C. Ruppersberger

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My colleagues on the other side have said they are already helping the military. We talked about the military because we are at war now and that is a component of this bill that we are discussing here today. If that is the case, and I believe very strongly that we all care about the military, then why not continue the effort and pass the child tax credit bill which helps our men and women putting their lives on the line on our behalf? That just makes sense. That is American. That is what we need to do. The other Chamber talked about issues of fiscal responsibility. If you look at the Senate bill versus the House bill, there are the offsets that are there. It does not increase this deficit. We are in a difficult situation now in this country. We need to be fiscally responsible. The Senate bill does that. But really what we are talking about here today, and I have been just as guilty as anyone else, we have been debating the merits of the legislation and where we need to be, but what we are talking about is let us just get to the conference. Let us get to the conference. Three months and we have not sat down. We need to sit down in a nonpartisan way because this is so important to our country, to our families and our communities and our military. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees. The Clerk will report the motion.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, subject to rule XXII, clause 7(c), I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct on H.R. 1308, the child tax credit bill. The form of the motion is as follows: Mr. Speaker, I move that the managers on the part of the House in the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1308 be instructed as follows: Number one, the House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report the provision of the Senate amendment (not included in the House amendment) that provides immediate payments to taxpayers receiving an additional credit by reason of the bill in the same manner as other taxpayers were entitled to immediate payments under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Two, the House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report the provision of the Senate amendment, not included in the House amendment, that provides families of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones a child tax credit based on earnings of the individual serving in the combat zone. Three, the House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report all of the other provisions from the Senate amendment and shall not report back a conference report that includes additional tax benefits not offset by other provision. Four, to the maximum extent possible within the scope of the conference, the House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report other tax benefits for military personnel and the families of astronauts who died in the Columbia disaster. Five, the House conferees shall, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this motion, meet in open session with the Senate conferees and the House conferees shall file a conference report consistent with the preceding provisions of this instruction, not later than the second legislative day after adoption of this motion.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the leadership of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell) for working to bring equity to the 6.5 million working families. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1308, the Child Tax Credit bill. I am disappointed that we are still here one month after that bill passed both the House and the Senate asking yet again for this motion to instruct. Frankly, time is running out. The Treasury Department will send out millions of checks to American families qualifying for the child tax credit provision on July 25. Unless my calendar is off, those checks go out next Friday, the same day the House leaves for recess; and when those checks are placed in the mail, 6.5 million working and military, military families will be left out, families from every district across the country, including my own, Maryland's Second Congressional District. The bill as it stands now ignores families already coping with financial problems in this troubled economy through no fault of their own. It denies tax relief that would help military families with loved ones serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world fighting to protect our freedoms. Congress has the ability to correct this situation this week, today, right now. Let the conferees debate the details but let the voice of those 6.5 million families be heard in the discussion. These American families deserve a seat at the table, and I support this motion to instruct because it will give them just that.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I too want to acknowledge the leadership of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss), the chairman, and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), the ranking member. I have been in local politics for 18 years, and we have tremendous leadership on this committee, and I think all members of this committee put the Nation first. I rise in support of H.R. 2417. The bill reflects the committee's support for the Intelligence Community and the men and women who serve in the intelligence agencies. Often unrecognized, these individuals have made great sacrifices to secure our homeland and to support the war in Iraq, the global war on terrorism and other important national priorities. I am proud to represent many of the men and women who work for the National Security Agency, NSA, in Fort Meade, Maryland, my Second Congressional District. This bill addresses concerns for the health and well-being of NSA employees by providing additional funds to ensure a cleaner, healthier and better maintained workforce. It provides tort liability protection to NSA security officers so that they have legal protections similar to those provided other law enforcement officers. The bill gives NSA the authority to provide living quarters to the bright and talented students participating in NASA's summer and cooperative educational programs. It also encourages NASA to continue its acquisition reform initiatives and bring its processes in line with standard commercial and government practices. It increases funds available for the recapitalization and modernization of NASA's technical systems which will allow the Nation's Signals Intelligence Systems to keep pace with changing technology. H.R. 2417 emphasizes the need for the Federal Government to improve information sharing with State and local governments. As the Baltimore County Executive, I was the county executive during 9/11, this is very important, and where appropriate, private companies. To make this possible, the bill allows the Director of Central Intelligence to establish pilot projects to train State and local officials to increase the flow of information between them and Federal agencies. Advisory councils on privacy and civil liberties and State and local issues will help ensure the protection of individual rights, and the needs of State and local governments need to be properly addressed. I am also pleased that this bill provides additional funding to the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center to enhance the analysis of health risks to our deployed forces. Together, the enhancements provided for in H.R. 2417 will contribute to our Nation's efforts to prevent terrorism and to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction around the globe. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and acknowledge the observance of Flag Day, June 14, 2003. The American Flag is an integral component of many national holidays commemorating the creation of our nation, the lives of our Founding Fathers, the legacies of great leaders, and the sacrifices of our military service men and women, veterans, and retirees. But Flag Day is the one day we acknowledge the American Flag itself and all it symbolizes. On this day, we celebrate the 53rd National Flag Day. As our national symbol, the American Flag is our ambassador to all corners of the globe and beyond, reminding people of who we are and what we stand for. The Flag symbolizes what is great about American democracy: the liberties and freedoms provided by the Constitution. It serves as a hopeful symbol of freedom to many people in the world, embodying the great American Dream of equal opportunity for all citizens. The American Flag serves as a source of pride for special and outstanding achievements, from athletes winning Olympic gold medals to astronauts reaching the moon. It has inspired poets, musicians, and artists. It was the very inspiration for Francis Scott Key in 1814 to write the Star Spangled Banner. With the British attacking Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, Key was overwhelmed by emotion when the sun rose revealing the war-torn flag was still there. The Flag continues to inspire people across the world and encourages them to recognize their potential and ability to achieve their own version of the American Dream. It is a focal point of respect for our active duty service men and women, military retirees, veterans, and those who work tirelessly to protect us: our police, firefighters, and first-responders. In times of difficulty the tattered Flag reminds us of the sadness of war and terror, and the tragic loss of life that all too often occurs. Yet in such difficult times, the Flag inspires and reminds us that we are still here, and that we remain steadfast in our commitment to American democracy. From school children to Members of Congress, many begin their day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We do not do this as mere habit nor do we do it lightly. I, along with my colleagues and fellow Americans, have great respect for the American Flag and for all it represents. It is a great privilege to represent the Maryland 2nd Congressional District and to honor the American Flag for all it embodies at this critical time in our nation's history.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all of the hard work of civil servants during the Public Service Recognition Week. As a former Baltimore County executive, I had an opportunity to work directly with men and women who serve on the local government level. Their commitment to excellence continues to be a great source of inspiration. Public service employees have contributed significantly to American greatness and prosperity. It is with pleasure that I support a resolution commending public servants, especially our Federal workforce, for their dedication and continued service to our Nation. Public Service Recognition Week represents an opportunity for us to honor and celebrate the commitment of individuals who serve the needs of the Nation through work at all levels of government. It is also a time to call on a new generation to consider public service. Public service civilian employees are critical in demonstrating that the government workforce is a valued component to our country and to our national security. Thanks to all those who serve at the local, State, and Federal level.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, the last few weeks have been a time of solemn reflection and debate in this country. It has been an impassioned and peaceful process with many voices heard, which have again reinforced the United States as the world's greatest democracy. We owe our system of democracy and self-concern to America's veterans, who have given so much to ensure its legacy. Today our military is once again on the brink of a great sacrifice in the name of security and freedom for America and the rest of the world. Without reservation, it is time for all Americans to come together to support our men and women in uniform and their families back home. Our country's focus must now be on the success of their mission. I urge every American to join with the Congress and our President to wish our Armed Forces Godspeed and safe return from abroad. However, we must not lose sight of our mission at home, the mission of our police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel, our first-line responders, in the event of a terrorist attack that might occur. While our Armed Forces have our full support, the front lines of our homeland and hometown security are our cities, counties, and towns. We must equip our first-line responders the same as we equip our military abroad. Since the fall of 2001, local governments all over America have had to bear the burden of equipping and training all of our first responders against an unknown threat. My district, which is the Second Congressional District in Maryland, is home to two Army bases, the Port of Baltimore, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and the 17th largest city in the country. This lack of funding directly affects every community in our metropolitan area. Last year the Baltimore region alone spent more than $14 million to protect itself. Cities, counties, and towns cannot do it by themselves; they need Federal funding to equip our first-line responders. We must train our first-line responders. We must give them the equipment to protect themselves so that they can protect us in the event that there is a terrorist attack. Put against a tax cut that equals $117 billion, $3.5 billion is not asking for too much to protect and to give the resources to our front- line responders. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to reconsider their budget priorities so that they better reflect the priorities of the American people as it relates to our protection and our security. We must provide the tools necessary to our first responders that would protect our citizens. In today's Washington Post, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, said that the President plans to propose a supplemental Federal budget to pay for more counterterrorism measures. I applaud that; however, for the sake of our country, our citizens, our hometown, our homeland, I hope these counterterrorism measures include more resources for local governments and first responders.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I am not in favor of cloning humans for reproduction but I do favor the medical research that the Greenwood substitute would provide. Every day in this country hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer from the effects of degenerative disease and spinal cord injuries. As a young attorney I was in a car accident where I nearly lost my life. Maryland's Emergency Medical Shock Trauma system saved my life. Medical research saved my life. To this day I continue to serve as vice chair of the Shock Trauma Board. My work with shock trauma has put me in contact with a number of people who are suffering from degenerative diseases and spinal cord injuries. My good friend Burt Greenwood from Baltimore has Lou Gehrig's disease. Every day he fights to stay with us. Every day he hopes that stem cell research someday will give him a chance. That is why I stand in support of the Greenwood amendment. We must make continued research a reality and not just a hope for the families that we represent. Let me quote Dr. Jeffrey Rothstein, a professor of neurology and the director for ALS research at Johns Hopkins University: No responsible scientist wants to clone a human. Responsible scientists want to continue the research for cures to degenerative disease. Stem cell research holds the only hope for thousands of suffering Americans.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member from Texas for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of the omnibus conference report, but I do so with serious reservations about how this conference report was brought to the floor. It is only with the knowledge that this bill will keep afloat programs important to the American family that I feel my vote today means something. But I think the American family would be outraged to know that actual debate over the funding of their government lasted just 1 hour. The American family would be outraged to learn that minority points of view concerning the health, well-being and security of this country were given just 1 hour for debate. The process in which this conference has been brought to the floor goes against the American democratic process. The issues at stake here are too important, some life and death, not to be thoroughly debated. The fact that we did not get the chance to debate the homeland security needs of our first responders is almost unthinkable. Simply put, the issues at stake here are too important to be mired in the blatant partisanship of House rules. Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of the American way of life, I urge the majority to give the voice of the American family a chance to be heard.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on the issue of first-line responders, I was a former Baltimore County Executive. Baltimore County is a county of over 750,000 people. The Second District that I represent has BWI Airport and the Port of Baltimore. We are very much concerned about the issue of the monies being put into the budget as it relates to first responders. One of the most important issues that we have if there is another terrorist attack, which we understand there will be, is that we need to be prepared. Our police officers and our firefighters are the first responders. Not only do they need to be protected themselves, but if they are not protected, they will not be able to protect our citizens. So we urge the President and urge Congress to move forward with the monies that are necessary to make sure that we secure our homeland.