Joe Schwarz

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, it is my special privilege to honor the Homer Trojans baseball team for setting the national record for consecutive wins in high school baseball by winning 75 straight games. I commend the Trojans for the dedication required to accomplish such a remarkable feat. The Trojans' streak began on opening day of the 2004 season with a victory over Addison. The team would eventually earn a State championship, with a record of 38 wins to zero losses. During the season, Homer shut out 20 opponents. The Trojans continued to dominate the diamond in the 2005 season. Improving on their 2004 record, the Trojans shut out 21 opponents in 2005, a national record. They also had a streak of eight consecutive shutouts, which etched the team in the State record book again. The Trojans ended the 2005 season with a 37-1 record and a runner-up finish in the State. In the world of sports, success is often determined based on wins and losses. However, the Trojans are not just a success for winning 75 consecutive games; they are a success because of the manner in which they win. Their astounding record is testament to not only their ability to pitch, hit, run, and field; it is indicative of their superb commitment to teamwork and maturity. The lessons they learned and skills they perfected will help prepare them for a bright future, whether it be on or off the baseball field. I am honored to have these fine young men as constituents, and I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring their accomplishments.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an organization in my district that is known world-wide for its tireless dedication to altruism, education, and the betterment of society as a whole. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established by breakfast cereal pioneer W.K. Kellogg in 1930, to ``help people help themselves.'' During his life, Mr. Kellogg left most of his fortune-- $66 million in Kellogg Company stock and other investments--as an endowment for the foundation. These assets have since grown to nearly $7 billion. Since 1930, the foundation has awarded more than $4 billion in grants--including $1.6 billion to the people of Michigan. Since the 1930s, the Kellogg Foundation has grown from programs that served south-central Michigan into an international organization that awards grants in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and southern Africa. Yet whether in Battle Creek or Botswana, the Kellogg Foundation's emphasis remains just as it was in Mr. Kellogg's day: they exist to help people reach their full potential, and to build strong families and communities. Though they have expanded internationally, the Kellogg Foundation remains committed to Mr. Kellogg's and my hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan. Last year alone, they awarded $9.4 million to local causes and programs. They are also a major local employer, and their employees generously volunteer their time and resources within the community. In its 75 years of existence, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has built a legacy of philanthropy and selflessness. The work that they fund has improved the lives of millions. I am deeply honored to have this institution in my district, and I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, no passenger rail system in the world that is worth its salt runs without subsidy. After World War II, the entire rail system in Europe was destroyed, and they have built up from that time to the best passenger rail system in the world, France, Germany, the low countries, the UK, Italy, Spain. Spain, for God's sake, has a better passenger rail system than the United States. The first four airlines in the United States are broke or going broke. If my colleagues have flown lately, and I know all of them have flown lately, they know what a great experience that is. The gentleman from Oregon was correct in saying we are going to take traffic off the interstates. We are going to take passengers off the airplanes, especially east of the Mississippi and up and down the California coast, and put them on trains, but we cannot run this system unsubsidized. It is not possible, and our friends in Europe, our friends in Japan, that have the best rail passenger systems in the world, understand that. I ask the body to fund Amtrak at the level suggested by the LaTourette amendment for another year. I also ask the body to appoint a commission to study Amtrak, to put together a plan to make Amtrak something that survives and is efficient, but my colleagues must know there will always be a subsidy. I find it an embarrassment that the passenger rail service in the United States of America is in its present state, and something needs to be done about it. It needs to be preserved.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of a utility company in my district that is working diligently to reduce emissions from its power plants. By investing in the future, Consumers Energy is demonstrating the understanding and foresight that sets it apart from its peers. Founded in Jackson, Michigan in 1886, Consumers Energy has superbly served mid-Michigan by providing reliable and affordable electricity, supporting communities, operating in the best interests of the public, and respecting the environment. Consumers Energy is in the midst of an $815 million commitment to reduce emissions as part of current Federal and State requirements. As of March 2005, Consumers Energy has already spent $543 million to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rulings, including the requirement that power companies significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Utility is currently making separate plans for future investments in compliance with the EPA's new Clean Air Interstate Rule and the Clean Air Mercury Rule, the first-ever rule for reducing mercury missions. Today, the air in Michigan is clean, and the policies pursued by Consumers Energy will continue the forty year trend of improved air quality. Consumers Energy operates in the belief that economic growth, energy demands, and environmental quality are inextricably linked. In the past 25 years, as our Nation's economy has expanded, demand for electricity and other forms of energy have substantially increased. At the same time, Consumer Energy consistently lowered emissions from its coal- fired power plants: the rate of nitrogen oxide emissions has been reduced 70 percent and the rate of sulfur dioxide emissions has been reduced 80 percent. Consumers Energy is actively planning to reduce these emissions even further as it implements the new Clean Air Interstate Rule. In addition, the company is preparing to implement the first-ever mandate to reduce mercury emissions under the Clean Air Mercury Rule. Consumers Energy is also participating with peer companies in the Administration's voluntary greenhouse gas reduction program to reduce carbon intensity, even though this greenhouse gas is not federally regulated. On behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to offer my highest praise to Consumers Energy for its extraordinary efforts to address air quality in the United States. This company's initiative and forethought will not only benefit the people of the Seventh District and the State of Michigan, but the United States as a whole.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, CCC funds are transferred to APHIS because of foreign Animals, Pests & Diseases that have come into the United States and are destroying agriculture resources and products. Since this is a tight budget year and the dollars appropriated will not fully take care of the emergency situation of the spread of EAB and the millions of ash trees in need of more attention from the CCC and OMB. Therefore, this amendment is a sense of Congress to support the requests of USDA and APHIS to fund the eradication program of EAB within Michigan before it spreads to other states. Michigan has natural barriers which are the great lakes that provide a natural containment with this emergency eradication plan. This is an emergency situation for our agriculture community and as with any invasive species, we continue to run in to the obstacle of funding from OMB. With this amendment we want the OMB to reconsider the severity of the EAB situation. This amendment is meant to suggest, in strong terms, that it is Congress's intent that the mechanism within this statute is to be used to meet the foreign pest emergency needs of Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland & Michigan.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman and am delighted that he has decided to accept the amendment, and we will move on.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Woolsey amendment. As a veteran of two tours of duty in Vietnam, I do not think it is appropriate to pull the forces out. The Iraqis want us to stay until the government takes on its full mission. Creating a timetable for withdrawal would hand the military initiative over to the insurgents and undermine the Iraqi Government to draft a constitution and prepare for a constitutional government. As Generals Myers, Pace, and Abizaid have reminded us, the enemy gets a vote on how the war is fought. Iraqi-U.S. coalition forces need flexibility to respond to any enemy offensive which a benchmark-based plan for withdrawal would absolutely preclude. I believe the amendment is well-intentioned, but the President, the Secretary of Defense, General Abizaid and the democratically elected Government of Iraq agree that it would not be in U.S. or Iraqi interests for the U.S. to remain in Iraq any longer than the government wants us there, but they are committed to reducing the U.S. presence only when that U.S. presence can safely be reduced and no sooner. Vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have been a physician for 41 years; and like my good colleagues who will not be supporting this bill, I would expect we could tell the Members stories of all the blood and gore and problems that we have waded through in those years and done our very best. I also consider myself a guy who is pretty much pro-life. This bill is not cloning. It is not somatic cell nuclear transfer. It is sound science. For those who have an ethical problem with the bill, I accept the fact that they have that problem and hope that at some point in the future we can sit down and discuss this issue. But for now they will have their position; I will have mine. Stem cell research, especially embryonic stem cell research, is going to go on apace very rapidly in all parts of the world, whether it is Singapore or Korea or Japan or China or the United Kingdom or Canada, other places on continental Europe. We are being left behind in this. We have the finest universities in the world, the finest researchers, the ability to bring stem cell research to a point where we will, indeed, have cures for everyday problems such as diabetes, such as Parkinson's, such as Alzheimer's, and perhaps even being able to create neuronal cells to take care of people who have spinal cord injuries. Science will march on. I believe this bill helps the living. Can there be any doubt that the potential of relieving widespread suffering with embryonic stem cells is morally superior to simply destroying the excess embryos? How can we call ourselves a culture of life when we ignore the living, when we ignore the infinite potential of embryonic stem cells?

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague from Flint, a fellow University of Michigan graduate, and also another gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers). ``After the Fall,'' ``All My Sons,'' ``Death of a Salesman,'' ``The Crucible,'' ``Anatomy of the People,'' ``A View From the Bridge,'' ``The Misfits,'' ``Incident at Vichy,'' ``The Archbishop's Ceiling,'' ``Two-Way Mirror,'' ``The Last Yankee'' and innumerable other works by Arthur Miller, a distinguished graduate of the University of Michigan. As an individual in the House whose district almost comes up to Ann Arbor, I think I can safely say I represent also the sentiments of the dean of House, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), who represents Ann Arbor, in supporting this resolution. Arthur Miller was like many students who come to University of Michigan, especially in that era. They came from the eastern part of the United States, came from families that did not have a great deal of wealth, and were extremely hard workers. As alluded to by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), Arthur Miller had an extremely successful career at the university winning the Hopwood Award, an award given to students for the best writing, two times at the university. He graduated and wrote for the Federal Theater Project; and after World War II, he wrote and his magna opus was performed on Broadway, ``Death of a Salesman.'' Subsequent to that, Miller wrote many plays, some made into moving pictures, some performed on Broadway. It is indeed, as the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) indicated, a very rare day when somewhere in the world an Arthur Miller play is not performed. As a means of saluting Mr. Miller, then-president of the University of Michigan, now president of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger, had the idea that we should build a theater on the University of Michigan campus and name it after Arthur Miller. And as the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) indicated, Arthur Miller, by a postcard to the university, said yes, that would be okay. So in March 2005, following Mr. Miller's death at the age of 88, the regents of the University of Michigan approved plans to build the Arthur Miller Theater, a 250-seat performing venue on the campus of the University of Michigan; and this resolution honors the late Arthur Miller and the University of Michigan, Mr. Miller for his contributions to American theater, and the University of Michigan, I think, for playing a part in educating Mr. Miller and in recognizing the fact that he indeed was America's greater playwright of the 20th century.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Beginning on April 24, 1915, the Armenian Genocide was a horrific act of mass violence that should be remembered in infamy as one of the most egregious violations of human rights to ever befall this planet. It is altogether fitting that we should commemorate this horrible tragedy, and that we should take note of a further outrage: that the government of Turkey, as well as that of these United States, to this day--90 years after the crimes began--has failed to recognize the slaughter for what it was: genocide. We are speaking of the murder of one-and-a-half million people. Torture, starvation, death marches, the killing of innocent civilians--all crimes against humanity and completely deserving of the world's condemnation. Today, I join my colleagues from the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues in calling upon the administration and the government of Turkey to formally recognize the Armenian genocide. Its time has come.

Mr. SCHWARZ

Mr. SCHWARZ. Mr. Chairman, the Johnson amendment requires the EPA to change the testing procedures that auto companies use to determine the fuel economy numbers that go on the dealer label. Her amendment requires auto companies to do one test for labeling and a separate test for CAFE. The language in this amendment costs the companies approximately twice as much as the simpler testing they are doing now. This goes to the heart of what we are doing to the auto industry now, unintentionally perhaps, and that is beating up on them; and we should not do that. The Rogers amendment deals with the need for improved dealer label accuracy, while only requiring one test. Instead of requiring the EPA to change testing procedures, the Rogers amendment requires the EPA to change the adjustment factors that the EPA currently uses to make the fuel economy label accurate. This is the way to go. It achieves the goal we all want to have, accuracy, in a much more reasonable and a much less expensive way. It is not a fudge.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the role of libraries in addressing the health information needs of the American people. In doing so, I also recognize the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, NCLIS, for its efforts in encouraging libraries to play a key role in educating American citizens about healthy lifestyles. The Commission is a pennanent, independent agency of the United States Government, established with Public Law 91-345, 20 U.S.C. 150 et seq. signed July 20, 1970. The law includes the following statement of policy: Sec. 2. The Congress hereby affirms that library and information services adequate to meet the needs of the people of the United States are essential to achieve national goals and to utilize most effectively the Nation's educational resources and that the Federal Government will cooperate with State and local governments and public and private agencies in assuring optimum provision of such services. The Commission's purpose is stated in the legislation: ``The Commission shall have the primary responsibility for developing or recommending overall plans for, and advising the appropriate governments and agencies on, the policy set forth in section 2.'' As its first function, the Commission is charged to advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of national policy with respect to library and information science. One of the Commission's current goals is to strengthen the relevance of the libraries and information science in the lives of the American people. Toward this goal, the Commission has undertaken an initiative designed to recognize libraries as their communities' knowledge source for consumer health information. The overarching objective of this initiative, referred to as the NCLIS Libraries and Health Communication Initiative, is to identify best practices in libraries that excel in providing health information, and to publish these best practices for the benefit of all library managers and information providers. As part of this effort, and to meet its statutory responsibility, the Commission will then provide policy advice to the President and the Congress recommending how national policy in this area can be implemented. In order to identify best practices, the Commission has developed an awards program that recognizes libraries that have successfully created or participated in exemplary programs in the delivery of consumer health information. On May 2, at a reception at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, MD the Commission will announce a major award. This award, the 2006 NCLIS Health Award for Libraries, is designed to mobilize the resources of libraries to help citizens learn how to live healthy lifestyles and to provide citizens with consumer health information, particularly when they require health information in a critical or unusual situation. The purpose of the award is to encourage libraries to put forward their best efforts in matching the Nation's critical need for authoritative, unbiased, and readily available consumer health information with a practical means of responding to that need. Libraries in every community are already providing citizens with a wide variety of consumer-focused information. The provision of consumer health information falls naturally in libraries' information-delivery function. This Commission initiative is of particular benefit to the American people, for it provides citizens with quality consumer health information through their libraries, trusted sources of information that are already acknowledged and respected for the quality of the information they provide. We already know that health information that results in lifestyle improvements lowers costs for health care. Additionally, the initiative will benefit the entire library and information science profession and related profession, businesses, and industries, as it provides documented best practices that can be adapted and replicated and, when required, customized for particular local needs. As stated above, a specific product of the initiative will be the development of a recommended statement of policy on the subject of libraries as health communication centers for American citizens, to be delivered to the President and the Congress as required by Pub. L. 91-345.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known, that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership, and community service, that I am proud to salute Catherine Roselyn Santee, winner of the 2005 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is given to young adults who have demonstrated their true commitment to playing an important role in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Catherine is being honored for demonstrating the same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Catherine is an exceptional student at Addison High School. Aside from being one of the highest in her class academically, Catherine possesses an outstanding record of achievement. She has been very active in the National Honor Society, Choir, Drama, Yearbook, and her church, serving as youth group president and church secretary. She has also devoted a great deal of her time volunteering to help others. On behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to join her many admirers in offering our highest praise and congratulations to Catherine Santee for her selection as winner of the 2005 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor not only recognizes her efforts, but also is a testament to her parents, teachers, and other individuals whose personal interest, steadfast support, and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, we extend our most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known, that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership, and community service, that I am proud to salute Heather Meyer, winner of the 2005 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is given to young adults who have demonstrated their true commitment to playing an important role in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Catherine is being honored for demonstrating the same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Heather is an exceptional student at Addison High School. Aside from being one of the highest in her class academically, Catherine possesses an outstanding record of achievement. She has been very active in the National Honors Society, Girls State, FFA and 4-H, as well as other community and school activities. She has also devoted a great deal of her time volunteering to help others. On behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to join her many admirers in offering our highest praise and congratulations to Heather Meyer for her selection as winner of the 2005 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor not only recognizes her efforts, but also is a testament to her parents, teachers, and other individuals whose personal interest, steadfast support, and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, we extend our most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a dear friend of mine, Mr. William C. Martin. This month Mr. Martin will be receiving the Sixth Biannual Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County, an organization in my district. Bill's integrity, modesty and selfless devotion to the betterment of society make him an embodiment of the ideals represented by this award. He has used his success as a businessman and influence as a community leader to help those in need. When he was still an MBA student at the University of Michigan, he took on the challenge of helping unemployed, and seemingly unemployable, men find jobs in the community. Bill Martin's reputation of honor and integrity has led others to look to him in times of difficulty. When he was asked to become the University of Michigan's athletic director at a time when the department needed reform, he not only agreed, he insisted on doing so at no salary. He succeeded in helping turn things around so effectively that he was asked to remain in that position in a permanent capacity, where he remains today. When the United States Olympic Committee, on whose board Bill served from 1992 to 2003, was shaken by scandal, he agreed to serve as president and help the organization set a better course. Bill Martin is one of those rare individuals who combines altruism, honesty and leadership to effect positive change on the local, State and national levels. His genuine and giving nature truly represents the principles by which all our Nation's citizens should strive to live.

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I shall not try to influence the opinion of anyone on this issue. I will simply share with you my opinion, the opinion of a physician of almost 41 years duration. I am a head and neck surgeon. I have done cancer surgery almost all of those years. I have done much maxillofacial trauma all of those years and dealt with situations like this on numerous occasions. Terri Schiavo has spontaneous respiratory activities and respontaneous cardiac activity. She is not on life support, as we routinely define it. She is not intubated and she is not on a respirator. And I give the gentleman from the State of Washington credit for his knowledge of the physiology of the brain stem. He is right, it is very robust, and that certainly is one of the things that is driving her now. But she does have some cognition and some cortical activity. Removing her gastrostomy tube will ultimately cause her demise, a commissive act that will cause the death of a human being. How many others in this country are now in long-term care facilities with feeding tubes, but able to breathe on their own, their hearts beating strongly? Should their feeding tubes be removed as well? I think not. I believe it is wrong to remove a feeding tube from an individual whose cardiopulmonary function is stable and who has some remaining cognitive abilities. It is unfortunate in many ways that this venue is where this issue will be decided, but removal of this feeding tube under these very public circumstances is a slippery slope down which we and the United States should not tread. This bill deserves our support.