Grace Napolitano

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

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

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1025) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of implementing a water supply and conservation project to improve water supply reliability, increase the capacity of water storage, and improve water management efficiency in the Republican River Basin between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

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

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to commend foremost my colleague from California (Mrs. Capps) again for the hard work and dedication to this great piece of legislation for her district. The purpose of H.R. 1737 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and planning and construction of permanent facilities for the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement Treatment project, the GREAT project. H.R. 1737, when enacted, authorizes limited Federal financial assistance to develop a facility that will reclaim, reuse and treat impaired water in the Oxnard, California, area. It is my hope that the administration will understand the significance of this very critical litigation for Oxnard as the shining example of the role water recycling plays in balancing our water management portfolio. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1737. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1737) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities for the GREAT project to reclaim, reuse, and treat impaired waters in the area of Oxnard, California.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this noncontroversial bill. I would like to thank my colleague on the other side and also, especially, the sponsor of the bill, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, for her very hard work and strong leadership. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to commend my colleague from South Dakota, Representative Herseth Sandlin, for her very dedicated hard work and her persistence on this piece of legislation. H.R. 487 makes several technical corrections to address inequities that surfaced after the enactment of the original Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act of 2000. In short, this legislation provides for accelerated compensation for tribal members and landowners impacted by the construction of the Oahe Dam in 1962. It also satisfies a request from the administration to amend the underlying structure of the compensation fund. H.R. 487 will assist the tribe in addressing this loss and help to ensure a positive future for the Cheyenne River Sioux. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin), the bill's sponsor, to further describe the legislation.

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

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 487) to amend the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act to provide compensation to members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for damage resulting from the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, and for other purposes.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 30) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project.

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

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 30, as introduced by our colleague, Mr. Darrell Issa from California, amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project. This legislation will provide limited financial assistance to the district for the expansion of the Eastern Municipal Water District pressure zone system, a critical part of their water recycling system. The legislation will help the district maintain a stable, secure water supply to strengthen the community's ability to attract business, sustain its economy, protect its environment, and deal with the community's needs. I thank Mr. Issa for his hard work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 30. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1114) to require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey, to conduct a study on groundwater resources in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Chairman on rollcall No. 241, had I been present, I would have voted no. Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues in honoring the tremendous contributions of World War II Veterans. During World War II Americans responded to a call of service that resulted in a generation of leaders that has since never been seen. As our country faced the war, all citizens stood united and ready to contribute. Without exception, Hispanic Americans were also there to seize the call their country had laid before them. Not only did Hispanic Americans serve our country during a time of war, their leadership after service resulted in huge civil rights advancements for the Hispanic community. It is with great privilege that I take the opportunity to especially recognize the noble service and high sacrifices of the approximately 500,000 Hispanic Americans who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. One of whom was my brother-in-law, Manuel Musquiz--a bombardier. During World War II Hispanic participation was at a higher percentage than any other minority. Of these, at least 65,000 were Puerto Rican and the majority of the Hispanics were Mexican-Americans. Thirteen Medals of Honor were awarded to Latinos in World War II, eleven to Mexican Americans, and two to Puerto Ricans. When Hispanic soldiers returned home they utilized the GI Bill to advance their education. Unfortunately, many Latino soldiers who served during WWII also received a rude awakening as they returned home. They faced the same discrimination they had left when they heeded the call to serve. Latino soldiers returned home to exert their rights, through numerous civil rights efforts, to create greater opportunities through activism. Powerful organizations grew out of this era, including the G.I. Forum and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). A wealth of gratitude is entitled to these national heroes and their families who not only fought for democracy but fought for equality. I would also like to recognize my fellow colleagues of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who also have served our country: Representatives Ortiz, Reyes, Baca, and Salazar. We pause to remember the noble service and high sacrifices of those who have worn our nation's uniform. We must not allow our children to forget about those who have served and the millions of living military veterans in the United States, those residing in California, and Hispanic veterans in the U.S. Our thoughts and prayers are also with tomorrow's veterans--our servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the world. Let us remember the service of all our veterans, the ones that wars-- and peace--cannot be won without. And let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2007, I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 158, agreeing to H.R. 658--Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2007, I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 157, agreeing to H. Res. 138--Recognizing the importance of Hot Springs National Park on its 175th anniversary.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2007, I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on roll call No. 159, agreeing to H.R. 839--Arthur V. Watkins Dam Enlargement Act.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Thank you, Mr. Filner and Mr. Boswell. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the previous remarks of all my colleagues in regard to H.R. 327, of which I am in complete support. It is a bill designed to decrease suicide amongst our veterans. As you have heard, we have had the highest rate of suicide of any other war. This is about soldiers like Michael, who returned from Iraq, went months on a waiting list from doctor to doctor without proper treatment, and when finally diagnosed, a week later he shot himself. This is about the two marines gathered at a muster in Long Beach just recently who were diagnosed on the spot with suicidal tendencies and were hospitalized immediately. This is about our local VFW seeing more and more young people seeking to get services for their mental well- being. This is also about our families becoming aware of signs to look for and where to find treatment. This is about providing the funding to help heal the mental wounds so that our warriors believe it is better to remain alive and not dead. What is more critical and more important? I urge my colleagues to vote in support of 327.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in total opposition to the President's plan, a plan that escalates the number of our young men and women, American troops, being sent to Iraq. But what are we talking about? What are the words in this resolution? It says, Resolved by the House of Representatives that, one, Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and, secondly, Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. That is what we speak to. I did not vote for the war resolution, and I do not believe that sending more young Americans to Iraq and putting their lives at risk will change the situation. Since the beginning of the Iraq conflict, our valiant men and women in uniform have not received the adequate training nor the proper life-protection equipment required to ensure their safety. I visited one of the armories where 2 years after the Iraq war had started. They were still making the doors for the Humvees to protect them from those bombs that were killing and maiming our men and women. The President's proposal to put more troops in harm's way, into the middle of a civil war, whether you like it or not, it may be local, but it is a civil war, where neither side backs our continued occupation, further endangers our troops. My constituents are not in favor of the escalation by a margin of 50 to 1. We have had phone calls, e-mails, messages. They want our young men and women back. They do not want to escalate it any more. Families have suffered enough already. There is no justification for causing more pain and adding to the suffering of the mothers and of the fathers and of the husbands and the wives and the sons and the daughters and other loved ones. We speak of the soldiers who have lost their lives in Iraq in this war. We speak not of the thousands of injured and the suffering they and their families are being put through. The consequences of the war in Iraq extend far beyond the awful tally of the 3,100 killed and the 23,000 wounded. The Nation's economic consequences of the escalation are profound. Point one: every portion of our budget has been cut and continues to be cut except for defense spending. The worst budget cuts are taking funding away from our veterans, the very men and women who put their lives on the line in Iraq and in other wars. We regularly receive letters and phone calls, e-mails, from constituents who ask me to fund vital, successful, necessary programs for their communities; but we cannot support our communities with the funds they truly need as they are instead being diverted to a war we did not seek. Vital social services, critical to the well-being of the people of my district and certainly of all other districts, are again being cut. Other consequences of the war are the social consequences. These soldiers fortunate enough to return home alive and in good physical health suffer long-term mental health problems, Mr. Speaker, as a direct consequence of their deployment, not one, not two, but possibly three and more deployments in Iraq. Yet our services to them and their families not only are sadly lacking and underfunded; they are being cut. We have not enough money to be able to deal with the devastation in the minds of not only these men and women but their families to be able to deal with the consequences when they return home and try to regain a normal life. Families are being torn apart more so by this war than any other war. There are suicides. There is divorce. There is homelessness now. Their children are forced to grow up without their father or their mother. Parents are losing children. No mother should have to bury a son or a daughter. I urge the President to work with Iraq's neighbors and the international community to ensure other countries' commitments to Iraq's security situation, the training of Iraqi troops and police, and, of course, financial support. Escalation is certainly not the answer and I cannot and will not support such a policy. I certainly want to say thank you to our brave men and women in uniform for your bravery and your service. Our prayers are with you and your families

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to authorize and request the President of the United States to award the Medal of Honor to Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for acts of valor while serving his country in the Republic of Vietnam on December 22, 1966. Joe Getherall was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was seriously wounded three times during his second tour. He served as a squad leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Third Marine Division during ``Operation Chinook.'' In the early morning hours of December 22, 1966, Company M was occupying a night defensive position in the area of the Co Bi-Than Tan Corridor, Thua Thien Province. Suddenly, the Marines came under intense small arms and mortar fire from the 802nd Viet Cong Battalion. Sergeant Getherall unhesitatingly exposed himself to intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire in order to repeatedly move across open terrain to effectively control his unit. While moving from one position to another he was seriously wounded in both legs and arms by an exploding mortar round. However, despite his painful injuries, he steadfastly refused medical evacuation and continued to direct his unit. As the battle raged throughout the night, with most of the enemy ground assaults concentrated in front of his squad's position through 50 meters of open terrain, he continually exposed himself to enemy small arms fire. With enemy mortars and grenades exploding around him he disregarded his own safety in order to pinpoint enemy targets, direct fire, resupply his men with ammunition and ensure the integrity of the perimeter defense. He personally killed many of the enemy attackers with his own rifle fire. During one of the enemy assaults, a Marine went down in the open. Sergeant Getherall realized the gravity of the situation and fearlessly moved across the hazardous open terrain under intense enemy fire and dragged the Marine to cover. During another assault, Sergeant Getherall observed a Viet Cong about to throw a grenade and Sergeant Getherall killed him with rifle fire. The enemy was still able to throw his grenade, which landed among the Marines. Sergeant Getherall shouted a warning to his men and with complete disregard for his own life, under heavy enemy fire he was able to get to the grenade and jump on it. He then picked it up and threw it back at the enemy where it exploded a few meters away, wounding Sergeant Getherall for a second time in one of his legs. By his prompt and courageous action in the face of almost certain death, he saved several of his squad members from death or serious injury. During the remainder of the night, he moved among his men, encouraging them and ensuring that there was maximum security and firepower to repulse subsequent attacks. Inspired by his selfless courage and aggressive fighting spirit, his squad members repulsed a number of savage attacks while inflicting heavy casualties on a determined and numerically superior enemy force. By his outstanding leadership, resolute determination and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Sergeant Getherall upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. This bill I am introducing today will waive the time limitations that require the award to be made within 5 years of the act. This is needed because the original award recommendation by Gary Loveridge, the platoon commander at the time, was lost by the Marine Corps. Additionally, six of Sergeant Getherall's squad members and his commanding officer have recently submitted sworn affidavits attesting to his heroic actions. Madam Speaker, Joe Getherall is a great man who performed an amazing feat to defend his country and his squadron. He deserves the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. NAPOLITANO

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 386 would transfer title for approximately 9 acres of land and several buildings to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District. The terms of the transfer are included in a formal agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and the irrigation district. Other parts of the reclamation project, including the Tieton diversion dam and associated canals, would not be affected. In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on similar legislation. That bill was favorably reported by the committee and passed by this House. We have no objection to this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.