Christopher Shays

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, the bottom line is a plane could be blown out of the sky from explosives in the belly of an aircraft because someone shipping cargo is simply able to get it on the airplane. We have learned from the terrorists there is no line they will not cross. I hope this amendment is passed; and then if we have to change the amendment, we can do that in conference. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment, which will require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop a plan to screen or inspect all cargo that is carried on passenger planes. Since September 11, our nation's homeland defenses have undergone tremendous improvements. I truly believe we are safer today than we were prior to these heinous attacks, but we don't feel safer because we had a false sense of security that was cruelly lifted. In 2001, when Congress was considering the Aviation Security Act, I was shocked to learn that less than 10 percent of checked baggage on domestic flights was being screened. I worked with Congressman Jay Inslee to add a provision to the bill requiring all checked baggage to be screened for explosives. During a recent hearing of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, I was equally surprised to learn that air, which accounts for approximately 22 percent of all baggage on passenger flights, is not being screened for explosives. If we are not screening all the baggage and cargo on passenger planes, then we are once again giving the American people a false sense of security. The bottom line is as long as cargo and baggage screening is incomplete, there are gaps in aviation security that are unacceptable. TSA must come to grips with this challenge, which continues to leave too many air travelers at risk. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this common- sense amendment.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment, which will require the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, to develop a plan to screen or inspect all cargo that is carried on passenger planes. To me, it blows me away that we would allow any freight to go in the belly of an aircraft that has not been inspected. And at the very least the public has the right to know that basically 20 percent of the cargo in the belly of an aircraft is totally unscreened. Its cargo is unscreened. We could have not one, not two, not three, but we could have a number of planes knocked out of the sky at any one time simply because we are not inspecting the freight cargo that is in the belly of an aircraft. Mr. Chairman, with that, I will yield back to my colleague and thank him for his amendment. I cannot think of a stronger and more important amendment.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, may I ask how much time the gentleman has left?

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, on June 23, I was participating in the World Economic Forum in Amman, Jordan with Congressman Jim Kolbe and other Members of the House and Senate. As a result, I missed four recorded votes. I take my voting responsibility very seriously and would like the Congressional Record to reflect that, had I been present, I would have voted yes on recorded vote number 297, yes on recorded vote number 298, yes on recorded vote number 299, and yes on recorded vote 300.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the City of Stamford, CT, which was recently ranked the fifth safest city in the country and the second safest city in the Northeast. Perhaps even more remarkable is that recent FBI statistics indicate Stamford led the Nation in reducing crime during 2002, recording an amazing 22 percent decrease. This achievement is all the more impressive because Stamford was able to reduce crime despite having a smaller police force. This extraordinary accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of Chief Louis DeCarlo and the entire police force, as well as the excellent leadership of Mayor Dan Malloy and the City Government. Stamford has led our region and Nation by implementing creative measures to reduce crime, including the use of community policing. The City also sent School Resource Officers to schools where they were able to effectively connect with the City's youth. I also congratulate the people of Stamford who have worked so hard to make their hometown a great place to raise their children, to work and to visit. As a former longtime resident of Stamford, I can attest to how wonderful a place it is to live. Stamford's tremendous potential is reinforced by its designation as one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 760, the Partial- Birth Abortion Ban Act. I am pro-choice, but believe late-term abortions are wrong. Abortion is a very personal decision and a woman's right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy subject to the restrictions of Roe v. Wade must be protected. In my judgment, however, the use of this particular procedure cannot be justified. I have personally spoken with doctors, both pro-choice and pro-life, who made it very clear to me that the ``partial-birth'' procedure is never medically necessary. The debate on partial-birth abortion has been difficult for me. I voted against the ban back in 1996 believing this procedure was rare and used mostly in cases where it was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, to prevent severe consequences to her health, or when severe fetal genetic deformities exist. After voting, I learned this procedure was not as uncommon as it was made out to be; rather than a few hundred partial-birth abortions each year, there have been thousands. Now, choice advocates acknowledge this procedure is often used for elective abortions of healthy fetuses. For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I have voted for the ban since 1997 and urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 4, which would amend the Constitution to allow Congress to pass laws banning the desecration of the flag. I find it abhorrent anyone would burn our flag. And if I saw someone desecrating the flag, I would do what I could to stop them at risk of injury or incarceration. For me, it would be a badge of honor. But I think this Constitutional Amendment is an overreaction to a nonexistent problem. Keep in mind the Constitution has been amended only 17 times since the Bill of Rights was passed in 1791. This is the same Constitution that eventually outlawed slavery, gave blacks and women the right to vote and guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Amending the Constitution is a very serious matter. I do not think we should allow a few obnoxious attention-seekers to push us into a corner, especially since no one is burning the flag now, without an amendment. I agree with Colin Powell who, when he served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote it was a mistake to amend the Constitution, ``that great shield of democracy, to hammer a few miscreants.'' When I think of the flag, I think about the courageous men and women who have died defending it and the families they left behind. What they were defending was the Constitution of the United States and the rights it guarantees as embodied by the flag. I love the flag for all it represents, but I love the Constitution even more. The Constitution is not just a symbol; it is the very principles on which our nation was founded. I urge my colleagues to vote against this resolution.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I find this debate interesting, because we are debating a bill we all, or most all, are going to be supporting, so it is kind of like this is a good bill, we are going to vote for it, but we want it better or want it differently. It is a good bill. It is a good bill for my State; 75,359 people have benefited. We are going to help 37,450 more, for a total of 112,809. In terms of dollars spent, we have provided $259,231,629. We are going to add $142 million, for $401 million. This is an effort to reach out. My colleague from Buffalo, New York, has helped push this, along with the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn) and others. We listened to our Democratic colleagues who said we need to move forward with the bill. It seems to me they should be taking credit for some of what we are doing. Now, I support this legislation because I think it is important to our workers who are out of work; but I also support our tax cut, because I think that is ultimately how we are going to benefit these folks who need a job. We are going to increase the child tax credit to $1,000, and then phase it out for the wealthy. It only is going for the families that need it. If you have three kids, you get to subtract $3,000 from the bottom line of your taxes. If you are married, you are not going to be paying a penalty anymore. But my colleagues on the other side of the aisle voted against this. We are going to reduce the marginal rates to help working families. We are going to treat dividends like capital gains, and also reduce the capital gains rate. We are going to get this economy moving again, frankly, with or without the support of our Democratic colleagues. We are going to provide the unemployment compensation we need, we are going to provide the tax cuts that we need, and we are going to get this economy moving again.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. I understand the good heart of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) and where he is coming from. But, Mr. Chairman, this is money that is needed now. The President has stated, ``Seldom has history offered a greater opportunity to do so much for so many.'' This year, the President made an unprecedented commitment to fight HIV/AIDS on a global scale, and we must not thwart that momentum by cutting this year's authorization by a third. The President has stated that his HIV/AIDS initiative is intended to prevent 7 million new infections, treat 2 million HIV-infected people, and care for 10 million HIV-infected individuals and AIDS orphans. There is no reason I can think of to limit the immediate flow of money. There are children in Africa going to school without teachers and then going to a home without parents, and we have to deal with that. Mr. Chairman, I commend President Bush for taking such a bold step in committing these funds and the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for moving it through this Chamber. I think we need to maintain the full $3 billion authorization as it is.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Appropriations chairman, ranking member and all who worked on the Wartime Supplemental conference report. They did a tremendous job. As a returned Peace Corps volunteer who strongly supported the President's effort to get Saddam Hussein's Iraq to cooperate with the UN inspectors and dismantle its weapons of mass destruction, I am proud, so proud, of our men and women who serve our great Nation. Our job in Congress, when we send our men and women into battle, is to make sure it is never a fair fight. We need to make sure those who risk their lives in service to this country have every advantage. We have done our job and we are doing our job. As another returned Peace Corps volunteer, Jim Walsh, said, we are supporting our troops who brought freedom to a troubled land and we are helping to rebuild that land and nation and the good people who live there. This is a good sign of a great Nation. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, my constituents and all of Connecticut congratulate the University of Connecticut Lady Huskies for winning the 2003 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. Last year, I stood on this same floor to congratulate the 2002 championship squad, which I felt was the greatest team in the history of women's college basketball. That 39-0 team never trailed in the second half all season. During the NCAA tournament, they won their six games by an average margin of 27 points. Going into this season, the Lady Huskies had lost four All-American players to graduation. Without their senior leadership, many questioned whether the team would be able to win a third national championship in just 4 years. But UConn women's basketball has always been a program rich in tradition and a desire to excel. Quite simply, they would not be denied. Led by junior Diana Taurasi, the national women's player of the year, a pair of freshmen sensations, Barbara Turner and Ann Strother, and the unyielding dedication of teammates Maria Conlon, Jessica Moore, Ashley Battle, Nicole Wolff, Morgan and Ashley Valley, Wilnett Crockett and Stacey Marron, the UConn Lady Huskies again finished the season as the finest team in the land. I also want to commend the hard work of Geno Auriemma, the NCAA Coach of the Year, who along with his coaching staff put together another unbelievable team. With the championship victory, Coach Auriemma won his 501st game and fourth national championship. Mr. Speaker, this team's speed, precision shooting, and hustle have all contributed to its success. But what strikes me the most about the Lady Huskies is their ability to rise to any occasion. In the semifinal game, UConn was down 50-41 with 12 minutes left against the University of Texas Longhorns. All game long Texas had stunned the Lady Huskies with its strong rebounding and intense defense. But the Lady Huskies settled down and received a spark off the bench from Wilnett Crockett. In two of the greatest final minutes of women's Final Four history, the Lady Huskies found a way to win. They hit key shots and shut down the Longhorns on their way to a hard-fought 71-69 victory and a ticket to the national championship game. By the time the Lady Huskies met the Lady Vols of Tennessee in the title game, they could taste victory. Against the most successful women's basketball program in NCAA history, UConn never trailed throughout the game. The result was a 73-68 victory! I want to congratulate these young women for being such extraordinary role models for Americans of all ages. These UConn Lady Huskies continue to be the team by which all others are measured. They were really a joy to watch, and I congratulate them on their tremendous achievement.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, in my 28 years experience being in politics, I do know that speaking at 2 in the morning is not wise, and I usually avoid doing that. It took me awhile to figure that out, because I always made enemies when I spoke late at night. As I was listening to the dialogue of my colleagues discussing the rule, I heard a lot of passion, I heard a lot of anger. The difference is we actually have to pass a budget and you do not. The best example to me is you are talking about your budget, the Blue Dog budget, that did not even get close to a majority of votes and did not even get all the votes on your side of the aisle. We can only afford to lose 11 votes on our side of the aisle, because we know that there is not one, Mr. Speaker, on that side of the aisle that will help us pass a budget. And that is the challenge. When we passed our budget out of the Committee on the Budget, which I was proud of, and balanced the budget in 7 years, the amendments to that budget in that committee debate added up to $983 billion over the next 10 years. We never had a debate with President Clinton where he said we spent too much. The only way we could get out of town was we had to spend more. That is a fact. The problem is, even tonight, my colleagues, seriously, think about this: You say we are cutting. Only in Washington when you spend 9 percent more, or $14.6 billion more, would people call it a cut. That is what we add in Medicaid. Only in Washington when you spend $17.8 billion more, or 7.2 percent, would people call it a cut. Only in Washington when you spend $5.4 billion more in transportation, or an 8.4 percent increase, would people call it a cut. Only in Washington when you spend $6.2 billion more for veterans, a 10.7 percent increase, would people call it a cut. So, Mr. Speaker, I know that you all do not like this budget, but I also know if you were in the majority, you would not be able to pass a budget, sadly. On this side of the aisle we have come together, we have done our best, and I am proud of it. And we scored our tax package. We have a tax package that we would, if we could, pass a $627 billion tax cut. We put it under reconciliation at $550. So there is $77 billion that is not going to be under reconciliation. This is a good budget. It is a budget we know we can pass, and we are going to do it.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Boehlert- Markey Amendment to reduce our consumption of oil by increasing fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The United States cannot continue on a course of increased oil consumption with little to no regard for the implications it has on our environment, economy and national security. There is no better time to focus on reducing our reliance on foreign oil than right now. Increased fuel efficiency standards and tax incentives for conservation and renewable energy sources should be at the heart of our national energy policy in a post-September 11 world. This amendment requires the Department of Transportation to issue rules to ensure the total amount of oil that cars and SUVs consume in 2010 will be 5 percent less than the total amount they would otherwise consume if the average fuel economy standards were to remain at 2004 levels. These savings could be achieved by increasing fuel economy standards to 30 miles per gallon. Under this amendment, the Administrator of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration will have maximum flexibility in how the standards are set. The standard could be increased for cars or SUVs or only the heaviest trucks. This is a common sense amendment which represents a modest step forward in our nation's efforts to become more energy efficient. The Boehlert/Markey Amendment will help protect the environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and save drivers money at the pump. Mr. Chairman, I agree with those who say ``we cannot conserve our way out of this energy problem.'' However, until we raise CAFE standards, we cannot honestly tell the American people this is a balanced energy plan. It is absolutely imperative we are more efficient and make better use of God's precious resources.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Markey- Johnson Amendment to protect the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. The coastal plain of ANWR is the last major part of the North Slope that has not been developed. Protecting and preserving our splendid natural resources is a patriotic and moral obligation. In my judgment, it would be far better to develop prudent and lasting alternate fuel energies than to risk irreparable damage to the wilderness of one of North America's most beautiful frontiers. Efforts to drill in ANWR are ill-conceived and will ultimately do little to help achieve a long-term, sustainable, and comprehensive national energy policy. Mr. Chairman, drilling in the Arctic Refuge is a quick fix, not a sustainable solution. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Markey-Johnson amendment.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. I rise in opposition to the amendment. I have heard my good friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), object to the inclusion of $64 million for the Corporation for National Service in a wartime supplemental appropriations bill. I take the opposite view. I think including this funding in this bill is entirely appropriate precisely because we are at war against terrorism, and national service is a vital part of winning that war. National service is the right prescription during these times because the best antidotes to terror and hate in society are acts of kindness and service. For instance, just last week, the U.S.A. Freedom Corps launched a new resource for people seeking to support our troops, their families, and their communities called ``On The Home Front.'' The point of the program is that while hundreds of thousands of men and women from all over America are serving in the Armed Forces and away from home, those on the home front can make a difference too. Partnering with the Department of Defense, the U.S.A. Freedoms Corps is offering resources to Americans who want to express their support for members of the military and helping their families in a meaningful way. As a fiscal conservative, I believe national service is one of the most productive and cost-effective investments our government can make. Through service, Americans of all ages gain a sense of commitment to their community and their country which will provide value for the rest of their lives. National service benefits both the recipient and the giver. Volunteers not only address an immediate need; they lead and teach through example, and through that example, they learn the value of serving and helping others. We need to harness the energy and commitment of those anxious to contribute to their country. We should not only defeat this amendment, but we should finally pass the Citizen Service Act. Let me just say, as a former Peace Corps volunteer, we were paid a minimum wage so we could live, and we were given a small stipend. I have failed to understand, as long as I have been a part of this party, why we would object to people earning a degree, an opportunity to go to school, instead of just being given a grant. I do not understand why we would not be eager and thrilled to have more people participate in national service.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I did not think that the last speaker, a colleague who used to be for controlling the growth in spending, would be advocating spending so much. When we were in the Committee on the Budget voting out this bill, my Democratic colleagues came out with a total of $982 billion of new spending over the next 10 years. That is far more than the amount of the tax cut. It would not have helped reduce the deficit. It was simply more government spending. Only in Washington when we spend more money do people call it a cut. The total budget is going to go up 3 percent. Medicare is going to go up 7.9 percent. Veterans spending is going to go up 6.9 percent, but they called it a cut. They call a $3.97 billion increase a cut when it is actually an increase of 6.9 percent. I believe that during the time I was on the Committee on the Budget we had some clear delineation. We wanted to cut taxes. Our Democratic colleagues did not want a cut in taxes; they wanted to spend more. We never had a debate with President Clinton in which he thought we were spending too much. It was always that we needed to spend more, and that is the dialogue that is happening now. Then some of my conservative colleagues on the other side of the aisle are saying they cannot, in some areas, have a 1 percent cut in the budget for 1 year and then allow it to go back on its trail of new spending. I was proud of what the Committee on the Budget did. I would have liked for us to stay on that issue. I would have liked for us, for 1 year, to take a deep breath and show at least some of what local communities are doing, where Governor Richardson in New Mexico is cutting spending and cutting taxes. He happens to be a Democrat doing what Republicans usually do. In my judgment, we should control the growth of spending, take a breath for a year, cut taxes and grow this economy. But instead, what we are seeing once again are my Democratic colleagues saying we are not spending enough. We need to spend more and more and more. I think we need to do what they are doing on the State and local levels: suck it in a little bit, control, and spend 1 percent less on non-defense, non-homeland security and get our country's financial house in order. That is what I believe we should be doing. Whether or not my colleague on the other side of the aisle is supporting a $514 billion tax cut or a $700 billion-plus tax cut, the bottom line is we need a tax cut to grow this economy. This side of the aisle is not going to be like President Hoover. We need to move this economy forward. That is absolutely essential.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his very thoughtful words and comments, and just to remind Members again that the most operative words in this resolution are what we resolve, that we designate a day for humility, prayer, and fasting for all people of the United States and call on all people of the United States to observe the day as a time of prayer and fasting, to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities, and to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our Nation. I believe that resolve is so in line with the spirit of what our Founding Fathers did in years before. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin), who was the presenter of this resolution. I thank him for that.

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

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I have no other speakers, and I want to thank, before returning the balance of my time, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) again for introducing this important resolution and also the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his thoughtful comments and support. I urge all Members to support the adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House Resolution 153, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin), recognizes the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and their Armed Forces abroad due to the armed conflict in Iraq and the threat of terrorism here at home. Mr. Speaker, our great Nation is at battle overseas with the vicious regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The mission Operation Iraqi Freedom aims to dislodge Hussein and his top advisers from power, eliminate weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi military's arsenal, and free the Iraqi people from Hussein's awful dictatorship. This conflict can lead to a wonderful improvement in the lives of all Iraqi people. The risks of this conflict, however, are terribly significant to all American citizens. In Iraq, the threats to our remarkable servicemen and women are many. The Iraqi soldiers' resistance may include the deployment of chemical and biological weapons, not to mention the lethality of Iraq's military's conventional weapons. Here at home, the Federal Government has launched Operation Liberty Shield to increase domestic security due to the danger of terrorist attacks within our borders. This combination of threats to Americans across the globe make passage of this resolution essential and meaningful. Since the birth of our Nation, Americans of all backgrounds, faiths and creeds have especially recognized the value earned from prayer, reflection, sacrifice and humility during times of national crisis. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 153. I thank my colleague from Missouri for introducing this extremely relevant and valuable measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) for introducing this legislation. I want to say to the gentleman that I am certain that Floyd Spence would be very proud of the job he is now doing for the people of his district, which is the district Floyd Spence represented before.

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