Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind). (Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we should all be proud that America stands for opportunity, regardless of one's background. Our colleges and universities provide millions of students with the chance to realize their dreams and blaze their own paths. This could not happen without the Higher Education Act. But today we see the support coming under attack. This bill keeps the Federal Pell Grant stuck in the 1970s. It increases interest rates on loans and forces students to absorb new fees. We should be expanding our students' horizon, not restricting it. And unless the second rule is open or allows every amendment submitted to Rules to be considered on the floor, it is shutting down this process. Again, I want to point out that the last two times this House reauthorized the Higher Education Act, in 1992 and 1998, it did so under an amendment process that allowed any amendment that complied with House rules to be offered on the floor. We should do the same this time. I urge all Members to reject this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller). (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, in our country, education has long been viewed as the doorway to opportunity. Unfortunately, if we pass this rule and the underlying legislation, we will be closing this door for many. Over the past year, I have sat down with students at Sacramento State University in my hometown of Sacramento. These young people are so talented and so filled with the possibility of tomorrow, but they are all concerned about the cuts to financial aid and their ability to finish college. This legislation will not address their concerns and, actually, will probably increase them. The inability to afford college was less of an issue for my generation. When I was growing up in California, there was never a concern that I couldn't go to college. But this is not the case today. In all likelihood, my parents would have a very difficult time putting together a package that would allow me to go to college because, across the Nation, the average tuition and fees at 4-year public colleges have risen 40 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation. Yet when also adjusted for inflation, the maximum Pell Grant last year was worth $800 less than it was in 1975, and this bill only raises the authorizing level by a mere $200 over 6 years. The spending cuts this Congress passed earlier this year represented the single largest cut to the Nation's Federal student aid programs ever. Sadly, this bill fails to reverse that trend, and it puts college even further out of reach for many. For the students at Sac State, UC Davis, and across the Nation, this legislation will impact their ability to earn a degree as well as their future, and ultimately it will impact this Nation's future. Today, this country is a world leader by nearly every economic indicator, and our standard of living is without equal. But that didn't happen by accident. Our predecessors made a decision to make the critical investment in education and ensure access to an affordable education. While we seem to be increasing the barriers to a college education, we should not doubt for a moment that our international competitors are making that mistake. China, India, South Korea and others are making the investment to produce the intellectual capital they will need to boost their economic growth and catch up to the United States. College financial aid is an investment in America's economic strength and its workforce. If the barriers to a college education continue to increase, America's preeminence in the world economy will be at risk. If we want to ensure we retain our international preeminence, we must make the investment in our most important engine of economic growth: the American people. They are our Nation's most valuable resource. We must make college truly affordable for every student who has the ability and the will to work hard, study and continue to make America the world's economic leader. But we will not be doing that with this legislation. And as we bring this bill to the House floor, we are sending a very loud signal that partisanship has a higher priority in this Congress than working together to address the needs of the Nation. In previous Congresses, the higher education reauthorization has come to the floor with a rule simply requiring the preprinting of amendments, certainly a far more open process than today. Those rules passed each time by voice vote. It allowed healthy debate on one of the most important bills this Congress considers, because we must get it right. But we don't see the same rule in this Congress. Instead, the Rules Committee chose to shut out Members' ideas by issuing this first restrictive rule late last night, which is likely to be followed by a second rule that also shuts Members out of the process. Once again, we see the majority limiting the ideas that can be debated on the House floor. It will only add to this bill's flawed consideration, and ultimately, it will block efforts to correct its misguided priorities. So I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule and the underlying legislation so we can return to the floor with a higher education bill that does make the investment in our young people and our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah for yielding me this time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I was participating in a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, and missed two votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as noted below: Rollcall vote 43: ``nay.'' Rollcall vote 44: ``yea.''

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in tribute to a dear friend, tireless volunteer and community leader. Kuni Hironaka, served our nation through many decades of service at McClellan Air Force Base as well as volunteering with numerous community organizations in the Sacramento region with great passion, integrity and commitment. He passed away on March 8th. As his family and friends gather to honor and remember his wonderful life, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting one of Sacramento's most well-respected figures, and my friend, Kuni Hironaka. Kuni was born and raised in Sacramento, where he lived for most of his life. He worked for 37 years at McClellan Air Force Base as a civilian employee. In 1967 he observed that Asian Americans were not a protected minority in the federal workforce. At McClellan there were no Asian American supervisors or foremen in the maintenance department or in the base's management, even though there were a considerable number of qualified individuals with the experience and education necessary to do the job well. Taking a personal and professional risk, Kuni strived to change this. He repeatedly inquired with the McClellan Air Force Base chain of command and did not rest until the Department of Defense reviewed their hiring and promotion practices. Ultimately, his decision to challenge the status quo resulted in more qualified Asian Americans being promoted in the civilian workforce and the removal of the term ``Oriental'' as an ethnic identifier. Kuni played a crucial role in ensuring that all minorities were treated fairly and protected in the workplace. Kuni was always one to give back to our community, spending most of his free time helping others. He was active with the Sacramento Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation, Bocho Doshi Kai and the South Tanoshimi Kai. The day of his passing, he spent all morning volunteering at the Japanese American National Bowling Association's annual tournament. In recognition of his longtime dedication to numerous non-profit causes and his commitment to civil rights, Kuni was honored as an ``Asian Pacific American Heritage Hero'' by Sacramento's public television station, KVIE, just last April. It was a fitting honor for a man who gave so much to so many others. Bob and I were truly lucky to know Kuni so well and to be able to call him our friend. He was always there to help us and our family. Brian, Amy, Anna and I, as well as countless others in Sacramento will miss him deeply. Kuni is survived by a loving family, including his wonderful wife Rose, their four children, David, Amy, Arlene, and Richard, and seven grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, as Kuni Hironaka's family members and friends gather to honor his legacy and many contributions, I am honored to pay tribute to one of my closest friends. I ask all my colleagues to join with me in paying respect to and acknowledging the life of an extraordinarily caring man.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me this time, and I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, warnings of mercury levels in fish, the safety of our children's milk, birth defect warnings, reducing lead in calcium supplements, cans, and wine bottle caps, if we pass H. Res. 702, the rule governing the National Food Uniformity Act, and ultimately the underlying legislation, these are but a few of the food safety laws that would be preempted. We would be placing at even greater risk the health of millions of Americans, our children, and pregnant women. Parents would have less information about the harm their children would come to because of a simple meal. This is the exact opposite of what we should be doing. Information about the health implications of what we are assuming is abundant, and we should be an ally in helping parents to protect their children. With this legislation, Federal food safety regulations would supplant State food safety laws. Even though our food safety system has been created to rely upon the States, the FDA will make recommendations on its Web site. But the States need to take this information and determine the best way to inform and protect their residents. There is a reason for this: 80 percent of the enforcement is at the State and local levels. Let me take one example: mercury levels. Because of the implications of mercury in my home State of California, we have a program to place in-store notices about mercury levels. This concern about mercury has been raised by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. I remember when my daughter-in-law Amy was pregnant with my granddaughter Anna. Her doctor repeatedly warned her about the harm mercury could cause her fetus. Fortunately, she was able to afford prenatal care and had the warnings, so Anna was born a perfectly normal child, free from any adverse effects of any mercury. But what about those who do not have adequate prenatal care or have warnings? How do they learn about these? Most of us will never think to go to the FDA Web site before putting our shopping list together. We find out about FDA warnings because our State laws require them to be posted next to the supermarket fish counter. We see the sign as we shop. As many of you are probably aware, certain fish contain high levels that can harm pregnant women and young children. High levels of mercury can damage the brain or kidneys. And this is in adults. Imagine what this can do to a developing fetus: blindness, seizures, speech problems, as well as nervous and digestive problems. But under this legislation, this program would be gone, as would the protections for our children. All that would remain is a posting on the FDA's Web site. Under President Bush's budget, the FDA's food safety funding would be cut by $445 million over 5 years. Where does this leave parents and the health of our children? When it comes to our children's health, we should be setting the highest bar possible rather than the lowest common denominator. Why would we not warn parents of this potential for harm? I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. (Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall). (Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott). (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California, our minority leader, Ms. Pelosi.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will be asking Members to vote ``no'' on the previous question, so I can amend the rule and allow the House to approve a plan that lets Congress vote up or down on the President's plan to turn over six of our Nation's ports to a government-run company in Dubai. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, my amendment to the rule would provide that immediately after the House adopts this rule, it will bring up legislation to guarantee that the House will have the opportunity to vote to block the President from moving forward with his deal to transfer operations at six of our Nation's busiest ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates. This legislation is nearly identical to a measure introduced by the chairman and ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee that requires a thorough, in-depth, 45-day investigation of this contract followed by a report back to Congress on the results of that investigation. The only difference is that this bill requires a vote in the House and Senate to block the agreement if the President decides to proceed. The same administration that talks tough on terrorism and protecting Americans on every front has now negotiated a secret, backroom deal to turn the management of these vital ports over to a foreign entity. And it has done so without going through the proper channels as required by law and without including Congress in the process. The House must have the opportunity to play a role in this matter of national security. It is time for the Republican-controlled Congress to stop giving rubber-stamp approval to this administration at the expense of our Nation's citizens. This bill is the only way to guarantee that the House and Senate have the opportunity to vote on the Dubai deal, a vote that cannot be blocked by the Republican leadership. Whatever Members believe about this deal and whatever results from this investigation, the House should be allowed to vote up or down on whether or not we want to turn control of six of our Nation's ports over to this foreign-government-owned entity. I urge all Members of this body to vote ``no'' on the previous question so we can bring up legislation that gives Congress the right to participate and to vote on this matter of significant national security. Vote ``no'' on the previous question. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, 64 years ago, on February 19, 1942, tens of thousands of Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and communities in one of the great suspensions of liberty in our Nation's history. We recall the day President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 as a Day of Remembrance. This was the day the constitutional rights of Japanese Americans and legal residents along the West Coast were suspended and they were incarcerated during World War II. Families and communities were uprooted from the life they had known. This memory is actually quite bittersweet for me and my family. My grandparents and parents were uprooted from their communities, their lives, their homes, their businesses, despite the fact that they were American citizens. My parents actually met and married at the Poston Internment Camp, my birthplace. In fact, my father says that that was probably the only good thing that came out of that camp. Growing up, my parents protected me from the experience they went through of having the loyalty they held for this Nation being questioned. And as I was growing up, my parents made a concerted effort to teach me to believe in this country and love this country despite what it did to them. I shared this sense of patriotism with my husband. Bob, who despite spending his toddler years in a camp, grew up to have a staunch and steadfast belief in our country and our Constitution, including the ideals of justice and equality firmly embedded in both. Because of the implications of this incarceration, my grandparents, my parents like Bob's and so many others of this generation, did not speak of their experience in the internment camp. It wasn't until my father was much older that this time period was brought up. But this is an experience that we cannot allow to fade. The government at all levels was blinded by war, and it is imperative that we learn the lesson this moment in history has taught us, including this Nation's ability to recognize and acknowledge our mistakes. As we mark this tragic anniversary, I hope every American will take this day to affirm their commitment to our Constitution and the rights and protections it guarantees for all of us.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the congregation of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church on the 50th anniversary of their church. This congregation has served the Del Paso Heights neighborhood and Sacramento region since 1956. As members of the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist congregation gather to celebrate 50 years of community service, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in saluting this outstanding congregation. The Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church was founded in Del Paso Heights in February of 1956. The Church was established and organized by Reverend Je Petiway, Reverend Powell and Reverend Eddie Phillips. Reverend Mack Smith was the parish's first Pastor and the church became a member of the St. Johns District association. The church bought its current facility in October 1956 and became incorporated in 1959. Reverend White Henderson became Pastor in 1960 and took steps to greatly expand the church. Under his leadership a new edifice was constructed and a chapel was purchased and relocated to its current site. The church continued to expand in 1968 when Reverend Eugene Washington became Pastor. His leadership and guidance resulted in the construction of additional classrooms and a social hall. Throughout the history of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, the congregation has been dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of Sacramento residents. The Church has always been a comforting place of refuge for people in need, providing assistance spiritually, mentally and physically. During the current tenure of Pastor Washington, the church has established numerous ministries in the Sacramento region. These outreach programs have included prison ministry, convalescent ministry, youth outreach and counseling programs. Mr. Speaker, I am truly privileged to congratulate the congregation of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church as they gather to celebrate their 50th church anniversary. The Sacramento region has greatly benefited from having their strong community leadership and compassionate hearts. I ask all of my colleagues to join with me today in wishing Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church continued success and happiness in all future endeavors.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, our nation's history is interwoven with the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans--from Hank Aaron, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong to George Washington Carver, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Maya Angelou--and because of their efforts our nation is stronger. The African American community recently lost two of its leaders and as we mourn the passing of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, we should be reminded that we must continue the civil rights work they devoted their lives to. What better way to celebrate the legacy of these leaders and all of those who have worked to ensure racial justice than by reauthorizing the expiring portions of the Voting Rights Act. The struggle for civil rights continues today and we must make certain that all citizens not only have the right to vote, but that their ability to vote is protected. Although the Voting Rights Act has been essential in protecting the voting rights of minorities, additional safeguards are necessary to ensure that every citizen is included in the election process. I remain committed to furthering the causes of the Civil Rights Movement and will work hard in the coming months to guarantee the right to vote for every citizen. I hope that this month we will celebrate the lives of all of the strong and determined men and women who have worked to ensure equality for all Americans.