Jon Porter

Mr. PORTER

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

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 809, offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). This resolution seeks to support the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after- school programs. On October 14, 2004, more than 6,000 communities across the country will rally for after-school programs by participating in the fifth anniversary of ``Lights On Afterschool!'' This nationwide event is aimed at bringing attention to the need for high-quality after-school programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement. I support this resolution because after-school programs are an important part of many American students' lives. High-quality after- school programs provide safe, challenging, and fun learning experiences that help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural, and academic skills. I am pleased that we are able to help bring attention to the critical importance of after-school programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities. This resolution is simple and straightforward. It supports the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a nationwide celebration of after-school programs and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the communities to engage in innovative after- school programs and activities that ensure the doors stay open and the lights stay on for children after school. I commend the gentleman (Mr. Kildee) for his leadership in offering H. Res. 809 and urge my colleagues' support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 809.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Gredia Grecia Alajar, a retired teacher and Nevada's recipient of the Outstanding Older Worker Award. The work for and dedication to the community of retired individuals, like Mrs. Alajar, are inspiring to all of us as we seek to improve our districts and our States. Mrs. Alajar, after a lifetime of teaching in the Philippines, Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, returned to the workforce, this time as a member of health care delivery system. She is an integral part of the operations of the First Choice Home Health Care Agency. Mrs. Alajar was born and raised in the Philippines, where she taught high school before moving to the United States in 1970. After overcoming the language barrier, she began teaching mentally challenged children. Her good works continued as she impacted the lives of many children facing challenges. I applaud Mrs. Alajar and her dedication to our community as an excellent role model for us all.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act, and I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting for this common-sense bill. The reforms before us are straightforward, even simple, but they are also incredibly important. I was proud to cosponsor this legislation and look forward to the benefits it provides our teachers. This bill addresses two pressing issues within the Federal higher education programs. First, it will shut down excess subsidies being paid to certain student loan providers. Second, it will direct these dollars so that we can increase student loan relief for teachers. In February, President Bush called on Congress to put an end to excess subsidies paid to certain student loan providers. Republicans answered the President's call by introducing legislation in May that would shut this practice down and direct the resources back to where they belong, to student benefits within the Higher Education Act. This bill will finally allow us to enact that important reform and will direct the savings to increased loan relief for teachers. The second piece of this bill will provide critical support for our Nation's classrooms, and I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), for his leadership in this area. The loan relief provider in this bill will increase loan forgiveness for teachers of math, science and special education who serve in disadvantaged schools. I know firsthand how rural and urban school districts are struggling to find highly qualified teachers in these key subjects, and that is why I am so proud to support this bill. In Clark County, Nevada, alone, we are required to hire, on average, 2,000 new teachers a year. Currently, the Higher Education Act provides loan forgiveness of up to $5,000 for teachers who teach for at least 5 years in Title I schools. These schools, which serve larger shares of disadvantaged students, often struggle to recruit and retain the teachers they need. Although the current loan forgiveness is valuable, we have discovered particular shortages in math, science and special education. To help schools recruit teachers in these high-demand subject areas, we must target our resources where they are needed most. I appreciate and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 805) supporting efforts to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for youth in high-risk situations.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 805.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H. Res. 805 which seeks to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources and supports for youth in high-risk situations. I would like to thank the leadership for allowing this resolution to come to the House floor as it highlights a very tragic and important issue. Runaway and thrownaway episodes among our Nation's youth are serious and widespread, with one out of every seven children and youth in the United States running away or being turned out of the home before the age of 18. A recent study by the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention estimates that nearly 1.7 million youth experienced a runaway or thrownaway episode in a single year. The prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the Nation is astounding, with studies suggesting that between 1.6 million and 2.8 million young people live on the streets of the United States each year. The primary factors of running away or being thrown away are severe family conflict, abuse and neglect, and parental abuse of alcohol and drugs. In the district that I represent in southern Nevada, the statistics are similar. In the year 2003, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported 4,527 runaways. There were approximately 3,500 children who required emergency shelter. 1,800 of these children were placed in foster care. In addition to that, the Clark County School District reported that 3,011 of our students were homeless. These astonishing statistics highlight the need for our support of those important programs that seek to prevent these types of incidents. Many of the conditions that lead young people to leave or be turned out of their homes are preventable through interventions that can strengthen families and support youth in high-risk situations. Successful interventions are grounded in partnerships among families, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based organizations and businesses. The National Network For Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard have collaborated since 2002 in cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month during the month of November. National Runaway Prevention Month is a public education initiative aimed at increasing the awareness of issues facing runaways as well as making the public aware of the role they play in preventing youth from running away. As a result of this collaboration, communities across the country have undertaken a range of activities to commemorate National Runaway Prevention Month. Preventing young people from running away and supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, community and national concern. Please join us in encouraging all Americans to play a role in supporting the millions of young people who have run away and who are at risk of doing so each year. H.R. 805 supports efforts to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources and supports for youth in high-risk situations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

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

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) expressing the sense of the Congress that student travel is a vital component of the educational process, as amended.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 131.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 131 offered by the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). House Concurrent Resolution 131 recognizes the critical role that student travel plays in the educational process. I support this resolution because I agree we should recognize the unique value that educational travel can provide to our Nation's students. It can be very worthwhile to extend the educational experience outside of the classroom in order to give students the opportunity to gain valuable skills through experience and direct interaction. I also agree that in the wake of September 11, we should encourage students and their families to continue taking advantage of the rich history that exists in Washington, D.C. I firmly believe that students who are given the chance to travel to Washington, D.C. will have a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of American history, culture, government and politics. I commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for her leadership in authoring this resolution to recognize the importance and value of student travel and urge my colleagues to adopt this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 4593, the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in favor of this valuable legislation, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor. I would also like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), for introducing this legislation in the House, as well as Senator Ensign and Senator Reid for introducing companion legislation in the Senate. H.R. 4593 represents an important compromise and enjoys strong bipartisan support from the entire Nevada congressional delegation. The area I represent in Congress is one of the fastest growing areas in the Nation. The growth of Clark County has been significant, and it is a tribute to the leadership of our elected and administrative officials, the hard work and dedication of local developers and the economic success of the Las Vegas region. We have worked hard in the State of Nevada to ensure the organized, strategic and orchestrated growth of our community while still maintaining and preserving many of Nevada's environmental treasures and our resources. This growth, while impressive, has created and placed new and increased pressures on our existing precious resources, such as infrastructure, education and water. In my 20 years in public office, I have seized opportunities to better manage this growth and the responsibilities and liabilities it brings. I see the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act as legislation that can benefit southern Nevada, Lincoln County and the full State of Nevada as our economy and population continue to grow, specifically with the development of additional water resources. At a time when Clark County continues to lead the Nation in growth with thousands of new residents each month, Nevada has access to the smallest water allocation of the seven States using the Colorado River. By 2002, our population had increased to 1.6 million people, most of whom reside in the Las Vegas Valley, and water use had far surpassed our 300,000-acre-foot allocation from the Colorado River. As a result, we must remain committed to maximizing the use of available Colorado River water while at the same time making use of existing in-State resources. As drought continues in the West and our State continues to grow, the development of the in-State water resources grows increasingly important. This legislation will help with the proposed development of our in-State resources intended to diversify our water supply and supplement Nevada's water entitlement from the Colorado River. The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act will help to expedite a solution to southern Nevada's current water situation without compromising public involvement and environmental compliance. Mr. Speaker, for the past decade, Colorado River water and conservation have been the most cost-effective options to meet demands in southern Nevada. However, as we plan for the future, the continued development of additional water resources has become necessary. Development of in-State water resources will provide southern Nevada with a long-term, reliable water supply to meet the increased demands of a growing population and ensure supply during times of drought. Accessing these resources requires significant investment, and H.R. 4593 is an important step forward in achieving these goals. I would like to urge my colleagues in the House to support this important bipartisan legislation and join me in voting for H.R. 4593.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to honor an individual that has been awarded the Electronic Retailing Association's (ERA) 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the electronic retailing industry and who have elevated the significance and stature of both direct response and the association. Mr. Greg Renker is a founding principal of Guthy-Renker, an infomercial studio that has evolved into one of the world's largest television response-driven companies. Mr. Renker is personally responsible for productions, new business development and business affairs, and, with partner Bill Guthy, supervises the overall direction of the company. As a founder of ERA and an industry pioneer, Advertising Age magazine named Mr. Renker to its ``Marketing 100'' list for his achievements in the direct response television industry. In addition, Mr. Renker has been spotlighted by Fortune Magazine on its list of ``America's Smartest Young Entrepreneurs'' and also was honored as one of Inc.'s ``Entrepreneurs of the Year.'' Currently, he serves as a permanent Chairman Emeritus of ERA and is active in a multitude of industry-wide initiatives. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Greg Renker on his successes and on his dedication to the electronic retailing industry. I know that he will continue to be a strong presence in both the industry as well as in his local community. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passage of James Elliott Weeks. Mr. Weeks passed away on September 8, 2004. James Weeks was born in March 1917 in Claude, Texas. James served as a Captain in the Army during World War II. He then served as an Assistant Attorney General of Texas, and was elected County Attorney of Lubbock, Texas. He was later elected to the Abilene School Board and the Texas Board of Education. Captain Weeks was a member of the Texas and Supreme Court bar. James Weeks is survived by his wife Inez, three sons, and eight grandchildren. I urge the House to join me in mourning his passing and remembering him for his life of public service.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brandon Manthei. Brandon recently won 1st place in the Nevada TAR WARS poster contest. TAR WARS is an anti-smoking campaign and tobacco-free education program for 5th graders that is sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Brandon's winning poster features a surfer that says ``Hang Tough, . . . Don't Puff.'' This creative and positive message helps to educate his peers and community. Currently, 2% of 5th graders smoke and that number jumps to 28% by the time students reach high school. The Tar Wars program is designed to target 5th graders at this early stage in the hopes of reducing the number of under-age smokers. Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to stand here and honor Brandon Manthei with my deepest admiration for his contribution to the State of Nevada. I urge the entire House to join me in congratulating him on his accomplishment.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor a great man who has dedicated his life to his country as a Citizen Soldier of the United States Army Reserve. After 10 years of service, Daniel Porter received the Meritorious Service Medal as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve. This medal was presented for service offered from June of 1986 until June of 1996 as Daniel dedicated his free time to serving our Nation and the great state of Nevada as a military reservist. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I stand today to honor this man. It is men and women such as Daniel Porter that continue to help our country remain safe and protected from the increasing dangers we see every day. I would hope that my colleagues would stand with me in honoring Daniel Porter, and the many other military reservists that protect our freedom and combat terror.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4442, legislation introduced by my fellow Nevadan, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), to designate the United States postal facility at 1050 North Hills Boulevard in Reno, Nevada, as the ``Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office Building.'' I am proud to join with the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) in honoring the brave men and women of our Nation's Armed Forces with the dedication of this Post Office. It is important for all of us to pause and remember those who have selflessly stood in harm's way as the guardians of our most fundamental freedoms: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Remembering those who have served our country with the Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office Building helps to preserve in the hearts and lives of our citizens the spirit of patriotism, the love of country, and the willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. This legislation recognizes not just members of the military, but all men and women and children who are committed to guarding the freedoms we hold so dearly. Recently our Nation has been faced with threats from enemies who desire to oppress rather than to liberate, who advocate tyranny over democracy, and who prefer terrorism to freedom. The attacks of September 11, 2001, are fresh in our memories, but we are reminded that this is not the first time in the history of our great Nation that we have been faced with intimidation and threats to our freedoms. Mr. Speaker, while the names of those who threaten us may be new, the honor and courage with which our Nation faces them is not. All of those who have worked to guard our freedoms, our police and fire departments, first responders and all Americans who believe our country is the greatest Nation in the world because of the freedoms we enjoy are honored with this postal facility in Reno, Nevada. I would also like to take a moment to thank the gentleman from Nevada (Congressman Gibbons) for his personal dedication to our Nation. As many of you know, prior to coming to Congress, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) served our Nation as a combat pilot and is a decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. Throughout his military service, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) received 19 service medals including the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He continues protecting the freedom of Nevadans and all Americans through his service in Congress where he has distinguished himself as a leader in homeland security and intelligence issues. Again, I urge all Members of the House to support H.R. 4442 and pass this legislation honoring those who serve as guardians of our freedom.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the opening of the Robert Broadbent Las Vegas Monorail today in Las Vegas, Nevada. This momentous achievement will expand transit opportunities for residents and visitors in Southern Nevada while enhancing the environment, reducing congestion, and improving safety. The Robert Broadbent Monorail is the most technically advanced transit system in the world. The first leg will run 4 miles along the world famous Las Vegas Strip. The Broadbent Monorail is built entirely with private money, and shows the commitment to build for our future that southern Nevada is famous for. The monorail is named after Robert Broadbent, a long-time community leader who sadly passed away last year. Robert Broadbent was the chairman of the Monorail and served as Mayor of Boulder City, County Commissioner, McCarran Airport Director and Director of the Bureau of Reclamation. I invite all the members of the House to visit Las Vegas and see firsthand the Broadbent Monorail. I urge the House to join me in congratulating Chairman Jim Gibson, President Cam Walker, and all of the men and women who have contributed over the years to the success of this project. I look forward to extending the monorail in the near future to serve McCarran Airport, downtown Las Vegas, and other points in southern Nevada.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my opposition to the funding of the Yucca Mountain project in the Fiscal Year 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. As you know, the Yucca Mountain issue has for over two decades been of intense personal interest to me and my Nevada constituents. Currently, the Yucca Mountain project is being fought in the halls of justice, and no more tax dollars should be allocated to this project until the courts have provided their input which I believe will be favorable for Nevada. Furthermore, nearly 200 key scientific questions remain unanswered by the Department of Energy and the facility has yet to obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. At a time when the project is facing potentially insurmountable licensing obstacles, why would we want to spend another dime on this ill-thought plan? Any assessment of Yucca Mountain's suitability as the national nuclear waste repository must look at the feasibility of transporting waste to the site. Taking 70,000 metric tons of dangerous radioactive nuclear waste, removing it from reactor sites around the country, and putting it on trucks and trains and barges, and moving it through cities, towns and waterways across America is a disastrous scheme. This highly hazardous material will ultimately travel through 43 States and pass by more than 50 million Americans who live within 1 mile of the proposed transportation routes. As many of you are aware, a GAO report concluded that the risk of an accident during nuclear waste transport is low and that even if an accident or terrorist attack were to occur, the potential for widespread harm is low. However, the GAO characterizes irradiated nuclear fuel as ``one of the most hazardous materials made by man'' and recommends that shipments be minimized. Mr. Chairman, it's just not worth the risk to transport 70,000 metric tons of nuclear waste across our nation. Even with Yucca Mountain, there will continue to be nuclear waste stored at all operating reactor sites. All of this is completely unnecessary. Nuclear utilities can and do store waste safely on site at reactors. In fact, the very same storage technology that is planned to be used at Yucca Mountain is currently used at reactor sites around the country. No reactor in the United States has ever closed for lack of storage. As a legislator, like all of you, I need to be fully informed about the effects legislation and issues will have on my constituents. The multiple risks associated with transporting large volumes of nuclear waste over long distances to Nevada cannot be justified. You are being asked to risk the health and safety of your constituents for a scheme that will leave this country looking for another nuclear waste storage in the decades to come. At the end of the day, all Yucca Mountain will do is create one more large storage facility and millions of new security threats, one for every road, rail, and water mile this waste will travel along. On September 11, we witnessed the single-most horrific event in our nation's history. Instantly we became all too aware of our country's vulnerability to threats from outside our borders. Transporting tens of thousands of tons of nuclear waste across the country was not a good idea before September 11, and it's certainly not a good idea now. We had never thought of a fully fueled passenger plane as a weapon. Let's not make the same mistake with the trucks, trains, and barges that will be transporting nuclear waste.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to honor an outstanding young woman and student. Holly Walker has received the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship. As one of eight Nevada recipients, Holly went on to compete nationally for Discover Card's top scholarship award in which she, along with nine other students from around the country, were awarded an additional scholarship on top of the award received at the state level. Discover Card awards scholarships to junior high school students based on leadership merit, academic achievements, and the ability to share talents with others while simultaneously overcoming considerable personal challenges. The scholarship can then be used for any type of post-high school education. I congratulate Holly Walker for this great accomplishment and contribution to the state of Nevada. As one of only nine national recipients, and the only Nevada recipient to receive such an honor, I ask my colleagues to stand with me in recognition of this outstanding high school student.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of our great military servicemen, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric L. Snow, for his service to our country. CW5 Snow served the United States for 38 years and he will retire on June 11, 2004 whereupon he will reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. His service assignments have sent him to Vietnam, Panama, and Haiti. His dedicated exemplary service has earned him the Meritorious Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and a United Nations Medal. As we celebrate our patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day and July 4, I reflect upon the many opportunities and privileges that we as citizens enjoy because of the sacrifices of our military men and women. I stand here today in honor of one such individual whose life has been dedicated to his country. It is my hope that we as Americans remember the sacrifices of these brave men and women, not only on patriotic holidays, but all year, as they serve to protect and preserve those essential freedoms we enjoy. Mr. Speaker, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Snow has served his country with honor and I urge the House to join me in thanking him for his service to our country.