Candice Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, currency manipulation by our foreign competitors is creating difficult challenges for our country's manufacturing base, particularly our domestic auto industry. The Wall Street Journal reported in June that ``a cheap yen is making it advantageous for Toyota to increase manufacturing capability and to export cars from Japan, and that it is much more profitable to produce cars in Japan and ship them all to the United States right now.'' And what is the response of the Congress to this threat against the American automotive industry which is directly responsible for the employment of millions of American jobs? Well, the Democrats control the Congress, and the Democratic leadership has decided that Detroit doesn't have enough on its plate right now. Instead of trying to level the playing field, Democrats want to pile on unworkable new CAFE standards on the domestic auto industry. Higher CAFE standards will not reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but they will steal investment dollars from technologies that could transform the entire automobile industry and level the global automotive market. I urge my colleagues to reject this misguided policy and stand up for American manufacturing companies, stand up for American jobs.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I was appalled last week by the words of the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asking Senators to vote for a job-killing fuel economy standards bill for cars by asking them to, ``speak for the American people, not for the three car companies that are closing plants and laying off people.'' Well, the last time I looked, the over 1 million people who work directly for the big three are actually American citizens, and millions of others whose jobs are supported by the big three are Americans as well, the last time I looked. Everyone knows that the biggest producer of CO2 emissions is electricity production, and yet I didn't hear the Senate majority leader volunteer to make the blazing neon blazing casinos in his home State of Nevada more energy efficient. How about we regulate their energy consumption? Let's hope that the Democratic leaders in this House understand that millions of American workers and their jobs are worth protecting and don't follow the Senate's lead in their attempt to destroy them.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, for months we have heard the Democrats' promises that they would make this the most transparent and ethical Congress that our Nation has ever seen, and of course, we all want to see Congress held accountable. We all want the legislative process to be open and be accessible to the American people. So this week the Democrats get to take a swing at making good on their promises of transparency and accountability, and they're already striking out with their secret slush funds. By deciding not to include any earmarks in the appropriation bills and instead to slip them in by the dark of night into conference reports, preventing anyone from questioning or challenging their earmarks, they have completely shut off the legislative process to the American people. Now, let me make it clear that I am not against earmarks. I am more than willing to get up here on the floor and defend each and every earmark that I have ever gotten or tried to get for my district. And I think that all Members should have the opportunity to defend their projects and their requests, but more importantly, tax paying citizens have the right to know exactly how their hard-earned dollars are being spent. To make this process closed is an insult to taxpayers, and if Democrats have nothing to hide, they should live up to their promise and open the process back up to the American people and hold themselves accountable for their spending.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 2358, the Native American $1 Coin Act, and I applaud my colleague and fellow Michiganian (Mr. Kildee) for cosponsoring this legislation, and the other cosponsors as well, and for bringing it to the House floor this morning. Native Americans have played an important role throughout the history of our Nation, so it is certainly appropriate that we honor them and their accomplishments as well. In fact, were it not for some great Native Americans, America as we know it today might look quite a bit different. Think about Squanto and Somerset, who helped the Pilgrims survive their very first winter in the New World; or Sakakawea, who guided Lewis and Clark across the unexplored North American continent; or Jim Thorpe, the athlete who thrilled millions, really, across the globe with his exploits in baseball and football and the Olympics, where he won a gold medal; or the Navajo code talkers who broke the Japanese code, which was a key moment in the Allied forces prevailing over Japan during World War II. These individuals and many others like them have made invaluable contributions to the survival and to the character of these United States. This legislation will require the Secretary of Treasury to mint and issue coins in commemoration of Native Americans and the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the development and the history, the very rich history, of the United States. These coins will serve as an important reminder to all Americans of the important role that Native Americans have played in our Nation's history, the things they are achieving today, and the goals that they will meet in the future. Native Americans will be involved in the design selection process as well, which will also remind them of their important historical contributions. So I applaud the sponsors and the cosponsors of this legislation for their efforts. And I urge all of my colleagues to support the Native American $1 Coin Act.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of H. Res. 386, commending the efforts of the United States Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week. I actually grew up in the boating industry. My family was in the marine business and still today our family hobby is boating. As well, I serve as cochair of the Congressional Boating Caucus, and I know firsthand the benefits and enjoyment to be had from boating, but also the serious risks associated with irresponsible boating practices. While my home State of Michigan actually has the third most registered boats of any State in the Nation, unfortunately that great enjoyment of our nautical culture goes hand in hand with the many stories each year of boating accidents. We hear about persons lost overboard, or collisions or just reckless boating which results in accidents each year, many of them sadly ending in death that occurred while individuals were enjoying their favorite activity out on the water. The Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council have taken it upon themselves to promote safe boating practices every day of the year, but especially they emphasize these goals during National Safe Boating Week. House Resolution 386 commends these groups for their service in this field. Mr. Speaker, some of the principles that are espoused by the National Safe Boating Week include the proper use of personal flotation devices or observing the rules of the road like who has the right-of-way, just understanding port from starboard, attending a boating education course, and avoiding the use of alcohol while operating a boat. All of these things can significantly cut down on the number of on-the-water accidents and help everybody enjoy their time on the lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans we are absolutely so very blessed to have in our great country. It is my pleasure to support this resolution, as well as all of the groups that it commends. In fact, I want to make note that my congressional district is a shoreline district and I also want to say thanks as well to all of the sheriff's marine divisions that operate not only in my counties but all around the Great Lakes basin and throughout our great Nation as well. They play a critical role in keeping our waterways safe. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I appreciate the gentleman yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 1773, the Safe American Roads Act. This legislation sets out very, very stringent, quantifiable safety standards which the Department of Transportation must meet before permitting Mexican-based trucks to operate through the United States. Before coming to Congress, I had the pleasure of serving for 8 years as the Michigan Secretary of State with a principal responsibility of being that State's chief motor vehicle administrator. I was also the chairman of the Traffic Safety Commission of my State, and so I had the responsibility for all licensing, commercial drivers licenses as well as hazardous material endorsements. So I had immediate concerns about how the DOT pilot program might compromise the safety of our roads. Here in the United States, we have reciprocity amongst the States so we can share driving records across State lines. In Mexico, licensing requirements are very poor, and it's well-known that fraud in their system runs rampant. In fact, the Transportation Committee heard in testimony from the DOT's Inspector General that one in five Mexican driving records contained an error of some type. Mr. Speaker, if we had a 20 percent error rate in the United States we would consider it a crisis, and I actually believe that was a very low estimate. There are also concerns about the insurance provisions of this program. American truckers must carry very expensive insurance policies in the event that they are in an accident. What if it happens that a Mexican truck has an accident somewhere in the United States? Good luck to the victims of that accident who will try to collect on damages from a Mexican company. I believe that if we let these Mexican truckers into our country with questionable identification and insurance, it exposes American drivers to more dangerous conditions on our roadways. First of all, because the Mexican drivers are allowed to work far longer hours than our truckers; and secondly, it is well-known that there's widespread drug use in this profession, as the chairman of our subcommittee has already articulated. Presently, there is no system under which secure testing could take place. In fact, it's been said that there is a not a single testing lab in Mexico to ensure that the drivers coming into our country are drug free. The numbers I think are the easiest way to tell whether or not this proposal is a fair deal for the United States. As soon as this pilot program was announced, 800 Mexican trucking companies lined up to come into the United States. By contrast, only two American companies desired to deliver into Mexico. I think those numbers are very indicative of whether or not this is a fair agreement for the United States. Because of all of these problems, groups like the Teamsters, as well as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, also the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety have all come out in opposition to this proposal. Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure the program can only take place once these trucks and drivers from Mexico can meet the same standards that American trucks and drivers do. Trucks participating in the pilot program will be subject to rigorous safety inspections limited to a total of 1,000. Their drivers must also demonstrate clean driving records and have a proficiency in English. This legislation as well would require extensive oversight and review of the pilot program from an independent review panel. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlelady yielding, and I certainly rise in strong support of House Resolution 343, which commemorates the marinas of the United States and expresses support for the sixth annual National Marina Day. The purpose of National Marina Day is to inform the public about the important role that marinas do play in our local communities by providing a very safe, family-friendly venue to encourage the recreational boating industry, which can generate literally millions and billions of dollars in economic activity. The positive spin-off effects of marinas encourage the development of all kinds of businesses and restaurants to supplement the marinas' putting people to work. Actually, in my home municipality of Harrison Township, Michigan, a huge part of our commercial tax base is marinas and recreational oriented businesses, and my congressional district is a shoreline waterfront district as well and our marinas play a very large role in the very identity of our region. In the Great Lakes region alone, boating and marinas generate $4.3 billion annually. Actually, I grew up in the marina business. It was our family business as well as our hobby. So I know firsthand that marinas also provide an essential venue for recreational boating, which is an important part in creating a very high quality of life in a community. While increasing access to our Nation's water resources, marinas also play an important role in keeping our Nation's water clean. Marinas provide an appropriate place to dispose of waste materials so that they are not discharged out into the waterways. Operators of marinas often play an important role in organizing cleanup efforts to collect marine debris to keep our waters clean. Finally, Mr. Speaker, marinas are playing a very important role as well in the defense of our Nation. I say that because they have been partnering with the United States Coast Guard, and the marina operators and their customers are staying vigilant and keeping their eyes open for suspicious activity. Just as our truck drivers are our eyes and ears on the interstate, marina operators and their customers are really our eyes and ears on the waterway as well. Marina operators fill a critical role in keeping our Nation secure along our liquid borders, such as the one that my home State of Michigan shares with our great neighbors of Canada. So I would certainly urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Thank you. I certainly appreciate the gentleman yielding time to me. Madam Speaker, my home State of Michigan shares a very long liquid border with the nation of Canada. We have a very strong and we have a positive relationship with our neighbors to the north; but one issue that has festered in recent years is the fact that Canada has made Michigan a dumping ground for their trash. In fact, all of the municipal waste from the city of Toronto, 100 percent of it all, is carried across the border and dumped in our home State of Michigan. I do not find this to be very neighborly. In fact, if you come to the Blue Water Bridge in St. Clair County, which is in my district, you can literally see, sometimes as far as the eye can see, these trucks lined up to enter into our country just brimming with Canadian trash. They are obviously congesting our roads, they are clogging this very vital border crossing, they are tearing up our highways, and they are threatening the safety of our drivers. Pine Tree Acres, which is one of the largest landfills in Michigan, is in my district, it's in Lenox Township, and every day you can drive down and see a mountain of trash that is growing higher and higher because of all of the influx of Canadian trash that is being dumped there. And most Michigan communities plan very prudently to meet the solid waste needs of our citizens. We all took a lot of pride in planning for that. But now with the influx of all of this foreign trash, the Canadian trash, landfills across the State are overflowing and they are reaching their capacity years sooner than was ever anticipated by the local municipalities. Much of this trash presents enormous health and safety hazards to our communities as well, and to our residents. Some of the trucks have even been found to be ferrying illegal drugs into our communities. And just to give one example of the kind of dangerous trash that is being imported, just last year a Canadian truck spilled human waste, which I think Mr. Rogers referred to as well, all the way along a highway in our State, and this is simply unacceptable. In fact, I find it rather ironic that Canada has a reputation of being environmentally conscious because it seems they are employing something of a double standard here. They find it perfectly acceptable to use Michigan as their own personal garbage can for their waste, but God forbid that they would pollute their own environment and endanger their own citizens with this trash. Madam Speaker, the people of Michigan have had enough, but presently they have no ability to stop the flow of foreign trash, and this legislation does give them that ability. So I would urge all of my colleagues to stand with the people of Michigan and every community in our Nation, to give them the ability to protect our environment and to control the flow of foreign trash into our landfills by supporting this very important legislation. Again, I appreciate our colleagues' responsible action on this.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I wish to join my colleagues in expressing my sorrow over the passing of Juanita Millender-McDonald, the representative of California's 37th Congressional District. My thoughts and prayers go out to her constituents, her friends, and her family. Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity to get to know Juanita during the 109th Congress when we both served as members of the Committee on House Administration. While some might view oversight of election law and the day-to-day functions of the House as relatively uninteresting, I know that I do not, and I know that Juanita, who served as ranking member at the time, did not think them trivial either. Whatever topic was before the committee, Juanita was dedicated to assuring that things were done fairly, properly, and effectively. She was vigorous in guaranteeing the integrity of the Federal elections process and was committed to ensuring that every eligible voter had free and unfettered access to the voting booth. Likewise, in her oversight of managing the House, she wanted to ensure that everyone on Capitol Hill had a safe and secure place to work or visit, while preserving the grandeur of the Capitol and the surrounding buildings. This tenacity was something she demonstrated throughout her life, not just during the decade she spent in Congress. After raising her five children, she continued her own education, earning a bachelor's degree at the age of 40. She followed that up with a master's degree in educational administration. She was no stranger to hard work, and she was not afraid to take on a challenge. One of Juanita's most notable accomplishments occurred earlier this year. In January, she became the first African-American woman to chair a committee in the House of Representatives. It was something that made many Members of the House very proud, and it was a tremendous accomplishment for a woman whose life was full of monumental achievements. I think it speaks volumes of Juanita's dedication that she was here voting in this House, representing her constituents, until less than a month before cancer took her life. In fact, almost none of her colleagues were aware of her illness and how serious it had become until the week before she passed away. And through it all, she held a warm spirit and a kind smile. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in sorrow for Juanita's passing, and I again express my condolences to Juanita's family, friends, and constituents.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, had I been present on rollcall No. 226 and rollcall No. 227, I would have voted ``yea'' and ``yea.''

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, the Democrats in the campaign last fall said they only wanted to raise taxes on the rich. But I think it is interesting how they define the rich. Take, for instance, the fact that they call for the lowest tax bracket of 10 percent to rise to 15 percent. Madam Speaker, the rich are not a part of the 10 percent bracket. They are going to resurrect the marriage penalty tax, costing the average married couple $466 a year more in taxes. They are going to cut the child tax credit in half, costing 31 million American families more in taxes. And if the Democrats are only raising taxes on the rich, it does seem that their definition of ``rich'' is anyone who is married or has children. In fact, anyone who gets a paycheck. They said they only wanted to raise taxes as a last resort. But with the budget we will be voting on today, they have just made reservations for a long stay, with the American taxpayers footing the nearly $400 billion bill, the largest tax increase in American history. That didn't take long.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate the gentleman yielding; and although I do question as well this very restrictive rule, I rise to speak in very strong support of the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is blessed, indeed blessed, that we have produced the incredible men and women who defend our freedom through their service and through their sacrifice in our military, and every one of those who serve do so voluntarily and out of a deep love of America and a commitment to the freedom that our Nation bestows. They deserve every last measure of support to ensure that when they are wounded they receive the best possible care. And let me say this. The military medical corps has in large measure provided absolutely incredible care to those wounded in battle. The advancements in battlefield medicine and the care of our wounded warriors after they are removed from the battlefield has allowed countless of our soldiers to survive and to recover fully who in past conflicts may not have survived. In fact, the statistics that are coming out of theater are really a remarkable tribute to the doctors and to the nurses who are engaged there, and those who provide care to our soldiers deserve our thanks and our praise and our gratitude. However, the recent discoveries at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital were disturbing and totally unacceptable. We cannot allow any more Building 18 incidents to occur, and we must do everything that we possibly can to ensure that it does not. This legislation that we are going to be debating shortly is a huge step in the right direction. It will begin to streamline the bureaucracy of the military medical systems and lighten the caseload of case managers by providing more assistance. It will provide a hotline for those receiving substandard care to report the problems so that those situations can be dealt with quickly and that the patients receive the care that they deserve when they need it. And it will provide for a smooth transition from the Department of Defense health system to the Department of Veterans Affairs, cutting more red tape so that the focus can be on the patient and not on the paperwork. We cannot allow those who have fought our foreign enemies in the defense of freedom to come home and fight the Federal bureaucracy to get the health care that they need. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am very proud to support this important piece of legislation that our committee produced in a bipartisan way, and I certainly want to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter, who are both patriots and veterans who have served the cause of freedom, for their dedication to the care of our troops and for their work in bringing this legislation forward to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of the underlying bill, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. Our brave men and women wounded in defense of liberty, democracy and freedom deserve no less.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, my home State of Michigan is currently experiencing really hard economic times. We have the highest unemployment in the Nation. We have the lowest personal income growth in the Nation, dropping home values, tightening family budgets. Government overspending, combined with declining revenue from the soft job market, has forced my State into a fiscal crisis, and our Democrat Governor thinks that the way to solve the problem is by raising taxes and increasing government spending. Here in Washington, we also have a spending problem and a deficit that is too large. So what do the Democrats offer? The largest tax increase in American history, almost $400 billion, and massive new government spending. The Democrats are also pushing arbitrary and draconian fuel economy standards that could decimate our domestic auto industry and cost even more Michigan jobs. Madam Speaker, the people of Michigan just cannot take it anymore. They do not need bigger government. They need bigger paychecks, and I ask the Democrat leaders to take pity on the citizens of Michigan. Please just give Michigan a break.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today we will debate the emergency supplemental to fund our efforts in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Will it be an open debate? No. We will be operating under a closed rule with no amendments. Will it be a focused debate? No. Unless you believe that pork barrel spending on spinach farmers and peanut storage are critical to the global war on terror. A USA Today editorial said this: ``It is hard to say which is worse, leaders offering peanuts for a vote of this magnitude, or Members allowing their votes to be bought for peanuts. These provisions demean a bill that if enacted would affect the lives of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the balance of power in the Middle East and America's long-term security.'' Reports today also say that if pork-barrel spending isn't enough, that Democrat leaders are issuing veiled threats, such as the loss of committee assignments, for those Members who oppose them. The Democrat leaders offered the voters change in November, but all the Nation is getting is politics worse than usual. The supplemental should be defeated, and the Democrat majority should come back with a bill that honors our troops and does not demean their sacrifice.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the rule, and as well as I am in opposition of the underlying bill that we are considering today, and I do so because I am a strict constructionist. I am a believer and I am a defender of the Constitution. In fact, when I came to Congress, like all of us did, I took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and I intend to do so. And I believe that what the House is considering passing today in this legislation is simply unconstitutional. Let me just say, I am not against the citizens of the District of Columbia having the right to vote for a Member of the House of Representatives. In fact, before I came to Congress, I had the privilege and pleasure to serve as the Michigan secretary of state for 8 years, and that is the chief elections officer in my State, and a principal advocacy of mine then as it is now was registering as many citizens who were eligible to vote, and then trying to get as many who were registered to actually participate in the elections process. However, under the Constitution of the United States, it explicitly declares that representation in Congress can only be granted to States. Article I, section 2 states clearly that: Representatives shall be apportioned among several States. Interestingly enough, even the District of Columbia recently argued that it was not a State and shouldn't be treated like one. And I am referring to the recent District Court of Appeals case about the long- time D.C. gun ban when the District argued that the second amendment did not apply to them because they are not a State. And I am not sure if the District actually believes that other parts of the Constitution don't apply to them for the same reasons. For instance, they might think that the first amendment doesn't apply to them. I am not sure. But, Mr. Speaker, the Constitution applies to every American wherever you live, the first amendment, the second amendment, and the section that precludes the District from having a vote in this Chamber. And if we are going to sacrifice the Constitution on the altar of politics, why are we stopping with just giving D.C. a vote in the House? Why not give them two Senators like every other State has? How about a Governor? A statehouse? A State senate as well as all the other constitutional officers that other States have, like the attorney general or secretary of state or whatever? Also, by trying to buy a few votes by saying that we will expand the membership of this Chamber by giving D.C. one Member and Utah one Member so that we will hopefully have one Democratic vote or one Republican vote; since we are being completely political and arbitrary, how about just one vote for the District, and then give whatever Member has the most Republican district in the Nation, give them two votes? Mr. Speaker, I cannot vote for a bill that clearly violates the Constitution. It will never be upheld by the courts. The District should either go back to being a part of the State of Maryland, as they were at our Nation's founding, or we should amend the Constitution. Asking Members to vote to violate our Nation's Constitution, I believe, is absolutely the wrong approach. I would urge a ``no'' vote on this rule and a ``no'' vote on the underlying bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I have a very easy question: What does support for spinach farmers have to do with fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan? The easy answer is: Nothing. But in the emergency war supplemental appropriation bill that we are considering this week, spinach farmers will be getting support. In fact, there is over $21 billion of unrelated spending in the bill; pork, pure and simple. And the purpose is simply to buy votes. I thought the Democrats promised to stop all of this. I thought they said they were going to clean up Washington and not waste taxpayers' money. This is hypocrisy, and you have to ask why they need to buy votes if they are so confident in their slow-bleed strategy. I said during the debate on this nonbinding resolution that the House considered a few weeks ago that micromanagement from the White House is wrong and micromanagement from the floor of this House is worse. The emergency supplemental is not nonbinding, it is for real, and many Democrats will be joining Republicans to vote to let the generals run the war, not politicians, regardless of money for spinach farmers.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I certainly appreciate the gentleman for yielding some time to me here today. Mr. Chairman, I rise in very strong, extremely strong support of this particular piece of legislation we are looking at today, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2007. I am actually a brand new member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this term, but I have wanted to get on this committee ever since I came to Congress, and it is particularly because of issues like this that we are talking about today. My home State of Michigan actually has more shoreline than any other State in the Nation, except Alaska. If you think of the mitten of Michigan and think of the Great Lakes, of course, surrounding, fresh water and clean water and the Great Lakes, I mean, we are the Great Lakes State. It is an economic impetus for us. It really is our very identity. In fact, the Great Lakes system is actually one-fifth of the fresh water supply of the entire planet. Sometimes people don't recognize that, but they are one-fifth of the fresh water supply of the world. In my area, in the Detroit area, actually, there are over 5 million Americans just right there in southeast Michigan who are drafting their fresh water supply from the Great Lakes, and, of course, the Canadians on the other side, our great neighbors to the north as well. But these waters are absolutely a national treasure, and I think we need to do everything that we possibly can within our power to preserve them and to protect them. Of course, one of the great problems is that many of the communities along the shoreline have very, very old, very antiquated infrastructure. It is decaying infrastructure; it is not right sized. It has all the problems that are not particularly inherent to a city like Detroit or an area like southeast Michigan. We see it all around the Nation, particularly in our industrialized areas there, and we have not been capable, or we have not had the political will, I should say, of spending the dollars to keep up with the growth with our underground infrastructure. Of course, people don't see the underground infrastructure a lot of times. We are not thinking about it as we should. Local communities, of course, are struggling with declining tax dollars. In Michigan, we are having a huge amount of decline in State revenue sharing as well. They have very tight budgets, and even though they have had their best efforts, they just have not, the local communities in the State, have not been able to keep up with the infrastructure needs to keep our water quality clean. We in this Congress have invested tax dollars in so many things that our constituents have questions. Somebody was just mentioning we maybe spent more money on water systems and infrastructure in the country of Iraq than we have in our own Nation in recent years. Some would say that some of the things we do here are not in the national interest. But that is not the case, not the case with this very, very important piece of legislation. I believe that this legislation will provide vital assistance to States and local communities throughout our entire Nation to meet the critical need, to keep our water clean and pure. That is a charter that we all share. Whatever our constituency is, we are the stewards of this fantastic country and magnificent treasures like the Great Lakes or so many other areas around the country, and we need to make sure that we do keep our water clean and pure for our generation as well as the next. In fact, and let me just mention, several months ago, actually with a Canadian-based research group, we do a lot of work, as you might imagine, in Michigan with our Canadian counterparts there. They were calculating that the United States and Canadian cities dump a combined 24 billion gallons of municipal sewage directly into the water systems each and every year, which is the equivalent of more than 100 Olympic- size swimming pools full of raw sewage each and every day. In fact, they characterized the study as we were treating our Great Lakes like a toilet is what they said; and, unfortunately, there is a very choking grain of truth to that. So I certainly support the legislation. I want to commend Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for bringing it forward. I urge all of my colleagues to support this very bipartisan piece of legislation that is so important to our Nation.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I will have an opportunity to talk about the war resolution, but this morning I would like to just talk for a second about energy independence. Several weeks ago we heard the President announce part of his agenda for making America more energy independent. But the real question is, how do we get there? The President laid out a plan to place new draconian fuel-efficiency standards on our domestic automakers, which I believe is the wrong approach to energy independence. It is the wrong approach because it would force our domestic automakers to invest in old technology and to stifle very exciting new technologies. Our domestic auto industry is nearing innovative breakthroughs, such as the usage of alternative fuels, new battery technology, and advanced hybrid vehicles. I believe it is in our national interest to provide Federal support to advance the auto technologies of the future to help achieve energy savings. Both General Motors and Ford recently unveiled advanced plug- in hybrids that use a lithium ion battery. Helping that technology become commercially viable will advance our efforts to conserve energy by light years and to create great new jobs here in America. If my colleagues want true energy independence and a thriving domestic auto industry, we must focus on the technology of the future.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be yielded time from a true American hero. If at any time while I am in the Congress and I am asked to vote to authorize war, I will ask myself two fundamental questions, two caveats to such action. Number one, what are the United States' vital interests? How are our vital interests being advanced? Number two, what is the mission and how is the mission being defined? I was not in the Congress when the vote to give the President the authority to go to war in Iraq was taken, but as I remember the debate during that vote, it was heavily predicated on the fact that we thought that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and the mission seemed to be principally defined as finding WMDs. It is clear that he had them at one time because he used them on his own people. However, since we have gone into Iraq, whether it is because they have transited the country or they were destroyed, or whatever the reason, we have not found them. Then the mission was defined as toppling the oppressor, the butcher of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein. And we have done so. We let the Iraqi courts exercise their due diligence in a court of law, and he is dead now. Good riddance, and hanging was too good for him. Then we defined the mission as providing a stable framework that would allow the Iraqis to build a democracy because we can all agree that having a democracy in an Arab country in the Middle East would be optimal for the entire world. They have had their elections. They have adopted a Constitution, and they have elected leadership that is in place. Again, I ask about the United States' vital interests and how we are defining the mission because, Madam Speaker, the mission needs to be understood. It is important that those of us in Congress can understand it, of course. It is important that the American people can understand it. But most importantly, the brave men and women who wear the uniform and are in theater risking their lives and their limbs need to be able to understand the mission. President Bush has said that the mission is to achieve stability in Iraq, to train the Iraqi forces so that they will be able to stand up so that we will be able to stand down. He says that the so-called surge is a necessary thing to do. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have listened to the testimony from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense as well, about how this surge will work, and in my mind, a surge is a quick, overwhelming show of force. However, as it has been explained to me, this action will have two of a total of five brigades begin to deploy to Baghdad and the Anbar province and then gradually the other three brigades will be deployed as an assessment can be made on how the first two are doing. I will note that I have read that General Schoomaker, Army Chief of Staff, has said in a closed door hearing that he thought the surge had a 50-50 chance of success. Madam Speaker, our troops have done everything that we have asked them to do and more, and you cannot blame America for the Iraqis' failure to stop killing one another in a religious frenzy. I am a product of the Vietnam era. My husband was an Air Force pilot in Vietnam. My county has the largest chapter of Vietnam veterans in the entire Nation, and although I have resisted making any analogy from Iraq to Vietnam, I will make this one personal observation. From the very beginning of the Iraq conflict, we should have allowed our troops to go in and use overwhelming force; but we were told, no, that we had enough. Those that suggested otherwise were dismissed, and so they micromanaged from the White House, and now I think they are doing the same with this surge. Our troops can win, but they are being held back. They are being micromanaged by our politicians. We are not letting them win, and this is the lesson that I learned from Vietnam. In Vietnam, we used a graduated response. We held back our troops. We did not use overwhelming force, and after many died, we left the field and I cannot believe in my lifetime that once again we are repeating this mistake. I support the troops and I support victory. I recognize how incredibly complex this situation is. I recognize that having our troops leave will probably result in a loss of human life that will be horrifying. I recognize that leaving will probably encourage the neighbors to move in to protect their own interests, and I recognize that the war on terror will follow us if we leave. Yet, recognizing all of this, since the Iraqis will, for whatever reason, not stand up to ensure their own freedom, how can we ask Americans and for how long to continue to do so for them? Either use overwhelming force to win, or get out and do not continue to ask our troops to fight with one hand behind their backs. Mistakes have been made, as they always are in war; but another lesson that I learned from Vietnam is that the only thing worse than micromanaging a war from the White House is micromanaging it from here in Congress. And this is a time when every Member in this House needs to dig down deep and vote their conscience, knowing that sending the right message to the administration has the very real consequence of sending the wrong message to the troops who so bravely and professionally fight for freedom and liberty and democracy. Vote ``no'' on this resolution.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, as a member from the Michigan Congressional Delegation I am proud to honor today one of our State's favorite sons, the 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford. President Ford is the only person in the history of our Nation to ascend to presidency having never sought either the presidency or the vice presidency. And he did so at one of the most difficult moments in our Nation since the Civil War. Upon assuming office he acknowledged that he had not been elected through the votes of the American people but simply asked for his confirmation through their prayers. He was the right man, for the right office at the right time for our Nation. He made policy decisions not based on political calculation, but on what he believed was in the `` best interests of the Nation. He was not afraid to reach across party lines to find solutions to the myriad of challenges which faced our Nation. He was a man of unquestionable character. Prior to coming to Congress I had the honor to serve as Michigan's Secretary of State and as such served as our State's official historian. During my term in office I had the privilege to place a historic marker at the newly renovated boyhood home of President Ford. On that day he spoke of the values instilled in him in that home, in his community and in our great State of Michigan. These were values that served him well throughout his life and certainly when he assumed the presidency. Values like honesty. Integrity. Treating every person with respect and dignity. Love of country and a commitment to freedom. His commitment to these values was evident throughout his public service. As a military officer in the Pacific in World War II. As a member of this House of Representatives for nearly three decades. As the leader of the Republican minority in the House where he proudly voted for and sought votes for landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. And as Vice President and President of the United States where he helped America recover from what he called our long National nightmare of Watergate and where he concluded the war in Vietnam. Simply put, Gerald R. Ford was a great American worthy of our honor and respect. Our condolences go out to his wonderful and courageous wife Betty and to the entire Ford Family. A grateful Nation owes a debt of gratitude to President Ford for his lifetime of honorable service. May he rest in peace.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6407, The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. This measure is the accumulation of 10 years of hard work and I would like to thank Chairman Davis and Congressman McHugh for their unwavering commitment to this bill, and their steadfast commitment to modernizing and reforming all aspects of the federal government. The United States Postal Service is currently operating under a system built in 1970. In 1970, Richard Nixon was President, gasoline cost $0.36 per gallon, and very few people had even heard of computers, much less owned one. Much has changed since then. The primary mode of written communication now is via email or fax, not first class mail. Consumers have a whole range of options to send mail and packages urgently. Most households either have or have access to a computer. But the Postal Service still operates at the same frequency as it did in 1970. The simple fact is that this generation-old structure is unable to support the functioning of the 21st Century economy. With ever- accelerating declines in First Class Mail volumes, it's becoming more and more difficult for the Postal Service to collect revenue. This in turn leads to the need for frequent rate hikes, which is nothing more than an indirect tax increase on average Americans and a significant cost increase for businesses that heavily utilize the mail. Mr. Speaker, this bill strikes the correct balance between the need for Postal reform and the obligations that the Postal Service has to the American people. If enacted, this bill will guarantee universal service, streamline back office operations, provide for workforce stability and implement a logical, reasoned process for increases in postal rates, which will generally be in line with the rate of inflation. Such stability and predictability will allow the Postal Service to grow along with the needs of its customers. Mr. Speaker, America relies on the Unites States Postal Service to deliver our mail. Every Member of this body relies on the Postal Service to deliver important communications to our constituents. It's time we give the Postal Service the tools they need to remain an efficient, effective organization in the years to come. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 531, my vote was not recorded though I did attempt to vote by electronic device. I wish for the Record to reflect that I was present and attempted to vote ``yea.''

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1346, the Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act. I am a proud cosponsor of a similar bill introduced by my colleague Mr. Camp, H.R. 3532, and I'm glad we are taking a step today towards preserving the great State of Michigan's maritime heritage. Mr. Speaker, Michigan truly is the Great Lakes State, touched by 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Helping protect ships on the Great Lakes and the sailors who crew them are the hundreds of lighthouses that dot the Lakes. The State of Michigan alone has 124 lighthouses, the most of any State in the union, and I am proud to have 8 of these lighthouses in my district, including the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, located in Fort Gratiot on the shores of Lake Huron. Built in 1829, this lighthouse is still in use, along with the South Channel Light, Pointe Aux Barques Light, and the Harbor Beach Light, that were all in service before Abraham Lincoln was President. In addition to having the most lighthouses of any other State, Mr. Speaker, Michigan was the first State to initiate a transfer of authority for lighthouses from the Federal Government to nonprofit groups. The State of Michigan accepted responsibility for lighthouses the Coast Guard previously had jurisdiction over, and then transferred authority to nonprofit groups such as Save our South Channel Lights, which I am proud to have located in my district. Through this process, the people of Michigan have been able to preserve these living landmarks and symbols of our nautical heritage. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, as Secretary of State in Michigan, I unveiled a ``Save our Lights'' license plate in 2001, which directed funds to the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program, which remains dedicated to preserving the 124 lighthouses dotting the Michigan shoreline and islands. To date, the program has raised over $900,000 through the sale of license plates. With this in mind, it's only fitting that the Federal Government begins to take a look at helping to preserve these treasures, and help the public learn more about them for their own personal enjoyment.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer sincere congratulations to the Dakota High School football team from Macomb Township, Michigan, on winning the 2006 Division 1 State title. The Dakota High School Cougars are the first school in Macomb County history to win the Division 1 football State championship. Mr. Speaker, this season belonged to the Cougars, whose overall record was 13 wins and only 1 loss. Coach Mike Giannoe did an excellent job of putting together a solid game plan and a solid coaching staff. Quarterback James Stallons commanded the offense, while running back Greg Gay led the scoring attack and tied a State finals record with four touchdowns. The offense moved the ball with the great teamwork of fullback Quentin Trotter, tight end Justin Sylvester and all of the linemen. On defense, linebacker Bobby Hush earned himself two sacks, and kicker Joe Harla connected on a 31-yard field goal and made all five of his extra point attempts. What a season, what a team. Go Cougars.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the St. Louis Cardinals on a tremendous season that culminated in their 10th World Championship. The Cardinals were a great team led by a great manager in Tony LaRussa and by arguably the game's greatest player in Albert Pujols. Cardinal fans everywhere should be rightfully proud of this great championship because they beat a true team that shocked the baseball world in their run to the World Series. You see, I am a fan of the American League Champion Detroit Tigers. At the start of the season nobody gave the Tigers a chance, but they underestimated the grit and determination of our team. Much credit needs to go to owner Mike Illitch for putting together a strong leadership team. Team President Dave Dombrowski rebuilt our player development system which has produced so many new stars and when combined with his deft trades produced an incredible team. Then he hired a great leader in Manager Jim Leyland who insisted upon teamwork and a commitment to fundamentals that brought out the best in a group of talented players. And talented they are. A future Hall of Famer in Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate. A veteran leader at first in Sean Casey. ALCS MVP Placido Polanco at second base. Tiger of the Year Carlos Guillen at shortstop. Brandon Inge at third who hit 27 homers from the bottom of the lineup. Craig Monroe in left who delivered 28 homers during the season and five more in the post season. Twenty-five-year-old Curtis Granderson in center who was the guy who got it started at the top of the lineup. And Magglio Ordonez in right who will always be remembered in Detroit for his dramatic walk off homer that sent this team to the World Series. But the best part of the Tigers is our incredible pitching staff. Kenny Rogers was signed in the offseason and many questioned why a team would invest so much in a 41-year-old left hander. Well because he went on to win 17 games, mentored a young pitching staff and won three post season games without allowing a single run! Twenty-four-year-old Jeremy Bonderman won 14 games and finished second in the American League in strike outs. Twenty-three-year-old Justin Verlander won 17 games on the way to becoming American League Rookie of the Year. Twenty-nine-year-old left hander Nate Robertson was a bulldog starter who delivered 13 wins. Thirty-eight-year-old Todd Jones didn't blow people away but did deliver 37 critical saves. While 21-year-old Joel Zumaya and his 103-mile-per-hour fastball provided the foundation for our tremendous bullpen depth. What a team! This group lifted the city of Detroit and the State of Michigan on their backs for a tremendous ride through a beautiful spring, summer and fall. They are built upon a strong foundation and with a commitment to team work that bodes well for the future. And the Tigers are not resting on the laurels of an incredible season. They have already added slugger Gary Sheffield to their already impressive lineup which should send shivers through the rest of the American League. And while the Cardinals may have gotten revenge this year for the Tigers victory in the 1968 World Series, we are already working on getting revenge for 2006. Again congratulations to the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. And congratulations and thank you to the American League Champion Detroit Tigers on a magical season. Bless you boys and go get 'em Tigers!