nation. The key to America's continuing competitiveness in this world is having citizens of exceptional skills, who can respond in innovative ways to the challenges America faces. Husson has always offered this kind of education, and will continue to do so well into the future.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to honor a native son of the largest city in my Congressional District. Marsden Hartley was born in Lewiston, Maine, in 1877. He became the most daring and original of the group of first generation modernist artists whom Alfred Stieglitz brought together in the early years of the 20th century. In the early years of the 20th century, Marsden Hartley traveled throughout the USA and Europe. Considered an early modernist, Hartley was a nomadic painter for much of his life. He painted from Maine to Massachusetts, in New Mexico, California, New York, and in Western Europe. Finally, after spending many years away from his native state, he returned to Maine toward the end of his life. He wanted to become ``The Painter of Maine'' and to depict American life at a local level. In this way, he is a member of the regionalists, a group of artists from the early to mid 20th century that attempted to represent a distinctly ``American Art.'' Hartley is an icon among painters. He is considered one of the foremost American painters of the first half of the 20th century. The State of Maine recognizes the great contribution of Lewiston's native son to the world of fine art. Governor John Baldacci has proclaimed September 25, 2008 as ``Marsden Hartley Day.'' There will be a celebration of his work at Bates College, also located in Lewiston, Maine. There will be two screenings of ``Visible Silence: Marsden Hartley, Painter and Poet,'' an essay in film by Michael Maglaras. I rise today to honor Marsden Hartley for his contribution to the State of Maine and the United States.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Colby College Museum of Art for being accredited by the American Association of Museums, AAM. Accredited since 1995, and re-accredited recently, the museum joins 10 other museums from Maine and 775 nationwide to receive this honor. Accreditation recognizes the Colby College museum's commitment to public service, professional standards, and excellence in education. The Colby College Museum of Art is a powerful community presence and leader in communicating the value and importance of art. The museum is more than just a collection of great works of art; it is also an incredible educational resource for the state of Maine. It offers hands-on workshops, morning story times for children and various lectures from faculty at Colby, visiting speakers, and student docents. The Colby College Museum of Art extends its reach far beyond the Colby College campus, sharing its astounding collection with community members of all ages and providing a place for study for faculty and students. I have no doubt that the museum will continue this mission of service and education well into the future, and congratulate the museum once again on this deserved accreditation by the American Association of Museums.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6445, the Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act. I would like to thank Mr. Cazayoux for this progressive piece of legislation, and Representatives Doyle, Walz, Buyer and Hare for their significant contributions. Thank you also Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for your support of this measure. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the great effort of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee staff in compiling this bill and achieving it's strong bi-partisan nature. Over the past few decades, VA has transformed the way it delivers care to our veterans. This transformation has significantly increased their efficiency, increased veterans' access to care, and aligned the VA with the health care industry at large. Unfortunately, certain policies that are relics of the previous era of health care delivery remain. This bill will modernize VA policies regarding copayments for nonservice-connected, catastrophically disabled, Category Group 4 veterans; pain care; counseling services for family members; and HIV testing. Additionally, this legislation enhances the VA's ability to collect third party payments. Currently, there are approximately 25,000 non-service connected catastrophically disabled veterans enrolled in Priority Group 4. These veterans have a permanent, severely disabling injury, disorder, or disease that compromises their ability to carry out many activities of daily living. The very nature and severity of their disabilities precludes them from employment. Yet current VA policy requires these veterans to pay copayments for their care. Section 2 of this bill prohibits VA from collecting copayments from these vulnerable veterans. Another legacy policy of the VA states that families of veterans being treated for non-service connected disabilities are only eligible for family support services, such as counseling, training or mental health services, if they are necessary for the veteran's treatment and they are initiated during the veteran's hospitalization and they are essential for the discharge of the veteran from the hospital. Since the VA has transformed to a predominantly outpatient-based system, this policy is no longer effective. Section 3 of this bill removes these restrictions on the provision of family support services. This is essential for our newest generation of veterans and their families. Veterans suffer from acute and chronic pain in proportions far exceeding the general population. In fact, pain is the leading cause of disability among veterans. To address the issue, the VA developed a ``National Pain Management Strategy'' and issued a directive to make pain management a national priority. However, this directive expired May 31, 2008 and reports from the field suggest that implementation has been far from consistent. Section 4 of this bill mandates that the VA develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans. It requires the VA to develop the policy in consultation with veterans service organizations and other 7137 organizations with expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of pain. Current law authorizes the VA to bill veterans' insurance companies (third-party collections) for non-service connected care provided to veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. A June 2008 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimated that $1.2 to $1.4 billion dollars go uncollected annually by VA due to improper coding, delays in billing, and collections follow-up. In 2005, VA created the Mid-Atlantic Consolidated Patient Accounting Center (CPAC) in Asheville, North Carolina which has been tremendously successful. Section 5 of this bill would require the VA establish no more than seven other CPACs to help maximize its collections by using industry best-practices to improve timely and accurate billing and enhance collections. The VA is the largest, single provider of HIV/AIDS care in the United States with over 22,800 patients with HIV/AIDS. In 1988, Congress passed legislation that required the VA obtain a veteran's written informed consent before being tested for HIV. This was based on the best practice in 1988. However, since then our knowledge of HIV/AIDS has increased significantly and treatments have advanced significantly. As a result, in 2006, the CDC revised their recommendations regarding diagnostic HIV testing. CDC now recommends HIV testing be a part of routine clinical care and recommends that separate written consent for HIV screening should no longer be required. Section 6 of this bill brings VA HIV/AIDS care up to current standards of practice. All the provisions in this bill are intended to enhance current VA policies to bring them into the 21st century. The improvements in these policies will have a direct and positive impact on improving the quality of healthcare our veterans receive. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6445.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the dedication, unwavering service and steadfast commitment of Rosemarie Lane to the veterans of Maine. Rosemarie was born in Brooklyn, New York. She joined the Army at age 19. She served in France and Germany, and volunteered to serve in Vietnam. She retired in 1986 as a Master Sergeant. Her service to our country is not limited to the military. She recently retired from the Internal Revenue Service after many years of dedicated public service. As a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rosemarie has served as Post Commander and District 9 Commander. She was elected the 2003-2004 State Commander for the VFW Department of Maine, giving her the distinction as the first female VFW State Commander in New England. Since completing her term as State Commander, she has continued to serve the VFW on its National Legislative Committee. Rosemarie is a staunch advocate for veterans, working tireless hours defending the rights and benefits she and her fellow veterans have earned. She embodies the spirit, commitment, and passion that all veterans' advocates should possess. I can always trust that Rosemarie will tell me exactly what she believes. I value her guidance, her candor, and her friendship. Through her work, she has brought honor and credit to herself, her family, her community, the VFW and her Nation. I extend my sincere thank you to her for her many years of service on behalf of our veterans.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5856, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities Authorization and Lease Act of 2008. This legislation authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to build or lease major medical facilities across this country. I believe we must do everything possible to take care of the men and women who defend our Nation and fight for freedom around the world. The facilities authorized in this legislation will provide the much- needed physical facilities around the country where we can take care of veterans for different health care reasons. This legislation has strong bipartisan support. We did take a lot of time working with the minority members and had hearings on this bill and actually went around the country to look at the facilities that the VA currently has. This bill is desperately needed to make sure that we keep upgrading and building the facilities that are needed around this great Nation of ours. I do want to thank the staff on both the majority side and minority side for all their efforts in really moving this legislation forward. Especially I want to thank Mr. Miller, who has been a strong supporter of this legislation. We spent hundreds of hours going through this proposal with committee staff and within the VA staff as well. I especially want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Ranking Member Buyer, for your interest in this legislation as well. This legislation did receive a lot of interest from a variety of Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, and we wish we could accommodate all the interest and concerns that we heard, but we were unable to do that at this time. We will be able to move forward with report language in this legislation that actually requires the VA to report back to the Veterans' Affairs Committee on how we deal with some of the lower cost items, CBOCs around the country, and look forward to that report. Hopefully, we will be able to move forward in a more aggressive way and get the facilities that we need around the country. With that, I would urge my colleagues to strongly support H.R. 5856.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 5554, the Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008. This legislation does amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to veterans for substance use disorders. It requires that all VA medical centers provide ready access to a full continuum of care for substance use disorders. And it explicitly defines that ``full continuum of care'' as ranging from initial screening through outpatient care and family therapy. We have an obligation to take care of the men and women who chose to fight for our freedom and the freedom of all oppressed people. This legislation had strong bipartisan support during its development. I want to thank members of the Health Care Subcommittee, especially Mr. Miller, for their support and contributions to this legislation, as well as the committee staff on both sides of the aisle. I also would like to thank Congresswoman Berkley, who has been a true advocate for our veterans, and who has been strongly involved in the development of this legislation as well. I also want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership, as well as Ranking Member Buyer for your leadership in this legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to speak in honor of the life and times of Philip Ingegneri, who was a dedicated public servant, a true friend of Maine, and a loving husband and father. For over 30 years, Phil Ingegneri served his country as a special investigator for the Internal Revenue Service. His work in special investigations took him to cities across the eastern seaboard and even to postwar Europe, where he was stationed in Paris, France. When the opportunity arose in the 1950s, Phil jumped at the chance to move his beloved wife, Roslyn, and two young children, Philip and Lois, to Bangor, Maine, where they quickly integrated into that vibrant community. After a long and distinguished career serving his country, Phil Ingegneri was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, where he dedicated his efforts to improving public education for all of Maine's citizens. I am sad to announce Philip Ingegneri passed away this Saturday evening at the age of 97. However, it is a privilege to recognize on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives his service and contributions to our Nation and the great State of Maine. His dedication and love for his family, community, and country is a fine example for all of us.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to speak in honor of the life of Philip Ingegneri, who was a dedicated public servant, a true friend of Maine, and a loving husband and father. For over 30 years, Phil served his country as a special investigator for the IRS. When the opportunity arose in the 1950s, Phil moved his beloved wife, Rosslyn, and their two young children, Philip and Lois, to Bangor, Maine. After a long and dedicated career serving his country, Phil was elected to the Maine House of Representatives where he dedicated his efforts to improving public education for all of Maine's citizens. I am sad to announce that Phil passed away this past Saturday at the age of 97. It is a privilege to recognize on the floor of the House of Representatives his service and contribution to our Nation and the great State of Maine. His dedication and love for his family, community, and country is a fine example for all of us.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 322 recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Today marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel. For the past six decades the United States and Israel have forged a special relationship based on our shared history of overcoming oppression, tyranny and hatred. This bond has strengthened over time through our common interest in peace, prosperity, and democracy. As we commemorate this anniversary, we must also recognize the challenges that face Israel. Security and prosperity will only be reached when a resolution to the conflict between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples is achieved. It is critical that we engage both Israel and the Palestinian leadership to find a way forward. It is also critical that we support initiatives that create greater dialogue, cooperation and economic development between Israelis and Palestinians. I have been a strong supporter of Seeds of Peace, which has a camp located in my district, which brings Arab and Israeli youth together to dispel stereotypes and build lasting trust within the regional leaders of tomorrow. I have also been a strong supporter of the Middle East Regional Cooperation program and other programs that create people-to-people reconciliation and coexistence in the Middle East. Israel is friend and ally of the United States and it is my honor to recognize the 60th anniversary of its founding. True support for Israel lies in standing with our friend as its civilians face down indiscriminate rocket attacks and in pushing for a permanent peace that provides security and dignity to both Israelis and Palestinians. On this special occasion it is important to commemorate the past, but also to look toward the future. As our two Nations enter our seventh decade as allies, we must continue to actively pursue our common dream of peace, freedom and security--a dream that I believe is shared by all peoples of the world. Mr. Speaker, I reiterate my firm support of H. Con. Res. 322.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1077 and to speak about the alarming human rights situation in Tibet and the People's Republic of China. In recent weeks, we have seen citizens of the world rising up against the Chinese Government's crackdown in Tibet and requesting that the communist regime end human rights abuses. The crackdown by the Chinese Government resulted in more than 100 deaths of Tibetans and the detention of thousands more. The Chinese government has also impeded the access of international journalists to Tibetan areas of China. It is time for this body to stand with these protests and act to protect Tibetans and Chinese citizens from further violence. Despite the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Government's human rights record remains poor. Tibetans are not the only victims of China's human rights abuses. We must not forget the persecution of Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong, democracy advocates, AIDS victims, journalists, and lawyers in China. There have been numerous abuses in China tied to the upcoming Olympic Games, including media and Internet censorship, sentences on charges of state subversion of government critics and forced evictions. Human rights advocates are being imprisoned for criticizing the Government's human rights record. The Chinese Government wants to use the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to showcase the progress their country has made. It is my hope that the Chinese Government will take immediate and substantial strides to resolve the situation in Tibet and to address domestic human rights issues in China. Until that time, the voices of this Congress and the world should continue to apply pressure on the Chinese Government. The Summer Olympic Games offer the international community the opportunity to speak up against ongoing abuses in China. Human rights should be our first priority and our first requirement when we engage with countries. It is our duty to use our economic and diplomatic leverage to make sure that fundamental rights are protected in the world. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support H. Res. 1077, which calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to end its crackdown in Tibet and to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama's movement is not radical, and it is not violent. It is time for the Chinese to end their brutal treatment of the Tibetan people. It is time for the Tibetan people to experience the inalienable freedoms and human rights that all free peoples should enjoy. Again, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1077.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome and recognize Ms. Jeri Brooks Greenwell as today's guest chaplain. Ms. Greenwell is from Bethel, Maine, and is a member of the West Paris Congregational Church. She's also the National Chaplain of the American Legion Auxiliary. Ms. Greenwell has dedicated much of her adult life in community service. She has been an active member of the Legion Auxiliary since 1974, holding numerous positions. Her service extends deep into her community. Ms. Greenwell is a life member of the Bethel Historical Society, a former Literacy Volunteer, a member of the Maine's Children Alliance, a member of the Maine Handicapped Skiing Veterans Program, and a National spokesperson for the National Meningitis Association. Ms. Greenwell is joined by other members of the American Legion. I would like to welcome them as well. I am proud that Ms. Greenwell is my constituent, and it is an honor to have her deliver today's prayer.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the families who 150 years ago came to the banks of the Aroostook River following the Aroostook War and the Webster-Ashburton Treaty which paved their way. Working together in the midst of wilderness, the community supported a school and increasing amounts of small businesses. Finally, in March, 1858, the Secretary of State certified that an act to incorporate the Town of Fort Fairfield had been signed by Governor Lot M. Morrill. Today, equipped with the same community spirit and sense of common purpose, the people of Fort Fairfield continue to embrace the challenges and opportunities of living and working on the border in northern Maine. Their commitment and the commitment of their ancestors are to be commended. 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 Fort Fairfield and I am pleased to have this opportunity to help this community celebrate its 150th Anniversary.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Acadia National Park Improvement Act. I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young, as well as subcommittee Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop, for their work on this measure. This is a very important bill for the State of Maine as well as the future of Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is a spectacular and unique landscape of mountains, hills, ponds, marshes and shorelines. Earlier visitors to Mount Desert Island and its surroundings helped to establish Acadia as the first national park east of the Mississippi. The park is a major engine of the regional economy, bringing in almost $130 million in visitor spending to the region, and supporting over 2,600 jobs. The Acadia National Park Improvement Act will help the park continue to attract visitors to the area and maintain and preserve their important natural resources. It allows the park to continue to complete the vision laid out in the 1986 law setting the park's boundaries and to enhance the emission-reducing Island Explorer bus system. Most importantly, this legislation will reauthorize the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission. The commission brings representatives of surrounding towns, the State of Maine, and the Department of the Interior together to make sure all community members are involved in park planning. I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work on this, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this important bill for the State of Maine.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the workers at NewPage Corporation in Rumford, Maine, and Fraser Timber Limited in Ashland, Maine. These workers received some devastating news this week about job losses and layoffs. Fraser Timber Limited will lay off 70 workers on February 8, 2008 to June 1, 2008. NewPage Corporation announced a shutdown of a paper machine in Rumford as of February 25, 2008. This decision could impact approximately 60 to 70 jobs in Maine. In Maine, we are all too familiar with an economic and trade policy that has devastated our manufacturing sector. As a mill worker for nearly 30 years at Great Northern Paper Company, I know how devastating this news is for these workers and their families. When this happens in small rural communities in Maine, it ripples through the economy and throughout the region. When the House considers a potential economic stimulus package in the next few weeks, I'll keep the workers of NewPage and Fraser at the forefront of my mind. Any economic stimulus package the House considers must consider what's good for our workers and their industry. We must get back to fiscal discipline, yet provide the relief so many people in Maine need. But if we are truly trying to reform our economy, we must also address the serious trade imbalance that's creating this job loss. It's no secret that trade has gotten the better of Maine's manufacturing industry. Since passage of NAFTA, Maine has lost 23 percent of our manufacturing base. Today the USTR Trade Representative Susan Schwab said that moving forward on these trade agreements will actually help our economy. Well, I can tell you this, she obviously hasn't talked to the men and women of NewPage and Fraser. She hasn't talked to other workers in Maine and across this country that have been devastated by these NAFTA-style trade deals. These workers don't want more TAA. They want their jobs back. I've been in touch with the Maine Department of Labor Rapid Response Team, the workers at the mills, to discuss the implication of this, the paper machine shutting down on these workers. In the days and weeks ahead, my office will be working to provide whatever assistance is necessary to help these workers get back to work. But they want their jobs. Mainers have rallied for each other during difficult times in the past and will do so again. I'll continue to be involved in meeting the needs of our workers affected by this announcement, and I'll stay in close contact with plant officials and workers in the days ahead. But this Congress has to look at the fundamental problem with our flawed trade models and trade deals that we've been passing in this Congress. And this Congress is no different than the previous Congress. We continue to use the same flawed trade model, and that's going to continue to hurt workers and manufacturing businesses here in this country. This Congress has to wake up to what's actually happening out there. We will not need any economic stimulus package if we make sure that we pass fair trade deals that are good for our workers here, that are good for our businesses here in this country.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I mistakenly voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 11. While I support many provisions in H.R. 4986, I do not support this legislation because of the authorization for war funding in Iraq. I intended to vote ``nay'' on rollcall 11.

Mr. MICHAUD

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I am asking Members who are committed to a fair trade deal to vote against the Peru FTA. While I have been a Member of Congress for only 5 years, I have been a mill worker all my life. The mill I worked at in Maine shut down 3 days after I was sworn in as a Member of Congress. The culprit? Badly flawed trade deals. This lunch bucket sits proudly in my office. It symbolizes who I am, what I stand for. It also symbolizes what has been lost. Since the passage of NAFTA, our country has lost over 3 million jobs. When the vote on NAFTA happened, Members of Congress were promised NAFTA would raise the standard of living for all. They were sold a dream, but the dream is now a nightmare of millions of workers all across this country. The American people get it. Polling indicates that an overwhelming number of Americans, Republicans and Democrats, are concerned about exporting our jobs. They worry whether or not they will have a paycheck in the years to come. We have all seen the ugly face of trade agreements that don't live up to the promises. The debate here today is not whether Peru is a small country and the trade impact is small compared to China. The debate is when will we truly change the course of trade policy. If this was truly a good trade policy, I would be the first to support it. The bill's supporters claim that enhanced environmental standards in the FTA will preserve our natural resources. Where is the strong support from Sierra Club, Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth? The new labor provisions supposedly will improve conditions for workers in Peru and create jobs here at home. So why is no single labor union actively supporting this trade agreement? That's right, not one, not one labor union. If this so-called new model is so great, then why aren't we hearing from all sides of the trade debate asking us to support it? If you stand with the multinational corporations that seek to offshore jobs, then vote for it. If you stand with the Chamber of Commerce who says that these labor standards are unenforceable, then vote for this trade deal. If you stand by President Bush, who has a track record of listening to corporations instead of the men and women of this country, by all means vote for this trade deal. But if you stand by the working men and women of this country, I would encourage you, you must vote ``no.'' A ``no'' vote calls for a new model and a new direction on trade. A ``no'' vote means you stand up with the workers of northern Maine; Lorain, Ohio; Flint, Michigan; Galesburg, Illinois, and men and women all across this country who are asking, no, who are begging this Congress for a new direction on trade. These workers don't want more trade adjustment assistance; they want their job back. It's time to send a message that we embrace globalization so long as it lifts us all up. I will never forget who I am or why I am here. I hope my colleagues will do the same. I ask my colleagues today to vote ``no'' on this bad trade deal. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.