Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, the bill today that Chairman Waxman has so carefully shepherded to the floor today is a landmark achievement for this body. For the first time as a Nation we are moving towards energy independence, creating millions of new clean jobs, and confronting the threat that global warming poses to the Earth. As parents, we all struggle to provide our children with a better life. Without the strong action embodied in this bill, the world that we bequeath to our children will be diminished by continued reliance on Middle Eastern oil, by exporting billions of hard-earned American dollars to petro dictatorships, and by a warming Earth. America has been at her best during her greatest struggles and, as before, her industry and entrepreneurial spirit will prevail. Already, the green technology industry is booming across the country, with new factories built and new companies formed every day. Unfortunately, the Federal Government itself has not been able to fully utilize renewable energy. Many renewable energy installations have large upfront costs, which then have to be recovered in the form of cheap energy over the course of many years. But the Federal Government has been restricted from signing long-term contracts for energy, so affordable renewable energy has been unavailable to thousands of government offices around the country. The rule for this bill inserts an important provision that I authored as independent legislation earlier this year and that I worked with many colleagues to include. It loosens the restrictions on energy purchases by the government, and that will spur local green energy development in every State in the Nation. I hope that we can support this measure, this rule, this bill and fulfill the promise that we have given to our constituents, that we will serve this country not only today and during this Congress, but for the long haul, that we will make not only the easy decisions, but the hard ones.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I am very grateful to the gentleman and want to speak very briefly on an amendment I've introduced to authorize NASA's federally funded research and development centers to participate in DOD research and development programs. JPL's scientific leadership represents an invaluable source of key expertise to DOD. JPL has performed research for DOD for decades. This amendment simply clarifies JPL's authority to continue to work with the Defense Department and closely parallels an amendment to perform the same function for the Department of Energy. We have worked with NASA to ensure this does not interfere with JPL's primary mission to build spacecraft and perform scientific research for NASA. This way we can ensure that important collaborations between JPL and DOD will continue. Mr. Chair, today I am introducing an amendment that explicitly authorizes NASA's federally funded research and development centers to participate in Department of Defense research and development programs. Many of us are familiar with NASA's world-renowned research and development center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California. JPL, which is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology, has designed, built and controlled many of America's most successful unmanned spacecraft. Unmanned space probes, from the Ranger and Surveyor missions that paved the way for Apollo, to the Voyager spacecraft that explored the outer planets and continue to send back data even as they leave the solar system, have increased our comprehension of our celestial neighborhood beyond anything contemplated half a century ago. Since we first sent robotic emissaries to our neighboring planets, every American space probe that has visited another planet was managed by JPL. The journal Science named JPL's discovery of evidence of past water on Mars as 2004's ``Breakthrough of the Year''. JPL's spectacular missions have brought us incalculable scientific data and have sustained Americans' passion for spaceflight at a time of greatly diminished human presence in space. These spacecraft have reinforced America's scientific and technological preeminence. JPL's scientific leadership represents an invaluable source of key expertise for the Department of Defense. The Jet Propulsion Lab has performed research for the Department of Defense for decades by responding to DoD Broad Agency Announcements. This amendment simply clarifies JPL's authority to continue to work with the defense department, and closely parallels an amendment which performed the same function for Department of Energy National Labs in 1998. I have worked with NASA to ensure that the amendment does not interfere with JPL's primary mission, to build spacecraft and perform scientific research for NASA. By including this amendment, we ensure that important collaborations between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Department of Defense will continue into the future. I urge my colleagues to approve this amendment.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman and appreciate the great leadership of the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Today we find ourselves in the regrettable circumstance where we must act to remove a Federal judge from the bench. The task before us is not one we welcome, but it is an important responsibility that has been entrusted to us by the Founders and one which we must not shrink from. Throughout our Nation's history, we have been fortunate to have a distinguished judiciary that has served as an essential and coequal branch of our government. We owe a great deal to the success of our representative democracy to the positive, thoughtful, and vital role played by the Nation's judges. To insulate members of the bench from political and other pressures, to ensure that judges are free to determine the justice of the cases before them on the basis of the law alone and no outside influence, Federal judges are appointed for life. Unlike elected officials, who may be removed periodically by the voters or serve a term that comes to an end, the Founding Fathers provided only one extraordinary method of removing a Federal judge, that of impeachment. The President cannot remove a judge he has appointed or any other, and the courts cannot. Conviction of a Federal or State offense is also powerless to remove a judge from office. Only the Congress may remove a judge and only then upon impeachment of the House under article I, section 2 of the Constitution and conviction in the Senate for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors justifying their removal. Because we have been blessed by an extraordinarily professional judiciary and because the bar for removal is high, the extraordinary remedy of impeachment of a Federal judge has been used only 13 times in the Nation's history. But the matter before us today warrants its use once again. Last month, the House Judiciary Task Force on Judicial Impeachment was directed to inquire whether Judge Kent should be impeached. As the chairman of the task force, I would like to report on our work and provide the Members of the House with a procedural history of the matter as well as an overview of the relevant facts. As a task force, we were extremely well-served by the very capable ranking member from Virginia, Bob Goodlatte, and have worked to proceed in a fair, open, and deliberate manner, and we have done so on a bipartisan, really nonpartisan, basis. Samuel Kent was appointed to the Federal bench in 1990 and served in the Galveston courthouse in the Southern District of Texas. During that time, he was generally the sole judicial officer in the courthouse, an imposing figure who exercised a substantial degree of influence and control both inside and outside of the courtroom. At some point in 2001, Judge Kent began sexually assaulting at least two women employees who served in the courthouse. These repeated assaults occurred through at least May of 2007, when one of the victims, Cathy McBroom, filed a judicial misconduct complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit alleging sexual misconduct on the part of Judge Kent. In response, the Judicial Council of that circuit appointed a Special Investigative Committee to investigate the complaint. On June 8, 2007, Judge Kent, pursuant to his own request, was interviewed by the Special Investigative Committee of that circuit. They sought to learn from Judge Kent whether he had engaged in unwanted sexual contact with Ms. McBroom or others. During the interview, Judge Kent made material false statements about the extent of his nonconsensual contact with Ms. McBroom. He was also questioned about another female employee in the courthouse, his secretary Donna Wilkerson, and told the investigative committee that once Ms. Wilkerson informed him that his advances were unwelcome, no further sexual contact had occurred, when, in fact, he continued his nonconsensual sexual contacts with both Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson. The Department of Justice commenced a criminal investigation relating to Judge Kent's conduct as well. In November 2007, Judge Kent asked for and was granted an interview with the FBI. During the voluntary interview that he had requested, he was asked about his alleged conduct and repeated the same material false statements he had made to the Fifth Circuit. In August of 2008, Judge Kent, through his attorney, asked for a meeting at the Department of Justice. And at this meeting he sat down with his attorney, an FBI agent, and representatives of the Department of Justice, and again Judge Kent made material false statements about the nature and extent of his nonconsensual sexual contact with Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson. Intimidated by Judge Kent and worried about losing her job, Ms. Wilkerson was not initially candid with investigators and law enforcement when questioned about Judge Kent's conduct towards her. In fact, it was not until her third grand jury appearance that Ms. Wilkerson was willing to reveal the full extent of sexual assault she endured from Judge Kent. On August 28, a Federal grand jury returned a multi-count indictment against Judge Kent, and on January 6 the grand jury issued a superseding indictment against Judge Kent alleging counts of aggravated sexual abuse as well as obstruction of justice and abusive sexual contact. On February 23, the day his criminal trial was set to begin, Judge Kent pled guilty to obstruction of justice. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Judge Kent knowingly, voluntarily, and truthfully admitted having nonconsensual sexual contact with both women and obstructing justice in his testimony before the Fifth Circuit investigative committee. On May 11, Judge Kent was sentenced to a term of 33 months in prison and ordered to pay fines and restitution. Judge Kent began his term of incarceration on June 15, this past Monday. The day after sentencing, the House of Representatives directed the Judiciary Committee Impeachment Task Force to inquire whether Judge Kent should be impeached, and the task force held an evidentiary hearing on June 3, receiving testimony from Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson as well as Professor Arthur Hellman, a judicial impeachment scholar. Professor Hellman provided expert testimony that concluded that making false statements to fellow judges, as well as abusing his power as a Federal judge to sexually assault women, were independent grounds that would justify and warrant Judge Kent's impeachment and removal from office. The task force invited Judge Kent to testify, but he declined our offer. The task force received correspondence from Judge Kent that was made available to all Members and was entered into the Record. The task force also invited Judge Kent's counsel to participate in the hearing and present arguments on behalf of his client as well as to provide the opportunity to question any of the witnesses, and Judge Kent's counsel also declined to appear or participate. Subsequently, Judge Kent's counsel sent a letter to the committee questioning the veracity of the women and making an extraordinary admission that their testimony was unnecessary because, quoting from the letter: Judge Kent's guilty plea to the felony of obstruction presents sufficient grounds for impeachment. The task force also received a letter from Judge Kent to the White House, dated June 2, stating his intention to resign June 1 a year from now. But neither his surrender to custody nor his stated intention to resign a year from now affect his current status as a Federal judge or a constitutional obligation to determine whether impeachment is warranted. Our proceeding today does not constitute a trial, as the constitutional power to try impeachment resides in the Senate; rather, the House's role is to inquire whether Judge Kent's conduct provides a sufficient basis for impeachment. According to leading commentators and historical precedent on the issue, there are two broad categories of conduct that have been recognized as justifying impeachment: serious abuse of power and conduct that demonstrates an official is unworthy to fill the office that he or she holds. Earlier this month, the Judicial Conference of the United States transmitted a certificate to the House certifying its determination that consideration of impeachment of Judge Kent may be warranted. After concluding that the full record establishes Judge Kent should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, the House Judiciary Task Force met on June 9 and voted unanimously in favor of recommending four Articles of Impeachment, which have been read before the House today. On June 10, the House Judiciary Committee ordered H. Res. 520 favorably reported by a rollcall of 29-0. Judge Kent, incident to his position as a U.S. district judge, engaged in deplorable conduct with respect to employees associated with the court. Such conduct is incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him as a judge. In particular, the record demonstrates that Judge Kent sexually assaulted two women who were both employees of the court. Furthermore, Judge Kent corruptly obstructed, influenced, or impeded an official proceeding by making false statements to the Special Investigative Committee of the Fifth Circuit and again by making false material statements to agents of the FBI and Department of Justice. These acts of sexual assault and obstruction of justice are, as the judge who sentenced Mr. Kent to incarceration stated, ``a stain on the justice system itself.'' Were the House of Representatives to sit idly by and allow Mr. Kent to continue to hold the office of U.S. district judge while sitting in prison, and after committing such high crimes and misdemeanors, it would be a stain on the Congress as well. Judge Kent's conduct was a disgrace to the bench. That he would still cling to the bench from the confines of his prison cell and ask the public, whose trust he has already betrayed, to continue paying his salary demonstrates how little regard he has for the institution he was supposed to serve. I urge the House to approve each of the four Articles of Impeachment set out in House Resolution 520. Today, we find ourselves in the regrettable circumstance where we must act to remove a federal judge from the bench. The task before us is not one that we welcome, however, it is an important responsibility that has been entrusted to us by the Founders and one which we must not shrink from. Throughout our nation's history, we have been fortunate to have a distinguished judiciary that has served as an essential and co-equal branch of our government. We owe a great deal of the success of our representative democracy to the positive, thoughtful and vital role played by the nation's judges. To insulate members of the bench from political and other pressures, to insure that judges are free to determine the justice of the cases before them on the basis of the law alone and no outside influence, federal judges are appointed for life. Unlike elected officials who may be removed periodically by the voters, or serve a term that comes to an end, the Founding Fathers provided only one extraordinary method of removing a federal judge-- that of impeachment. The President cannot remove a judge he has appointed or any other, and the courts cannot--conviction of a federal or state offense is also powerless to remove a judge from his office. Only the Congress may remove a judge, and only then upon impeachment in the House under Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, and conviction in the Senate for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors justifying their removal. Because we have been blessed by an extraordinarily professional judiciary, and because the bar for removal is high, the extraordinary remedy of impeachment of a federal judge has been used only 13 times in our nation's history. But the matter before us today warrants its use once again. Last month, the House Judiciary Committee Task Force on Judicial Impeachment was directed by the House to inquire whether Judge Kent should be impeached. As Chairman of the Task Force, I'd like to report on our work and provide the Members of the House with the procedural history of this matter as well as an overview of the relevant facts. As a Task Force, we were extremely well served by the very capable Ranking Member from Virginia, Bob Goodlatte, and have worked to proceed in a fair, open and deliberate manner, and we have done so on a bipartisan, really, nonpartisan basis. Samuel B. Kent was appointed to the federal bench in 1990 and has served in the Galveston courthouse in the Southern District of Texas for most of his career. During that time, he was generally the sole judicial officer in the courthouse, an imposing figure who exercised a substantial degree of influence and control both inside and outside of his courtroom. At some point in 2001, Judge Kent began sexually assaulting at least two women employees who served in his courthouse. These repeated sexual assaults occurred through at least May of 2007, when one of the victims, Cathy McBroom, filed a judicial misconduct complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, alleging sexual misconduct on the part of Judge Kent. In response, the Judicial Council of the Fifth Circuit appointed a Special Investigative Committee to investigate Ms. McBroom's complaint. On June 8, 2007, Judge Kent, pursuant to his own request, was interviewed by the Special Investigative Committee of that Circuit. The Investigative Committee sought to learn from Judge Kent whether he had engaged in unwanted sexual contact with Ms. McBroom or with others. During the interview, Judge Kent made material and false statements about the extent of his non-consensual contact with Ms. McBroom; in fact, he had engaged in repeated non-consensual sexual contact with her. Judge Kent was also questioned about another female employee in the courthouse, his secretary Donna Wilkerson. He told the investigative committee that once Ms. Wilkerson informed him that his advances were unwelcome, no further sexual contact with her occurred, when in fact he continued his non-consensual contacts with Ms. Wilkerson as well. On September 28, 2007, in an ``Order of Reprimand and Reasons'' signed by Chief Judge Edith Jones, the Judicial Council for the Fifth Circuit suspended Judge Kent with pay for four months and transferred him to Houston. The Order did not disclose the underlying findings of fact or conclusions by the Special Investigative Committee. The Department of Justice then commenced a criminal investigation relating to Judge Kent's conduct. In November 2007, Judge Kent asked for and was granted an interview with Federal Bureau of Investigation law enforcement agents. During the voluntary interview that he had requested, he was asked about his alleged conduct and repeated the same material false statements that he made to the Fifth Circuit. In August 2008, Judge Kent through his attorney asked for a meeting at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C. At this meeting, he sat down with his attorney, an FBI agent, and representatives from the Department of Justice. Judge Kent again made material false and misleading statements about the nature and extent of his non-consensual sexual contact with Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson. Intimidated by Judge Kent and worried about losing her job, Ms. Wilkerson was not initially candid with investigators and law enforcement when questioned about Judge Kent's conduct towards her. In fact, it was not until her third grand jury appearance, that Ms. Wilkerson was willing to reveal the full extent of sexual assaults she endured from Judge Kent. On August 28, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Judge Kent with two counts of abusive sexual contact against Ms. McBroom, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2244(b), and one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse against Ms. McBroom, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2241(a)(1). On January 6, 2009, the grand jury issued a superseding indictment that re-alleged the three counts involving Ms. McBroom and added three additional counts. Count four charged aggravated sexual abuse against Ms. Wilkerson in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2241(a)(1), a crime punishable by up to life in prison. Count five charged abusive sexual contact against Ms. McBroom in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2244(b). Finally, the superseding indictment charged Judge Kent with Obstruction of Justice for corruptly obstructing, influencing, and impeding an official proceeding by making false statements to the Special Investigative Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit regarding his unwanted sexual contact with Ms. Wilkerson. On February 23, 2009, the day his criminal trial was set to begin, Judge Kent pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Judge Kent knowingly, voluntarily, and truthfully admitted having nonconsensual sexual contact with both women, and obstructing justice by testifying otherwise before the Fifth Circuit Investigative Committee. On May 11, 2009, Judge Kent was sentenced to a term of 33 months in prison and ordered to pay fines and restitution to Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson. Judge Kent began his term of incarceration on June 15th, this past Monday. The day after his sentencing, the House of Representatives directed the House Judiciary Committee Impeachment Task Force to inquire whether Judge Kent should be impeached. On June 3, 2009, the Task Force on Judicial Impeachment held an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Judge Kent's conduct provides a sufficient basis for impeachment and to develop a record upon which to recommend Articles of Impeachment to the House Judiciary Committee. The Task Force received testimony from Ms. McBroom, Ms. Wilkerson, and Professor Arthur Hellman, a judicial impeachment scholar from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson both testified that they were sexually assaulted by Judge Kent on a number of occasions, and detailed several of these incidents for the Task Force. Professor Hellman provided expert testimony that concluded that making false statements to fellow judges, as well as abusing his power as a federal judge to sexually assault women, were independent grounds that would justify and warrant Judge Kent's impeachment and removal from office. The Task Force invited Judge Kent to testify, but he declined our offer. The Task Force received correspondence from Judge Kent that was made available to all Members and entered into the record. The Task Force also invited Judge Kent's counsel to participate in the hearing and present arguments on behalf of his client, as well as to provide the opportunity to question any of the witnesses. Judge Kent's counsel also declined to appear or participate in the hearing. Subsequently, Judge Kent's counsel sent a letter to the Committee. The letter questioned the veracity of the two women, citing an anonymous caller at length and claiming there are other witnesses who contradict the two women. The letter also made the extraordinary admission that their testimony was unnecessary because, quoting from the letter, ``Judge Kent's guilty plea to the felony of Obstruction presents sufficient grounds for impeachment.'' The Task Force also received a letter from Judge Kent to the White House, dated June 2, 2009, stating his intention to resign effective June 1, 2010, a year from now. Neither his surrender to custody, nor his stated intention to resign a year from now, affect his current status as a federal judge or our constitutional obligation to determine whether impeachment is warranted. Article III, Section 1 provides that ``The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.'' Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution provides that ``all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.'' Our proceeding today does not constitute a trial, as the constitutional power to try impeachment resides in the Senate. Rather, the House's role is to inquire whether Judge Kent's conduct provides a sufficient basis for impeachment. According to leading commentators and historical precedent on this issue, there are two broad categories of conduct that have been recognized as justifying impeachment: serious abuse of power, and conduct that demonstrates that an official is ``unworthy to fill'' the office that he or she holds. The House Report accompanying the 1989 Resolution to Impeach Judge Walter Nixon summarized historical precedents that inform the meaning of the term ``high crimes and misdemeanors'' stating that, ``Congress has repeatedly defined `other high crimes and misdemeanors' to be serious violations of the public trust, not necessarily indictable offenses under criminal laws. Of course, in some circumstances the conduct at issue . . . constituted conduct warranting both punishment under the criminal laws and impeachment.'' The Report concluded, ``When a judge's conduct calls into question his or her integrity or impartiality, Congress must consider whether impeachment and removal of the judge from office is necessary to protect the integrity of the judicial branch and uphold the public trust.'' Earlier this month, the Judicial Conference of the United States unanimously transmitted a Certificate to the House of Representatives, certifying to the House its determination that consideration of impeachment of Judge Kent may be warranted. The certificate concludes that ``Judge Kent's conduct and felony conviction . . . have brought disrepute to the Judiciary.'' After concluding that the full record establishes that Judge Kent should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, the House Judiciary Impeachment Task Force met on June 9th and unanimously voted in favor of recommending four Articles of Impeachment for consideration by the House Judiciary Committee. These four Articles were subsequently introduced in the House in the form of House Resolution 520. Article I focuses on Judge Kent's sexual assault of Ms. McBroom. Article II Article focuses on Judge Kent's sexual assault of Ms. Wilkerson. Article III focuses on Judge Kent's obstruction of justice by making false statements during an official proceeding of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding his unwanted sexual contact with Donna Wilkerson. Article IV focuses on Judge Kent's material false and misleading statements about the nature and extent of his non-consensual sexual contact with both women to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to representatives of the Department of Justice on two separate occasions. On June 10th, the House Judiciary Committee ordered H. Res. 520 favorably reported by a roll call vote of 29-0. Judge Kent, incident to his position as a U.S. district court judge, engaged in deplorable conduct with respect to employees associated with the court. Such conduct is incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him as a judge. In particular, the record demonstrates that Judge Kent sexually assaulted two women who were both employees of the court. Furthermore, Judge Kent corruptly obstructed, influenced, or impeded an official proceeding when he made false statements to the Special Investigative Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Finally, the record demonstrates that Judge Kent made material false and misleading statements about the nature and extent of his non- consensual sexual contact with Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to representatives of the Department of Justice. These acts of sexual assault and obstruction of justice are, as the judge who sentenced Mr. Kent to incarceration stated, ``a stain on the justice system itself.'' Were the House of Representatives to sit idly by and allow Mr. Kent to continue to hold the office of U.S. District Judge while sitting in prison, and after committing such high crimes and misdemeanors, it would be a stain on the Congress as well. Judge Kent's conduct was a disgrace to the bench. That he would still cling to the bench from the confines of his prison cell, and ask the public whose trust he has already betrayed to continue paying his salary, demonstrates how little regard he has for the institution he was to supposed serve. I urge the House to approve each of the four Articles of Impeachment set out in House Resolution 520.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for legislation recognizing the Women Air Service Pilots with a Congressional Gold Medal. These brave women served the nation at a pivotal moment in our history. I'm proud that we in Congress have finally commended them for their pioneering spirit and selfless dedication during World War II. The Women Air Service Pilots, commonly known as WASP, were the first women in history authorized to fly American military aircraft. These courageous women volunteered to fly noncombat missions so that every available male pilot could be deployed into combat, contributing to the successful completion of U.S. Air force missions in the South Pacific and on the Western Front. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, WASPs used their well-honed skills to dutifully service military aircraft, providing the U.S. Army Air force with a invaluable assistance. Thanks to their rigorous training, by 1944 the WASP had flown every aircraft in the army's inventory-- including P-59 jet fighters. The WASP flew searchlight tracking missions, ferried and tested planes, performed flight checks, towed targets for anti-aircraft gunnery practice, and instructed male pilot cadets, in addition to performing several other valuable tasks. While more than 25,000 women applied for WASP training, only 1,879 candidates were accepted. Of these, only 1,074 successfully completed the grueling program at Avenger Field, the nation's largest all-female air base. Though WASP participants underwent the same vigorous training as male cadets, these dedicated individuals were refused recognition as a women's service within the U.S. Army Air Force and were denied veterans' benefits for over 30 years, finally gaining full recognition in 1977. I'm honored to represent five former Women Air Service Pilots who reside in my Congressional District: Eileen W. Ferguson, Geraldine F. Olinger, Alyce S. Rohrer, Margaret M. Weiss, and Lillian G. Wray. These pioneering women answered the call of duty with enthusiasm and vigor, offering their great skills in service of our nation. I thank you for your service and congratulate you on your long overdue honor.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to express my strong support for the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriation bill and at the outset want to congratulate Chairman Mollohan for the extraordinary job that he has done in putting this bill together. In particular, I want to highlight a couple of key investments in the bill in the areas of law enforcement and science. In particular, we invest over $800 million in the COPS program that has been very successful in putting additional cops on the beat and deterring criminal activity and keeping our communities safe. That is a vital investment. The legislation also makes a very important investment to those of us that live in the border States in a program called SCAP, which provides assistance to States that have to incarcerate illegal immigrants and bear the costs of flaws in our Federal immigration policy. Furthermore, the bill makes a very key investment, very substantial investments in DNA technology and backlog reduction. To the degree we can eliminate backlogs of DNA evidence, we can take murderers and rapists off the streets. Of this there is no question: you can tell from a statistical certainty that when you reduce backlogs, you take murderers and rapists off the streets and prevent them from committing further offenses. This is another key investment. And, finally, let me speak to a science investment in the bill which I think is also very important and that is this legislation keeps some of our most important space science efforts, like the Mars program, on track, which has brought us new, unprecedented information about the world we live in that has led to scientific improvements and innovation here on the ground and is a vital investment in our Nation's future. So I want to thank you, Chairman Mollohan, for your extraordinary work on this bill, for the key investments in law enforcement and science, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Fred Lowe for his extraordinary work and leadership as Business Manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 777. Fred Lowe was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in California's San Fernando Valley where, in 1966, he graduated from North Hollywood High School. Mr. Lowe began his career as a freelance journalist in the early 1970s while actively participating in the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. He became involved in the Labor Movement in 1976 while employed as a warehouse worker at a General Electric plant in San Jose, California. As a Shop Steward at General Electric, he helped organize his coworkers into Local 6 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Fred continued on to serve several unions, organizing and representing workers in both the public and private sector. He worked with individuals in skilled trades and service industries, as well as university professors and administrative and clerical workers. In the mid 1980s, he became involved in the Sanctuary Movement for refugees fleeing war and political oppression in El Salvador and Guatemala. In 1994, Fred Lowe served as an international observer to El Salvador's first democratic election. By the mid 1990s, he returned to union organizing, finding his home within the Laborers' International Union of North America (L.I.U.N.A.). Working with the union's Organizing Department in 1996, Fred played an important role in managing a historic election of 5,200 Riverside County employees. With his leadership, L.I.U.N.A. gained its largest public sector organizing victory in the union's history. Shortly after the win, the union became known as L.I.U.N.A., Local 777. Under Mr. Lowe's exceptional leadership as Business Manager, Local 777 has grown to represent over 8,000 members throughout both Riverside and Los Angeles counties. His determined efforts have shaped Local 777 into an outstanding example of political activism, helping to elect public officials who serve the needs of labor. For more than 30 years, Fred Lowe has worked as an effective advocate for laborers' rights in Southern California and has been instrumental in working toward equitable employee relations in Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. Fred and his wife Karen have three children, Luisa, Sonya, and Michael Scott. On June 30, 2009, Mr. Lowe will retire from his position as Business Manager of L.I.U.N.A., Local 777. It is my great pleasure to recognize the extraordinary dedication and achievements of Mr. Fred Lowe and I ask all Members of Congress to join me in thanking him for his service.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend the Foreign Affairs Committee for all their hard work on the Foreign Relations Authorization Act and thank Chairman Berman for his support and his staff for working with me to include the Daniel Pearl Act as a part of this legislation. By incorporating the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, the committee brings much-needed attention to a critical human rights issue. This legislation calls upon the Secretary of State to greatly expand its examination of the status of freedom in the press worldwide in the State Department's Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The Daniel Pearl Act requires the State Department to identify countries in which there were violations of freedom of the press and whether the government of those countries participate in, facilitate, or condone the violations. This report will spotlight those governments which seek to silence media opposition. The Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act also establishes a grant program aimed at broadening and strengthening media independence internationally. Grant recipients will provide regionally and culturally relevant training to journalists and media organizations to help them meet international standards. Again, I thank the chairman for his leadership on human rights issues and his support of the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and accomplishments of the popular Singing Cowboy and actor, Monte Hale, who passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2009, at the age of 89. His career as an entertainer spanned over 60 years in the industry making Westerns and singing country tunes. Born Samuel Buren Ely in Ada, Oklahoma, Monte moving to San Angelo, Texas at an early age. He bought his first guitar for $8.50 at the age of thirteen and launched his musical career performing at various clubs around the State. It was during his performance at a War Bond Rally that Phillip Isley discovered him and soon the handsome, talented young man was headed to Hollywood for a screen test. He hitchhiked all the way, stopping at a gasoline station around the corner from the studio, just long enough to wash his face and comb his hair before making his appearance. Monte's screen test was so impressive that he was immediately signed to star in ``The Big Bonanza'' with Richard Arlen. Shortly after he was signed to a 7-year contract with Republic where he was groomed up with films starring Wild Bill Elliott, Sunset Carson, and such fare as ``Steppin in Society'' (1945) with Everett Horton. Around this time the executives at Republic were looking for someone to test a new color film and they decided to team Monte with Adrian Booth in the Magnicolor ``Home On The Range'' (1946), thus making Monte Hale Republic's first western star in a color series. Monte went on to star in 19 of his own films. Monte was tall and handsome and possessed an excellent voice. With this in mind, Republic put his voice and his songwriting talents to work in the westerns. Not considered true musical westerns like those of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, Monte's films were mainly dramas in which he stopped to sing a song now and then. He became one of Republic's most popular and respected singing cowboys. Hale made a significant splash in the international comic book market of the era. Six Monte Hale series of the dime picture books were published in 27 languages and over two million copies per month were sold. After his departure from Republic, Monte went on to do guest starring roles on such TV series as ``Gunsmoke,'' ``Wild Bill Hickock,'' and ``Circus Boy.'' He was a member of the panel on ``Juke Box Jury'' and appeared on the ``Western Star Theatre'' radio program. In addition he continued his work in films, most notably as Rock Hudson's attorney in ``Giant'' (1956) and in ``Chase'' (1966) with Marlon Brando. Off the screen, his most lasting contribution was helping to establish the Autry museum. Monte and his wife Joanne were co-founders of the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum and served as members of the board of directors and have since the inception of the museum which is now part of the Autry National Center as the Museum of the American West. Hale made other contributions to the museum after its 1988 opening by greeting guests and enabling them to chat with a real, live singing cowboy. He also started encouraging fellow cowboy stars to contribute their signature memorabilia for permanent display in the museum's movie gallery. He donated his own white hat, guns, gun belt and other prized treasures--then rounded up more contributions, including Chuck Connors' shirt from ``The Rifleman'' TV series, Buffalo Bill's saddle and a Lone Ranger outfit. A permanent exhibit dedicated to Monte Hale's career is located in the Museum of the American West's Spirit of Imagination Gallery. In 2004, Monte was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures. His work for the Autry National Center of the American West and his legacy as an entertainer will not be forgotten.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of this legislation granting the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, commonly known as the Go For Broke regiments, for their dedicated service to our Nation during World War II. It is an honor and a pleasure to offer a humble contribution to this storied and inspirational group of men who answered their country's call in the face of tremendous adversity. Today we pay tribute to these regiments who served our Nation at great risk and to those who sacrificed all for our freedom. These men served the Nation at a pivotal moment in our history, displaying their heroism and courage on two fronts, abroad in the fight against fascism and at home against the intolerance of racial injustice. The bombing of Pearl Harbor incited doubts in many Americans about the loyalty of Japanese Americans. These men who enlisted to protect our Nation were faced with segregated training conditions, families and friends relocated to internment camps, and repeated questions about their combat ability. To answer the call of duty requires exceptional courage and sacrifice. To respond with a vigor and persistence unaffected by those who sought to malign and impede their every achievement reveals an incredible spirit and admirable will. At a time when they could have easily turned their backs on the country that had sent their families to internment camps, these men chose instead to serve and to inspire, carrying the burden of knowing that at every step through successful missions and failures they would be judged not simply on effort or ability but also by the color of their skin. These men created a shining example of patriotism, courage and skill. The story of the Japanese American regiments begins 6 weeks after December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy. Inspired by a growing hysteria and xenophobia in late January 1942, the U.S. Army discharged all Japanese Americans in the Reserve Officer Training Corps and made them ineligible for the draft. Similarly, Japanese Americans in the military on the mainland were segregated out of their units. Following President Roosevelt's issuance of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens from Japan, on May 3, 1942, General John L. DeWitt issued Civilian Exclusion Order No. 346, ordering all people of Japanese ancestry, whether citizens or noncitizens, to report to assembly centers where they would live until being moved to permanent relocation centers. In June of 1942, 1,432 predominantly Nisei, that is second-generation Americans of Japanese ancestry, members of the Hawaii Provisional Infantry Battalion were shipped from the Hawaiian Islands to Oakland, California, where the 100th Infantry Battalion was activated on June 12, 1942, and then shipped to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin for training. Thanks to the excellent training record of the 100th Infantry Battalion, petitions from prominent civilian and military personnel helped convince President Roosevelt and the war department to reopen military service to Nisei volunteers. In early 1943 the 100th Infantry Battalion was transferred to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where it trained with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Though the combat team was ready to deploy shortly thereafter, the battalion was refused by General Eisenhower due to lingering concerns over the loyalty and patriotism of the Nisei. Eventually their exemplary training record convinced the naysayers, and the 100th Infantry Battalion was deployed to the Mediterranean where they entered combat in Italy on September 26, 1943. Due to their bravery and valor, members of the battalion were honored with six awards of the Distinguished Service Cross in the first 8 weeks of combat. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team arrived in Italy in June of 1944 where the 100th Infantry Battalion was formally integrated as a part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. As a unit, these regiments fought for the last 11 months of the war with selfless distinction in Italy, southern France and Germany, earning the nickname the Go For Broke regiments. These regiments went on to earn several awards for their distinctive service in combat including, as we have heard from my colleague, seven Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier's Medals and over 4,000 Purple Hearts, among numerous additional distinctions. For their size and their length of service, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were the most decorated U.S. military units of the war. Their performance in combat revealed their ability as remarkable soldiers. But their poise, courage and patriotism showed also they were very remarkable men. They looked to support from their interned family, friends and communities. And in turn, their service and commitment inspired those supporters back home to pursue new-found aspirations of their own. The Go For Broke regiments were not the only servicemen of Asian Pacific-Islander dissent to serve in World War II. Today we also recognize those groups who faced similarly daunting conditions at home and abroad. The Military Intelligence Service, the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, the 1399th Combat Engineer Company, the Women's Army Corps, the Filipino Scouts and other heralded units. The Go For Broke and other Japanese American brave men and women who have served deserve our continual rededication and appreciation. The debt we owe them is immeasurable. Without their service, our country would surely not shine so brightly, stand so boldly or live so freely. As our Nation endures these trying times, we can look to the example of the Go For Broke regiments to provide us with courage in the future. These men left the segregated country to fight, and unfortunately they returned to one. They defended America with no guarantee that their own freedom would be defended in return. Their true heroism lies in how they fought for the values of America, equality, justice, and opportunity, even when those values were not fully extended to them. We will continue to look towards their example to provide hope to our communities, to look past our differences and to unite around our common bonds. Men and women are able to serve their country today without regard to ethnicity, race or nationality because of what these men endured and accomplished. Please join me in honoring these courageous men by supporting the granting of a Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the U.S. Army's 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Last week marked the 30th anniversary of the first ever Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, made possible by a joint resolution signed by President Jimmy Carter. I am proud to represent one of the most diverse congressional districts in the country. One in four of my constituents is of Asian Pacific heritage--many of whom are of Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese descent. The 29th Congressional District boasts of an impressive list of Asian Pacific American civic leaders who are strongly committed to this community. John Chiang, serving California as Controller, is the highest-ranking Asian Pacific American elected state official. Also, as one of California's twelve constitutional officers, Judy Chu serves as Vice Chair of the California State Board of Equalization. Other state officials include State Senator Carol Liu and Assembly Member Mike Eng. On the local level, we have Alhambra Council Members Stephen Sham and Gary Yamauchi; Alhambra Unified School Board Members Chester Chau and Robert ``Bob'' Gin; Garvey School Board Members Janet Chin, Henry Lo, and John Yuen; Monterey Park Mayor Mitchell Ing and Council Members David Lau, Betty Tom Chu, and Anthony Wong; San Gabriel Council Member Albert Huang; South Pasadena Council Member Mike Ten; South Pasadena Unified School Board Member Joseph Loo; Temple City Mayor Judy Wong and Council Member Vincent Yu; and Temple City Unified School Board Member Janet Rhee. During the 110th Congress, I had the distinct honor of introducing legislation to pay tribute to the former Mayor of San Gabriel, Chi Mui, by posthumously naming the San Gabriel Post Office in his honor. Chi was the first Chinese American mayor in San Gabriel, a city where close to half of the population is Asian American. The bill was signed into law on August 12, 2008 and the post office was dedicated on October 25, 2008, one day before Chi's fifty-sixth birthday, making this the third post office in the nation to be named after a Chinese American. In addition, to commemorate Women's History Month earlier this year, I had the privilege of naming Melinda Hsia and Yin Yin Huang Women of the Year in the 29th Congressional District. They are truly exceptional women who have improved the quality of life for our community. The contributions of Asian Americans to our country is not limited to the above-mentioned individuals. Our Nation has benefited from the contributions of Asian Americans for decades. The Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, commonly known as the ``Go For Broke'' regiments, courageously served our nation during World War II and earned several awards for their distinctive service in combat. Earlier this year, I introduced legislation to pay tribute to the ``Go For Broke'' regiment by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor. This past April marked the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. It has been three decades since the United States and Taiwan codified their commercial and cultural relations and a great number of my constituents have benefited greatly from this action. I also recently had the pleasure of participating in the Committee of 100 19th Annual Conference--a forum to address issues regarding U.S.-China relations and issues of importance to the Chinese American community. Americans of Asian descent are one of the fastest growing minority groups in the nation. I am positive that in the years to come, we will be adding many more names to the growing list of civic leaders and many more distinctions to their list of accomplishments. I am truly honored to represent the many extraordinary men and women in my district and commend their selfless dedication and service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, Sunday, May 3, was World Press Freedom Day. Three years ago, in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day, Congressman Mike Pence, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator Dick Lugar, and I established the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press. Since then, this bipartisan, bicameral caucus has sought to highlight the importance of free expression around the world. The caucus is a forum where Members of Congress can come together to combat and condemn media censorship and the persecution of journalists worldwide. Our caucus works to send a strong message that Congress will defend democratic values and human rights wherever they are threatened. We have hosted panel discussions with press freedom experts, journalists, and victims of press freedom crimes; written to leaders of countries which jail journalists, impose censorship, and allow harassment, attacks, and threats to occur with impunity. We have spoken out here on the House floor and in the media to call for reforms in countries that seek to censor freedom of speech and expression. Just recently, Representative Pence and I introduced the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, H.R. 1861. This bill is named in honor of former Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan just 4 months after the September 11 attacks. This legislation will establish annual State Department reports on the status of press freedom in every country in the world and create a grant program aimed at broadening and strengthening the independence of journalists and media organizations. Our government must promote freedom of the press by putting on center stage those countries in which journalists are killed, imprisoned, kidnapped, threatened, censored--and this will do just that. A free and independent media provides the nourishment for democracies to thrive and grow. Citizens rely upon credible, accurate information from the media to make informed decisions and hold their leaders accountable. Information is power, which is precisely why many governments attempt to control the press to suppress opposition and preempt dissent. Far too often, the reporters and editors who demand reform, accountability, and transparency find themselves at risk. The censorship, intimidation, imprisonment, and murder of these journalists are not only crimes against these individuals, but they also impact those who are denied access to their ideas and information. In 2008, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 41 journalists were killed in connection with their work. Another 125 were falsely imprisoned for their reporting. Unfortunately, 2009 is shaping up to be a similarly dangerous year, having already seen 11 journalists murdered. For Americans, this should spur us to consider the role that journalists play in our society and to ponder what our Nation would be like if this cornerstone of our liberty were to be curtailed. Many Americans take the concept of a free press for granted and don't realize that an unfettered press is vital to America's national security and to our democracy here at home. But much of the world's population is not as fortunate as we are when it comes to access to independent news. Recent national news accounts have highlighted American journalists being detained on trumped-up charges in Iran and North Korea. However, there are dozens of cases like these across the globe that don't get attention. That is why each year, as co-Chairs of the caucus, we host a Special Order hour to highlight countries whose abuses of press freedom are particularly egregious. In 2007, we focused on Russia, profiling the 18 journalists murdered in Russia during the administration of Vladimir Putin. Last year, we focused on China and its incarceration of more journalists than any other country. Later this month, we will host another Special Order hour where we will focus on growing press freedom abuses in Sri Lanka. Threats, attacks, imprisonment, and murders of journalists are becoming all too common in Sri Lanka. This week is a particularly noteworthy week for press freedom in Sri Lanka. J.S. Tissainayagam, a contributor and editor for a number of print and online publications, will stand trial on Wednesday, and he faces a possible 20-year sentence if he is convicted. He is being prosecuted for allegedly inciting communal disharmony related to articles that he wrote as early as in 2006. In March of 2008, J.S. was arrested under emergency regulations and held without habeas corpus for more than 5 months before being charged. His trial is set to resume on May 6, but it is our hope the Sri Lankan government will drop these baseless charges and release J.S. before the trial resumes. So today, Madam Speaker, we recognize World Press Freedom Day and call on nations like Sri Lanka to stop the persecution of innocent journalists. We use this day as an occasion to pay tribute to journalists and to reflect upon their role in advancing fundamental human rights. I want to thank all journalists around the world, especially those who work in harm's way, for doing all they do to foster democracy and promote freedom. Your work does not go unrecognized, and we appreciate your dedication to this noble profession.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, on the occasion of her recognition as a ``Person of the Century'' by the Rotary Club of Los Angeles in celebration of their Centennial year. In a year where we witnessed the first African-American assume the Office of the President of the United States, it is especially appropriate to honor a woman who shattered the marble ceiling of the United States Supreme Court some 28 years ago and served as an important role model for so many in this Nation. Born in El Paso, Texas in 1930, Sandra Day O'Connor spent several of her early years growing up on her family's ranch in Arizona. Later, in 1950, she graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in economics, followed by a juris doctorate in 1952. In 1952, she married John Jay O'Connor, Ill, and they have three sons. After working for a time in both California and Germany, Sandra Day O'Connor again took up residence in the state of Arizona. In Arizona, O'Connor held positions in both law and politics, working as an Assistant Attorney General and serving in the State Senate, appointed by the Governor to fill a vacancy. After twice winning reelection to the State Senate, she ran for the position of Judge in the Maricopa County Superior Court of Arizona in 1974. While a judge she gained a reputation for being firm but just, and she would later be appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals. In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor made history after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan for the position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. She received unanimous Senate approval, becoming the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. During her tenure on the Court, Justice O'Connor gained a reputation for approaching each case with an open mind and for seeking out practical solutions to complex legal issues. Her pragmatic and centrist approach had an important moderating influence on the Court, and her independent philosophy had an important impact on a number of seminal cases. In 2006, Justice O'Connor retired after serving over 24 years on the Court. Justice O'Connor and I have a shared belief in the need for an independent judiciary and a shared desire to improve relations between our branches of government. As founder and Co-Chair of he Congressional Caucus on the Judicial Branch, I had the distinct pleasure of hosting Justice O'Connor in the U.S. Capitol, just before her retirement, for an event designed to jointly promote these common goals. I consider it an honor to recognize Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and ask my colleagues to join me in commending her on the occasion of her recognition as a Rotary Club of Los Angeles ``Person of the Century.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, the Los Angeles basin holds one of the greatest concentrations of humanity in the world. People have come from all over the Earth to live there--when one walks down a street in Glendale or Alhambra one can hear a language from ten thousand miles away on one block and read signs in a vastly different language on the next. But if you look up a little higher, above the signs and above the buildings, you'll see gray-green mountains looking down on it all. In my district, we're right up against the Verdugo, Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains, and they surprise you all the time, appearing at street corners from behind the buildings, playing hide-and-seek with intervening hills and highways. Though few of my constituents live up there, I try to get up into the hills as often as I can, and I'm often surprised by how many of my neighbors I run into on the trail. I think that, like me, they wander in the chaparral and oak forests to get away for a while, and find some perspective in the process. Among the families, teenagers and retirees I pass, I see all of the cultures I know from the streets of my district, all enjoying the fact that they can find some peace and quiet just a few minutes away from one of the largest cities in the world. Our green spaces play an irreplaceable role in our communities, and on this Earth Day, I would like to celebrate them. This is a day to think globally, but it is also a day to act locally, by taking your family to the park and exploring all that you find there. In the words of John Muir, ``When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, the Los Angeles basin holds one of the greatest concentrations of humanity in the world. People have come from all over the Earth to live there--when one walks down a street in Glendale or Alhambra one can hear a language from ten thousand miles away on one block and read signs in a vastly different language on the next. But if you look up a little higher, above the signs and above the buildings, you'll see grey-green mountains looking down on it all. In my district, we're right up against the Verdugo, Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains, and they surprise you all the time, appearing at street corners from behind the buildings, playing hide-and-seek with intervening hills and highways. Though few of my constituents live up there, I try to get up into the hills as often as I can, and I'm often surprised by how many of my neighbors I run into on the trail. I think that, like me, they wander in the chaparral and oak forests to get away for a while, and find some perspective in the process. Among the families, teenagers and retirees I pass, I see all of the cultures I know from the streets of my district, all enjoying the fact that they can find some peace and quiet just a few minutes away from one of the largest cities in the world. Our green spaces play an irreplaceable role in our communities, and on this Earth Day, I would like to celebrate them. This is a day to think globally, but it is also a day to act locally, by taking your family to the park and exploring all that you find there. In the words of John Muir, ``When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, at ten o'clock this morning, the nation of Israel observed two minutes of silence in observance of Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. For those two minutes, all activity in the country ceased to honor of the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis during the madness of the Final Solution. For Israelis, the Holocaust remains the crucible that produced their state and its impact is felt daily across Israeli society--from politics to the arts. Here in the United States, the Holocaust is more remote. The GIs who helped to liberate the Nazi death camps more than six decades ago are fading into history and the grainy black and white footage of the victims images that stunned the world in the 1940s--now seem distant to many Americans. For Israelis, though, the Holocaust serves as an omnipresent reminder of the historical insecurity of the Jewish people for whom persecution and exile have characterized two millennia of wandering from their ancient homeland. Coupled with Israel's mainly hostile and fundamentally unstable neighbors, the memory of Hitler's attempt to exterminate European Jewry has served to make Israelis extraordinarily vigilant in the face of constant security threats. Israeli security analysts have focused their concern in recent years on Iran, which they see as the most critical existential threat to the Jewish state. Through its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, Tehran has taken up positions along Israel's borders and its proxies have repaid their Iranian masters handsomely by provoking large-scale military actions by Israel in 2006 and December of last year. Through its relentless pursuit of the nuclear fuel cycle, Iran's radical regime seeks to dominate the region and to erect a permanent threat to Israel's security and the Israeli people. Through its statements and the virulence of state-controlled media, Iranian leaders, particularly President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are clearly fixated on the demonization and destruction of Israel. Just yesterday, the Iranian president sparked a walkout at a United Nations racism conference in Geneva when he launched into a rambling rant against Israel and Jews. The prospect of Ahmadinejad with nuclear weapons is one that keeps many Israelis up at night and should be keeping many of us awake as well. Given the potential consequences, the United States must make the prevention of Iran developing the bomb a cornerstone of both its strategy for the Middle East and its nonproliferation agenda. To do otherwise would place Israel in Iran's nuclear crosshairs and likely spur a regional arms race as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates could seek to match any Iranian nuclear weapons capability. I support President Obama's decision to reach out to Tehran and I believe that tough, concerted diplomacy can be effective in getting the Iranian government to reassess its nuclear policy. But to be effective, that diplomacy must include a wide range of both inducements and disincentives. And it must take into account the character and nature of the current Iranian regime. And, finally, those charged with executing the policy must be willing to consider other alternatives should diplomacy fail. Tehran's current declared enrichment activities at its Natanz facility are subject to regular inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which should be able to spot diversion or any attempt to produce weapons grade material before it can be turned into a weapon. As long as the IAEA can maintain its surveillance of the Natanz facility, any Iranian intention to produce weapons-grade material there is likely to be frustrated. What concerns many senior officials in Israel, here in the United States and in Europe, is the possibility that Iran, which continues to withhold a lot of information about its nuclear program, may have a parallel, secret nuclear program that is beyond the reach of the IAEA and western intelligence monitoring. As David Albright, the President of the Institute for Science and International Security, told the Financial Times last week, aside from Natanz ``we don't know anything about what they are doing, how many centrifuges they have made, or whether they are ready to go with a duplicate facility that would allow them to produce fissile material.'' The juxtaposition of renewed diplomatic overtures and the unease over the extent of what we do not know about Iran's capabilities or its intentions, may strengthen our hand with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, who are working to produce a collective response to the Iranian nuclear challenge. If our international partners perceive a new American willingness to explore seriously the prospect for a negotiated resolution to the Iran problem, they may also be ready to consider the more robust coercive measures that may become necessary if Iran is shown to be pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. International cohesion will be absolutely vital if we are to resolve this standoff without resorting to force. Tehran has been adroit at exploiting differences between the United States and its international partners, some of whom have been unwilling to consider the possibility that President Ahmadinejad's vitriol is not merely intended for domestic consumption but is a real reflection of his murderous intentions. This could prove a tragic mistake. Seventy-five years ago, Europeans, Americans and even many German Jews dismissed Hitler's threats against the Jews as political posturing. How could Germany, a nation with a rich and distinguished culture, whose cities embodied the best of cosmopolitan Europe, follow a depraved Austrian corporal into the depths of hatred? Humanity paid an enormous price for its passivity and the world pledged ``never again.'' We may now be faced with a similar threat from another society with a rich culture going back thousands of years and a sophisticated citizenry. Do we dismiss Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a hate-filled demagogue, or do we take his threats seriously? All of us--Americans, Israelis, Europeans and Russians--would be well advised to remember the past, even as we work towards what we hope will be a safer tomorrow.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, to celebrate the 45-year transportation career of Roger Snoble, who will retire on April 8, 2009. Roger Snoble, and his wife Kit, reside in Pasadena, CA in the 29th Congressional District and he worked at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the past eight years, located in the 34th Congressional District. Over the past 45 years, Roger has applied tremendous skill and leadership to create better public transportation systems for all of his communities. As a result, he has distinguished himself as one of the Nation's foremost experts and practitioners in the transportation sector. He began his transportation career in 1965 as a planner for the TriCounty Regional Planning Commission in Akron, Ohio. He then moved on to work for Akron's Metro Transit district in 1971. And in 1973, Roger moved to California and worked his way through the ranks of planning and scheduling to be the President and General Manager of the San Diego Transit Corporation. Always wanting to challenge himself, Roger went on to serve as President and Executive Director of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit District (DART) for seven and a half years. In 2001, Roger was appointed to serve as Chief Executive Officer for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), a multimodal transportation agency responsible for bus and rail operations, planning and construction in Los Angeles County. During his seven and a half years at Metro, Roger has guided the agency through successful openings of the Metro Gold and Orange Lines, introduced scores of popular Metro Rapid Lines, and seen Metro named ``America's best large transit agency.'' He also co-founded the Mobility-21 Coalition and was instrumental in the passage of Measure R, a \1/2\ cent sales tax that will fund a comprehensive package of new transit, street and highway improvements in Los Angeles County for the next 30 years. Roger has won numerous awards throughout his transportation career. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) named Snoble ``Transit Manager of the Year'' in 1998. Under his leadership, Metro was named by APTA as ``Outstanding Public Transportation System'' in 2006, and DART was cited by APTA as the ``Transit Agency of the Year'' in 1997. Although we know Roger primarily through his role in transportation, Roger and his wife, Kit, are founding members of the African Conservation Fund, which assists communities in the East Africa in creating economic opportunities that result in improved wildlife management and wealthier and healthier communities. In addition, Roger has served on the boards of the San Diego Zoo, Dallas Zoological Association and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. He recently joined the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, CA. Through these experiences, Roger has a vast photojournal library that will continue to expand in his retirement as he leads safaris to educate communities about the importance of conservation as well as economic development opportunities in surrounding areas. He also has extended his photojournalist editing skills to many local non-profits as another example of his passion to help others. We extend our warm congratulations and appreciation to Roger and his wife Kit for Roger's tireless service to the public transportation communities in Akron, OH, San Diego, CA, Dallas, Texas and Los Angeles County and wish him well in retirement.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009''--legislation to highlight and promote freedom of the press worldwide. In early 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan, just four months after 9/11. Lured from his apartment, Daniel was on his way to interview a Muslim fundamentalist when he was captured. Just two days before his abduction, Daniel had learned that his wife Mariane was expecting a baby boy. Although four of the kidnappers were convicted in July of 2002, seven other suspects, including those who allegedly helped murder Daniel Pearl, remain at large. Despite international outrage over this brutal murder, freedom of the press has continued to decline on a global scale. In 2006, Anna Politkovskaya, one of Russia's most prominent journalists, was shot dead in her apartment building. The investigative journalist, well known for her critical reports of the Kremlin's actions in Chechnya, is widely believed to be the victim of a politically motivated contract killing. Anna Politkovskaya was the 13th Russian journalist murdered during President Vladimir Putin's administration. One month ago, a jury in Moscow acquitted three men charged with her murder. Just two weeks ago, on March 17th, 2009, two American journalists were detained by the North Korean authorities while reporting on the plight of North Korean refugees in China. North Korea has accused the reporters of illegally entering North Korea from China and has stated the journalists will be indicted and tried for suspected hostile acts. Acts of violence against journalists continue to rise in frequency, with very few of the attacks resulting in prosecution. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2008 at least 41 journalists were killed in connection with their work, and 125 were imprisoned. As the level of violence directed at the press continues to rise, so too does the side effect of self-censorship. Legal mechanisms are also increasingly being used to restrict the media, both through overt censorship and through the use of laws that forbid ``endangering national security'' or ``inciting hatred'' by commenting on sensitive or anti-government topics. Freedom of expression cannot exist where journalists and the media are not independent and safe from persecution and attack. Our government must promote freedom of the press by putting on center stage those countries in which journalists are killed, imprisoned, kidnapped, threatened, or censored. Therefore, together with my colleague Congressman Pence, I am introducing legislation which calls upon the Secretary of State to submit an annual report of on the status of freedom of the press worldwide, bringing attention to those governments, extremists, and criminal groups which seek to silence opposition. To further this effort, my legislation also establishes a grant program aimed at broadening and strengthening the independence of journalists and media organizations. Too often media assistance programs are short-term, ranging from one year projects to weekend workshops, and are buried as a second thought under broader human rights programs. The Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 will give prominence to freedom of the press projects within the State Department, and ensure a long-term, holistic approach to journalist and media development. Please join me in this effort to promote freedom of the press worldwide.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just wanted to thank my colleague, Mr. McCaul, for his help when he was chairing the subcommittee and the improvements that he made to the bill. I wanted to acknowledge and appreciate all your efforts.

Mr. SCHIFF. To build a nuclear forensics database, the bill asks the President to negotiate agreements with other nations to share forensic data on their nuclear materials, both civilian and military. This effort is vital, and the National Technical Forensic Center must play a key role in the negotiations to ensure that the data we obtain is the data necessary for quick attribution and response. Nuclear terrorism is a vague threat of devastating consequence and, therefore, difficult to guard against. But as communications and transportation revolutions bring us ever closer to our allies, they bring us closer to our enemies as well. I believe this bill will help make sure that our ability to prevent a nuclear attack keeps up with our enemies' ability to prosecute one. Again, I want to thank Chairman Thompson for his leadership and urge all Members to support the bill.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank and congratulate my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee and Chairman Thompson, and my colleague from California, Mr. Lungren. I appreciate all their support. The committee has taken an important step forward in preventing nuclear terrorism by persevering with this legislation. I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into it. Countries around the world now have access to technology that was once the realm of the few, and dangerous nuclear materials are sprinkled around the world. It seems that each week brings evidence of the connection between North Korea and a serious nascent nuclear program, and we are still unraveling the details of the nuclear smuggling ring headed by A.Q. Khan 5 years after it was uncovered. This is not a new problem. Illicit nuclear material has been intercepted in transit out of the former Soviet Union many times since the end of the Cold War, and the material we catch is surely just a small fraction of the total amount trafficked. Last week, Graham Allison wrote in Newsweek that ``the only thing that can keep nuclear bombs out of the hands of terrorists is a brand new science of nuclear forensics.'' During the Cold War, we forestalled a Soviet nuclear attack with the threat of retaliation. But the decentralized flexible terror networks that we face today are not as easily deterred. A terrorist attack will also not leave a missile contrail pointed back toward those responsible. As Allison writes: ``The key to a new deterrent is coming up with some way of tracing the nuclear material backward from an explosion in New York City, for example, to the reactor that forged the fissile material, even to the mines that yielded the original uranium ore.'' The Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act is designed to do just that. The act is aimed at decisionmakers in North Korea, Pakistan, Iran and elsewhere who could sell nuclear material, as well as the smugglers and corrupt officials around the world who could steal it. Those parts of the nuclear network can be deterred by the knowledge that if their material is found, the U.S. will find out and hold them responsible. The first part of this bill expands our ability to determine the source of nuclear material by authorizing the National Technical Nuclear Forensic Center in the Department of Homeland Security. This center will coordinate the various agencies and ensure an efficient, combined response when nuclear material is intercepted or, God forbid, used in a weapon. It will also advance the science of nuclear forensics, bringing in new radiochemists and physicists to rejuvenate a rapidly aging workforce, and funding research on new methods to identify materials. But this bill also has another purpose. As with fingerprints or DNA, the strength of nuclear forensics depends on the strength of our database. Nuclear material can come from many nations, some friendly, some unfriendly, and the individual recipes are closely guarded secrets. However, little of the information needed for forensics is of direct use to adversaries, so in many cases the risk of not sharing the data is much greater than the risk of sharing it.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Harry L. Baldwin, retiring as Mayor of the City of San Gabriel. Mayor Baldwin served on the City Council for seventeen years and was selected Mayor by his colleagues on the council for three terms. Mayor Baldwin's legacy in the City of San Gabriel and surrounding communities will endure for generations to come. During his tenure, Mayor Baldwin worked vigorously and enthusiastically to promote and secure funds for many important projects. One of Mayor Baldwin's greatest accomplishments has been his work to obtain federal funding for the construction of grade separations and safety mitigation for the Alameda Corridor East Project. Over a decade of effort, nearly five hundred million dollars was acquired for this endeavor. Mayor Baldwin's service as President of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG) and Vice Chairman of the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority (ACE) was crucial in securing this funding. Promoting the interests of the region has been a high priority for Mayor Baldwin. While working on the City Council, he secured funds for park expansions and was essential to the formation of the San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. Additionally, public safety has always been a significant concern of Mayor Baldwin's. He was able to identify a pressing need in the city's Fire Department for expanded services and instituted a paramedic training program for the staff. Mayor Baldwin and his wife Sally have lived in the Mission District for over forty-five years. The product of California public schools, he graduated from both Mark Keppel High School and UCLA. After graduating, Harry worked in the insurance business until just six years ago. Before election to the City Council in 1992, Mr. Baldwin was president of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce. Since then, he has been actively involved with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). He served as President of the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA and is currently a board member of the Arthritis Foundation of Southern California, San Gabriel Valley Branch, in addition to being involved with many other organizations. Mayor Baldwin has been a tireless advocate for the City of San Gabriel and the region as a whole. I ask all Members to join me in thanking Harry L. Baldwin for the years of selfless, dedicated service he has provided to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Brenda Galloway of Pasadena, California. Every March we celebrate Women's History Month in recognition of the contributions and the sacrifices made by our nation's women. Accordingly it is my privilege to highlight Mrs. Galloway as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Originally from Kentucky, Brenda has lived in Pasadena with her husband Bill for the last forty years. Together they run the family business, Summit Enterprises, which invests in residential commercial properties in the San Gabriel Valley and trains local youth for careers in real estate. A tireless community leader, Brenda has devoted herself to improving the region's arts and educational systems with a blend of energy, enthusiasm, and humility. Her volunteer work began as a young girl running school paper drives and has grown to include an astounding collection of Southern California non-profit organizations. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Pasadena YMCA and the La Salle High School Board of Trustees, she has been involved the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation, the L.A. County Commission of Children and Families, the Pasadena Police Department Olympic Committee, Jack & Jill of America, and the Jackie Robinson Memorial Celebration. She is particularly active with the CASA Glamour Gown program, which provides prom gowns and accessories to girls in foster care throughout Los Angeles County. Showing great care and dedication to the community, Brenda has been involved with several organizations. While devoting herself to these great organizations, Brenda and her husband have also hosted charitable events at their home for many nonprofit groups, such as the Pasadena Playhouse, the Pasadena AIDS Service Center, and the National Park Service's African American Experience Fund. Their generosity extended to Pasadena City College as well, with whom they endowed a Sculpture Garden Plaza in 2000. Mrs. Galloway's charitable efforts have garnered much deserved recognition in the community. She has been awarded with a lifetime membership to the NAACP for her membership recruitment and fundraising efforts, received a Campus and Community Special Recognition award from PCC in 1999, and was deemed a ``Contemporary History Maker'' in 2003 by the Pasadena Museum of History. Most recently, the Pasadena Playhouse honored Brenda for her work in the promotion of cultural diversity at the third annual Sheldon Epps Theatrical Diversity Project Celebration, of which she is a founding member. Brenda's impact on the Pasadena community is a testament to her innate compassion for the people around her. Her steadfast dedication and selfless service are an invaluable addition to the legacy of Women's History Month. With gratitude and admiration, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Brenda Galloway.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Catherine Wills of Monterey Park, California. Every March we celebrate Women's History Month in recognition of the contributions and the sacrifices made by our nation's women. Accordingly it is my privilege to highlight Ms. Wills as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Family life in Minneapolis, Minnesota, infused Cathy with the spirit of volunteerism from the very beginning. As a young girl she watched her older sister, Charlotte, transform a personal struggle with spina bifida into success as a community activist. Cathy grew to share her father's concern for social issues such as global poverty, illiteracy, and health care, and she joined Charlotte as a devoted advocate for the physically disabled. Soon after, Cathy's adventuresome spirit took her all the way to Cairo, Egypt. There she worked in a number of professions, from newspaper reporter to fashion model, advertising representative to tour guide. Cathy even landed a small role in Cecil B. DeMille's epic, ``The Ten Commandments.'' After living abroad, becoming fluent in Arabic, and traveling throughout Europe, she returned to the United States and settled in Monterey Park. Cathy's thirty-plus years of local community outreach include serving as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, where she became the first woman assigned to the Detective Division's Homicide Bureau and spent her free time mentoring at-risk girls as a Pasadena YWCA ``Big Sister.'' Following retirement, Cathy has dedicated herself to the City and people of Monterey Park. She served on the board of directors of the Heritage Manor Convalescent Home, was a long-time appointee to the City's Personnel Board, and wrote a community column for the local newspaper. Armed with a lifetime of experience and gumption, Cathy faced her husband's recent bouts with cancer head on and continues to support the City of Hope National Cancer Research Center. Her current roles include serving on city and county Election boards, fundraising as a member of the Soroptimist Club, and advocating for San Gabriel Valley causes as a founding member of the Concerned Citizens of Monterey Park. Cathy also honors outstanding volunteers as co-chair of the United Democratic Club's annual ``People Who Make a Difference'' award. It is my privilege to celebrate Cathy just as she has recognized others for so many years. Her steadfast and selfless service is an invaluable addition to the legacy of Women's History Month. With gratitude and admiration, I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Catherine Wills.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Sonya Mkryan of Altadena, California. Every March we celebrate Women's History Month in recognition of the contributions and the sacrifices made by our nation's women. Accordingly it is my privilege to highlight Dr. Mkryan as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Sonya was born in Sanjak, the French mandate of Syria, and emigrated at age ten to Soviet Armenia with her parents and three siblings. By the time she travelled from Armenia to the United States with her husband and three children in 1979, she had obtained a PhD in Technical Studies and worked for two decades as a scientist and researcher at the Armenian Academy of Sciences. Her first job in America was as a mechanical inspector for Robertshaw Industrial Products. As an educator and geophysicist, Sonya has taught in the Pasadena Unified School District as a professor of physics at Polytechnic Institute. For the past twenty-three years she has contributed her knowledge and experience to the County of Los Angeles' Department of Public Social Services in hopes of serving society for the better. A woman of multiple talents, Sonya is also an artist and a writer. Over the last twenty years she has held several solo shows and has actively participated in many group exhibitions. Aside from scientific articles published in the Russian, she has published six books of poetry and short stories: five in Armenian and the sixth in English. She is a member of the Armenian Writers Union of California and is an honorable member of the International Society of Poets. Sonya's life story is a testament to the brilliant potential of this nation's women and her steadfast dedication and selfless service are an invaluable addition to the legacy of Women's History Month. With gratitude and admiration, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Dr. Sonya Mkryan.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Yin Yin Huang of Alhambra, California. Every March we celebrate Women's History Month in recognition of the contributions and the sacrifices made by our Nation's women. Accordingly it is my privilege to highlight Mrs. Huang as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Now an acclaimed master piano instructor, Yin Yin was born in Taiwan and began her musical training at the age of ten. At sixteen years old, Yin Yin made her concert debut with the Chinese Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and soon after with the Formosa Chamber Orchestra. She attained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chinese Culture, Taipei, and a Masters in Music from California State University, Los Angeles. Today, Yin Yin has approximately thirty years of musical teaching experience, including courses taught in Taiwan before immigrating to the United States, and serves as a faculty member at California State University, Los Angeles. As an international concert pianist, she has worked with artists from all over the world such as the renowned baritone Dr. William Warfield. From East Asia to the Americas, Yin Yin's musical impact resonates around the world. Yin Yin always wanted to realize her lifelong desire to make a meaningful difference in her community through music. Showing great compassion and a strong sense of civic duty, she organized a series of local charity concerts to raise money for the 1999 Taiwanese earthquake, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans musicians, and the 2004 South Asian tsunami relief effort. Yin Yin and her husband have also conducted concerts at local retirement homes, annual midsummer events, and soloist and small ensemble recitals for the past twelve years. In 2005 she established the Acevedo Music & Art Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that enables youths to put their artistic talents to use for benevolent purposes. In recognition of her charitable work, Yin Yin received the International Federation for World Peace's Ambassador of Peace Award in 2006 and the Pasadena Human Relations Commission's Model of Unity Award in 2008. Yin Yin has truly surpassed her goal to use music as a tool of positive change in the world; her daily piano lessons inspire others to do so as well. Her steadfast dedication and selfless service are an invaluable addition to the legacy of Women's History Month. With gratitude and admiration, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Yin Yin Huang.