Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the face and fabric of our nation. It is a special honor for me to recognize Ms. Mary Alice O'Connor for her outstanding contributions to California's 27th Congressional District. Mary Alice has generously contributed over 50 years of volunteer service to the Southern California community and residents of Burbank, California are especially appreciate of her efforts on behalf of the community. Mary Alice has lived in Burbank for 58 years, moving from Berkeley in 1944. She and her husband Ken raised two children, John and Joan Patricia. Mary Alice is the proud grandmother of three granddaughters, Christy, Kendall, and Paige. Mary Alice has always been a strong supporter of the community. Ever since World War II when Mary Alice and a number of volunteers wrapped Christmas presents for American troops, she has dedicated herself to improving the lives of others. Since then she has been involved with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, has served on the Board of Directors of the Burbank Health Care Foundation, and she currently serves as the Fundraising Committee Chairman for the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Capital Campaign. Mary Alice is most noted for her dedication to the community's students and especially ensuring that all students are exposed to the arts. Over the years, she has served on numerous PTA boards and served as an elected official on the Burbank Board of Education. In promoting arts education Mary Alice worked hard to reopen the Starlight Bowl for a summer music series and she served as the first chairman of The Children's Open House at the Bowl, which introduced thousands of children each year to the joys of music, dance, poetry and theater at the Hollywood Bowl. For her efforts, Mary Alice has been has received The National Volunteer Center Beautiful Activist Award and in 1998 received the Older American Recognition Award. In 1999 the Kiwanis Club of Burbank honored her at their Annual Gala. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Ms. Mary Alice O'Connor. The entire community joins me in thanking Mary Alice for her continued efforts to make the 27th Congressional District a community committed to our children.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the face and fabric of our nation. In honor of Women's History month, it is my honor to recognize an outstanding woman of the California's 27th Congressional District. Ms. Barbara Hughes of Tujunga, California has been pivotal in the social and economic vitality of her community and I wish to salute her efforts today. Born and raised in Sunland-Tujunga, Barbara attended Verdugo Hills High School and currently resides on the property which her grandparents homesteaded years ago. She is married to Harry Hughes, the proud mother to three adult children: Michele, Mark and Michael and the even prouder grandmother to her five grandchildren: Justin, Travis, Jennifer, Marshall, and Jaymie. Her involvement in the community of Sunland-Tujunga has made it one of the most vibrant areas in my district. Through her involvement with the Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce as Executive Director and then as President of its Board of Directors, Barbara has been able to plan and execute community events which have vastly improved the quality of life for the residents of Sunland-Tujunga. She was a leader in the initial planning stages for the community's neighborhood council, she helped organize the ``Business Focus'' group which addresses the current and ongoing business needs of the community, and has been instrumental in strengthening community togetherness through an array of outstanding events. She has served as a columnist for the Foothill Leader and is currently working on publishing a community newspaper for the Sunland-Tujunga area. Over the years she has been awarded the ``Women of Achievement'' and ``Women in History'' honors from the Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce and was recently named one of the Glendale News Press's 103 Most Influential People in the foothills communities. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Ms. Barbara Hughes. The entire community joins me in thanking Barbara for her continued efforts to make the 27th Congressional District a more vibrant and enjoyable place to live.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the face and fabric of our nation. I stand today, to recognize an outstanding woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Ms. Denise Nelson Nash. Ms. Nash's passion for community and especially the arts has made the City of Pasadena and surrounding areas, a more rich and vital environment in which to live. Ms. Nash is a graduate of Scripps College and earned her Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan. She began her professional career as a professor and has since taught at Delta College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Borough Manhattan Community College. Noted for her passion and ability as a teacher, she was invited to be director of the contemporary dance program at the Instituto de Danza in Caracas, Venezuela. A strong advocate of the arts and especially arts education, Ms. Nash was the director of the Plaza de la Raza School of Performing and Visual Arts in East Los Angeles and in 1985 founded Bottom Line Dance Collective, a nonprofit organization providing creative opportunities for young people throughout the Los Angeles area. For six years, Denise served as the Director of the Arts for the City of Pasadena. In this capacity she provided leadership for the Public Art Program, arts education programs in the city's schools, community arts programs, and special projects including the Pasadena Emmy Celebration and HBO Pictures Production ``The Tuskegee Airmen.'' Currently, Denise serves as the Director of the Office of Public Events for the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Throughout her career, Denise has focused on using her position to enhance opportunities for others. As an advocate of the arts and community events, she has opened a realm of possibilities to young and old alike and has created an environment in which art is appreciated, respected and loved. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Ms. Denise Nelson Nash. The entire community joins me in thanking Denise for her continued efforts to make the 27th Congressional District a more vibrant and enjoyable place to live.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the face and fabric of our nation. I honor today, Dr. Rita Vorperian. Dr. Vorperian currently serves as the Senior Administrator and Executive Secretary of the Armenian Relief Society of Western U.S.A. Regional Executive. In this capacity, Rita has fought hard to bring both humanitarian and economic relief to the people of Armenia and its government who are currently suffering through troubling economic times. A native of Aleppo, Syria, Rita is a graduate of the Karen Yeppe Armenian High School of Aleppo. She attended St. Joseph University in Beirut and graduated with a three-year course in higher Armenological studies. On her arrival in the United States, Rita enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles where she attained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Near Eastern Studies, her Masters Degree in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and her PhD in Armenian literature and criticism. Her professional career is as exemplary as her educational background. She has been active in the field of journalism, making submissions to AZTAG Daily of Beirut, ASBAREZ of Los Angeles, and HATRENIK of Boston. She has also contributed essays and short stories to the literary magazine PAKINE of Beirut. Her mastery of seven languages including: Armenian, Arabic, French, English, Turkish, Spanish and Russian has helped her in her role as an advocate for the people of Armenia around the world in serving their humanitarian needs as well as helping to preserve the cultural heritage and identity of the Armenian people. Her work as the Senior Administrator and Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Relief Society of Western U.S.A. Regional Executive has helped establish a vital and enriched Armenian community in the 27th Congressional District and she continues to work for cultural understanding and acceptance of the Armenian prople in America. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Dr. Rita Vorperian. The entire community joins me in thanking Rita for her continued efforts to make the 27th Congressional District a more vibrant and culturally enriched place to live.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the face and fabric of our nation. I would like to pay special recognition to Ms. Lucia G. Reyes, an outstanding woman of California's 27th Congressional District. Over the years, Lucia has been an outspoken proponent for women's issues and has helped bring those issues to the forefront of my community. Lucia currently serves as a project manager for the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. She is overseeing a very exciting clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of a T Cell Vaccine to treat Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. If effective, this treatment may prove a powerful weapon in the fight against this debilitating and deadly disease. Lucia's positive energy can be seen all around the City of Pasadena. She has thrown herself into activities with the expressed purpose of making the lives of those around her better. She serves as a Commissioner on the City of Pasadena's Commission on the Status of Women in which she focuses on addressing the specific concerns and needs of women throughout the community. Her tireless efforts are to ensure the future provides the freedom and dignity each human deserves. Complimenting her role on the Commission, Lucia also serves on the boards of Planned Parenthood of Pasadena and Pasadena's Cinco de Mayo. She serves as a religious instructor at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, volunteers at Pasadena's Youth Center, and is a committee member of the Adelante Mujur Latina Conference and HOPE'S Latina Symposium. Her breadth of volunteer work is remarkable and all who have the opportunity to work beside her are better off for the experience. The women of my district and especially the women in the City of Pasadena could find no better advocate than Lucia. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Ms. Lucia Reyes. The entire community joins me in thanking Lucia for her continued efforts to make the 27th Congressional District a more accepting place in which to live.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the face and fabric of our nation. It is a special privilege to recognize an outstanding woman of California's 27th Congressional District. Dr. Sossina M. Haile is a well-respected and valuable member of the educational community in my district and her work as a professor and advisor are important in helping to shape the face and scope of research in this country. Dr. Haile received her Bachelor of Science degree in Math, Science and Engineering from MIT and went on to receive her M.S. degree in the same discipline from the University of California, Berkeley. She returned to her alma mater, MIT, where she earned a Ph.D. She began her professional career in education at the Max-Planck- Institut fur Festkorperforschung in Stuttgart, Germany as a Fulbright then Humboldt Fellow between October 1991 and August 1993. She served as the Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering's Battellee Assistant Professor at the University of Washington from September 1993 to September 1996. In the fall of 1996 she became an Assistant Professor in the Materials Science Department at the California Institute of Technology and I am happy to announce that she was recently granted an Associate Professorship at Caltech in the fall of last year. Over her academic years, Dr. Haile has compiled an impressive and outstanding list of notable awards and accomplishments. She was named an award recipient as a National Young Investigator from 1994 to 1999 and was presented the Hardy Award in 1997 for exceptional promise of success in materials science. In 2000 she was honored with the Coble Award in recognition of outstanding research in ceramic science and in 2001 was presented with the J. Wagner Award for significant contributions towards the understanding of high-temperature, ion-conducting materials. One of her greatest contributions to our community is the research which she is undertaking and the doctoral, masters, and senior theses students which she is guiding along this journey. Dr. Haile's time and efforts are certainly appreciated not only by the science community but also by the sixteen students which she mentors and guides so well. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional District, Dr. Sossina Haile. The entire community joins me in thanking Sossina for her continued efforts to make the 27th Congressional District a place of academic excellence and continued research success.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas for yielding to me and also thank him for the extraordinary and bipartisan work he has done to try to bring America's budget into balance. America needs a wartime budget. We need a budget that will provide the resources necessary to win the war on terrorism, that will stimulate our economy without aggravating our deficits, and that will protect and reform Social Security and Medicare but not finance the war out of its trust funds. In sum, our country needs a budget that will call on the American people to make sacrifices to win, sacrifices they are willing to make if only their leaders will have the courage to ask and speak plainly. The President's budget is not there yet. The budget we will vote on in the House this week calls for the most significant increase in military spending in more than two decades, and that increase will enjoy bipartisan support. The budget also proposes significant new tax cuts, and the House leadership has also signaled its interest in making last year's tax cuts permanent. Domestic spending increases only slightly or remains flat. And the budget requires sacrifice. There is only one problem: It is not we who are being asked to sacrifice. It is our children. Advocates of the budget call it balanced. Regrettably, it is anything but balanced. The $2.1 trillion budget uses $200 billion in Social Security trust funds to pay for other programs, spends all of the Medicare surplus on priorities other than paying down the national debt, fails to count the cost of the $43 billion economic stimulus package just signed by the President, assumes that spending levels on domestic priorities will be reduced, including the President's own education initiative, and that mammoth problems, like the growth of the alternative minimum tax, will go unaddressed. But even these glaring omissions are not enough to balance the budget. The gimmickry goes further. The budget addresses only the next 5 years, not 10, to hide big late- year costs. And the budget relies on the White House's own budget numbers rather than the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates, which are more conservative. Although institutional memories are sometimes short, I am sure none will forget that only 6 years ago the House Republicans shut down the government twice when President Clinton failed to use CBO estimates to balance the budget. It is no wonder that Secretary of the Treasury O'Neill will soon be before Congress asking us to raise the debt limit so that the United States of America can borrow another $750 billion on top of the $5.9 trillion we already owe to continue paying its bills. Only last year, the Secretary predicted that an increase in the debt limit would not be necessary for 7 years, and the President and Congress vowed we would never dip into Social Security. It is true that the war on terrorism and long- deferred improvements to our military readiness have required the largest increase in the defense budget in two decades. But this increase of $45 billion in military costs and almost $20 billion in homeland security are but a fraction of the multi-trillion dollar change in the Nation's economic projections over the next 10 years. The tax cut recession played a much more significant role in expending the anticipated surplus, with the recession having the largest impact in the short term and the tax cuts playing a more prominent role in the long term. But whatever the causes of our current economic shortfall, the fact remains that the administration has yet to come up with a budget and an intermediate or even long-term plan to restore balance to our budget and stop deficit spending. When we had a $5.6 trillion surplus and no war, we could afford a substantial tax cut, and I supported the President. But now we are at war, we have no surplus, and we are spending the Social Security trust fund. To propose dramatic new tax cuts at a time like this, or to make permanent those we enacted before, before it is clear whether we can afford them, means financing the war out of our parents' retirement and out of our children's education; and this just is not right. While it may be necessary to deficit spend in the short term, while we are at war and not yet fully recovered from the recession, Congress should work with the administration to develop a balanced budget for America's future that does not rely on raiding Social Security. Everything must be on the table. Secretary O'Neill's request for a mammoth increase in our national debt should be rejected in favor of a small, short-term increase and a plan to return our country to balanced budgets. America has always been willing to sacrifice to win its wars. She still is. But she must be asked by leaders who are willing to speak candidly about what is at stake and what it will take to win. She must be asked by those with faith in the essential generosity of the American people and who will not tell us that we can have our cake and eat it too. Our prosperity and that of our children may depend on it.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment proposed by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren). The gentleman who just spoke quoted that a rose by any other name is still a rose, and I would like to talk about one of those roses that we talk about frequently in this House, and that is the rose of federalism, that is the rose of State rights. Because State rights and deferring to the legislatures of the 50 States is as pure and as beautiful as a rose, both in this context, as it is in so many other contexts that our colleagues remind us of from time to time. What does that mean in the case of this amendment? It means that when a legislature like that in California passes a law to protect the consumers of that State by empowering individuals to act as private attorneys general, rather than simply expanding the attorney general's office and hiring more and more attorneys general, California has chosen to protect consumers by empowering individuals to act as the attorney general when the attorney general lacks the resources to do it. Maybe the case is too small to impose upon the attorney general, so private citizens can bring these actions to protect their rights. This is exactly what the States are supposed to do; they are supposed to innovate. They are supposed to use new methods of attacking old problems. So California has used this new method of private attorneys general to attack unfair business practices. What is the Congress doing in this bill right now by opposing this amendment? It is saying that, well, we are fine with federalism, we are fine with State rights except when the rights are about protecting consumers; except when we do not like the direction where the State may be headed. I served in the California legislature for 4 years. We have very strong consumer protections. Large corporations that do business in California, they take advantage of those protections in a positive way. They take advantage of all of the benefits of California law, and we should not pass a bill today that basically says that these large, out- of-state companies that want to take advantage of the good economic environment in California and sell goods and products and services to Californians, to take advantage of that forum should be somehow immune, be able to remove from California courts, maybe remove from California completely, any action that consumers might bring or a private attorney general might bring on their behalf. That simply is not right. A rose by any other name is a rose, and the rose of federalism supports this amendment. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor South Pasadena Little League which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Saturday, March 9, 2002. For 50 years, South Pasadena Little League has offered youngsters an opportunity to enjoy the numerous benefits of organized athletics and community events. South Pasadena Little League, at the time of its founding, was the only organized sport in the City of South Pasadena. Over the last half century, the league has grown considerably, and this season, over 700 young boys and girls, ranging in age from 5 to 14, will participate in baseball and softball. The benefits of participation in South Pasadena Little League are extensive. Over the years, South Pasadena Little League has instilled in its participants a sense of character and loyalty and has set forth a framework to teach teamwork, sportsmanship, and fairplay. The league not only affects those who participate as athletes but also the entire community of spectators, parents, and donors. Each year, members of the community donate more than $20,000 to ensure the vitality of the league. It is my pleasure to recognize such a worthwhile organization and I ask all Members of the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating South Pasadena Little League as they celebrate 50 years of offering young people a positive environment in which to grow and learn.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding citizen of California's 27th Congressional District, Mrs. Susan LaCombe. Mrs. LaCombe has served on the South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education for nearly seventeen years and has been a positive force in my Congressional District for much longer. Mrs. LaCombe began her journey with the South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education in May of 1985, fresh from volunteer stints as PTA President at Arroyo Vista Elementary School and PTA Council President. When she was elected to the board, her five children were all attending South Pasadena public schools, one of whom now teaches at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Eagle Rock, California. The consummate board member, Mrs. LaCombe has worked with fourteen board members and four superintendents during her tenure, serving as board President three times. Under her leadership, some of the board's finest accomplishments include the transition of the junior high to a middle school program eleven years ago, the formation and bonding of today's administrative team under Superintendent Adelson, and the passage of the bond measure, Measure L, in 1995. Mrs. LaCombe is most proud of her efforts to build an excellent administrative and teaching team, establishing exceptional training programs for the teachers, and maintaining the commitment to excellence in academic programs, ``so that families continue to seek out South Pasadena as a wonderful place to live and send their children to the public schools.'' The South Pasadena community she served for so long will truly miss her. At this time, I ask all Members to join me in extending congratulations to Mrs. LaCombe for her dedicated service to the South Pasadena community. I am sure that each person positively affected by Mrs. LaCombe's service will also join me in wishing her much joy in the years to come and thank her for her time, her energy, and her efforts.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Bruce Hochman. Mr. Hochman will be greatly missed, as he was a devoted and outstanding member of the Southern California community. Through his civic involvement, he helped affect positive change in the lives of many. Bruce Hochman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He later received his Juris Doctorate degree from the same university. Throughout his life, he served as an attorney in many capactities, earning acceptance to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court, United States Claims Court, and United States Tax Court. Bruce was an active author and lecturer over the years, speaking on tax law and accounting at a number of prestigious universities and institutes throughout the nation. He has spoken both at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. He also addressed the Southern Tax Institute, Alabama Tax Institute, and the North West Tax Institute. Bruce was set apart from so many because he devoted himself to the improvement of the lives of others. As the Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for People, Inc., he helped the organization assist federal parolees and probationers with vocational opportunities. For his work with the Anti-Defamation League as a past Regional Board President, National Commissioner and Executive Committee Member, he was honored as an Honorary National Vice Chairman. So I ask all Members of the United States House of Representatives to pause to honor a great man who helped so many people. He will be missed not only by his family, but by all of those fortunate enough to cross his path.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the 90th anniversary of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. As the largest Jewish membership organization in the United States, Hadassah exemplifies the true spirit of voluntarism. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, a Jewish scholar and activist, Hadassah is committed to unifying Jewish people throughout the world. Its mitzvot, or good deeds, are felt at home in America and abroad in the land of Israel. In Israel, Hadassah funds and maintains two hospitals and 90 outpatient clinics that treat 600,000 patients each year regardless of ethnicity or religious background. Hadassah also supports four other major organizations in Israel and the United States. The Hadassah Israel Education Services group provides cutting-edge technical and vocational training for Israeli citizens, while the Youth Aliyah program provides education and support to immigrant youth. The Young Judea program builds connections between American teenagers and Israel through student exchange partnerships and the Jewish National Fund works to preserve Israel's natural resources by constructing parks and planting trees. The impact of Hadassah can also be felt throughout the United States. The organization is represented in every congressional district and members work with political leaders on matters ranging from U.S.-Israel relations to women's health and equality issues. Hadassah volunteers are active in community service projects, educational initiatives, and programs benefitting women and their families. In my district of California, there are over 250 Hadassah members and six active chapters. These chapters have raised over $5 million for the Hadassah Hospital and educational programs in Israel. On this, its 90th anniversary, I salute Hadassah's efforts to promote education, welfare, and women's rights, that have helped preserve strong cultural ties with Israel.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great sorrow to remember the life of Judy Boggs. Judy passed away suddenly on Monday, February 25th. She will be greatly missed, not only by my staff and me, but by countless members of the community which she served so thoughtfully over the past 30 years. Judy grew up in Portland, Oregon and graduated from the University of Washington. She had a passion for the university's football team, and it was in 1961 when the Huskies played in the Rose Bowl that Judy was introduced to Pasadena and the surrounding areas which she grew to love. After marrying Mr. Dale Boggs, she moved from the Pacific Northwest to La Canada Flintridge in the mid-1960s and was a resident of that community for over 30 years. Judy will long be regarded as one of the most influential Democratic political activists in the foothills communities of my Congressional District. She began her political career by volunteering for the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern, but her involvement in local politics began in 1973 when she co-founded ACT, a non-partisan action group which over the years has supported campaigns for elected leaders serving the foothill communities in the California state Assembly and Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Most recently Judy served as a Senior Field Deputy to State Senator Jack Scott. It is in this capacity that my staff and I grew to respect Judy for her wealth of experience and knowledge, and to love her for her charm, grace and dignity. She possessed an unmatched spirit, and brought joy and laughter to all who had an opportunity to work with her. I believe the former mayor of Pasadena, the Honorable Kathryn Nack, said it best when she commented, ``You don't meet a Judy Boggs in this world and not . . . want to see her all the time.'' Judy's bright smile and quick wit were adored by all who were lucky enough to have Judy in their lives, and we will always carry a terrific fondness and love for her. I ask all Members of the United States House of Representatives to pause and join me today in honoring the life of Judy Boggs, for her many gifts, most especially her friendship. She will be missed by many people.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Arkansas for his statement this evening. It so clearly mimics, I know, what my family taught my brother and me. It was very important to my parents that they pass on to their children more than what they inherited; that they passed on a safer community, better schools. They wanted for their children more than what they had. I feel that same commitment. I am a relatively new dad. I have a 3- year-old, and I have a new child on the way; and when I think about what we are going to leave for my children, and I ask myself the question, will they have as good public schools as the ones I went to, will they have a decent health care system, will they live in a safe community and a safe country, what will be set aside for their future? It is times like now that we are put to the test as a generation. What will we leave our children? Madam Speaker, I would now like to introduce another colleague from the Blue Dog Coalition, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson). The gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) is a member of the Committee on the Budget. He has been committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the Federal budget is fiscally sound and balanced, and all I can say to the gentleman from Utah is if we could get the budget in as good of shape as the Olympics were run in Utah, we would be in very good shape.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments this evening and his leadership on this issue. The gentleman talked about the impact of a deficit-spending pattern on long-term interest rates, and when we talk about a mortgage on our children's future, this is not simply rhetorical; it really is literally a mortgage. As we have seen over the last several months, as the Federal has lowered short-term interest rates it has had very little effect on long-term interest rates. Why is that? Because, over the long term, given the budget that we have, there is the expectation that the government will continue to borrow and borrow more and borrow more, and those long-term rates are remaining stubbornly where they are. What does that mean for our children and for ourselves? It means that many people will be priced out of a home and that others that have a home will have that home with a mortgage that is far higher and they will be paying more for it. There is no free lunch here with deficit spending. We pay for it, and we pay for it in the form of higher interest rates and sacrifices we make to our children's future. The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) talked about the reason why we are here tonight, the Secretary's request for $750 billion in new authorization for new debt. Where does that come from? Why does the administration come to Congress to ask for the authorization of new debt? Congress has always played a vital role in managing the national debt. Prior to 1917, Congress approved each issuance of debt, including determining its interest rate and term. Then Congress passed the second Liberty Bond Act of 1917, which allows the Treasury to borrow as necessary to finance Federal activities up to a specified legislatively adopted limit. That law was initially adopted to facilitate wartime planning during World War I and to accommodate the Treasury's need for flexibility in financing growing government activities. It also freed Congress from having to legislate each issuance of government debt. The limit persisted after World War I and has been raised periodically as government debt has increased, which leads us to where we are today. The administration has come to Congress asking us to raise the debt limit a full 7 years earlier than it predicted when the budget was submitted only last year. Of course, we all recognize much has changed in the past year. We acknowledge the needs of our Nation during a time of war and recession, and we agree that the debt limit should be raised in order to avoid a financial crisis. However, we cannot simply write a blank check to increase borrowing authority without safeguarding the American taxpayers from even further increases in the national debt. The request to raise the debt presents us with an imperative that we examine our long-term budget policies. We must first understand how we got to this point. The national debt is an accumulated IOU that the government owes the people and institutions that have been lending it money for decades. Our current debt stands at nearly $5.95 trillion. This debt represents the amount borrowed by the public to cover the Federal Government's budget deficits, and the debt held by the government accounts represents the amount of Federal debt issued to specialized Federal accounts, primarily trust funds like Social Security. Now the administration estimates it will hit this current $5.95 trillion ceiling by late March, jeopardizing the timely payment of government bills. The Secretary has asked Congress to provide $750 billion in additional borrowing authority to last until 2004. It seems ironic that just last year the administration predicted that there would be no need to raise the debt limit until 2008. In fact, if you recall, and it seems quaint today, we were warned about the dangers of paying down the debt too fast. Certainly it is true that unforeseen circumstances, including the devastating events of September 11, our involvement in the war on terrorism and the downturn in the economy have contributed greatly to this situation, and we all recognize the necessity of allowing the Federal Government to continue operating by raising the debt limit. But we also recognize the responsibility of Congress to work with the administration and ensure that we have a long-term economic recovery plan. Let me now introduce my colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry). As a pharmacist, he has been active on prescription drug issues, and has been dedicated to paying down our national debt and saving the Social Security Trust Fund and Medicare.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for his leadership. Madam Speaker, in closing I want to thank the Blue Dog Democrats who have joined me here tonight in this discussion of raising the national debt limit and its implications for our Federal fiscal policy. I look forward to the opportunity to debate this issue in the days ahead as we continue to work to balance the budget and pay down our debt and protect the Social Security Trust Fund for the future.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman tonight for his leadership on this issue. The gentleman also very successfully lead the House just a couple weeks ago successfully to gather the signatures required to discharge campaign finance reform which successfully passed the House. We thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) very much for his contributions both then and now. Madam Speaker, I would like to introduce a fellow Californian, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), who I had the privilege of serving with in the California State Senate. The gentleman has worked hard for the people of California and our Nation and is recognized for his bipartisan approach for the important issues facing our Congress, especially the debt limit. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her statement and for her leadership on this issue. The gentlewoman from California talked about when she was issuing bonds that she required a prospectus. The gentleman from Utah talked about when he went to a banker, he was required to give the banker what he termed a story, something that would account for why he could pay back the debt. So what is the administration's prospectus? What is the story? What is the plan to get us back to balanced budgets? As I understand it, according to the director of OMB, the plan is, well, if the economy grows at a faster than anticipated rate, maybe we will get back to a period of surplus again. Imagine telling that to our local banker when we are going out for a small business loan: Mr. Banker, if my business grows faster than can be reasonably expected, then I will be able to pay you back. That would not fly with our local bank, it would not fly with the municipality, and it ought not to fly with the Federal Government. Another one of my colleagues from the Blue Dog Coalition is the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner). The Blue Dog Coalition policy co- chair, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), has led our coalition on many issues and has been recognized for his stalwart commitment to fiscal responsibility. Madam Speaker, I yield to my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner).

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah for his leadership on this issue and for the bipartisan way he has approached it. In fact, as a member of the freshman class that we share, the gentleman from Utah is the liaison to the Republican freshman class and has endeavored on many, many issues to work together and find common ground, and what more important area to find common ground than this, than the future of our country, than fiscal responsibility, which both parties espouse, but here is the time where the rubber hits the road. The gentleman from Utah talked about this mortgage and these interest payments, and I think it is not only a problem because of the interest that we will pay or the debt that we will accumulate but the lost opportunity that that interest represents. The Blue Dog Coalition has always been concerned about the vanishing surplus and what this represents in terms of our lost opportunities. The new budget reports indicate that the government will return to deficit spending and raid the entire Medicare surplus and further raid Social Security by more than $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. During the budget debate last year, Congress and the President agreed that the Social Security Trust Fund surplus would be put in a lockbox and saved to prepare for the retirement of the baby boomers. The new projections show this promise will not be kept; and, unfortunately, the new projections instead show a return of budget deficits, borrowing from Social Security, and rapidly increasing national debt. What is so worrisome about raising the debt limit is the effect it will have on the amount of interest we will pay on that national debt. The public debt, that is the debt that is held by public investors, is subject to rising interest costs, and the budgetary effect of that higher debt is obviously higher interest payments. This reveals a major change from last year's budget forecast. Last year's budget forecast projected net interest payments on the debt of $1.13 trillion over 10 years, with a payment in 2011 of only $20 billion. This year's budget projects net interest payments of $1.79 trillion over the same 10-year period, with a 2011 payment at the whopping sum of $159 billion. Over $1 trillion in the next decade will be spent solely to pay interest on our debt, over $1 trillion that we cannot use productively for Social Security, for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, to facilitate a Patients' Bill of Rights, to improve our schools, to reduce class sizes, to rebuild crumbling infrastructure. That is $1 trillion in interest payments that cannot be used for anything else. A close look at the growing interest rates on our national debt reinforces the importance of long-term debt reduction. It is reasonable and appropriate to run temporary deficits during a recession and war, and we support the President's effort in the war on terrorism. However, under a responsible fiscal policy, the temporary deficits incurred must be offset by a return to budget surpluses when conditions improve. The most effective way to achieve economic growth and ensure our country returns to that era of budget surpluses is to increase our national savings, and the most direct way the government can increase national savings is to reduce its debt and thereby free up resources that the private sector can turn into productive investments. The last decade has shown the undeniable connection between declining budget deficits and increasing investment. The best way to maintain business investment, productivity growth, and low interest rates is to implement fiscal policy targeted towards reducing the debt. We cannot let all that we gained during the economic boom in the 1990s to be lost in the early years of the 21st century. So while we are confronted with this need to raise the debt ceiling, we must keep in mind, as my colleagues have pointed out, the principal element we must ensure, and that is long-term fiscal discipline and economic growth. I would now like to yield to an outstanding leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). The gentleman from Texas is respected on both sides of the aisle. He has reached across partisan lines to promote fiscal responsibility and has been a leading advocate for years on debt reduction.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas. He has long been a clarion call to fiscal responsibility in this House, and I remember like it was yesterday the gentleman from Texas standing on this floor and talking about the unreliability of 10-year projections, how it was simply not prudent to anticipate that only the most rosy scenario would materialize; and indeed, even in August, before the tragic events of September, we could already see the wisdom of the words of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) as we saw those projections already being radically revised downward. Would that we had more colleagues on this floor listen to those words last year, and we might not be in the fiscal predicament we are in today. The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) has put her financial background to use in Congress and has stood out as a leader, both in education and in issues affecting our Armed Forces. The Congresswoman has worked in a bipartisan way to shape policies that benefit the people of Southern California and our country in a fiscally-responsible manner. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, this evening the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition in the House will discuss the administration's request that Congress raise the Federal debt limit, an issue that we must address tonight in light of our current fiscal situation. Simply put, America needs a wartime budget. We need a budget that will provide the resources necessary to win the war on terrorism, but not a dollar of wasted spending, that will stimulate our economy without aggravating our long-term deficits and that will protect and reform Social Security and Medicare but not finance the war out of its trust funds. In sum, our country needs a budget that will call on the American people to make sacrifices to win, sacrifices they are willing to make if only their leaders will have the courage to ask and speak plainly. The President's budget is not there yet. The budget calls for the most significant increase in military spending in more than 2 decades, and most of that increase will enjoy broad bipartisan support. We will do everything necessary to protect this country and our armed forces. The budget also proposes more than $500 billion in additional tax cuts, and it also proposes some additional domestic spending. And the budget requires sacrifice. There is only one problem. It is not we who are being asked to sacrifice, it is our children. America will win the war on terrorism whether we have a wartime budget or not. Such is the resolve of the American people. But if we do not manage our Federal budget properly during this time of war, we will have precious little for anything less, schools, roads, health care, our future, our kids. In our victory, it will be our children who have borne the full cost of the battle. Not only are they the ones who will do most of the fighting, but the war will have been financed from their retirement, from their Social Security, out of their Medicare, and from their GI bill. Because we are in a two-front war, after all. We are in a war around the world in more than 60 countries that harbor terrorists like al Qaeda, nontraditional foes that do not wear army uniforms, do not carry a national flag and do not have any qualms about the deliberate killing of innocent civilians. And we are in a second war on another very large front called the United States where we must guard our civilian aircraft, our water supply, nuclear power plants, and a thousand other possible targets, and winning this war will be costly under the best of circumstances. Every generation of Americans can be the greatest generation. Courage, patriotism, love of freedom and love of country course through American veins. That spirit did not die out among the generations of World War II, Korea, or Vietnam. We saw that clearly after September 11. But there is one virtue we have yet to demonstrate before we can take our rightful place among the greatest generations: the willingness to sacrifice. The price of freedom is high, and Americans have always paid it, President Kennedy said. We must pay it still. We should not, we must not, make our children pay it for us. America has always been willing to sacrifice. She still is. But she must be asked by leaders who are willing to speak candidly about what is at stake and what it will take to win. She must be asked by leaders with faith in the essential generosity of the American people and who will not tell us that we can have our cake and eat it, too. Members of the Blue Dog Coalition have always believed in crafting a budget in a balanced and thoughtful way that maintains our fiscal discipline, continues to pay down our national debt and does not rely on rosy or unrealistic long-term projections. That has been a hallmark of this group's legacy in Congress. A central component to fiscal discipline is putting forth a budget that is responsible and honest. The administration has come to Congress and has asked this body to approve raising the debt limit so our country can continue to operate. We agree that this action is necessary, but we urge the administration to work with us to establish a long-term plan that is based on a realistic budget proposal. Only with an honest account of our economic outlook can we responsibly plan for the future of this Nation. As we craft a budget for fiscal year 2003, we need to understand fully what our Nation requires and we need to use real numbers. We must accurately account for every tax reduction, and we need to include government expenditures that are virtually certain to occur. Unfortunately, many costs have been left out of the administration's budget calculations. The budget is not balanced, and I would encourage my colleagues to take a closer look at some of the calculations used in this year's budget proposal. Here are a few examples: First, the budget makes recently proposed and enacted tax cuts permanent. However, it does not include the cost of extending the individual Alternative Minimum Tax beyond 2004, which is almost certain to occur. The budget assumes that there will be 39 million taxpayers subject to the AMT by 2012, but there is almost no possibility that that will be allowed to take place. In fact, the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the cost of addressing this problem alone amounts to several hundred billion dollars over the next 10 years, a cost which the administration budget leaves out. Second, the administration's budget extends certain popular tax credits for only 2 years, while it is almost certain that they will be extended for the full 10 years. Research and development tax credits, for example, have been in place since 1981 and have been instrumental in our Nation's ability to develop technology, biomedical research, and scientific breakthroughs. We cannot realistically expect that these tax credits will be phased out in 2 years. But the administration's budget proposal only includes them for 2 years instead of 10. Finally, the budget proposal also underestimates the costs of all the new proposed tax cuts by phasing them in very slowly so that their full cost will not appear until late in the decade. For example, the proposed deduction for charitable contributions would not become fully effective until the year 2012. The budget that came from the White House estimates its tax cut proposals as costing $665 billion between 2003 and 2012. In reality, the cost would be much higher. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates the true cost is closer to $1 trillion over the next 10-year period, and that is not all. Under the House-passed economic stimulus bill, huge retroactive tax relief would be provided to some of America's largest corporations. Enron itself would have been the beneficiary of more than $250 million in tax benefits, all at a time when we are spending the Social Security surplus. The President, as well as the House leadership, must rethink the magnitude of these new tax cuts which have been proposed. Some tax cuts are desirable. They have a stimulative impact on the economy if they are designed to affect current spending, and they empower the taxpayer to control more of his or her own financial choices and destiny. When we had a $5.6 trillion surplus and no war, we could afford a substantial tax cut, and I supported the President. But now we are at war. We have no surplus, and we are spending the Social Security trust fund. While I would not blame the President for the recession and none can fault him for the war that has been thrust upon us, the fact remains that we now have both and we cannot shrink from the consequences. We need a plan for the long-term budget that brings us back to a time of fiscal responsibility. We are spending money faster than it is coming in and, in doing so, we are risking the long-term solvency of our Federal budget and, worse, we are mortgaging our children's future. We must come together to offer an honest budget for the American people, one without gimmicks that disguise short-term costs and inhibit long-term stability. We must work together in Congress and with the administration to resurrect a balanced budget, applying accurate economic and fiscal assumptions and without using the Social Security surplus. Madam Speaker, we have several members of the Blue Dog Coalition here this evening to address these issues, and the first Member I would like to introduce is from the State of Indiana (Mr. Hill). The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) has used his experience and financial background to make great contributions to the budget debate in Congress and has been a leader on the issue of fiscal responsibility.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of San Gabriel, California as they celebrate the 75th anniversary of their legendary and beautiful San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. Throughout its rich history, the Auditorium has played host to hundreds of performances delighting audiences from the San Gabriel Valley and around the world. The Auditorium has also been admired for its beauty and historical character by hundreds of thousands of residents of nearby cities and visitors to Southern California. The San Gabriel Civic Auditorium was designed and built by John Steven McGroarty, from nearby Tujunga, and was dedicated on March 5, 1927. McGroarty went on to become the first poet laureate of California and a U.S. Congressman from 1935 to 1939 representing the region of Southern California that I am proud to serve. McGroarty built the theater specifically for his production, ``Mission Play,'' which told the story of the founding of the California missions by the Franciscans under the leadership of Father Junipero Serra. McGroarty designed the facade of the theatre to look much like his favorite California mission, San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County. The ``Mission Play'' ran for five years and gave a total of 3,198 performances. The theatre was closed in 1932 during the height of the Great Depression. But a group of concerned San Gabriel residents formed a citizens' committee with the goal of having the city purchase the theatre and reopen it. Thankfully, they were successful, and in 1945 the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium re-opened its doors again to the community. Since its re-opening, the theatre has seen a wealth of America's greatest performers. Notables such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ginger Rogers, Raymond Burr, Jo Anne Worley, and even Bob Hope have graced its fine stage. This year, the same stage will play host to a number of culturally diverse performances and festivities. The first of these performances will be the music of the Orchestra of the Californias. This newly formed orchestra is a product of bi-national cooperation. Formed by the Commission of the Californias, under the auspices of Governor Gray Davis of California, Governor Leonel Cota-Montano of Baja California Sur, and Governor Eugenio Elorduy-Walther of Baja California, the Orchestra of the Californias has become the headline performer of a musical tour throughout California and Mexico. This is the first time that the governors of the three Californias have joined to present such a significant cultural achievement. On February 15, 2002, the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium will be the only theatre in Los Angeles County to welcome the Orchestra of the Californias. Under the direction of maestro David Atherton, the orchestra will play an assortment of classical favorites for what I am sure will be an appreciative audience. I ask all Members of Congress to join Congresswoman Hilda Solis and me in congratulating the people of San Gabriel as they celebrate the 75th year of their beautiful San Gabriel Civic Auditorium.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today and recognize Don I. Foltz, a proud citizen, honorable man, longtime public servant, and friend and trusted advisor. Don has dedicated his professional years to the service of countless California elected officials and communities and I am happy to honor his accomplishments today. Don was born in Glendale, California but has spent most of his years in Long Beach, California, where he continues to reside today. He was the loving husband of Mary Lou--his lifetime personal and professional partner. He is also the proud father of two sons, David Foltz and Steven Foltz, and grandfather to Parker C. Foltz, the apple of his grandpa's eye. Don began his long tenure in public service in 1959 as an Administrative Assistant to California State Senator Richard Richards and served in the same capacity with Assembly Member and then State Senator Joseph M. Kennick, Assembly Member Bruce Young and State Senator Paul Carpenter. He has also served as a Consultant to the Assembly Committee on Oil, Mining, and Manufacturing, as a Deputy to Board of Equalization Member Paul Carpenter, and as an advisor in a volunteer capacity to Assembly Member Bob Epple. Don's extensive experience in press and media relations, speech writing, and researching and drafting legislation serve him well as today he works as a political advisor to many candidates and office holders throughout Los Angeles County. I have counted on Don as an advisor and trusted confident throughout my first year in office and I thank him for offering his vast knowledge of experience to me. So it is with great pleasure that I ask all Members to join me in thanking Mr. Don I. Foltz for his contributions to our American political system and his many years of service to the people of California and our Nation.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform. This was the first bill I co-sponsored after emerging from the most expensive House race in the history of this institution. This bill basically comes down to a single question and a single proposition, and that is, do we wish to allow special interests to spend unlimited amounts of money anonymously right before an election, or do we believe the American people are entitled to know who is spending the money to influence the outcomes of elections right when the election is coming up? That is what this all boils down to. There is no first amendment issue here. Everything is permitted. All speech is permitted under Shays-Meehan. The question is does it need to be disclosed who is paying the freight. And notwithstanding all the protests from the opposition that is making the arguments today this bill is too strong. It is too weak. It goes too far. It does not go far enough. Me thinks the opposition doth protest too much. The fact of the matter is the opposition to Shays-Meehan like it the way it is. They want special interests to be able to spend what they will, when they will, and not disclose who they are. That is wrong and today we have the chance to change it. Support Shays-Meehan.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which effectively states that the provisions of campaign finance reform shall not apply to any form of communication on any matter pertaining to the second amendment. Imagine a world in which campaign finance reform applies to everything except the second amendment, and you might ask, how could that possibly be constitutional? And, of course, the answer is, it cannot be. We cannot single out any amendment, no matter how favored it might be, for different treatment under the law. Those regulations that are content-based, as opposed to time, place or manner, are the most suspect under the first amendment, and plainly we cannot constitutionally single out the second amendment, or any other, for different treatment under the campaign finance laws. But even if we could, is this good policy? And, of course, it is not. Whether you are a strict constructionist of the second amendment or you are not, whether you are pro-gun control or anti-gun control, why would you want to allow unlimited, unaccountable, anonymous expenditures on campaign ads around election time on something as important as the second amendment and be precluded from knowing who is paying for it? Because if this amendment were to pass and somehow be constitutional, that is what we would have. We would have these anonymous, unlimited expenditures on ads about the second amendment, and you would not know who is paying the freight. How can that possibly be good policy? It is not. Whatever your position on the second amendment is, this is bad policy. So why is it offered when it is plainly unconstitutional and when it is bad policy whether you are for or against a strict construction of the second amendment? It is offered precisely because it is unconstitutional, because it would force the bill into conference committee, because it would effectively kill Shays-Meehan. Make no bones about it. These amendments are all over the boards. This one goes after the second amendment; another, civil rights. But the design is the same. It is to kill reform. Oppose this amendment.