Candice Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H. Res. 612, as amended; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 295, the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, the Congress designated May 11, 1994, as Vietnam Human Rights Day through a joint resolution that became Public Law 103-258. The resolution was introduced in response to the issuance of the Manifesto of the Nonviolent Movement For Human Rights in Vietnam. That manifesto, written by the great human rights leader Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, intended to push pressure on the Socialist regime in Hanoi to respect the human rights of all Vietnamese citizens. This is the tenth anniversary of the Vietnam Human Rights Day, which is the focus of House Resolution 622, before us today. The distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), brought forth this important resolution, and I commend him for introducing this important measure. Mr. Speaker, while progress has been made in the fight for a free and democratic Vietnam, the regime there continues to imprison, to attack, torture, kill, and otherwise persecute many of those who publicly express their views. This resolution aims to generate valuable awareness to Hanoi's uncivilized treatment of political dissidents, and I am pleased the House is considering it this afternoon. Mr. Speaker, it is easy to take for granted our Nation's priceless freedoms of speech and expression and, conversely, to lose track of the reality that countless people around the world in fact pay a great price to express their view. On its tenth anniversary, the principles of Vietnam Human Rights Day continue to act as an important defense of the liberties and freedoms of the Vietnamese people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform.

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

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to resolution (H. Res. 613) recognizing and honoring the tenth anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 613, the resolution under consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have been touched as well by all of the comments about Mary Ann Collura. Sometimes an incident happens like that in a State and in the Nation that touches everybody and, certainly, naming this Post Office after this fantastic American is an appropriate thing. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of the Members to support the passage of H.R. 3939. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3939. This legislation is naming a post office in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, after Officer Mary Ann Collura. She was the first woman to serve as an officer in the Fair Lawn Police Department. H.R. 3939 fittingly honors the tremendous service of an individual fallen peace officer. Officer Collura was an outstanding 18-year veteran of the Fair Lawn Police Department and a respected community role model. On April 17, 2003, Officer Collura was called in to back up fellow officers involved in a chase with three young men in a car. The chase fatally ended outside a Fair Lawn church as one of the men shot Officer Collura in the chest after she pursued the men on foot. The assailant then stole Officer Collura's patrol car and drove over her body as he made his escape. Mr. Speaker, everyone in the Fair Lawn area who knew Officer Collura knew she served her community with the highest esteem. Earlier this spring, as steps were being taken to ensure a proper memorial for Officer Collura, the local journal, the Fair Lawn News, quoted a local resident who emotionally said, ``I knew her. She was superior as an officer and as a person.'' Mr. Speaker, Officer Collura's heartbreaking story even attracted President Bush's attention. At the Peace Officers' Memorial Day Service outside this Capitol last year on May 15, the President mentioned Officer Collura as a law enforcement officer who tragically lost her life in the past year. The President cited a quote from one of Officer Collura's fellow officers, who later said about her, ``There are probably 100 cops like this who did everything right and still have their names on the wall,'' of the National Law Enforcement Memorial. The Officer went on to say, ``You put your faith in the hands of God every day when you go out there.'' Mr. Speaker, the wicked events of April 17, 2003, remind all of us of the dangers of police work. Officers of the peace, like Mary Ann Collura, earn our perpetual respect each and every day for their brave efforts to protect all of us. This post office naming will posthumously commemorate Officer Mary Ann Collura's service to our Nation. Unquestionably, this is a highly warranted honor, and I strongly urge all Members to support the bill's passage. Mr. Speaker, I commend the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) for his meaningful work on H.R. 3939. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3939) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14-24 Abbott Road in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, as the ``Mary Ann Collura Post Office Building''.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3939.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, last Friday we received more outstanding news on the economy. In April, 288,000 new jobs were created, and that is on top of the 337,000 jobs created in March. And in April, nearly 10 percent of those jobs were in the manufacturing sector. All of this is great news for America and especially good news for my home State of Michigan. With our manufacturing sector coming back, we cannot allow John Kerry to enact his unreasonable auto fuel economy standards. According to the United Auto Workers, Senator Kerry's CAFE proposal would force the Big Three to curtail production of larger vehicles and cause substantial job losses. They have estimated as many as 100,000 jobs. The UAW has said that the proposal would lead to additional outsourcing of jobs. Mr. Speaker, Senator Kerry's proposal would be a disaster for Michigan just at the time our economy is coming back. We must stay on the pro-growth, pro-job path being pursued by President Bush and the Republican majority, not the job-killing, additional-outsourcing path proposed by Senator Kerry.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers at this moment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4299. I also understand that Dr. Nevarez will actually be an honoree at a dinner reception on Friday night in McAllen, Texas. And certainly on behalf of all the Members of this body, I want to thank and wish Dr. Nevarez the very best in his retirement, and I specifically want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for introducing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise in support of H.R. 4299 that designates a post office in Edinburg, Texas as the ``Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez Post Office Building.'' All of the members of the Texas State delegation have cosponsored this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Miguel Nevarez has been president of the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg for the last 23 years. In 1981, Dr. Nevarez inherited a small university of only 8,000 students. But today, UT-Pan American boasts more than 15,000 students and 600 faculty members. Dr. Nevarez's 23 years of service makes him the longest- serving Hispanic university or college president in the entire Nation. A distinguished educator, Dr. Nevarez is a vice-chair of the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors, and he is a member of the American Council of Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Nevarez retires this Friday, May 14. President Nevarez led his final spring commencement exercises just last weekend, as over 1,200 students from UT-Pan American received their degrees. House passage of this legislation will provide Dr. Nevarez and his family with a timely honor for his contributions to all past, current, and future students of UT-Pan American. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 4299. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4299) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 410 South Jackson Road in Edinburg, Texas, as the ``Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez Post Office Building''.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), the sponsor of this resolution.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 622 supports the goals and the ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day. This Saturday, May 15, is Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day that serves as an important remembrance of Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials who were killed or disabled in the line of duty during the past year. According to the text of the resolution, 145 peace officers were killed during 2003. Mr. Speaker, remarkably, nearly 1 million Americans serve their country in some law enforcement capacity today. Their daily professions remain inherently dangerous, therefore all Americans must recognize and cherish their contributions to our liberty and to our security. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Police Week, which occurs each year during the calendar week in which Peace Officers Memorial Day falls. Thousands of law enforcement personnel and their families will attend several events in the Washington, D.C. area during this week, culminating with the 23rd annual National Peace Officers Memorial Day services at noon on Saturday, May 15, at the west front of this revered building, the United States Capitol building. We all owe our Nation's peace officers a tremendous debt of gratitude for their commitment to the safety of every citizen. Therefore, today, I am pleased the House is considering House Resolution 622 during this meaningful and somber week for those who defend our homeland. Mr. Speaker, I highly commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for shepherding House Resolution 622 to the floor today. Primarily, I wish to thank him for his work to recognize the sacrifices of the men and women of American law enforcement. This is a solemn piece of legislation, and I encourage every Member of the House to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 622) supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Mr. MILLER of Michigan

Mr. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 622, the resolution under consideration.