Jerry McNerney

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, today I ask my Colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Juanita Haugen, who passed away peacefully at age 69 on March 5, 2007 after a courageous battle against lung cancer. Juanita Haugen was an extraordinary woman whose passion for education and commitment to students enriched the lives of so many. Her efforts and unwavering dedication to public service leave a legacy that will continue to benefit the students of Pleasanton, the state of California and our great Nation for generations to come. Juanita Haugen and her family moved to Pleasanton in 1970. Juanita became involved in the Pleasanton school system after leaving her job as a probation officer to care for her children at home. She was elected to the Amador Valley Joint Union High School District Board in 1979 and was among the first trustees elected to the Pleasanton Unified School District (USD) following the 1988 reorganization that led to the District's creation. Juanita Haugen remained a member of the Pleasanton USD until her passing, and was the longest-serving trustee in the history of the local schools. Juanita Haugen strongly believed that children need not only a quality academic education, but also a solid ethical foundation on which to build strong character. She led the effort in the Pleasanton USD to establish a program that teaches and reinforces positive character traits in all public school students, from kindergarteners to high school seniors. This program continues to benefit students by focusing on the way in which they live and treat one another. In addition to her involvement with the Pleasanton schools, Juanita Haugen's passion for improving public education for all children inspired her to serve on both state and national school board associations. By sharing ideas about education that she learned from her state and national colleagues, Juanita kept Pleasanton's schools on the cutting edge. She always worked for the common good. In the words on one of her fellow school board members, ``You must make decisions for the entire school district, not just for your own child or school. Juanita always (said) it has to be right for everybody.'' Although Juanita Haugen's efforts won her many awards, her true measure as a leader is how her passion for education inspired others, including her family, Pleasanton's students and her community. From reading to young students to encouraging others to become involved in public service, Juanita Haugen was a valued and respected leader who touched the lives of many and improved the quality of life in Pleasanton for decades to come. It is for these reasons that I ask my Colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Juanita Haugen and sending our thoughts and prayers to her beloved family and friends.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, the American Institute of Mathematics, MIT, Cornell University, University of Michigan, University of Utah, and the University of Maryland together created a mathematical breakthrough this week made possible by congressional support of the National Science Foundation. The breakthrough involves defining the detailed structure of a geometric object called E8, the largest of the exceptional Lie groups used to study symmetry. E8, one of the most complicated structures ever studied, is a 248-dimensional Lie group used to explore the symmetries of a 57-dimensional object. Mapping out such an object is a magnificent achievement of the human mind. Connections between E8 and string theory indicate that physical applications of E8 will eventually emerge. The participants are to be commended for their work that has expanded the limits of human knowledge and brings hitherto unknown beauty and power to grace our human condition.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask my Colleagues to join me in honoring Commander Carol Bohn, U.S. Navy, Retired.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the chairman and the ranking member of the Veterans Committee and all members of the Veterans Committee for working together to provide our veterans with the services that they need. The Veterans Administration health care system does, in most cases, provide outstanding health care to our Nation's veterans. Yet, as the brave men and women from our Armed Forces return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, we are seeing additional demands already being placed on the VA. Those demands include addressing the hallmark injuries of these conflicts, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. These conditions are often the root causes behind the large numbers of soldiers who have attempted or contemplated suicide. The Defense Department estimates that 114 Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans have already committed suicide, and that one out of every 100 veterans has considered suicide. We must quickly address this problem by equipping the caregivers at our VA facilities nationwide with the ability to recognize and prevent these needless tragedies. I strongly support H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act. It directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicides among veterans. It trains VA staff to recognize the symptoms of PTSD and suicidal thoughts. It monitors veterans who receive medical care in the VA system for suicide risk factors. It provides for suicide prevention counselors at each medical facility, so that when the veterans need help they can get it immediately. And it establishes a suicide hot line for veterans to call. Our brave men and women in uniform have served this Nation with honor. We owe them more than a debt of gratitude. We must also provide them with the support and care they need to return to a healthy and productive civilian life.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I took to the floor in the beginning days of the 110th Congress to applaud the aggressive ethics package we passed. At the time I noted my confidence that those ethics rules were the first of many steps that we would take to bring back trust and civility to Congress. I'm proud that this week the Congress will take several more steps forward to promote accountability and openness in government by strengthening protections for whistleblowers, providing timely responses to Freedom of Information Act requests, restoring access to Presidential records, and limiting Federal no-bid contracts. I can think of nothing more important than assuring the people we are elected to serve that this Congress--and indeed this government--is open, ethical and accessible. The measures we will vote on this week continue the important work we have already begun. I commend my colleagues in bringing forward these important pieces of legislation.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairmen Oberstar and Johnson and Ranking Members Mica and Baker for their leadership on clean water issues and for their work to bring the legislation we are considering today to the floor. In addition, I would like to thank my colleague and good friend, Mrs. Tauscher, for supporting this legislation with me. Mrs. Tauscher and I have adjoining districts in California, and we have similar water needs. My bill, H.R. 700, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007, is straightforward and helpful legislation that I hope both parties will support. Everyone recognizes the need for clean water. It does not matter whether you live in a city or in the rural, it does not matter what your political persuasion is. We all need clean water. Therefore, it is vitally important to identify new water sources for use in agriculture, industry and for residential consumption. In the past, the State Revolving Loan Funds and Clean Water Act construction grants were available for identifying new water sources. But communities now increasingly depend on those funds just to provide for the maintenance and upkeep of existing water infrastructure, rather than finding new and potentially less expensive water supplies. H.R. 700 will provide $125 million so that local governments can innovate to collect, clean and distribute new sources of water. The Healthy Communities Water Supply Act will encourage municipalities, public and private water agencies and nonprofit organizations to find ways to provide new sources of water. For the small investment of Federal funding provided in this bill, we can spur innovation in water resources and move towards solving the increasingly pressing need to ensure clean water for drinking, for family farms, for businesses and for households. H.R. 700 encourages innovation by funding pilot projects and forward- thinking ideas that lead to practical solutions, which can be applied across the board. This legislation means jobs in local communities by spurring the kind of research that can create new businesses and make our towns and cities more livable at the same time. The constant threat of drought in the Western States, along with the reality of global warming, emphasizes why the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007 is so important. We must begin to investigate alternative water sources now, so that we can make strides in ensuring that we have water that we need in the future. I am hopeful that we can move quickly to pass H.R. 700 and to work with the other body so we can provide water relief for our communities. Again, I urge all my colleagues to support the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.R. 798, which will instruct the General Services Administration to install photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Department of Energy in Washington D.C. As a country, our energy needs continue to grow, and yet we are still heavily dependent on foreign sources of oil. The Federal Government is the country's single largest energy consumer and is in a unique position to demonstrate a commitment to taking on the challenge of global warming through the use of sustainable energy technology. The installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Energy Department headquarters in Washington D.C. is a first--and important-- step in that direction. Doing so will help demonstrate the power and promise of solar energy. It is critical that we continue to push forward on this front and expand the menu of renewable energy solutions available for use. I have recently formed the Bipartisan Freshman Caucus on Energy and Climate and am committed to working with members on both sides of the aisle to move forward with more common-sense solutions like photovoltaic panels. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, the young men and women who joined the Armed Forces after 9/11 out of a sense of duty and love for our country are just like my son Michael, who joined the military because of those terrible attacks. I am proud and heartened by their commitment to service and patriotism, just as I am proud of my own son's commitment, and I am concerned about their safety and well-being, just as I was about Michael's when he was in the service. When I talk about supporting our troops, it is not rhetorical, it is personal. And it is with great sadness and steely resolve that I stand up here tonight on the issue of Iraq and the President's plan to escalate that conflict. I am saddened because the misguided and mismanaged conflict has become a tragic disaster and a genuine threat to Mideast stability and global security. The escalation will cause more violence in the Middle East and will weaken our Nation. I am resolved, because it is our duty as the Congress of this great Nation to check and balance the power of the President on any issue we believe harmful to this country. This administration insists on finding a military answer rather than changing this failed approach and pursuing the diplomatic and political solutions necessary to bring an end to the violence. Unfortunately, the President's plan to escalate the war in Iraq will not bring success there, nor make the United States more secure. In fact, the proposal means a further distraction from the mission in Afghanistan and the need for a tougher, smarter approach to the global war on terrorism. The President's proposal puts more U.S. lives at risk, further stretching the readiness of our ground forces and increasing the drain on our Treasury. President Bush's plan is opposed by military experts, by Republicans and Democrats in both Chambers of Congress, and by the vast majority of our country. That is why I rise in strong support of the resolution under consideration in this body. The resolution has two straightforward provisions: continuing support for those American soldiers who have served or are currently serving in Iraq; and disagreeing with the President's plan to escalate the conflict. Supporting our troops is my top priority, not just because it is our duty and responsibility, but because it is personal to me and my family. Recently the Washington Post reported that the Marine Corps and Army brigades that would be sent to Iraq under the President's plan are short of body armor, vehicles, and other important equipment. That shows just how desperate the President's misguided plan is. Military action should never be executed in desperation. We must transfer the responsibility for establishing and maintaining law and order on the streets of Iraq to the Iraqis. Training those Iraqi units must be done outside of Iraq. This will mean more troops trained more quickly and will lessen the likelihood that Iraqi army and police turn to dangerous militias and death squads. The members of our Armed Forces who have served in Iraq have done so, bravely and honorably. Unfortunately, the President's strategy in Iraq has not matched the commitment with which our troops have served in that country. We must begin a responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq on a public timeline that makes sense, while pursuing political and diplomatic solutions. Yet the President has steadfastly refused to engage in the political and diplomatic efforts necessary to bring a resolution to the violence in Iraq. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that we need a new direction in Iraq. I will continue to push for that new direction while always putting our troops first. This resolution is an important first step. I stand with resolve in opposing President Bush's plan for an escalation in Iraq Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Advanced Fuel Infrastructure Research and Development Act, and I also thank my colleague from Vermont for his leadership on this open rule. I have dedicated my entire career to developing new sources of energy, and I am pleased that we are making it easier to incorporate biofuels into our everyday lives. Current practices have taken us where we are today, but we need to expand our options to fight clean fuels and viable alternatives to conventional fuels. Diversification of our energy supply is the only way to rein in our country's increasing need to import oil from foreign countries. The bill we are voting on today is a good step toward making biofuels, such as E-85 ethanol and biodiesel, easier and less expensive to access and use. This is a very good first step toward energy diversification, but we are on a long haul to sustainability. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 59 and the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week. As an engineer for my entire professional career and only one of a handful in the House, I thank Mr. Lipinski for introducing this legislation to bring the spotlight onto this professional career choice. My father was an engineer; I am very proud to be following in his footsteps. As we vote on this legislation today, I am reminded of something that my mother used to tell me over and over: It was the engineers that would be solving many of our Nation's and our world's problems. Her words couldn't have been more relevant than they are today, as we face many challenges such as global warming, the demand for fresh water and food throughout the world. Well, in the 1970s, the engineering profession wasn't considered the most exciting, but throughout the 1990s, we became aware of how exciting the challenges are that we are facing in engineering; and this has led to a resurgence in interest and inspired a whole generation of young people. I am hopeful that with the passage of H. Res. 59 we will help inspire more of those young people to get involved in the engineering profession. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend Mr. Lipinski.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, the energy policy in this country is neither sustainable nor healthy. Every day we import $800 million worth of oil, and not only does that put our economy at great risk, but some of that money is going to the very people who would harm us. Our vote today in H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007, will begin moving towards a rational and sustainable energy policy. After spending more than 20 years climbing wind turbines and developing new energy technology, I can tell you that we have not even begun to realize the potential for jobs creation and sustainability in this industry. We need to be doing much more to expand the use of renewable energy. This bill is a first step to diversify our energy sources. With H.R. 6 we will end billions of dollars of corporate welfare that we have doled out to big oil companies currently enjoying record profits. By investing in new energy technologies, we will also create an entire spectrum of good paying jobs right here in America. In fact, the passage of this bill will produce nearly 1 million jobs, generating close to $30 billion in new wages. I am pleased that we are doing more than just paying lip service to expanding innovation and clean energy by following through with our responsibility to make the environment livable for future generations. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working in a bipartisan way with my colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee to increase innovation and investment in our energy future.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, last night President Bush accepted responsibility for the failures in Iraq. Yet he offered no real strategy for winning the war in Iraq or the broader struggle with terrorism. Many military and foreign policy experts, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have acknowledged that the President's proposal to increase troop strength is not a solution to the ongoing instability in Iraq. I believe that an influx of troops will actually worsen the situation on the ground. Not only that, but redeploying 20,000 additional troops in Iraq will stretch our already fully deployed Armed Forces even further. I am particularly concerned that deploying additional troops will significantly hinder our ability to effectively combat the global terrorist threat. In fact, the very consideration of redeploying troops in Iraq means that we are distracted from the wider war on terrorism, especially in Afghanistan where additional forces may be necessary to rein in al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 remain a dark day in our Nation's history, but the tragedy of 9/11 rallied Americans to the aid of their fellow citizens and showed the world our resilience. Throughout the country, patriotic Americans responded to the attacks by volunteering to serve their country in the armed forces, and I am proud to count my son among those who signed up. Since 9/11 we've known that we need to do more to expand security measures nationwide. The legislation we will be voting on today takes us a few steps closer to protecting Americans here at home by increasing security at our nation's ports and airports, improving communication, and providing funding for our first responders. The 9/11 Commission created the blueprint for increasing security some time ago, and I'm pleased today that we are implementing these critical security recommendations to make America more safe. I commend the House for taking up this legislation today, and I urge all of my colleagues to support its adoption.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I am very honored to be part of the historic 110th Congress. It is entirely appropriate that the incoming Congress is making ethics reform one of its first acts. This issue is personally important to me and to all of Californians. We need to provide Congress with a fresh start and improve the strained relations that exist between voters and elected officials. Members of Congress should be held in the highest regard by the people they represent, and the ethics changes will help repair years of damage. We must reestablish positive relationships with everyone we serve, and end this period of mistrust in our government. Traveling throughout our State of California, I heard from many people who simply want to believe and trust in their elected officials, and today we are sending the message that we feel the same way. I am confident also that this will be the first of very many steps that will take back trust and civility in Congress, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for the ethics package.