Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I want to congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, for his leadership on this issue and thank him for including any amendments and language on the topic that I have prepared. Our amendment attacks the difficult problem of nuclear trafficking. Illicit nuclear material has been intercepted in transit many times since the end of the Cold War, and the material we catch is probably a small fraction of the total trafficked. Nuclear attribution would allow us to identify the provenance of nuclear material in transit, or, God forbid, in the aftermath of a detonation. That knowledge would help us decide how to respond, and it would also provide a deterrent. If nations around the world knew that they could be identified as the source of material used in a nuclear attack, even irresponsible nations would be disinclined to proliferate. By developing a robust attribution capability, we can usher in an era in which proliferation is not just discouraged, but deterred, because those responsible would be found and punished. This amendment supports nuclear attribution by strengthening our nuclear forensics capability. Nuclear forensics involves studying the mix of isotopes and other nuclear material that give it a particular signature. Physicists at the Department of Energy are world leaders in this field, but more research is needed to make our capability prompt, mobile and accurate. This amendment calls on the Secretary of Energy to develop a research and development plan for all the technologies involved so we can direct our funding appropriately. Nuclear terrorism is a threat of paramount danger and uncertain probability. It is not a threat we can measure in brigades, ships, or warheads, but it is no less pressing for that. I believe this amendment is an important effort to reduce the risk of a calamitous nuclear event.

Mr. SCHIFF. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for including my amendment in the en bloc package. My amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to explore ways in which we can reduce the likelihood of an accidental nuclear launch from arsenals around the world. Since the end of the Cold War, the procedures required to launch nuclear weapons have remained virtually unchanged. Both the U.S. and Russia still maintain thousands of nuclear weapons on high alert that can be launched at a moment's notice. Though the risk of a deliberate nuclear war with Russia is now very low, the danger of an accidental launch has increased. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in January, George Shultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger and Sam Nunn said that we must ``take steps to increase the warning and decision times for the launch of all nuclear-armed ballistic missiles, thereby reducing risks of accidental or unauthorized attacks. Reliance on launch procedures that deny command authorities sufficient time to make careful and prudent decisions is unnecessary and dangerous in today's environment.'' This amendment to the defense authorization act calls for a study of the methods by which Chinese, Russian and American weapons can be made safer in a multilateral framework, and I urge its support.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I rise in support of this energy and jobs bill and, in particular, want to talk about two provisions that are very important to my constituents and I think very important to the country. The first are provisions that would extend tax credits for the solar energy industry. In my district alone, there are hundreds of jobs at stake. These are hundreds of good, well-paying, clean jobs that not only are good for the citizens in my district, but also are good for the country. We need an Apollo project like effort to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. We want the ability to be able to tell the oil producing nations of the world that they can take their oil and they can keep it, that we don't need it. We want to be able to address global warming. We want to be able to make sure that we have a sound energy policy based on this Nation's future. And solar energy is a big part of the solution. So this tax credit alone, I've had business people in my district tell me if this tax credit goes away, those jobs will go away. It's as simple as that. Homeowners won't be able to meet the financial burden of putting solar power panels on their roofs. Those that produce those panels will have to lay off the people in that industry. People will become more reliant on fossil fuels, not less. There's a second provision, very important to my constituents and also very important to an industry that has a positive balance of trade with every other country on earth, and that is the entertainment industry. We have tax incentives to try to keep production in this country of small and medium sized films. We're losing a lot of that production to Canada. We'll lose even more if the tax credits that incentivize those small productions go away. I'm very proud that we're taking action to deal with the problem of runaway production. Again, good, well-paying jobs that we want to keep in this country. This legislation will help keep them there. Many of my constituents are losing those jobs to Canada, Australia and other countries because those other countries are offering incentives to keep and move production there.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California for 115 years of outstanding service to the people of the State of California and this great Nation. For more than a century, the American Heritage Library and Museum has been operated for the purpose of acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of historical artifacts of the colonial and early periods of America's history. The American Heritage Library and Museum has preserved precious documents by focusing on historic figures who contributed to the history of the State of California, including but not limited to archival records, histories, books, rolls, documents, artifacts and works of art that increase and diffuse knowledge into these periods of history for the enrichment of the citizens of California. The preservation of our Nation's military heritage has always been of a primary concern of the Sons of the Revolution. When the Sons of the Revolution was formed, a National Archive did not exist. Originally, each branch and agency of the U.S. Government was responsible for maintaining its own documents, which often resulted in the loss and destruction of records. For almost 150 years, the Federal Government had virtually no method or place to safeguard historically important records. As a result, on November 8, 1810, fire destroyed most of the records of the American Army and Navy of the American Revolution in the custody of the War Department. As part of a national organization, composed solely of the posterity of those venerable men who, by their acts or counsel between April 19, 1775, when the Revolutionary War commenced, and April 19, 1783, when that conflict ceased, in the military, naval or marine service of the United States, or in the service of the Continental Congress or the congress of any of the original 13 Colonies, helped achieve America's independence, these members of the Sons of the Revolution lobbied Congress for the passage of a law that directed the War Department to establish a national collection of both American Revolution and War of 1812 records. Today, the main National Archives Building holds the original copies of the three main formative documents of the United States and its Government: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as well as Magna Carta. These are displayed to the public in the main chamber, called the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. The National Archives Building also exhibits other important American historical documents such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Emancipation Proclamation, as well as other historically and culturally significant American artifacts. The Sons of the Revolution's national efforts to preserve America's priceless heritage was not limited to the establishment of the National Archives. In the intervening years since the establishment of the National Archives, the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California and its members continued their efforts to preserve the records of both National and State significance and have assembled a collection of some 35,000 volumes of books and manuscripts which have been described as one of the best in its field. And, in keeping with the purpose of the Society, ``to collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records and other documents relating to that period,'' for over a century, the members of the Sons of the Revolution, through their patriotic spirit, love of country, and devotion to the principles on which our Nation was founded, have operated and maintained the American Heritage Library and Museum for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of California. It is because of these numerous accomplishments I rise today to recognize the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California for its 115 years of service to the people of the State and I ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating the Sons of the Revolution for its outstanding service to the city of Glendale and surrounding communities.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 295, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, May 3, was World Press Freedom Day. Two 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 work 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're threatened. We work to highlight abuses of press freedom and foster reforms in support of press freedom around the world. We have hosted panel discussions with press freedom experts, journalists and victims of press freedom crimes. We have written to the leaders of countries which jail journalists, impose censorship, and allow harassment, attacks and threats to occur with impunity. And we've 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. The caucus enjoys the support of a wide range of organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, Freedom House, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the National Endowment for Democracy's Center for International Media Assistance, as well as the legendary Walter Cronkite. World Press Freedom Day was first designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1993 as an occasion to pay tribute to repressed journalists and to reflect upon the role of the media in general in advancing fundamental human rights as codified in international law, regional conventions, and national constitutions. In keeping with that tradition, we have hosted a Special Order hour in honor of World Press Freedom Day each year since the inception of the caucus. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is a foundation of the postwar human rights movement, guarantees freedom of expression in article 19. ``Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of any frontiers.'' It may not be as elegant as our first amendment, but its effect and its desire and goal are the same. For Americans, this day 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 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. Freedom of the press is so central to our democracy that the Framers enshrined it in the very first amendment to our Constitution. Thomas Jefferson so valued the principle of press freedom that he said, given the choice between a free government or a free press, he would choose a free press. He said, ``The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspaper without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.'' Journalists have jealously guarded their rights and American courts have, in the main, carved out broad protections for the press. In the United States, the press operates almost as a fourth branch of government, the Fourth Estate, independent of the other three, and positioned as an agent of the free people. Winston Churchill agreed with the idea that a free press was almost another independent branch of government saying, ``A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize; it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny. Under dictatorship the press is bound to languish, and the loudspeaker and the film to become more important. But where free institutions are indigenous to the soil and men have the habit of liberty, the press will continue to be the Fourth Estate, the vigilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citizen.'' From the pioneering work of journalists during the Civil War, to the ``muckrakers'' who were committed to exposing the social, economic and political ills of industrial life in the early 20th century, to the work of the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in uncovering the Watergate scandal a year later, journalists have performed a crucial role as watchdogs of American freedom. But in order for the press to do its work properly, it must be free, and journalists must be able to do their work without fear of retribution. 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 greater transparency find themselves at risk. The censorship, intimidation, imprisonment, and murder of these journalists are not only crimes against these individuals, they also impact those who are denied access to their ideas and information. Freedom of expression and a free press is not just a cornerstone of democracy, it has also proven to play an important role in economic and social development. James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank, has long argued that ``a free press is not a luxury, it is at the core of equitable development.'' The media exposes corruption, helps build a public consensus to bring about change, and facilitates the transmission of innovative ideas and valuable information that empowers people to share and shape their own destinies. There is an emerging consensus among development institutions that a skilled and a viable media sector is a society's most promising tool for motivating government reform and poverty reduction. Regrettably, censorship, intimidation, imprisonment, and even murder of journalists are far too common in countries all around the world. The map to my right provides a visual representation of press freedom rights by country. This map was provided by Freedom House, which releases an annual index called Freedom of the Press: A Global Survey of Media Independence. The countries that are highlighted in green are listed as having a ``free'' press. The countries in yellow represent countries that are ``partly free.'' And the countries colored purple are countries they describe as ``not free'' in terms of press freedom rights. And as you can see, in addition to problems here, we have vast expanses in Africa, in Asia, in the Middle East, and in South Asia. To break it down a little more, when taking population into account, 42 percent of the world's people live in countries that have a press that is ``not free.'' Forty percent of the world's population live in countries that have only a ``partly free'' press. That is exhibited here in yellow. And in green we see that only 18 percent of the world's citizens enjoy a ``free press.'' Quite remarkable; 18 percent ``free,'' 42 percent ``not free,'' and the additional 40 percent only ``partly free.'' More than 80 percent of the world's people, therefore, are denied full access to information. This is not for economic reasons, as you might expect, such as printing costs, lack of Internet connections or illiteracy, all of which are problems in their own right. Eighty-two percent of the world's population, 82 percent of the world is being denied access to information because their governments don't want them to have that access. It's also important to note that even as the world continues to globalize, tragically press freedom continues to slip. This was the sixth consecutive year that Freedom House's index showed a reduction in global press freedom, a worrisome trend. As I mentioned, this is the third Special Order hour we have held in recognition of World Press Freedom Day. The first year we launched our caucus, we outlined the intention of our caucus and press freedom abuses around the entire world. Last year, we decided that each year we would focus on a particular hot spot and highlight a single country where press freedom rights are particularly limited. Last year, we focused on Russia. We profiled 18 journalists murdered in Russia during the administration of outgoing President Vladimir Putin. All of these journalists were believed to be killed due to their work. Most of these murders remain unsolved to this day. Tonight, I will focus on the lack of press freedom in China leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing this August. I have chosen to highlight press freedom in China for a number of reasons, including its failure to implement promised press freedom reforms before the Olympics, its incarceration of more journalists than any other country, its lack of independent media, and its censorship of the Internet, all of which I will be discussing tonight. As the world's most populous country, China denies more citizens access to a free press than any other country. It is also tied for 181st place out of 195 countries in press freedom rights in Freedom House's survey. To give you a bit of perspective, China ranks between Syria and Iran in the survey. And Russia, which as I just mentioned lost 18 journalists, murdered journalists, during one president's administration, that country is ranked ahead of China on the survey. As I speak here tonight, the Chinese Government limits more than 1 billion people's access to an open Internet and an independent media, despite the fact that article 35 of the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, assembly, association and publication. Unfortunately, other articles in its Constitution subordinate these rights to what is called the ``national interest.'' This allows the ruling communist party to maintain direct control over the news media through the Central Propaganda Department, the CPD. The Chinese Government has even proposed fines for domestic and foreign news organizations that report ``sudden events,'' such as protests, disease outbreaks, or national disasters without government authorization. Some of these are public health emergencies, epidemics that the Chinese government wants to have the ability to hide. These are just a few of the examples that I've chosen to highlight China tonight. China is an enormously important country. China has emerged in a big way on the world stage. And China is a country of immense promise. It is important both to the Chinese Government and to the Chinese people, as well as to the rest of the world, that we help to promote press freedom in our largest neighbor in the world, and one that will take a position of increasing importance in the years to come. Before I continue, I want to thank all the press freedom advocacy organizations that helped provide this information for tonight's discussion: The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the National Endowment For Democracy, and Freedom House have all been chronicling press freedom abuses in China, and much of what I will share with you tonight is a product of these groups' research, investigation, and reporting. I want to thank them not just for their efforts in helping us here tonight but, more importantly, for all of their work to defend journalists and journalism around the world. And I also want to take a moment to thank Sean Oblack of my staff for all of his effort and leadership in helping to put this caucus together and the presentation tonight. During the Olympic bidding process, as international opposition grew to rewarding the Olympics to China, the Chinese Government promised to strengthen human rights in China. This included a commitment to press freedom. In the days leading up to the Olympic vote, Wang Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing Olympic Bidding Committee, said, ``We will give the media complete freedom to report when they come to China.'' Regrettably, though, China has not delivered ``complete freedom'' to its own reporters. In September, 2007 Teng Biao and Hu Jia, two of China's most celebrated human rights activists, in an open letter to the international community, detailed China's failure to live up to its Olympic commitments, including press freedom. Teng and Hu wrote: ``As of this writing, 35 Chinese journalists and 51 writers are still in prison. Over 90 percent were arrested or tried after Bejing's successful bid for the Olympics in July of 2001. For example, Dr. Xu Zerong, a scholar from Oxford University who researched the Korean War, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for `illegally providing information abroad.' Qingshuijun, Huang Jinqiu, a freelance writer, was sentenced to a 12-year term of imprisonment for his online publications. Some writers and dissidents are prohibited from going abroad; others from returning to China.'' Due to this letter, due to this letter, Hu Jia now sits in jail. I will be profiling his case later in the hour. Human Rights Watch reports that Chinese journalists remain closely observed by state security agencies to ensure that their reporting reflects the official government position. The government's Publicity Department heavily influences the weekly editorial content for print, radio, and television platforms by preventing the reporting of sensitive topics that fall under the vague metric of issues affecting ``social stability.'' Journalists that stray from the government line, as Teng and Hu noted, face imprisonment, travel restrictions, or are effectively deported. Foreign correspondents do not experience ``complete freedom'' either when reporting in China. On January 1, 2007, the Chinese Government introduced a temporary measure that was intended to increase foreign reporters' freedom in China before, during, and after the Olympic games. This measure was set to expire in October, 2008. While some foreign correspondents have experienced increased journalistic freedom since the measure went into effect, most have not. A Foreign Correspondents Club in China's survey showed that 40 percent of foreign correspondents have experienced harassment, detention, or an official warning during the news gathering in Beijing and other areas. One foreign reporter in China that Human Rights Watch interviewed experienced harassment and had difficulty renewing her work visa after covering political dissidents and the highly publicized murder of Chinese journalist Lan Chengzhang. She told Human Rights Watch, ``I know the stories we have done have angered the Chinese Government, and my visa renewal problems began after,'' after those reports. Other foreign correspondents have been detained for legal reporting activities. The New York Times Shanghai-based correspondent David Barboza, his Chinese assistant, and a photographer were detained for more than 10 hours by staff at a factory in Guangdong province while doing a story about toxic lead paint discovered in the factory's exports to the United States. Barboza was eventually let go after writing a statement explaining the reason for his factory visit and stating that he hadn't obtained permission to take the photographs. At particular risk are the assistants and sources of foreign reporters as they're helping on stories that domestic reporters cannot cover. One local assistant of a foreign press correspondent was told by security agents that it was his responsibility to notify the agents if the reporter was uncovering anything sensitive and warned him and his family of possible legal action if he did not. Sipa Press photographer Natalie Behring described to Human Rights Watch the obstacles foreign reporters face in finding a cooperative source: ``In light of the new rules, the Chinese Government can't stop us from talking to anyone; so they intimidate the subjects of our reporting rather than intimidating the reporters.'' In the fall of last year, I, along with my Congressional Caucus For Freedom of the Press co-Chair Mike Pence, wrote a letter to Liu Qin, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic games, expressing our deep disappointment in the government's failure to live up to the promises that it made before the Olympic vote in 2001. The letter expressed our frustration that Chinese journalists face imprisonment for reporting stories unfavorable to the state, are forced to toe the government line, and the ever-increasing restrictions on accessible material on the Internet. In the past the Olympic games have helped establish freedoms in countries struggling to emerge from authoritarian rule. Most notably, the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea played a critical role in helping to bring democracy to that country. It's my hope that China begins to live up to its promise of complete freedom for journalists, that it will cease the harassment and imprisonment of journalists, and allow the Chinese people to experience the full communicative and economic powers of the Internet and that the games will usher in a newer, freer era in Chinese public life. I'm now going to spend a few minutes talking about one of the extreme measures that governments take to censor the media, and that is arrest and detention. Unfortunately, it's become commonplace for some governments to silence journalists simply by jailing them. And, regrettably, there is no bigger offender in this regard than China. And, again, this is one of the main reasons we have chosen to highlight China here tonight. Before I discus China's imprisonment of journalists, I would like to give a brief overview of this problem around the world. And in fairness and in completeness, while we are focusing on China because of the magnitude of the problem there and because of the promises that were made in advance of the Olympics, it's important to recognize this is by no means a problem confined to China. Tragically, as we've seen in the diagrams we had up earlier, press freedom is very limited in many places around the world and under great assault in many places around the world. So China is not unique in this respect. It is unique in its size. It's unique in some of the technological instruments it has used to effectuate censorship in this era of Internet journalism, but it is not unique around the world for this problem. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of December 1, 2007, 127 journalists were in prison around the world as a consequence of their work. Of these more than 80 were being held by only five countries, however: China, Cuba, Eritrea, Azerbaijan, and Burma. This statistic only includes journalists that the Committee to Protect Journalists can account for and that CPJ has confirmed are being jailed. It does not include another alarming category that the organization tracks, and that is journalists who have either disappeared or have been abducted by nonstate entities, including criminal groups and gangs, rebels, and militant groups. CPJ's research has found that nearly 17 percent of journalists jailed worldwide in 2007 were held without any publicly disclosed charge. Many for months, some for years, and some in secret locations. The majority of journalists being imprisoned are being held on spurious antistate allegations such as subversion or divulging state secrets or acting against some undefined national interests. CPJ has found out that about 57 percent of journalists in their survey are jailed under these charges, and of those many are being held, regrettably, by the Chinese Government. These statistics demonstrate that China is not the only offender in this practice but clearly one of the worst. As we have stated, we have set aside this time tonight to highlight China. But while we are on the subject of jailing journalists nationwide, I would like to take a brief moment to discuss one particular case in Eritrea that was brought to my attention by a constituent of mine who works with Amnesty International Group 22 in Pasadena. Eritrea is a country of only 4.6 million people; yet it imprisons the third-most journalists of any country: 14. What's worse, the Government of Eritrea will not even confirm whether the journalists in its custody are alive or dead, and it also holds the most journalists in secret locations. One such journalist being held in a secret location in Eritrea is Seyoum Tsehaye, a freelance reporter. His arrest and jailing was believed to be part of the government's crackdown to eliminate political dissent ahead of elections scheduled for December of 2001, which were later cancelled. He was arrested on the street in September of that year, the first day of a major round-up and imprisonment of reformers in Eritrea. There are concerns about his health, but the government has refused to provide details about his well-being. He has never been allowed a family visit or a lawyer. He has never been charged or appeared before any court. Last year Reporters Without Borders honored him as their ``2007 Journalist of the Year.'' And tonight we take a moment to think about Seyoum Tsehaye, freelance reporter in Eritrea, held in custody in a secret location since September of 2001. So it's clear this is a problem not only associated with China. It is also clear there are more cases of imprisoned journalists around the world than we have time to discuss tonight or, for that matter, over the course of a great many nights. It's important, though, to cast a spotlight tonight on China because of the significant role it plays on the international stage. It's one thing to talk about Eritrea and the role it plays; it's another to talk about one of the world's superpowers with all of its promise, with all of its future, and with a current policy extremely inhibiting of a free press. In addition to hosting the summer's Olympic games, China's the world most populous nation, permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and as I mentioned, an emerging superpower. Rightly or wrongly, many countries look to China to set an example that others can follow. In this case that is a great concern to the well-being of global citizenry. As I mentioned here tonight, China promised the world community to improve press freedom in advance of the Olympics. For 9 years, however, it has held the distinction of being the world's largest jailer of journalists. As the Internet continues to grow and more and more people around the world have access to the Internet, more people are getting their news online. Nowhere is this truer than in China. This is a fact that the Chinese Government has not overlooked. And that is why 18 of the 29 jailed journalists worked online, according to CPJ. Reporters Without Borders lists China as jailing an additional 50 ``cyber-dissidents.'' China's list includes imprisoned Internet journalist Shi Tao, an award-winning journalist who is serving a 10-year sentence for e- mailing details of a government propaganda directive to an overseas Web site. We'll talk more about Shi Tao later tonight. But the list of China's unenviable distinctions when it comes to press freedom and the jailing of journalists includes one other significant fact: CPA lists China as having the longest-serving journalists in jail. Chen Renjie and Lin Youping were jailed in China in July, 1983, for publishing a pamphlet titled Ziyou Bao Freedom Report. And their co-defendant, Chen Biling was executed. We will profile these journalists later tonight as well. Journalists in China are also held in appalling conditions. Prison is never pleasant no matter what country you are in, but Reporters Without Borders reports that journalists in jail in China frequently experience the harshest of conditions. They are placed in overcrowded cells, subjected to forced labor and regularly beaten by their guards and fellow prisoners. This ill treatment is at its worst in the first weeks in custody when police try to extract confessions. Many of the charges weighed against journalists in China are trumped up. For Americans, these charges are pretty unimaginable. To give you some perspective on why some of the journalists are sitting in jail right now, I am going to briefly mention a few of their cases. These cases are examples of journalists being jailed for what we in the West would consider responsible journalism. I wouldn't even get into some of the other journalism we see here, as well the rest of the world, but for laudable journalism, for journalism we would applaud in this country, these journalists are being jailed. Zhang Jianhong, for example, the former editor of the now closed news website Aegean Sea, was arrested in 2006 and charged with ``inciting subversion'' for posting an essay criticizing China's human rights record and the poor treatment of journalists, ironically ahead of the Olympic games. Lawyer Yan Maodong, who also calls himself Guo Feixiong, and his picture is here as well in the upper right-hand corner, was arrested in September of 2006 because of his critical writings and human rights activism. He was officially accused of selling a book using a false publishing reference, but he says the book's content was what the government objected to. But imagine being jailed since September of 2006 on the charges of using a false publishing reference. According to the New York Times, Guo had repeatedly called on China's Communist party leadership to liberalize the political system. His wife and supporters in the international human rights community have said that Guo has been tortured in custody and that the police coerced him to confess to a nonpolitical crime. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison in November of 2007 for ``illegal commercial activity.'' The New York Times has also reported that a Tibetan scholar, Dolma Kyab, Dolma's picture is here to my far right, has been jailed since 2005 after writing an unapproved history of Tibet. Reporters Without Borders reports that Dolma was sentenced to 10 years in prison at a secret trial on September 16, 2005, by the Lhasa People's Intermediate Court for ``endangering state security'' and for alleging spying. He managed to smuggle a letter out of prison in September 2005 to the U.N. Human Rights Commission saying he had been jailed for writing about democracy, freedom and the situation in Tibet. Zheng Yichun is another illustration of the problem in China. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison followed by 3 years of deprivation of political rights for writing a series of editorials that directly criticized the Communist party and its control of the media. Li Changqing, a journalist for the Fuzhou Daily, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for ``spreading false and alarmist information'' when he reported about a 2004 dengue fever outbreak. In May 2006, Internet writer Yang Tongyan was sentenced to 12 years in prison for posting articles on overseas Web sites in which he simply called for the release of Chinese dissidents. In July 2006, Li Yuanlong, a reporter for the Bijie Daily, was sentenced to 2 years in prison after he posted essays on foreign Web sites in which he discussed the harsh living conditions of peasants in the Guizhou province. Yu Huafeng, I believe we have Yu's picture right here to my immediate right, was the deputy editor and general manager of the Nanfang Dushi Bao, Southern Metropolitan News. He was detained less than a month after the newspaper reported a suspected SARS case in Guangzhou, the first case since the epidemic died out in July 2003. Thankfully, Mr. Huafeng was released earlier this year when his sentence was reduced. Zi Beijia, of Beijing TV, was sentenced by the Beijing Number 2 Intermediate Court to a year in prison for the unusual crime of ``infringing on the reputation of a commodity.'' That is really quite remarkable. Zi's arrest came amid widespread international reports about food and product safety defects in China. After the arrest, CPJ research found that domestic news reports about consumer safety were noticeably tamer. Imagine in this country if you could jail a journalist for infringing on the reputation of a commodity, for taking issue with the safety of a child's toy, lead paint, the safety of a train or an air bag. Imagine if you could be jailed for that. And you can imagine the situation that occurs in present day China. Wu Lihong, an environmental activist, was jailed after criticizing the ongoing polluting of Lake Taihu, the country's third biggest lake and a major source of drinking water in the eastern province of Jiangsu. He also denounced the uncontrolled dumping of industrial waste by privatized city-owned firms. After being hounded by police and local organizations, he was arrested in April 2007 and thrown in jail, accused of demanding money from the firms. He was tortured during interrogations and not allowed any defense witnesses at his trial. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison for theft and extortion. And again, it is hard to imagine what it would be like in this country if reporting about contamination of drinking water or dumping of toxics into a lake would end you up in prison for a matter of years without any ability to present the defense. And unfortunately, that is the situation that Wu Lihong found himself in. An outbreak of disease, government corruption, public safety concerns, to me these are stories that the press should be reporting. Indeed, in terms of the interests of the Chinese people, these are stories the Chinese people need to know. These are the stories that the public has the right to know about, and the press has an obligation to report. Articles like these were exactly what the framers of our Constitution had in mind when they drafted the First Amendment. This is exactly what Thomas Jefferson said and had in mind when he said that ``no government ought to be without censors,'' in his case he was meaning critics, ``and where the press is free, no one ever will.'' The Chinese Government is not censoring the press out of national security concerns, but instead to shield itself from what a free press might uncover about corruption, inefficiency, human rights abuses, environmental issues, health problems or any other afflictions that might accompany authoritarian rule. China's censorship and intimidation of media are not limited to Chinese journalists. Freedom House has also highlighted the convictions of two Chinese journalists working for the Beijing bureau of the New York Times and Ching Cheong, a correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times in China. Their convictions may have been intended to intimidate foreign correspondents and newspapers. According to Reporters Sans Frontieres, there were at least 25 incidents of arrests, threats or assaults against members of the foreign press in 2006 alone. So not only is the government in China jailing journalists to keep information from its own people, but it is also seeking to censor information to the rest of the world. With this understanding of how and why the Chinese Government has sought to jail journalists, I think it is important now to profile some of the most egregious cases. The reporters involved here are true profiles in courage. These journalists knew the consequences of their writings in advance of their publication. And yet these Chinese journalists believe so strongly that all citizens deserve access to information, that they are willing to put their freedom on the line to better inform the public. These journalists ought to be commended for their work, not jailed. And that is what we are doing here tonight. We are saying ``thank you'' to all the brave Chinese journalists, Eritrean journalists, Cuban journalists, and all other journalists around the world who have risked their safety and freedom to spread valuable information around their countries and around the world, information that we benefit from. The concept of censorship of the media can be so strange to us here in America that we often don't realize that journalism can cost one his or her freedom or even their life, as we have seen in Russia and indeed in China. So let's go to some of these profiles. I would like to start the profiles tonight with the leading activist named Hu Jia who called for greater attention to human rights around the Olympics and was arrested on January 30 of this year according to Human Rights Watch. Press Freedom--and Hu is pictured to my right--and human rights organizations are concerned that Hu is being prosecuted simply for exercising his rights to freedom of opinion and expression. At issue is an open letter that he co-authored calling for the international community to look beyond the veneer put in place in Beijing for the Olympics and to seriously examine the extent to which China had fulfilled the promises it made to improve human rights in advance of the games. Three months after publication of this letter, Hu was arrested at his home. On April 3, 2008, he was sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment for ``incitement to subvert state power,'' a charge regularly leveled against activists and dissidents. Reporters Without Borders has reported that Chinese authorities have prevented Hu from appealing his sentence. One of his lawyers, Li Fangping, was refused permission to see him 10 days after the sentence was handed down. The authorities said he was undergoing a ``medical examination'' prior to entering prison. He was again refused permission to see him on a later date on the grounds that the deadline for filing the appeal had already expired. According to Reporters Without Borders, Li wanted to give him official documents related to his appeal which he urgently needed for him to sign. But the guards refused without giving any reason. Hu has not been allowed to take any telephone calls, and his family is very worried about the state of his health. The plight of Hu has been recognized by leaders around the world. Earlier this year, it was reported then when our Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, met with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Beijing, she raised human rights issues and voiced concern about the situation of political prisoners of Hu and Shi Tao, whom I will speak about next. The following day, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao insisted that Hu was being detained legally. Earlier this year, the Paris City Council named Hu an honorary citizen of Paris. This title was bestowed on Hu for his work as an activist on behalf of human rights, free expression, the environment, and HIV/AIDS sufferers. Other people to have been declared honorary citizens of Paris include Ingrid Betancourt, a Colombian politician with French citizenship currently a hostage of FARC guerillas, and Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Next I would like to profile Shi Tao. The Chinese Government often uses vaguely worded laws to detain journalists, dissidents and others in the peaceful exercise of their right of free expression, including those arrested for the legitimate use of the Internet. This is despite the fact that the right to freedom of expression is protected in China's constitution. One of the many unfortunate examples of this practice is the continued imprisonment of Shi Tao--his photograph exhibited here--a journalist and poet imprisoned solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression and his right to seek, receive and impart information. Shi, the former editorial director at the Changsha-based newspaper Dangdai Shang Bao, was detained near his home in Taiyuan in the Shanxi province. In April 2004, Mr. Tao sent an e-mail from his Yahoo account to a U.S.-based pro-democracy website in which he summarized a government order directing media organizations in China to downplay the upcoming 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown. In the anonymous e-mail sent several months before his arrest, Shi transcribed his notes from the local propaganda department instructions to the newspaper which included directives on coverage of the Falun Gong and the upcoming 15th anniversary of the military crackdown on demonstrators at Tiananmen Square. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that the National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets later certified the contents of the e-mail as classified, later certified them as classified. On the basis of this e-mail, police arrested Shi 6 months later in November of 2004, charging him with ``illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities,'' as if Chinese efforts to downplay or fail to report on Tiananmen were somehow a state secret. On April 27, 2005 the Changsha Intermediate People's Court found Shi guilty and sentenced him to a 10-year prison term in June. In June, the Hunan Province High People's Court rejected his appeal without granting a hearing. Court documents in the case revealed that Yahoo had supplied information to Chinese authorities that helped them identify Shi as the sender of the e-mail. In November of 2005 CPJ honored Shi with its annual Internation Press Freedom Award for his courage and defending the ideals of free expression. On June 4, 2007 the 18th anniversary of Tiananmen Square, Shi received an additional honor, the Golden Pen of Freedom Award. The award is the annual press freedom prize from the World Association of Newspapers, which is based in Paris and is the global organization for the newspaper industry. It has awarded the Golden Pen annually since 1961. Shi also was presented with PEN New England's Vasyl Stus Award in 2006. The award is presented to a writer who has been persecuted for the peaceful expression of his or her views and whose courage in the face of censorship and oppression has been exemplary. This award is named after the poet, Vasyl Stus, who became a leading voice of his generation and who was also the last Ukranian writer to die in the Soviet Gulag. Unfortunately, all of these awards are presented in absentia due to Mr. Shi's continued incarceration. His mother accepted the Golden Pen of Freedom award from WAN on his behalf in June of last year. At the awards ceremony she expressed what the award meant to both her and her son when she stated, ``In China, he was taken as a criminal, but today WAN, made up of over 100 newspaper organizations, awards him the Golden Pen of Freedom. It is not only an honor but also a huge comfort to Shi Tao. ``It proves that my son is indeed innocent. He has only done what a courageous journalist should do. That is why he has got the support and the sympathy from his colleagues all over the world who uphold justice. ``Here and now, I am able to stand on the stage on behalf of my son.'' What an arduous journey it has been to tell you the truth. I can't believe it is true, and even the best human language in the world cannot express the gratitude from the mother and son. It's good to know that awards like these help provide at least a little comfort for journalists like Shi. But, more importantly, these awards should raise awareness surrounding press freedom abuses around the world. Mr. Shi is clearly deserving of all these accolades. The Chinese people and citizens around the world are thankful for his dedication to true journalism. Next I am going to speak about two dedicated Chinese journalists who have been detained longer than any journalists in the world today, Chen Renjie and Lin Youping. Twenty-four years after their imprisonment in the early days of China's economic reform, Chen Renjie and Lin Youping have been in prison longer than any journalists in CPJ's worldwide census. The two men, along with Chen Biling, wrote and published a pamphlet entitled Ziyou Bao (Freedom Report). They distributed 300 copies of the pamphlet in the southern Chinese City of Fuzhou, Fujian province, in September, 1982. The following July, they were arrested and accused of making contact with Taiwanese spy groups and publishing a counterrevolutionary pamphlet. According to government official records of the case, the men used ``propaganda and incitement to encourage the overthrow of the people's democratic dictatorship and the socialist system.'' In August, 1983, Chen was sentenced to life in prison and Lin was sentenced to death with reprieve. Chen Biling was sentenced to death and later executed. Their case is so old, and with the lack of an independent and open media, we have had a hard time finding out more information about Chen Renjie and Lin. However, I would be remiss if I did not pay special attention to highlight these two reporters who have endured more time in jail, due to their effort to share information, than any other journalist today. The last topic I want to focus on tonight is Internet censorship. According to Freedom House, China is the world's second largest population of Internet users after the United States, with an estimated 210 million people online, or just under 16 percent of the country's population. However, access to China, to the Internet in China, is not the same as access to the Internet here in America. Freedom House's 2008 press freedom survey reported that last year in China was marked by additional Internet restrictions, as well as the jailing of more online journalists and bloggers. According to their findings in 2007, at least nine additional journalists and online writers were detained during the year for information they had published on the Internet, particularly on U.S.- based independent Chinese news Web sites. In China, Web sites that have not established or not been established by an official news outlet such as a newspaper or broadcaster are forbidden from gathering or editing their own news or commentary. Legally, they can only reproduce material that has passed through sensors at approved media organizations. As we have mentioned tonight, all media in China are government controlled. China is not the only country to manage public opinion by controlling the Internet. As of 2007, CPJ had documented Internet censorship in 22 countries worldwide, but China was first to launch a comprehensive program to censor online speech and to monitor e-mail and text messaging. Its censorship program is so expansive and technically sophisticated that countries such as Vietnam, Zimbabwe, and Thailand have adopted its practices. This gets back to what I have referred to earlier tonight, the fact that because of its prominence China sets an example, for good or for bad, in this case, regrettably, for ill. Due to technological advancements and the efforts of overseas activists, the Chinese government attempt to suppress information has become more difficult, but that has not stopped the government's efforts to censor online information. Many have referred to Internet restrictions in China as the ``Great Firewall of China.'' The government employs extensive surveillance and filtering systems to prevent Internet users from accessing material that the government considers obscene, harmful to national unity or politically subversive. In May of 2007 Reporters Without Borders launched a Web site in Chinese, and it was blocked within hours of going live. Additionally, all IP addresses linked to a Web site deemed undesirable are blocked without warning. As the web has become a new forum to distribute information, the Chinese government continues to create new laws to suppress the free flow of information on the Internet. In the 5 years after China first allowed private Internet accounts in 1995, it has issued more than 60 sets of regulations to tighten its control of online content. These regulations continue today. In 2005 the government introduced new regulations that bar Web sites from distributing information that violates Chinese constitutional provisions, endangers national security, encourages illegal strikes or promotes unrecognized religious groups. In March of 2007 the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Information Industries banned the opening of new Internet cafes, 113,000 were in existence at the time. Many times Internet censorship is used as a political tool. Internet censorship in China increased prior to and during the 17th Party Congress in October of last year, during which the party leadership for the next 5 years was endorsed. Between April and September, access to over 18,000 Web sites was blocked. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that in September of 2007, security agencies in several regions ordered Internet data centers, which host large numbers of Web sites and blogs, to suspend their service, or disable interactive features such as bulletin boards and comment sections during the Congress' meeting. In an apparent effort to overcome difficulties monitoring audio- visual content with automated filtering technology, the government issued a regulation requiring Web sites with audio visual context to apply for permits. I guess that would pretty well put YouTube and other like Web sites out of business. The regulation, which affects approximately 60,000 sites in China, also banned audio-visual content deemed to fall into vaguely defined categories such as opposing the principles of the People's Republic of China constitution, harming national unity, contributing to ethnic divisions or disrupting social harmony. So if there were entrepreneurs who wanted to start a Chinese version of YouTube, unless they register, unless YouTube registers, that would be prohibited. Indeed the content on those sites would be strictly scrutinized by the Chinese government. According to Freedom House, in some instances restrictions were imposed on a local level, after bloggers supported a protest against construction of a chemical factory. Near the southern City of Xiamen, the local government adopted measures requiring Internet users to provide their real names when posting material on more than 100,000 Web sites registered in the city. The Chinese government demands that individual service providers monitor content. These providers filter searches, block Web sites, delete content and monitor e-mail traffic. The Chinese language search engines of many U.S. firms filter search results and restrict access to information about topics deemed sensitive by the government. These include searches such as Falun Gong, Tibetan independence, and human rights. U.S. filters have to adopt certain restrictions. U.S. sites, like YouTube and others, are subject to the same scrutiny. In 2007, more than 20 companies, some American, were forced to sign a self- disciplined pact which forces them to censor the content to blogs they host in China as bloggers to provide their real identity and to delete postings considered illegal and unhealthy. Despite all this discouraging news there is a silver lining, though, the government's efforts are not foolproof. Brave and determined bloggers continually pop up, change addresses, hide behind proxy servers, and use a range of tactics to side-step government censorship and spread good information to the Chinese public. But it's our hope that these bloggers and our journalists someday will not have to use these extreme measures. We would like to see China reconsider its regulation and censorship of the media. As we mentioned at the outset tonight, press freedom provides a valuable, economic and social benefit that is in China's best interest to ensure free and independent media. We in this country have a great admiration for the Chinese people. They are extraordinarily talented, gifted, resourceful people with a great future ahead of them. It's our sincere view that we do no service to our relationship with China not to encourage in the most forceful way freedom of the press in that country. We hope, many of us, that the Olympic Games would give China that opportunity to move forward and make progress, and we are disappointed that we have not seen that progress that the Chinese government representative would make, and, yet, we push forward. Tonight we think about those journalists, some held longer than any others in China, and we urge the Chinese government to step forward to recognize the benefits to China itself of a free press and free media, to free journalists who are imprisoned for doing work important to the Chinese people. We hope that these efforts will be undertaken soon, that some of the journalists that we profiled here tonight will be released back into the warmth of their own families and their own homes, whether they are in China or Eritrea or in Cuba or in so many parts of the world. That is our fond hope and desire and the raison d'etre of our caucus on freedom of the press.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, six decades ago, on May 14, 1948, David Ben- Gurion declared the independence of the modern State of Israel--the resurrection of a nation that had been scattered and persecuted for nearly two millennia. Ben Gurion's declaration was followed, 11 minutes later, by American recognition of the new state. Within hours, five Arab armies attacked the nascent country. These two elements--the deep friendship with the United States and conflict with its Arab neighbors--would remain dominant threads in the saga of Israel from 1948 to today. In many respects, modern Israel has fulfilled the early Zionists' goal of creating a ``normal'' nation--one that would take its place alongside the world's other states. The country's booming high-tech economy, its modern infrastructure, its global leadership in science and medicine, its laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle and its vibrant democracy are testament to more than a century of effort by Israelis and the Jewish pioneers who preceded them. Two of its Arab neighbors, Egypt and Jordan, have had the courage to sign peace treaties with Israel. Unfortunately, Israel's successes have been undermined by the continued hostility of many of its Arab neighbors and by the unjustified vilification of Israel at the United Nations and in much of the world's media. The singling out of Israel for unjust condemnation has bolstered the hands of Israel's implacable foes and has been a tragic impediment to the realization of progress, prosperity and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. America has long enjoyed a unique bond with Israel--in fact Americans were leading advocates for the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land as far back as the early 19th Century. American support was critical to Israel's survival in its early years and, following the 1967 Six-Day War, the two countries forged a strategic alliance that endures to this day. Our bond with Israel is strong because it encompasses a number of dimensions: it is built on mutual security interests, shared values and a commitment to the rule of law. In its democracy and free press, Israel stands as a beacon to its neighbors, and its openness is all the more remarkable given the security threats that have shaped the country since its founding. As Americans, we should acknowledge these achievements and support Israel as it works toward a durable peace. Mr. Speaker, in the spring of 1948, there were many who predicted that the State of Israel would not even survive a month, much less 60 years. That it has--with its values and vision intact--is a miracle and one worth celebrating.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago we celebrated Earth Day, a holiday that began in 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson recognized the growing public movement that we now know as environmentalism, and called on environmentally concerned citizens to join him in cities around the world to demonstrate, teach, and learn about preserving the world's natural wonders. Speaking on that occasion, Senator Nelson said of the first Earth Day, ``It may be the birth date of a new American ethic that rejects the frontier philosophy that the continent was put here for our plunder and accepts the idea that even urbanized, affluent, mobile societies are interdependent with the fragile life-sustaining systems of the air, the water, and the land.'' Today, we have accomplished many of the goals of the first environmentalists: Cleaning up rivers so polluted by industrial waste that they burned, and air polluted with lead, mercury, and sulfur. But there are still many pollutants that we have not eliminated, and we have come to realize that pollution is not a local problem, but a global one as well. We alter the environment with factories and refineries, but also through agriculture, fishing and mining. In many ways we are lucky. Drawing on our long experience of environmental remediation and policy- making, we know some of the solutions to the endemic, international problem of climate change. This is a problem of such scope and depth that it can seem daunting at times. But if I were ever tempted to retreat from confronting this problem because of its size, I need only look at my daughter Alexa, who is here with me today, and my son Eli and realize that this is not a problem I am willing to leave to them. But Earth Day was first a day for awareness, and I would like to continue that tradition today by taking a short break from the important debates we had earlier today, and celebrate some of the small steps people around the country are taking to reduce their impact on the world we all share. Some Americans have found that the wind passing over their farms and ranches is as valuable a resource as the oil beneath the farm or ranch once was, and have replaced their oil wells with windmills. Some have jumped on board in the most American of ways--by starting a business. The green-tech sector is growing by leaps and bounds with companies developing technologies for solar, wind and geothermal energy, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, energy efficiency, smart electric grids, and low-carbon agriculture, to name a few. Some have replaced their windows and washing machines with more energy-efficient ones, and installed extra insulation to reduce their heating bills. They have discovered that just changing the light bulbs to an energy-efficient model will reduce their electric bill dramatically and save energy. Some companies now offer transit passes and bike racks to encourage their employees to commute efficiently, and many employees are taking up that challenge. But Earth Day is also a day to look forward to see what we can do next. Many Americans will install solar panels, solar water heaters, attic fans and geothermal heat pumps in our homes to reduce our dependence on the power company. Many Americans will buy houses made of renewable materials and cars that run on biofuels. Those same cars will plug into a grid during the day, providing a buffer against blackouts and brownouts. Other Americans will enjoy public transportation that reaches further out into our suburbs and links our communities more tightly together. And still other Americans will work for companies that build green technologies and sell them all over the world to countries desperate for an answer to their polluted water and air, and mounting energy needs. These are the efforts that we must begin today so we can see the fruits of our labor tomorrow. But today, we must all remember that Earth Day is an opportunity to teach our children to respect the planet we live on. By taking them hiking or fishing or camping or bicycling, we introduce them to a world of mountains and forests and beaches that they will continue to enjoy and appreciate for the rest of their lives. We protect the environment so our children will have a healthy planet to live on, and we teach our children to be environmentalists so that their children will have the same healthy home.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 21 years of service of Superior Court Judge Alan Kalkin on the occasion of his recent retirement from the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Kalkin graduated from William and Mary College and the University of Richmond Law School in Virginia. After practicing briefly, he and his wife moved to southern California, where he served as a prosecutor in the city of Burbank for 11\1/2\ years. Judge Kalkin was appointed to the Los Angeles County Municipal Court in 1987 by Governor George Deukmejian. In 2000, he was elevated to the Los Angeles Superior Court after the approved consolidation of the Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Courts. The communities of Los Angeles County have benefited tremendously from his years of service as a judge and a prosecutor, where he earned a superb reputation as a fair, thoughtful, and ethical lawyer and jurist. The Congress of the United States joins in thanking Judge Kalkin for his many years of valuable service.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Elaine Paonessa of Burbank, 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. Paonessa as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and raised in San Diego, Elaine briefly attended San Diego State College before leaving to tour nationally with an all-girl orchestra as a trumpet player and a professional singer. Her musical background would return one day in her outreach efforts. Before she emerged as one of the Burbank community's brightest stars, Elaine relocated to Burbank with her husband, Bill, in 1952. There they raised their daughter, Gay, and their son, Guy, and were together until Bill's passing in 2006. It was during her 15 years as a homemaker that Elaine first amassed an impressive roster of volunteer commitments. As she worked with the Boy Scouts, led the Emblem Club of Burbank as president, chaired the city's Women's Council, founded the local Performing Arts Federation, and supported St. Joseph's Medical Center, Elaine established the blueprint of a truly devoted citizen. When she returned to work in 1967, Elaine blazed professional trails as the first female sales representative for the Automobile Club of Southern California. Never one to shy from community involvement, she served on the Burbank Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Salvation Army advisory board. Today Elaine has not slowed a bit. She continues to lead and volunteer with several community organizations, including the Burbank Farmer's Market and the Burbank Civitan Club, to name just a few. Elaine revisits her roots as a traveling performer as the Musical Director of the Van Bloem Singers, a group that visits and performs at senior residences and healthcare facilities. For her incredible breadth of service, Elaine has been recognized by Los Angeles County Commission on Aging and has been honored with the President's Volunteer Service Award. With no charitable stone left unturned, Elaine's selfless and awe- inspiring dedication to the Burbank community 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, Ms. Elaine Paonessa.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Frances A. Moore 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 Ms. Moore as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. A review of Frances' personal and professional activities reveals a life-long commitment to community involvement. Raised in Monterey Park, Frances is a native of the San Gabriel Valley. She is a product of our public schools and local colleges, earning degrees from East Los Angeles College, California State University at Los Angeles, and the University of Redlands. Frances has devoted her forty-five year professional career to the City Clerk's Office of the great City of Alhambra and has served as its beloved City Clerk since 1986. As Alhambra's City Clerk, Frances is well-respected among her peers for her remarkable efficiency, her unparalleled depth of knowledge, and her professional dedication. By streamlining the city's legislative and record management procedures, she saved valuable time and public funding. Frances is also a member of several professional organizations such as the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the City Clerks' Association of California, the City Clerks' Association of Southern California, and the Los Angeles Paralegal Federation. In addition to her responsibilities as the City Clerk, Frances established the self-sustaining Public Arts Gallery in the lobby of Alhambra City Hall. The gallery promotes local artists' work by providing a forum for creative recognition, distribution, and sales. A commission on each artwork sold helps cover the gallery's operating expenses without reliance on public funds. For her efforts, Frances earned the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence from the League of California Cities. Frances' star shines brightly among local, regional, and national philanthropic realms as well. A member of Rotary International since 1992, she has served as its Assistant Governor and as the President of the Alhambra Rotary Club. She is also a former member and past President of Soroptimist International of Alhambra, San Marino, and San Gabriel. Frances is a dedicated supporter of the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA and chaired the YMCA Capital Fund Campaign. She is a lifetime member of both the Alhambra Historical Society and the Alhambra Day Nursery Auxiliary. With no professional or charitable stone left unturned, Frances' selfless dedication to the Alhambra community 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, Ms. Frances A. Moore.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Jaylene L. Moseley 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 Ms. Moseley as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Jaylene has focused her professional and philanthropic energies in northwest Pasadena and Altadena for over 30 years. She founded and leads the J.L. Moseley Company, a firm that develops and manages sustainable commercial real estate projects in northwest Pasadena and Altadena. She also serves as president of Flintridge Operating Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides direct services to build the strength, effectiveness, and long-term viability of community-based organizations in northwest Pasadena and Altadena. Her company's commitment is to develop community while developing real estate. This is accomplished by developing sustainable commercial projects that are sensitive to the neighborhoods in which they are situated; involving neighbors--including youth--in every phase of development; leasing commercial space to tenants who agree to participate in community revitalization by hiring or by providing services to local residents; meticulously maintaining the properties; ensuring that each of the 14 buildings the company manages contributes to neighborhood efforts annually; and participating in community dialogue and actions to strengthen neighborhoods. Reflecting the company's commitment to sustainability, J.L. Moseley Company developed the first Gold LEED-Certified building in Pasadena in 2006, and Jaylene donated her services and managed the development of Mothers' Club's Gold LEED-Certified building in 2007. Jaylene is deeply committed to the education of the community's youth. She worked with community leaders to launch the after-school program ``Mustangs on the Move,'' which tutors high school students, works with youth on special projects, and hires students to work for her company. With the goal of inspiring students to expand their future horizons, she contributed $250,000 in profit from one of the company's developments to ``Mustangs on the Move'' to provide opportunities for PUSD students to participate in summer programs on college campuses. In addition, Jaylene personally contributes hundreds of hours each year to local nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, and community-based businesses. J.L. Moseley Company has received 14 awards for its real estate developments, and Jaylene has received 23 awards from community groups for her professional and personal contributions to the community. She lives every day by her personal mantra, that ``in all [her] endeavors, [she] is committed to economic and social justice.'' Jaylene's selfless service to the Pasadena community 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, Ms. Jaylene L. Moseley.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Lissa Layng Reynolds of South 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. Reynolds as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Lissa is a professional theater, film, and television actress whose interaction with her community goes far beyond the stage and screen. As the president of the California Performing Arts Centre and co-artistic director of the award-winning Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena, Lissa will celebrate the theatre's 10th anniversary this year. She shares the milestone with her husband, James, who also serves as the theatre's co-artistic director and can be seen on NBC's ``Days of Our Lives'' as Commissioner Abe Carver. Together they have produced and co- produced over 30 plays during the Fremont Centre Theatre's decade of existence. Lissa and her family have lived in South Pasadena for over 20 years. Her son, Jed Reynolds, graduated from South Pasadena schools and now coaches the high school junior varsity basketball team. Jed is also pursuing a career as an actor and is currently starring in the Fremont Centre Theatre's hit show ``Ravensridge.'' In addition to the Fremont Centre Theatre, Lissa and James own and operate Classes Unlimited, an adult learning center, and Big Men Stuff, a clothing company that uses slogans to combat domestic abuse. The Reynolds' were selected as two of the most influential people in Pasadena by Pasadena Weekly and they received the Gold Crown Award from the Pasadena Arts Council for supporting local arts education and development. Giving back to the community is a priority for Lissa. Her busy schedule is packed equally with volunteer, fundraising, and professional efforts. Examples include the Haven House Women's Shelter in Pasadena, the Pasadena Humane Society, the Foothill YMCA, and the South Pasadena Police Department. For many years Lissa has joined her husband on USO handshake and educational tours for the troops and for their families. To encourage students to become active in the arts, the pair frequently directs local elementary school productions of Shakespeare and hosts an annual charity celebrity basketball tournament to benefit South Pasadena schools. For her continued philanthropic efforts Lissa has been honored by numerous organizations, including Women at Work, the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and the Tournament of Roses Association. Lissa's stage is her community; rather than focus on herself, she works to make South Pasadena the star. Her selfless service to the South Pasadena community 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. Lissa Layng Reynolds.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Doris Lau 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. Lau as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Doris Lau's remarkable journey began when her parents left China and settled in Chile. Born in Iquique, the capital of the country's northernmost region, Doris worked in the fields alongside her family as a small child. Through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice the family built a neighborhood bakery and grocery store business; however, they eventually fled to the United States due to political unrest. In Los Angeles they began once again to rebuild their lives. Doris's supplemental income from working in garment district factories helped to purchase their first home in Monterey Park. Doris progressed from sewing four buttons per penny to attending Los Angeles City College. She then went on to major in Business Administration and Law at Cal State Los Angeles and advanced from clerical to paralegal positions at various law firms. Inspired by her personal history, Doris has become an integral member of the Monterey Park volunteer community since moving there in 1985. She supports intercultural exchange in her role as a Trustee of the city's Bruggemeyer Library, the Secretary for the city's Commission for Art & Culture, and as the chair of the local Artisan Fairs. Her other leadership positions include serving as a Board Member, Southern Regional Representative, and Membership Chair of the California Association of Library Trustees & Commissioners (CALTAC) and as the VP, Legislative Coordinator, and Membership Chair of the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) for her local, Chapter 103. Doris's fluency in both Chinese and Spanish embodies the cultural diversity of Southern California and of our Nation's proud history. Her outreach is similarly inclusive: she is a Board Member of the Committee for Special Emphasis Programs, which includes national heritage awareness months, and she volunteers for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). In the past, Doris has led several organizations in which she remains an active member, including serving as President and Lieutenant Governor of Los Angeles Monterey Park Optimist, President of the Monterey Park Homeowners and Renters Association, Treasurer and Secretary of the Eastside Democratic Club, and President and Treasurer of Santa in York Hill, an annual community holiday event for low-income families. Ever since she arrived on U.S. soil, Doris has devoted her time and energy beyond her own needs; she works for the benefit of the surrounding community as a whole. Her 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, Ms. Doris Lau.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Angelina Levy of Temple City, 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. Levy as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Angelina Levy began her career in fashion when she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1954. After 20 years of experience in the New York fashion industry, she moved her family to California but was unable to find programs that catered to her son's special developmental needs. In response to the void, Angie established the School of Fashion and Design for the Developmentally Disabled in 1984 and embarked on a remarkable legacy of community service and leadership. Angie's School of Fashion and Design for the Developmentally Disabled works to provide students with tools to become self-sufficient and to boost self-esteem. It proves that the skills necessary for sewing and crafts can also be used to improve the learning and the concentration skills of those who are developmentally disabled. In addition to sewing, dressmaking, and tailoring, the groundbreaking facility provides daily instruction via their ``Healthy Living Skills'' program, where students learn about food shopping, cooking, and computing, using the resources of the local community. At any given time there are over 40 students who range from young adults to seniors, and each emerges with enhanced social skills needed to integrate in today's complicated world. In addition to her work with the School of Fashion and Design for the Developmentally Disabled, Angie is a past president of the United Commercial Travelers of America, the East Los Angeles Regional Center, and Civitan International. She has volunteered with the Special Olympics and the San Gabriel Civic Theater Group, as well as served on the Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities, PTFEAD, and its related U.S. Congressional Advisory Board. Angie is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Distinguished Service Award and the 2004 Soroptimist International Woman of the Year. It is little wonder that Angie's peers are proud to call her a ``marvel.'' Angie's selfless service to the Temple City community 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, Ms. Angelina Levy.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Valarie Gomez of San Gabriel, 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. Gomez as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. Valarie Gomez was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and attended both Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes and Loyola Marymount University. There she tackled the formidable combination of double majors in English and Business Administration, as well as double minors in Philosophy and Religious Studies. She and her husband Carlos have three children, including two daughters and one son. Valarie and Carlos first immersed themselves in the local community by opening Bob's Old Fashioned Freeze in 1983. Children and adults alike would flock to the establishment for the ice cream, the sandwiches, and the friendly owners who helped neighborhood children learn the value of hard work and of a supportive mentor. It was at that time that Valarie learned the importance of showing youth their true potential. Her sweet-toothed patrons have since become responsible community leaders and still keep in touch. After owning and operating the family business for several years, Valarie turned her attention to community outreach. She rose to Executive Director of Children's Ministries at San Gabriel Union Church and Christian School, founded its After-School Day Care program, served as the Executive Director of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce, and led the Gabrielino High School Career Partners program. Valarie is also the 2-time past President and current member of the San Gabriel Rotary, is a volunteer for various Kiwanis and Asian Youth Center events, and is a member of the San Gabriel Coordinating Council and the Parks & Recreation Commission. The 25-year San Gabriel resident recently became the CEO of the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA after only 17 months with the organization. She showed an enterprising attitude from the start and approached challenges with optimism and energy, leading to a doubling in profit compared to the previous year, newly rebuilt community relations, and the largest Service Club department in the nation. It is no wonder, then, that Valarie's generosity, approachability, and efficiency are so highly respected in the San Gabriel community. Armed with a passion to ``make memories that last a lifetime,'' Valarie is dedicated to empowering others to succeed. Her selfless service to the San Gabriel community 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, Ms. Valarie Gomez.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Catherine M. Pelley of Glendale, 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. Pelley as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district. As a past nurse and Captain in the U.S. Army, Cathy is a veteran who served her country during the Vietnam War as a psychiatric nurse working with the brave men and women returning home from combat. She is currently the President and CEO of Glendale Memorial Hospital and the Chair of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce Board. Cathy also serves on the Board of Directors for Glendale's Armenian Bone Marrow Bank, Salvation Army, and regional Brothers of Saint John of God Healthcare and Retirement Centers. Under her leadership, Glendale Memorial Hospital's infrastructure has expanded to include additional imaging equipment, several new community clinics, and modern communications systems. These easily-accessible, digital patient records will prevent medication errors and reduce transcription times, as well as maintain up-to-date information for future reference. With vision that reaches beyond hospital walls, Cathy believes wholeheartedly in the future of the Glendale community. Her efforts to overcome South Glendale's economic challenges were partnered with remarkable honesty, dignity, understanding, and determination. By highlighting common ground between conflicting groups, she gave victims a more effective voice in their healthcare and rallied community support behind the revitalization of a blighted area. Ever since, business has returned with new retail, dining, theatre, and housing options. Cathy has also improved the area by expanding the ``Brand Boulevard of Cars'' and by implementing solutions to severe traffic congestion. Though she faced an aging medical facility, dwindling local business, and a community in conflict, Cathy never backed down from the obstacles before her. She chose instead to provide leadership where it was needed, to invest in the health--both corporeal and economic--of the City of Glendale. In return, the area has transformed itself over four short years to become a beacon of civic progress. It exists as an example of how one person's optimistic vision can infuse a diverse community with the hope and the means to achieve excellence as one. With steadfast dedication, Cathy's selfless service to the Glendale community 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 M. Pelley.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Gamble House upon the occasion of its one-hundredth anniversary. The Gamble House was designed by American Arts and Crafts architects Charles and Henry Greene. The Greene brothers have left an indelible impression on the design heritage of California houses, and their influence is most evident in their best-preserved work, the Gamble House in Pasadena, California. The Greene brothers' distinctive style was deeply influenced by Japanese architecture and the English Arts and Crafts Movement, and is visible in the distinguished treatment of wood, stone, shingle, and brick. They designed all aspects of the house with assistance from notable European-trained craftsmen, John and Peter Hall, who elevated their exquisite designs to high levels of artistic excellence both throughout the house and in all the joinery, furniture, and decorative arts. Construction on the Gamble House began in 1908. In January of 1909, the owners, David and Mary Gamble, moved in. The house was inhabited by the Gamble family for over fifty years, and remained their property until 1966, when the Gamble heirs, led by James N. Gamble, deeded the house to the City of Pasadena in a joint agreement with the University of Southern California's School of Architecture. Boasting nearly 30,000 visitors annually, the Gamble House continues to play a leading role in educating the public about a unique part of Pasadena's heritage, as well as the history of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The Docent Council of the Gamble House, formed in 1967, encompasses a group of volunteers who aid with the cultural and educational components of the Gamble House. The Friends of the Gamble House, founded in 1972, is composed of individuals and organizations whose purpose is to financially support the house and its programs. Some of the programs include the Scholars in Residence Fellowships, the Junior Docent Program, and participation in the Museums of the Arroyo Day celebration. In 1974 the Gamble House was named a California State Historic Landmark, and four years later the United States Department of the Interior designated the Gamble House a National Historic Landmark. The house has been preserved with the help of the James N. Gamble Preservation Fund. I ask all members to join me in recognizing the Gamble House upon its one-hundredth anniversary, and to congratulate the staff and volunteers who keep the facility open for the public's education and enjoyment.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak about the introduction of the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2008. I introduced this bill today with my colleague Congressman Mike Rodgers of Michigan to allow youth-serving organizations to perform Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint-based background checks on prospective volunteers. We are joined by Senator Joseph Biden, Senator Arlen Specter, and Senator Orrin Hatch, who are introducing identical legislation in the Senate. A positive, stable influence can make an incredible difference in a child's life, and we are lucky to have millions of Americans eager to serve their community. In 1986, as a young lawyer, I volunteered as a Big Brother and was paired with a wonderful seven year-old named ``David.'' That relationship has been one of the most rewarding and enduring in my life. It also taught me first hand the trust that we place in the adult in a mentoring situation. Groups like Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Girl Scouts, and thousands of agencies, large and small, are doing amazing work for children across America. This bill is about giving them the tools they need to protect children and to accomplish their mission. The Child protection Improvements Act will allow organizations that pair volunteers with children, whether as mentors, Little League coaches, or Scout Masters, to perform quick and accurate background checks through the FBI's fingerprint-based system. It will be simple for organizations to request a check, it will cost non-profits a maximum of 525, and they will receive a result in less than a week. This legislation arose from the lessons we learned from a 2003 pilot program established in the PROTECT Act. The pilot gave certain mentoring and youth agencies the ability to submit fingerprints directly to the FBI to receive a determination if the volunteers criminal record made them unfit for the role. In 2003, and earlier, state law enforcement agencies have been able to access the FBI system, but as of today only one-third of states have the infrastructure in place for a mentoring agency to get an FBI background check in an affordable and timely manner. The PROTECT ACT pilot demonstrated the need for background checks to protect children from predators. Six percent of checks conducted came back with serious criminal records, in many cases records that would not have turned up through a search of a state database or through a name-based, commercial search. There are cases around the nation in which applicants were sex offenders, repeat felons, and child abusers. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reviewed tiles in which an applicant had a criminal record in four states, including a conviction for murder, which they didn't reveal when they applied to be a volunteer. The pilot also taught us that youth serving organizations want to watch out for children and they want access to affordable, accurate, and prompt background checks. And that was exactly what the pilot provided, returning a fitness determination in an average of three to five days for less than $20. The Child Protection Improvements Act also protects the privacy rights of volunteers. No criminal records will he transmitted to anyone other than NCMEC without the consent of the volunteer, so their right to privacy will be protected. If they believe their record contains errors, or if they disagree with the determination of NCMEC, they can challenge the completeness of the record or request its full release. There is a clear and compelling need for this legislation. By passing the Child Protection Improvements Act, Congress will take an important step forward in protecting children and supporting the service of thousands of community-based youth serving organizations around the country.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, the fight against terror is, at one level, a military struggle, but it is also, at its roots, a battle over hearts and minds. On Sunday, we suffered a major setback in that battle when the President of the United States vetoed legislation that would unequivocally state to the world that we do not condone torture in any form, in any place, under any circumstance. Instead, by appearing to abandon the rule of law by appearing to step away from the Geneva Conventions, by failing to renounce the use of torture in the clearest of terms, we are only undermining our standing in the world and endangering the lives of our very own men and women. When the Attorney General of the United States recently testified before the Judiciary Committee, he could not tell us if and when waterboarding constituted torture. He even suggested that a determination whether something constitutes torture depends on who is being subjected to the technique and the desirability of the information that is being sought. His testimony was murky. It was ambiguous. It failed to establish any bright line for our personnel or for the rest of the world. He could only say that if it were done to him, well, then that would be torture. Instead, the bright line standard, if there was one to be found in his testimony, and the one that he asked us to hold up to the rest of the world, was whether or not a harsh interrogation technique is part of a program authorized by an attorney in the obscure Office of Legal Counsel. I am deeply concerned about what this says to our own personnel and about what it says to the rest of the world. This is, indeed, no intangible loss, for the effects of this failure of moral leadership may tragically be visited on those brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Who among us can fail to recall the opening ways of the Iraq war when American troops had been captured and were paraded in front of the cameras? We were disgusted with their treatment, and rightfully so. If we hesitate, equivocate, or otherwise fail to ban the use of waterboarding, how can we have any confidence that when American troops are captured they will not be subjected to this form of torture? How can we make the case that other nations or other enemies must not torture because we don't torture? How can we win the battle for hearts and minds if we surrender our most powerful weapon, the power of our good example? Mr. Speaker, I urge the override of the President's veto.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 105, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Emeritus A.D. Thomas, who is celebrating more than 50 years in the ministry. Pastor Thomas began serving in the ministry in the late 1950s at Saint Matthew Baptist Church in Merced, California. In 1966, he was called to be pastor of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Pasadena, where he ministered for 28 years, until his retirement in 1994. Under Pastor Thomas' leadership at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, many milestones were achieved. A few of the landmark achievements include the purchase of the church's surrounding property, construction of a new sanctuary and the A.D. Thomas Educational Center and the incorporation of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church. Many youth-oriented programs were created under Pastor Thomas' guidance, including a scholarship ministry, BEST after-school program, children's church, vacation bible school, youth choir, and Baptist Youth Fellowship. Other programs created during his tenure were the Nurses Guild, food outreach--clothing ministry, the Board of Christian Education, the transportation department, and new membership ministry. Pastor Thomas has also given generously of his time and experience to many community and church-affiliated organizations, such as the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. Pastor Thomas and his wife, Dr. Sandra Thomas, long-time Altadena residents, have three children, Michael, Vincent, and Rosalyn, and six grandchildren. I ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Pastor Emeritus A.D. Thomas for his lifetime commitment to religious services and the betterment of the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Cynthia J. Kurtz, who recently retired from her post as City Manager of Pasadena, California. Ms. Kurtz served the City for over 20 years, spending the last 10 years as the chief administrative officer of Pasadena's diverse community of 144,000 residents and has left a legacy that will be enjoyed by generations to come. In her capacity as city manager, Cynthia was responsible for over 2,300 employees with an operating budget of over $550 million. With a keen vision for the ``big picture'' and a wealth of experience to draw upon, she was the driving force behind some of the most important projects in the city's history. Cynthia came to Pasadena after 10 years of employment with the city of Portland, Oregon, where she held a variety of positions in the Office of Transportation and the Bureau of Economic Development. That experience served Pasadena well when she was hired as the City's Capital Program Administrator in 1987. In 1991, she became director of public works for the City of Pasadena where she shepherded high profile projects such as the delicate $24 million reconstruction of the historic Colorado Street Bridge. During my years in the California State Senate, I worked with Cynthia on the planning for a light rail line from Los Angeles to Pasadena, and her contributions to that project were vital to its success. Completed on time and under budget, the Gold Line light rail project has been an invaluable asset to the San Gabriel Valley, and especially to Pasadena. The Pasadena City Council was well aware of Cynthia's hard work on their behalf, and when the position of city manager became open in 1998, she was the first woman to be appointed to that post. As city manager, she first concentrated on solidifying budget procedures while also attending to the quality of life issues that make Pasadena a special place to live and work. Ms. Kurtz's most recent landmark achievement was last year's completion of a $118 million renovation of historic Pasadena City Hall. When the structure was determined to be seismically vulnerable, she worked with her staff to create a plan that would safeguard Pasadena employees while also preserving this most recognizable jewel of the ``Crown City.'' The project was completed ahead of schedule and continues to stand as a testament to Pasadena's rich architectural heritage. Cynthia Kurtz has been an invaluable asset to the city of Pasadena, and I ask all Members to join me in thanking Cynthia J. Kurtz for over 2 decades of dedicated service.