Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Well, again, the State can apply for those warning labels. There is nothing in here that prevents that from happening. And, again, if it is good for a woman in Texas or Missouri, or fill in the blank, it is good for all 50 States. The toxicity level will not change. The danger of that toxicity level will not change. Let me tell you what else happens, and we need to be real careful about this, because we need to blend all science and remove emotion, because this is what we found happened. It was an interesting study, and I would encourage the gentlewoman to read it. It is the Tufts Health and Nutrition Letter that recently reported on several studies that documents some of the government warnings about mercury in fish can do more harm than good. It is interesting why. They reported that the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis conducted this study, which concluded that if Americans cut their consumption of fish by one-sixth, as they did after the mercury-focused 2001 warning, an additional 8,000 deaths per year will occur annually from heart disease and stroke. What we have found is that you have to got to blend good science, remove the emotion, because in some cases it would be appropriate to consume fish because it is healthy. There are some of those fish oils that are very good for you. And what they found is, listen, you guys are doing more harm than good. You are killing 8,000 more people a year because we have an obesity problem in America, we have a health consumption problem in America. This is causing more harm than good. So we have got to find that balance. I argue that good science is good science. Again, if we apply the periodic tables in all 50 States uniformly as we should, with scientific lenses, we are going to come to the right conclusion to protect every pregnant woman in America.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, one of the things that we have heard over the course of this debate, and we have had lots of it, almost as many hours of debate as there are pages in the bill, one of the things that we realized along the way is that there was concern about the bioterrorism. We firmly believe that the bill is adequate to deal with those issues. But to try to make sure everybody had a comfort level, we felt it was important to at least acknowledge that we were going to have the DHS and the HHS sign off on this legislation before it takes effect, that there would be no hindrance in defense of bioterrorism when it comes to our food supply. It is not a difficult thing, it is really a commonsense measure. We hope that alleviates some of the concerns we have heard mentioned, and I urge this body's support on this particular measure. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, this debate has certainly turned some interesting corners in the last few weeks, and again we are fast approaching as many hours debating as there are pages in the bill; 226 cosponsors and 59 Democrats joined in a bipartisan effort for national food safety labeling, a pretty powerful thing. I commend Mr. Waxman for standing up and saying that we need national nutrition labels across the country. Why? Because the periodic tables in California are not any different than the periodic tables in Michigan or Maine or Florida, thank goodness. Science is science is science. If we are going to protect pregnant women, if we are going to protect children, if we are going to protect mothers and fathers, if we are going to be for apple pie and Chevrolets, then we ought to do it in all 50 States, because a chicken grown in Louisiana is going to end up on a plate in Michigan; peas grown in Florida are going to end up in Louisiana; crawfish is going to come north and west and south, and we are going to send navy beans south, and we grow some good ones up there in Michigan. We have cherries that are going to go all across the country. This is an interstate matter. I can't think of anything more important than our food safety. I have heard so much misinformation, even today. ``It is going to wipe out the laws to protect consumers.'' Wrong. This bill will not do that. ``The AGs are all for this bill for the right reason.'' Two of the issues that they talked about, preempted in their letter, were factually incorrect. It wasn't right. They were making the wrong argument. They were wrong. Sulfites in Michigan, I happen to agree with you. And I will tell you what; if they are bad for Michigan citizens, I think they are bad for all of the other 49 States. If you are traveling to see your mother and you have a sulfite problem, if you are in Michigan today, you are fine. If you are in Ohio, you are not going to do so well. That is wrong. We can do better. This bill says we can do better. I appreciate your passion for these issues. I don't think we are all that far apart about wanting food safety. I don't. I think how we get there is the problem. So to have personal attacks and charges of backroom deals and those things is wrong. I think you know it is wrong. I think we have come to the point in the bill where you run out of facts and you start going in a different direction. This bill is about protecting the food safety of every American in this great country. I think we ought to set aside maybe some of those differences that we have and acknowledge this is the right thing to do, like we did on nutritional labeling, like we did when we set the standards of what food gets to be called organic, a Federal standard. Why? Because we felt it was important enough to have a Federal standard for the protection of every American, not just California, not just Florida, not just Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I have been a little disappointed with the tenor of debate at times in this particular engagement on something I think is so important and so critical to our safety, our food safety. I would urge this body to reject this amendment. It tries to carve something out to confuse consumers, which is exactly where we don't want to go. That is just not a place that we want to go. Mr. Chairman, I think we know at the end of the day this is the right thing to do. As a matter of fact, even in the letters sent in from State bureaucrats and the trial lawyers who oppose this bill they are saying, well, national labeling is okay, but we have some other concerns. Why? Because you can't make a good argument about why uniform labeling across the country for the protection of citizens and what they put in their body is a good idea. What do we hear? Adulterated food or poisoned food, you usurp our ability. No, that is protected in this bill. If we are going to argue about what we are doing, let's argue on the facts, the correct facts. I think we all probably at the end of the day know this is the right thing to do. I am going to ask you to step aside from what you think you need to do, step off your talking points, and say let us do something that is good for America. Don't worry about politics and all the other people that get involved sometimes outside of this building. Worry about what is right for the people of America. You will come to the right conclusion. If you look at the facts that are wrong consistently in your arguments, you are going to be with us. I appreciate your care and concern. I know you are going to be with us at the end of the day. I urge Members to vote in support of the bill and against the Capps amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman and I want to thank our 59 Democrat cosponsors. I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) and the chairmen, Chairman Barton and Chairman Deal, for the work that they have done on this very important piece of legislation. I will say today that you will see great political theater, and I have the greatest respect for the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and normally the great substantive debate that is put forth, but what we are going to see today are a lot of half-truths, or no truths at all or not even getting close to what this bill really does. If you truly care about the health of the pregnant woman who is driving from Michigan to Florida to Illinois to meet family members all through that journey, then when she goes to that store to pick out some food, the label for her safety and the safety of her child ought to be the same. It should not be any different, the science that says that Illinois ought to label a safety provision in food; I cannot think of anything more important than the safety of our food ought to be the same. Because you know what? Science in California or science in Alaska or science in Florida is no different. The periodic tables are the same in Michigan as they are in Florida, as they are in Maine, as they are in New York. If it rises to that level where somebody with good science and scientists who care passionately about the safety of food and what we put in our bodies, to say we better tell people about this safety hazard, if it is good enough for one State's children, it is good enough for 50 States' children. Matter of fact, one of the examples that my good friend mentioned about the Florida citrus example is not preemptive because it has nothing to do with food safety. You are going to hear this again and again and again today, that we are somehow doing something awful and not letting them protect their citizens. That simply is not true. Matter of fact, if they have a standard based on good science that says, hey, we think that this food ought to have this warning label, then come to the FDA, show us the science, so we can share it with the rest of the country. Is that not the right thing to do? Do you not want to protect the children of all our 50 States? Absolutely you do. So I will say to you, let us subside with the political theater, the half-truths, the scare tactics and say we are going to embrace what we know is the right thing to do, a single standard. It is very much a common-sense issue. You are not going to find any family in America who thinks we ought to have 50 States and 50 different organizations trying to determine what is safe in our food and what is not. The same way we do with nutritional labeling, we went through and said the Federal Government better set some standards if we are going to have a consistency in all 50 States. It was widely supported, as this bill is bipartisanly supported. We said, hey, we better set an organic standard so we can tell all of America that we have got one standard that rises to the ability to label it as organic. Today, we are saying food safety rises to that same level. Every American, every mother, understands it. I am sure my colleagues on the other side will as well.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Richard DeVos, a Michigan citizen who exemplifies the American spirit of entrepreneurship and community leadership. As Richard DeVos celebrates his 80th birthday, we reflect on his many achievements as the co-founder of Amway Corp. with his lifelong friend and business partner, the late Jay Van Andel, as well as his many selfless contributions to his state, community, and fellow citizens. The author of three books, ``Believe!,'' ``Compassionate Capitalism,'' and ``Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life,'' Richard also is a public speaker with an international following. After receiving a heart transplant in 1997, he took on the additional responsibility of serving as chairman for the Speakers Bureau for United Network for Organ Sharing. Richard has owned several professional sports franchises, including the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. Richard and his wife, Helen, support many hospitals, colleges and universities, arts organizations and Christian causes in their hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and also numerous organizations in their adopted community in Central Florida. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Richard and his wife Helen have raised four children and have 16 grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Richard DeVos as, on his 80th birthday, we acknowledge his life-long vision, compassion, and commitment to the American people and his home state of Michigan. Richard DeVos is truly deserving of our respect and admiration.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of George Weeks, who is retiring after more than a quarter century of serving the people of Michigan as their journalistic eyes and ears on the comings and goings of their elected officials. George Weeks is well-known and highly regarded in Michigan where, as a journalist, author of several books, and columnist, he has chronicled the actions of Michigan leaders in local, state and federal government. During his career, George served in Michigan and in Washington, DC for 14 years as a reporter, bureau chief, and foreign correspondent for United Press International (UPI). In Washington, he covered the White House, State Department and Pentagon, and was a panelist on radio and television shows, including NBC's ``Meet the Press.'' From his days as a Michigan State University (MSU) student working as a stringer for both The Detroit News and UPI, George's career has spanned the terms of at least 7 U.S. Presidents and 5 Michigan Governors. In fact, George interrupted his journalistic career to work as press secretary and later Chief of Staff for Michigan Governor William Milliken. Thankfully, George's love of journalism brought him back to The Detroit News as a columnist where he has become a Michigan icon, writing about politics as well as state and federal issues with insight and historical perspective. His commitment to quality journalism has made him a highly respected favorite with readers across the state. The good news for Michigan readers and admirers of George is that while he may be stepping down as a regular Detroit News columnist, he still plans on writing occasional columns and also will be taking time to pursue some of his other writing interests. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring George Weeks for the role model he is to young journalists just starting out, and for his integrity and commitment as a leader in his chosen field. He is truly deserving of our respect and admiration.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Richard (Dick) Ryan on his retirement from the Detroit News where he has spent nearly 40 years reporting on Washington, writing about Presidents, politics and the people who make this Nation tick. For the people of Michigan, Dick Ryan was the observer and scribe of many of America's most momentous national events, and many with international impact. Dick was there when President Reagan called on Gorbachev to ``tear down'' the Berlin Wall, and when President Nixon stepped down and Michigan's own, Gerald R. Ford, was sworn in as President of the United States. It was through Dick's eyes and with his words that Detroit News readers learned about more than 36 years of Presidential political campaigns, the visits of world leaders to the White House, America's part in world events, including the peace agreement signed at Camp David in the late 1970s, and of the demise of one President under impeachment and the survival of impeachment by another. Highly respected by his readers and his peers, Dick leaves the Detroit News with a legacy that is unparalleled. His time as, in his own words, ``an eyewitness to history,'' is a remarkable record. Dick Ryan's years of service to his readers and our Nation are legendary and we wish him well as he undertakes a new mission: retirement, enjoyment of his family, and an opportunity to write at his leisure. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Richard (Dick) Ryan as he begins this new adventure in life. He is truly deserving of our respect and admiration.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of the founding of Saint Johns, Michigan. Saint Johns was established by John Swegles and a team of state officials and land speculators who purchased and platted Saint Johns based on information about a new railroad depot in Michigan. These speculators selected the site in 1853 looking to create a new town along the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, however it was not until 1856 that the railroad arrived in Saint Johns. Today, Saint Johns in affectionately known as Mint City, USA. The State of Michigan produces nearly enough mint flavor to make 6.9 billion sticks of chewing gum each year, the majority of which is produced in and around Saint Johns in Clinton County, MI. Every August, Saint Johns' mint heritage is celebrated with an annual mint festival. Mr. Speaker, the City of Saint Johns has a rich history and a vibrant future. I ask all my colleagues to join me and the citizens of Saint Johns in recognizing the sesquicentennial of this historic Michigan city.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Alticor Incorporated, on being honored with the 2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. This is an honor bestowed to employers who have gone above and beyond in supporting their National Guard and Reserve employees. Alticor's communication with its military employees when in action, covering pay differential during deployments and their Military Leave Program are just a few of the many ways the company has demonstrated support for the Guard and Reserves. Alticor has also donated numerous products which have been distributed to deployed units worldwide. I commend Alticor's contribution to military families. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Alticor Incorporated, for being honored with the 2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Dale Sherwin of Lansing, Michigan, who is retiring this month as the Michigan State Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Dale Sherwin has dedicated his career to improving the quality of life for America through its agricultural community and the citizens who work to feed America and the world. Prior to starting his successful service with USDA Rural Development in April 2003, Dale worked six years for the Michigan Department of Agriculture, serving as director of agriculture policy and guiding policy on National Association of State Departments of Agriculture issues. During the administrations of Presidents Nixon and Ford, Dale served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture: as chief legislative liaison to former Secretary Earl Butz; Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs; and as assistant director of legislative affairs for the Foreign Agricultural Service. Dale also worked as a staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Prior to service in the U.S. Senate and USDA, Dale spent more than a decade working with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Michigan Farm Bureau. His career in agriculture began as a farmer in Michigan's Genesee County. His degree in animal husbandry was earned at Michigan State University. Dale's service at USDA Rural Development has proven to be a shining capstone for a career focused on the very mission the agency embodies: supporting increased economic opportunity and improved quality of life for rural American citizens. Across Michigan's counties and communities, his legacy will be realized long into the future. I am pleased to have worked with Dale, to call him friend, and to share his story with my Congressional colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this very special person, Dale Sherwin, a citizen and leader who is truly deserving of our respect and admiration.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am a little surprised by the discourse from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, very 1960s rhetoric for a 2005 problem. You cannot regulate and put hurdles and tell the oil industry that is really global these days that you cannot build refining capacity in America. It is bad. Most Americans, when they saw the hurricane strike, realized that 30 percent of our refineries were at risk, 30 percent. They understood that you cannot concentrate our refineries in one place and that you have to have more capacity. The reason it is expensive is because we import refined product. Americans understand that. Your rhetoric today, the old-fashioned ideas of regulate and hinder and put hurdles up, will not solve these problems. It took 20 years to get here because we would not allow them to build refineries across this country to meet public demand. I tell you, I have working families in my district that pull up to that pump and talk about mortgaging their house in order to get it completely full. This is a serious problem, and it needs serious solutions. This bill goes a long way. It says we are going to protect the environment, we are encouraging some conservation, and we are going to build capacity so that we do not have to have this foreign dependence on refined product. I thank the chairman for doing this. This is the responsible thing to do, moving this country forward, and putting us in a place where we are not foreign-dependent and we have the ability to lower the prices and give stable prices in the future in this great country.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, as September 21, 2005 is National School Backpack Awareness Day, I would like to recognize the many occupational therapists that live and work in my district. Each September, the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA) members, students, and other health professionals join forces to alert the public, particularly teachers, parents, and children about the dangers of overweight backpacks and improper use. Occupational therapy is a health, wellness, and rehabilitation service provided by qualified professionals whose expertise includes anatomy, physiology, psychology and other disciplines. Thousands of occupational therapists work with children in school systems, pediatric hospitals, and other health care facilities everyday to improve skills that will help them perform daily tasks at home, at school, and at play. The AOTA is sponsoring its fourth annual National School Backpack Awareness Day to promote healthy backpack use among students. The goal of the National School Backpack Awareness Day is to reduce the load being carried to fifteen percent or less of a child's weight, to educate them on the risks of carrying too much weight and the proper ways to pack and wear their backpacks. Over 700 participants in schools, stores, health fairs, and other areas from all fifty states will take part to ``weigh-in'' over 200,000 children and ensure their backpacks are fifteen percent or less of their weight. As part of the 2005 Healthy Families Community Fair in Clinton, MI in October, children and their families will be able to learn about the importance of loading and wearing backpacks the right way to avoid back and shoulder pain or strain, stooped posture, musculoskeletal pain, and aching heads. In schools, occupational therapists use their unique expertise to help children to be prepared for and perform important learning and school-related activities and to fulfill their role as students. Additionally, they play a critical role in training parents, other staff members, and caregivers regarding the education, health, and success of students with diverse learning needs. Please join me in support of all the school children, occupational therapists, and participants of the 2005 National School Backpack Awareness Day.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, nothing tears at our hearts or bruises us emotionally as much as the pain and suffering of people trapped by the horrific natural disaster in our southern Gulf States this week. Each of us watches helplessly from our living rooms, as TV screens fill with the faces of young and old, and we hear the voices, all beseeching us for the very basics of life: water, food, shelter, and safety. These images and sounds fill us with pain, frustration and dismay. Our voices blend with those of our American brothers and sisters who need a helping hand: ``Do something.'' Like every other American, I wanted to load up my car with food and water and drive to New Orleans or one of the other cities so badly damaged and be there not only to give them sustenance, but also to tell them that we care about them and what has and is happening to them. But the truth is that if we all did what we want to do, we would just magnify the problems. And so we do what we can: we send donations of money and supplies, we send our National Guard and local law enforcement and emergency workers. And we yell at the government because we believe that in America, we ought to be better equipped to deal with such emergencies. You know what? We should be better prepared. That is an issue we will deal with in the weeks and months ahead. The victims of Hurricane Katrina need us today, and our initial focus should be to meet their needs. Congress. by approving this major financial aid package, is responding with the rest of America to the immediate need. Our first priority is saving lives and making sure these American citizens have their basic needs met. Once that occurs, we can move forward with long-range planning for these citizens who lost so much, and communities struggling with recovery. Mr. Speaker, there is a time for campaigning and a time for governing, a time for leadership and compassion and a time for congressional hearings. Today is a time that we pull together with love of our neighbors and the love of our Nation to bring relief, safety and security to our fellow Americans in need.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, George Washington in his Farewell Address warned of some of the problems that would be created with two strong party systems, and today I see it. It is unfortunate that my colleagues would spend so much of their time both yesterday and today debating about how they did not have time to debate the issue that is so important. This bill for the first time will change trade policy toward somebody like China, who is cheating our economy and stealing our jobs. We have the ability today to make a statement, to stand up for every worker in America who gets up, plays by the rules, goes to work and tries to build the best products in the world, and they do. Given a level playing field, we will compete with any Nation on the face of the Earth. Our workers are that good. You should have the faith and confidence in them to stand up today and say, we are going to help you by leveling the playing field. Trade is important. It is the engine of prosperity. Commerce is our best diplomat, and today we send that very clear message to places like China that are cheating. It is amazing, and I want to talk just a minute about counterfeit goods, because in this bill for the first time we say you have to have a trade enforcement officer who gets up in the morning, and her whole job for the whole day is going to make sure that countries like China are living up to their WTO and the world trade arrangements and agreements and the rule of law, the protection of intellectual property. Mr. Speaker, 750,000 jobs are lost every year to counterfeit products, mainly from China. This product right here, you cannot tell the difference in these two products except what is on the inside. This product steals one job. It steals the opportunity for a company here to compete. It takes tax revenues away from us. This is our chance to give our workers the ability to do this. But is not just about an oil filter. This puts our jobs at risk, cheats our economy and puts Americans at risk. The FAA estimates that 2 percent of all airline parts are counterfeit. This is the day that we stand up for America and say, We will not take it anymore. Windshields in China, a group of auto companies went together and said you cannot counterfeit these things, it puts Americans at risk. There are no safety factors in your glass. After three convictions in China, that company is still producing automobile glass. Brake pads, there was a woman killed in Saudi Arabia because they put formed grass in brake pads and sold them as a counterfeit part; and, unfortunately, took her life. This is awfully important stuff. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to get over the partisanship and get over the debate about debating, and for the first time send a very clear message that we will stand up for American workers, we will stand behind their products, stand for the future of trade and prosperity, and we will not allow countries like China to cheat our economy and steal our jobs.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Dan Schab on his selection as Michigan's 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year. Over his 24 year career, Dan Schab has helped to inspire and enlighten students across mid-Michigan. He has worked tirelessly to help his students explore the concept of mathematics and learn both the importance of education and the power of knowledge. In addition to his work in the Williamston School District and at Lansing Catholic Central High School, Mr. Schab has also served on the national level. He assisted in developing meaningful national education strategies through his work as an Einstein Fellow with the U.S. Senate Education Committee in 2003. Dan Schab has been consistently recognized as one of the best teachers in America. Over his career, he has been recognized time and time again for his dedicated service to his school, his students, and his community. In 2000, he participated in the prestigious Toyota International Teacher Program. In 1987, he received the Excellence in Education Award from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, and in 1987 he was chosen as Lansing Catholic Central High School's First Teacher of the Year Professional Excellence Award Winner. But despite these many recognitions, Dan still believes that the work he does with his students is his greatest success. His dedication to teaching can be seen on a daily basis when he stays well after school hours to offer additional assistance or develop new ways to show his students the significance of math in daily life. Mr. Speaker, education is the cornerstone of our economy and great teachers lay the foundation for greater prosperity. I wish to extend my gratitude to Dan Schab for his many years of service to his students. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Schab for his years of dedication to teaching and his recent selection as Michigan's Teacher of the Year.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) for yielding me this time, and I thank the chairman for working on this bill. Quickly, one of the things that my mother used to tell me is self- pity never solved one problem. We know how to fix this bill. I should not feel sorry for them; they should not feel sorry for me. We should vote on the bill that will make a difference. These are counterfeit parts made in China. They are robbing and stealing from the American economy. We have the chance today for the first time to put a law enforcement trade officer in charge so that when they get up in the morning, the first thing they do is work on how to stop China from doing exactly this and stealing jobs from our economy. There is a town in China, 80 percent of the parts, over 30 outlets, were counterfeit. If we do not step up to the plate with this bill, we are going to lose and continue to lose $12 billion a year just in automobile part counterfeiting. This is our chance. I plead with those on the other side, if they truly care about labor, if they care about the individual that gets up in the morning, plays by the rules, and is trying to compete in a world market, they will vote for this bill. They will send a message to China that American jobs are worth fighting for. Give us a fair, level playing field, and we will compete; we will win.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the ongoing conflict over the Bakassi Peninsula of Cameroon. Three years ago, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Bakassi Peninsula belonged solely to the Republic of Cameroon and President Obsanjo of Nigeria promised to abide by the court's ruling and remove his troops. However, I am concerned with the fact that this has not occurred. I support continued progress in Cameroon, both economically and politically. America must continue to remain active in the support of democracy and the rule of law around the world. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate being able to bring this important situation to your attention and I look forward to working with my colleagues on a solution.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his great work on this, and I want to thank my friends on the Democrat side of the aisle for the work they have given for the PATRIOT Act. Thanks for at least bringing this debate up. Mr. Chairman, as a former FBI agent, I had occasion to work some pretty bad folks in the City of Chicago in working organized crime and public corruption. I developed the sources for wiretaps and applied wiretaps for things like murder and extortion, gambling, prostitution, racketeering, child pornography. There was a case of a child pornographer who was producing child pornography tapes where we used the legal system, a legal instrument, through due process of law, to get records that we needed from businesses, from his home, from other places to make sure that we could find the entire network of distribution of criminals who were preying on our children. America said something interesting. The people of America said, you know, Agent Rogers, at the time we trust you, but we trust our Constitution more, so you have to follow the law. You have to follow the Constitution even to go after these child molesters and people who are promoting child pornography, people who are involved in murder and racketeering. And we did, and we used the law as we knew it to put somebody in jail. We said if a child molester goes into the library and sits down next to your child, there is going to be no safe haven in America. We are going to use due process according to the Constitution and make sure our children, our libraries, our personnel are safe. We used that before the PATRIOT Act got here. I worked a bombing case where they were trying to sell bombs to individuals who were blowing up other gangsters; gangsters blowing up gangsters and gangsters blowing up strip clubs and other things to gain influence over them. We used all the processes, including a delayed search warrant, because we needed to know who they were getting their materials from. We used due process under the Constitution and we brought them to justice. And America is grateful for that, and it made an impact. And we never, ever, ever once deviated from the Constitution. This whole debate is almost ridiculous, Mr. Chairman. All we do in the PATRIOT Act is say, look, if we can go after child molesters sitting in the library and bombers who we need to sneak and peak on a warrant, we ought to be able to go after terrorists. That is all the PATRIOT Act did. There is no subversion of the Constitution, no suspension of the Constitution. Mr. Chairman, it is maddening to me that somebody in America and in England and around the world is getting up in the morning thinking, I am going to kill somebody in an act of terror, and that we somehow fiddle while Rome is burning and argue should it be 10 years or 5 years on a renewal or a sunset. This is ridiculous. We have people who are committed to killing Americans today. We are at war. This bill helps protect America and does not suspend the Constitution of the United States. For those who argue there are some emergency powers in here, you are wrong. You should get up and argue against the criminal code every day on this floor, and you should put in bills to remove our ability as agents of the FBI to do that. You do not because it is legal and it is proper under our Constitution. Mr. Chairman, we must support this act. We must do it today for the future safety of the United States of America.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is horribly unfortunate to see partisanship creep into this amendment. Nowhere in this amendment does it talk about oil drilling. This is about the stewardship of the Great Lakes. This recognizes current law that we passed in 2000 by over 300 votes and in 1986 by over 300 votes. This is about stewardship of the Great Lakes and recognizing the successes of those Governors and those legislatures and the progress that we have made. It is disappointing that we have reached this point. I urge support of this amendment. The Great Lakes Governors and the Great Lakes legislatures deserve our praise. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I think this is an important day for the Great Lakes and an important amendment to tell the rest of the country how really important they are--about 94,000 square miles of fresh water, beautiful lakes, beautiful not only in the summer but beautiful in the winter. What we have done over time in the Great Lakes is come to the realization that the people best suited to make the decisions about the Great Lakes are not bureaucrats from Washington, DC, whose only experience with Lake Superior might have been an article in the National Geographic, or our friends from Texas or Arizona or California that certainly have an interest in diverting some of our water but do not understand the environmental impact that that may make to the States that count so dearly on our water. And we have made progress. After the 1986 annex bill that allowed the States to work together to solve issues of common interest, issues that Wisconsinites and Michiganders and folks from Ohio and Indiana understand are so important, this really reaffirms that. It says we believe that these folks, including Canada, the provinces that touch the Great Lakes, should have the ability to control water diversion. It is working. We have gotten progress. We have come together. It was really the first piece of legislation that brought Canada to the table to talk about the issues important to all of the Great Lakes States. Mr. Chairman, there are 18 Great Lakes Members that support this language. The chairman supports this language. Why? Because we understand that 20 percent of the world's fresh water is worth fighting for. It is worth protecting. But it is worth protecting in the sense that we give the authority to Great Lakes Governors and Great Lakes legislators for the purpose of protecting what they know. If you want our water, you really should have to live there in February. It is a beautiful place. Beautiful lakes. Beautiful fresh water. And it is worth protecting. Let us not diffuse the issue. Let us not stop the progress of the Great Lakes Governors and the Great Lakes legislators and the provincial leaders in Canada. We have made huge progress. The lakes are starting to turn around. We have identified mutual areas of interest where we can make even more progress to keep those Great Lakes alive. This is the amendment, Mr. Chairman, that says we will and we do understand the importance of the Great Lakes Governors and the Great Lakes legislators making the determinations in accordance with law that has passed these bodies several times before. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).