Louise Slaughter

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. I thank the gentleman for yielding. What this measure does is absolutely guarantee that any earmark in a conference report that has not been passed in the House will be subject to a point of order even though the Rules Committee may have protected against all points of order.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 491) providing for earmark reform, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, the Rules Committee is expected to meet Wednesday, June 20, to grant a rule which may structure the amendment process for floor consideration of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008. Members who wish to offer an amendment to this bill should submit 30 copies of the amendment and a brief description of the amendment to the Rules Committee in H-312 in the Capitol no later than 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20. Members are strongly advised to adhere to the amendment deadlines to ensure the amendments receive consideration. Amendments should be drafted to the bill as ordered reported by the Committee on Appropriations. A copy of that bill is expected to be posted on the Web site of the Rules Committee on Tuesday afternoon. Amendments should be drafted by Legislative Counsel and also should be reviewed by the Office of the Parliamentarian to be sure that the amendments comply with the Rules of the House. Members are also strongly encouraged to submit their amendments to the Congressional Budget Office for analysis regarding possible PAYGO violations.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 406, a resolution celebrating the accomplishments of Title IX. I would like to thank Congresswoman Hirono for introducing this legislation addressing what is an important issue for women's equality. Title IX requires that schools and colleges receiving Federal funds provide female students with athletic opportunities comparable to those of male students. But as critical as this is, we must all begin to realize that Title IX is about more than civil rights. For many young athletes, the scholarship opportunities afforded by Title IX might be the only way they can go to college. What is more, female athletes tend to graduate at higher rates, perform better in school, are less likely to use drugs and smoke, and have a more positive body image, more confidence, and better self-esteem than non- athletes. As a direct result of Title IX, women's participation in intercollegiate sports has skyrocketed, proving that interest follows opportunity. In 1972, about 30,000 women played college sports. Today, that number has increased by more than 450 percent. Similarly, in 1972, about 200,000 girls participated in high school athletics. Today, that number has increased by more than 900 percent. It would be wrong of me to speak about Title IX without taking time to honor my dear friend and beloved colleague, Patsy Mink. In 1972, Patsy helped to enact Title IX and in honor of her valiant work, Congress renamed Title IX the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.'' She struggled for 30 years to protect educational equity for men and women, and if she were with us today, I am certain that she would be proud of our continued fight to promote equality for all young women around the country. While we celebrate how far we have come, we must also recognize that we still have a way to go. Women remain underrepresented in school sports, with men receiving 1.3 million more high school athletic opportunities and $148 million more athletic scholarship money each year. In the face of such realities, I am proud to join my colleagues to support this resolution, a statement of our determination to recommit ourselves to the causes of education, opportunity, and equality in our society.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to take the opportunity to honor a dear friend, David Neeleman, on his distinguished accomplishments as Founder and CEO of JetBlue Airways. I got to know David shortly after he formed JetBlue in 1999. At the time, airline service to and from Rochester was among the most expensive in the country. My constituents often went out of their way to fly from cheaper airports like Toronto or Montreal. Business travelers advised that economic growth in Rochester was limited by a lack of affordable flights to New York City. David immediately recognized the potential of the Rochester market for an affordable airline. He and I worked closely to bring JetBlue to Rochester in the summer of 2000, and we have since worked together to expand JetBlue service in upstate New York. In its first year operating out of Rochester, JetBlue saved flyers $12.5 million. JetBlue's success, in turn, brought additional low-cost carries to Rochester and strengthened the regional economy. JetBlue has become New York State's biggest intrastate air carrier in and the largest domestic airline at New York's JFK International Airport. David formed JetBlue with the goal of offering passengers low fares, friendly service and a high quality product. His success speaks for itself. Consumer Reports recently named JetBlue the number one airline for customer service. The company has been ranked number one in quality and overall performance of U.S. airlines for 3 consecutive years by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute and W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. JetBlue was also rated ``Best Domestic Airline'' at Conde Nast Traveler's 2006 Readers' Choice Awards, the fifth consecutive year receiving the award. I was saddened to learn that David decided in May to step down from running the airline every day as CEO to focus on more long-term strategic initiatives for JetBlue as chairman of the board. I credit David for fostering new economic growth in upstate New York, and having the savvy-entrepreneurial skills to build an airline that makes flying fun again. David has assured me that he will remain a very active chairman of the board and that JetBlue's finest days are ahead. David has been a loyal friend to me and the people of upstate New York. I would like to honor him for his tremendous success as founder and CEO of JetBlue, and I wish him the very best in his tireless pursuit to bring humanity back to airline travel.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. A lot of time has been spent today on the open rule and the open amendment process, and I'd like to give you and anybody else who may be watching some idea of what we can expect. Some 94 Republican amendments were filed, 16 Democrats. One Republican is responsible for more than 50 percent of that side. Let me give you a couple of examples of what they are. None of the funds can be used for supporting yoga classes. None can be used to support art classes. None can be used to support dance classes. None can be used under other programs, any program that offers to support a dance class. And my personal favorite, none of the funds can be used for supporting puppet shows. There isn't anything in the world in any part of this bill having anything to do with these amendments, but nonetheless here we are. We'll be debating this into the night, but I would ask everybody to listen to those amendments and decide which is serious on homeland security. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the resolution. The material previously referred to by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 473 Offered by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida At the end of the resolution, add the following new section: Sec. 3. Clause 9(c) of Rule XXI is amended to read as follows: ``(c) As disposition of a point of order under paragraph (a), the Chair shall put the question of consideration with respect to the bill, joint resolution, or conference report, or amendment described in paragraph (a)(3). The question of consideration shall be debatable for 10 minutes by the Member initiating the point of order and for 10 minutes by an opponent, but shall otherwise be decided without intervening motion except one that the House adjourn.''.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. I wouldn't want you to believe this is going to be the permanent way this is going to run. Given the vast number, the 32,000 that you mentioned, and the fact that we had no budget last year, no Federal budget last year, there was an extra strain on Mr. Obey; and I am confident that the next year will be different.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds to engage Mr. Flake for a moment. The chairman of the committee made it really clear that you are going to have 30 days to look at the earmarks, whose earmarks they are, and contact them if they are in the bill. The Rules Committee will decide whether you have the ability to strike them or not. I yield to Mr. Flake.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 473 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Diaz-Balart. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. General Leave

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 473 provides an open rule for the consideration of H.R. 2638, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2008. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for those arising under clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution also waives points of order against the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI regarding legislating in an appropriations bill and appropriating for unauthorized programs. During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chairman of the Committee of the Whole may provide priority in recognition based on whether the Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in the Congressional Record. The rule also provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. I am pleased to bring to the floor the first appropriations bill of the 110th Congress under a traditional open rule process. The security of our Nation concerns every American in every State, and it is a priority of every Member of this body. But while the effort to secure our homeland is a bipartisan one, there are clear differences between how the two parties approach it, and the bill demonstrates them. We have before us legislation that provides more than $36 billion in critical funding needed to address security vulnerabilities identified by the Homeland Security experts. It is a fulfillment of commitments made by Democrats in implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, which passed the House with a bipartisan majority. With this bill Democrats are increasing funding for homeland security by 7 percent, or $2.5 billion, over the amount appropriated for it last year. In fact, we are providing close to $2 billion more than what the President asked for in his request to Congress. These increases aren't excessive. They are, instead, the result of the Democrats' commitment to adequately fund security programs which in past years have been talked about, but not sufficiently supported. These funding increases stand in stark contrast to past Republican decisions to cut money for vital security efforts and to impose unfunded mandates on State governments. My fellow Democrats and I have rejected the Republican proposals for across-the-board cuts in these areas. We feel that they would indiscriminately and unnecessarily sacrifice billions in needed funding for rail, transit, and port security, as well as for first responder grants. And, indeed, the sad truth is that these grant programs have suffered funding cuts every year since 2004. Compare that to the fact that this bill provides over $4.5 billion, nearly double the requested amount, for these critical areas. More specifically, we have provided $400 million for port security, doubling the requested amount. Similarly, $400 million will go towards rail and transit security grants, more than the administration requested. And we will increase spending for firefighter grants by $138 million. The administration had wanted to cut these funds significantly, but we are increasing them. At a time of heightened concern about our border security, the legislation will help to secure our borders by paying the salaries of 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and it also improves the benefits package for Customs and Border Patrol officers to ensure higher recruitment and retention rates. After years of a lack of accountability and questionable government contracts, this bill promotes both accountability and oversight through reforms of the contracting process, and this is amazingly important. I mentioned our borders a moment ago and I want to return to that subject very briefly. As a representative from western New York, the security of our borders is an issue of great concern to me. Both our northern and southern borders face unique and separate challenges, and the bill addresses each in turn. The 3,000 new agents funded by the bill will mean over 17,800 brave men and women will patrol our borders by the end of 2008. And at the same time, we will increase northern border funding by 33 percent, and 500 new agents will be placed there. As important as this is, border security efforts must never blind us to the deep connection we share with our neighbor to the north. Ours is a 200-year-old relationship that has benefited both of our nations immensely. In fact, I often say that people of northern border communities don't see Canadian towns and cities as being in another country; instead, we see it as one nation with a river running through it. The travel and trade which cross the northern border every single day between America and Canada are critical to our economy and to the northern economic security. We must never sacrifice our relationship with Canada in a misguided attempt to increase border security. I have long said that economic security and physical security are not mutually exclusive; we can and we must have both. Unfortunately, the approach to northern border security currently advocated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State is flawed. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, of WHTI, will choke off legitimate travel and trade and sacrifice local economies unnecessarily by imposing onerous border-crossing requirements. WHTI, while well- intentioned, is simply unacceptable in its current form. For 2 years, I have been working with fellow border members and concerned local groups and Canada and their government to fix WHTI, and I am proud to say today represents a major step forward in that battle. With Chairman Price's help, I inserted language into this bill that will withhold $100 million from the funds required to implement WHTI until a series of our demands have been met, demands that will push both DHS and State in the direction that they need to go, that is, away from requiring expensive crossing documents and towards commonsense, low-cost alternatives, and will keep our border closed to criminals, but open to the families and the businesses which make it so vibrant. Additionally, the language will require the completion of a pilot project, which DHS is paying for and has not yet started, involving the State of Washington and British Columbia before WHTI can go forward. We see no point in paying for a project only to ignore it. The project will reveal the feasibility of the passport requirements in WHTI. With the 2008 winter Olympics being held in Vancouver, there will soon be an even greater number of Americans traveling across the border there. And this is a perfect way for us to test the requirements of WHTI before it is put in place nationwide, and we are going to make sure the results of that test are known. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill. It demonstrates the Democratic commitment to smart security, as well as to ensuring that the money spent by this government goes where it is needed most and is spent wisely, efficiently, and effectively. These are our priorities. Our constituents deserve no less, and our security can afford no less. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and on the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat puzzled myself over the earmark process as the Republicans had it last year. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute more to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), chair of the subcommittee.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of a distinguished academic who I am privileged to call my friend, Dr. Albert J. Simone. Dr. Simone has served as the President of Rochester Institute of Technology since September 1, 1992, and during that time I have had the pleasure of working with him as he advanced the university's reputation as a leading career-oriented institution. He is retiring his post this year, and his vision and leadership will be sorely missed. Before taking the helm at RIT, Dr. Simone served as president of the University of Hawaii System and chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also taught at several well-respected institutions for higher education, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Northeastern University, Boston College, Boston University, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Hawaii. But his achievements go far beyond administration and instruction. Dr. Simone has authored countless publications, including books and journal articles on the application of mathematics, statistics, and computers to economics and business. He is a founding editor of Decision Sciences and is a past president and fellow of the Institute of Decision Sciences. And, although he is retiring, he will continue to make contributions to academia as he is currently in the process of collecting data for a book he will be writing on higher education. A true trailblazer, Dr. Simone was the first American university president to officially visit North Korea, Vietnam, and Vladivostok when these regions were closed to the United States except for cultural and educational exchange. He oversaw the launch of three Ph.D. programs at RIT in the areas of microsystems engineering, computing and information sciences, and color science. And, under his stewardship, six bachelor's degree programs have been added to the university's offerings, including programs in information technology, software engineering, chemistry and polymer chemistry, biochemistry, advertising and public relations, and new media publishing. These new programs represent the university's understanding of the needs of the community outside of it, and help distinguish the City of Rochester as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr. Simone led RIT's largest capital campaign, raising $310 million which enabled the university to add over 210 new scholarships, name three colleges, add seven new endowed professorships, build nine new campus facilities, add $90 million in new applied research initiatives, and add $34 million to the RIT endowment. This capital campaign enhanced RIT's reputation, made college education more accessible for more students, and gave students and faculty better resources to pursue their academic endeavors. Thanks to Dr. Simone and the programs he has cultivated at RIT, the university has become a strong partner in regional economic development efforts. His endeavors have consistently reflected his belief that the `` `R' in RIT means something.'' Aside from creating academic programs at the university to address the business needs of Rochester and the surrounding region, Dr. Simone served as chairman of the board of the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on the boards of the Rochester Business Alliance, the Center for Government Research, and the Finger Lakes Partnership for the WIRED initiative. His involvement in these and countless other community organizations has benefited not only the organizations themselves, but also the university and its students by establishing important networking opportunities and using the knowledge from those relationships to inform the direction of the university. Dr. Simone has been recognized by several organizations throughout Western New York and the Nation for his outstanding leadership and community involvement. He was the recipient of the Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award from Partners or Livable Communities (2006), the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County Racial Justice Award (2005), the Rochester International Council International Citizen Award (2004), the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals President's Award (2001), and the Rochester Business Alliance Civic Medal among many, many others. RIT and the community surrounding it owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Simone, and I am honored today to have the opportunity to pay tribute to his service. His legacy will live on at RIT, and I look forward to seeing the university continue to flourish. I wish Dr. Simone and his wife Carolie, their four children, and five grandchildren the best during his retirement.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of a distinguished academic who I am privileged to call my friend, Dr. Albert J. Simone. Dr. Simone has served as the president of Rochester Institute of Technology since September 1, 1992, and during that time I have had the pleasure of working with him as he advanced the university's reputation as a leading career-oriented institution. He is retiring his post this year, and his vision and leadership will be sorely missed. Before taking the helm at RIT, Dr. Simone served as president of the University of Hawaii System and chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also taught at several well-respected institutions for higher education, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Northeastern University, Boston College, Boston University, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Hawaii. But his achievements go far beyond administration and instruction. Dr. Simone has authored countless publications, including books and journal articles on the application of mathematics, statistics, and computers to economics and business. He is a founding editor of Decision Sciences and is a past president and fellow of the Institute of Decision Sciences. And, although he is retiring, he will continue to make contributions to academia as he is currently in the process of collecting data for a book he will be writing on higher education. A true trailblazer, Dr. Simone was the first American university president to officially visit North Korea, Vietnam, and Vladivostok when these regions were closed to the United States except for cultural and educational exchange. He oversaw the launch of three Ph.D. programs at RIT in the areas of microsystems engineering, computing and information sciences, and color science. And, under his stewardship, six bachelor's degree programs have been added to the university's offerings, including programs in information technology, software engineering, chemistry and polymer chemistry, biochemistry, advertising and public relations, and new media publishing. These new programs represent the university's understanding of the needs of the community outside of it, and help distinguish the city of Rochester as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr. Simone led RIT's largest capital campaign, raising $310 million which enabled the university to add over 210 new scholarships, name three colleges, add seven new endowed professorships, build nine new campus facilities, add $90 million in new applied research initiatives, and add $34 to the RIT endowment. This capital campaign enhanced RIT's reputation, made college education more accessible for more students, and gave students and faculty better resources to pursue their academic endeavors. Thanks to Dr. Simone and the programs he has cultivated at RIT, the university has become a strong partner in regional economic development efforts. His endeavors have consistently reflected his belief that the `` `R' in RIT means something.'' Aside from creating academic programs at the university to address the business needs of the Rochester and the surrounding region, Dr. Simone served as chairman of the board of the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on the boards of the Rochester Business Alliance, the Center for Government Research, and the Finger Lakes Partnership for the WIRED initiative. His involvement in these and countless other community organizations has benefited not only the organizations themselves, but also the university and its students by establishing important networking opportunities and using the knowledge from those relationships to inform the direction of the university. Dr. Simone has been recognized by several organizations throughout western New York and the Nation for his outstanding leadership and community involvement. He was the recipient of the Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award from Partners for Livable Communities--2006, the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County Racial Justice Award--2005, the Rochester International Council International Citizen Award--2004, the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals President's Award--2001, and the Rochester Business Alliance Civic Medal among many, many others. RIT and the community surrounding it owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Simone, and I am honored today to have the opportunity to pay tribute to his service. His legacy will live on at RIT, and I look forward to seeing the university continue to flourish. I wish Dr. Simone and his wife Carolie, their four children, and five grandchildren the best during his retirement.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 444, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee). (Mr. INSLEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 438 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time as I may consume and ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 438.