John Sarbanes

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Yes, Madam Chairman.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, the desire to move forward with the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind is one that certainly we shared on this side of the aisle, and we are prepared to do that this year. The problem is that the administration, for the last 2 years, sent budgets which suggested there wasn't going to be the resources behind that effort that needed to be there, and so we're where we are. But that doesn't mean that we can't, as we're going to do with this bill, begin to set the table for what can be a very comprehensive and meaningful reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act next year. And what I'm so excited about is, if we put our stamp on this bill today, we're going to be sending a very powerful message that environmental education should be part and parcel of that reauthorization next year. I would like to thank, again, the members of the No Child Left Inside Coalition, as I noted, over 700 organizations across the country representing upwards of 40 million people. These are folks who just want to see this happen. They understand how important it is to get our children outdoors and into nature. I want to thank them for all the work that they did to make this possible, to get this to the floor. It would not be here without the work that they have done. I want to close by noting some of the benefits of this. I've talked about the contents of the bill, but I want to talk more generally about the benefits that it offers. Many of the witnesses that we heard from, many of the advocates who are behind this bill are public health advocates. They're pointing to epidemic levels, for example, of childhood obesity that we see now across the country. Kids just aren't active. One of the benefits of getting children outdoors, getting them engaged in environmental activities is they start to become more active, and that is going to be good for their health and the health of our Nation. We've talked about the economic development benefits; that environmental education spurs interests, it leads to children wanting to go into science, into technology, and so forth. And so we are going to be unleashing a tremendous economic potential if we put resources into the No Child Left Inside Act. It is a great way for kids to learn. There is all the evidence that shows that when kids are outdoors, it activates all their senses, it fully engages them, and their performance increases across the board because of that experience. And of course it raises awareness in the next generation of the environment and the need to preserve our environment. The fact of the matter is that the only way we're going to save our environment, the only way we're going to preserve treasures like the Chesapeake Bay in the State of Maryland is if millions of people develop good habits in dealing with the environment. That's what we can impart to our young people, to the next generation. Let me just finish with two articles, or anecdotes. The first is from the Rochester, Minnesota Post-Bulletin. It's an article titled, ``Program urges kids to ditch couches for canoes.'' It talks about a program that a woman named Sara Grover founded, Project Get Outdoors, where she brings kids outside. She talks about a fifth grader on his first camping trip. She said he was practically crying and he said, ``This is the best day of my entire life.'' There are a lot of good days ahead for a lot of great kids if we get this legislation in place. Just to put a punctuation mark on this notion of kids going into science as a result of their experiences outdoors, I just got this e- mail on my BlackBerry notifying me that a young man from my district was named a finalist in the science competition for middle school students. His project was, ``The Effectiveness of Limestone Aggregates to Mitigate Acid-Mine Drainage.'' He came up with the idea for this project while rafting and kayaking on the Cheat River in West Virginia. This is what I'm talking about. This is what's going to happen if we provide our children, our young people, the next generation with the environmental education that they deserve and integrate it fully into the instructional program in their schools. That's why I'm supporting this bill. That's why I introduced it. That's why the coalition of advocates that supports it is so excited about it. I urge this House to pass H.R. 3036, the No Child Left Inside Act.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I will reserve my time to allow the gentleman to close.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a city that once represented all that is good about Democracy and free enterprise, of a city that was a vibrant cultural and economic center and of a city that has been rendered a ghost town by an unlawful military occupation. The city of Famagusta is located in the outer rim of Europe on the island Republic of Cyprus. Before Turkey's 1974 illegal invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus, Famagusta showcased the successes of the newly independent Republic. Famagusta led the development of the nascent Republic's economy and was known to the world as a great entertainment and tourist destination. The city housed 50 percent of Cyprus's touristic accommodations and also served as Cyprus's principal port, handling over 80 percent of the country's general cargo, and nearly 50 percent of the total passenger traffic to and from the island. In 1974, 60,000 Cypriots called Famagusta home, and another 15,000 made their living working in the city. During the summer months European holidaymakers swelled the population to more than 100,000. The vitality and good fortune of Famagusta ended when the Turkish military subjected it to intense aerial bombardment. In the face of the Turkish air force and invading army, the Greek-speaking Cypriot population evacuated the city. The Turkish military sealed off the Varosha section of the city and has forbidden the entry of human life there for 34 years. Varosha lays frozen in time with the shelves of its department stores stocked with the wares of the 1970s, the hotel's breakfast tables are set for the tourist who never arrived and the roads and buildings are overrun by brush and vermin. The decline of this once proud and vibrant city has been catalogued by its inclusion on the World Monuments Fund's 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world. The Turkish military's continued occupation of the city and exclusion of its lawful inhabitants has been condemned by United Nations Security Council Resolution 550/1984 that calls for the transfer of the occupied, but uninhabited city of Famagusta to the United Nations for the orderly resettlement of the city by its rightful inhabitants. Following Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, Congress enacted 22 U.S.C.A. Sec. 2373(a)(5), which sets forth the requirement that United States foreign policy support the United Nations Secretary General's efforts to resettle the occupied, but uninhabited city of Famagusta by its rightful inhabitants. Once again this June 2, 2008, the Report of the Secretary General on the United Nations Operation in Cyprus holds the Government of Turkey responsible for the failure to hand over Famagusta for resettlement by its rightful inhabitants. It is on this Remembrance Day of Famagusta that I tell my fellow members of the House that it is high time for Turkey to end its senseless and cruel occupation, and allow the people of this fine city to return to their homes so that they may rebuild and restore her faded glory for the benefit of all Cypriots.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 34th year since the invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus. Since 1974, Turkish military forces have illegally occupied the northern part of the island republic. The Turkish occupation forcibly divides peaceful communities and deprives a sovereign nation the exercise of democratic independence in all of its territory. The Turkish invasion divided Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriots into two physically distinct communities for the first time in the island nation's history. The unlawful occupation of 37 percent of the territory of Cyprus continues unabated to this day. There are currently 43,000 Turkish troops garrisoned in the occupied areas, and Turkey has resettled over 100,000 mainland Turkish citizens into those areas. The continued Turkish occupation of the island republic subverts the indigenous effort to establish a democratically free and culturally unique Cypriot nation. All that stands in the way of Cypriots celebrating their unique and diverse national heritage within the expanded borders of the European Union is the presence of the Turkish occupation forces. Today, thousands of Cypriots continue to be refugees in their own land, blocked from the homes and the communities they inhabited for generations. Some have been marooned in tiny enclaves trapped by the occupation forces, cut off from the outside world and basic human rights. A new generation of Cypriots has inherited the terrible dislocation that military occupation brings. In the face of all this, the Republic of Cypress has struggled and succeeded in building a strong society, one whose economic progress, development of democratic institutions and capable governance led to membership in the European Union in May 2004. Sadly, until there is an end to the occupation, the occupied areas of Cyprus will be denied the full benefits of EU membership. For the United States, there is a clear imperative to resolve the situation in Cyprus as a matter of justice and the rule of law, principles we hold dear. But beyond that, achieving reunification of the island is critical to the strategic interests of the United States. The Cyprus problem pits American allies against one another. The strategic interest in facilitating a negotiated settlement is significant for the region, but also for the world. Cyprus can either fester as a potential flash point or become a starting point for reconciliation. Reconciliation talks are now underway between the leadership of the two Cypriot communities. The opportunity for reconciliation is real. Since Cyprus' entry to the EU, many checkpoints along the infamous green-line have been opened. After nearly 30 years of complete separation, there have been more than 13 million bi-communal crossings without any serious incident. Everyday Cypriots of the Turkish-speaking community cross into the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus to go to work. Indeed, nearly 3 percent of the Turkish-speaking Cypriot community is employed in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, and more than 35,000 have applied for and received passports from the Republic of Cyprus. The Cypriot people want an end to the division of their island. Their efforts to negotiate reconciliation through the good offices of the United Nations must be free of Turkish interference. It is no secret that successive Turkish governments and, in particular, the Turkish military, use Cyprus as a shibboleth to rouse extremist and nationalist sentiment to enhance their own domestic standing. We, in the House of Representatives, should heed the political storm engulfing Turkey. Today, in Turkey democratic expression is challenged at every turn. Today, in Turkey religious and ethnic minorities live in a state of credible fear and harm of persecution. Today and for more than 80 years, the Turkish military holds itself out as the primary political actor existing beyond the bounds of democratic accountability. Mr. Speaker, the United States should not yield to violations of human rights and the rule of law by the government of Turkey or the Turkish military. The United States, and its allies, particularly the European Union, must stand in solidarity with all Cypriots and support their commendable efforts to reconcile their differences and establish a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. With the support of this body, it should be made clear to Turkey that perpetuating the status quo on Cyprus hurts its relations with the United States and the rest of the world. Worst of all, it forecloses Turkey's prospects for accession to the European Union. I ask my colleagues to support the reconciliation efforts now underway, and demand from our Turkish ally that it refrain from interfering in the reconciliation efforts now underway. With a truly concerted effort by this body, next year we will commend the Cypriots on their courageous reconciliation, instead of observing the 35th year of Turkish military occupation.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, in the wake of skyrocketing energy prices, I rise today to urge this Congress to fully fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, as part of the economic stimulus legislation that's being considered. Americans are feeling the pinch. Sixty percent of families are cutting spending as they struggle to pay for rising electric bills and gas prices. Let me speak directly about the situation of one Maryland family. Mr. Delatore works part time as a counselor and gets partial disability because of complications from cerebral palsy. He's had a tough time making ends meet, especially in the last year. Mr. Delatore is a LIHEAP recipient. He has expressed severe anxiety that he can barely afford to buy what he needs. Without energy assistance, he will be pushed over the edge. Madam Speaker, many families are living close to the economic edge, and they rely on this LIHEAP support, this critical support, to make ends meet. We have to fully fund this program.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I thank the chairman, and Madam Speaker, I wanted to respond to some of the points that have been raised regarding what is going on with the gas prices right now in the country. I am talking to constituents, just as my colleague on the other side is talking to constituents, and there is no question that people are hurting with the gas prices that are out there right now. That's one of the reasons the Democrats here in Congress have tried to take some very constructive steps to bring down the cost of gas at the pump. Among those, we're pushing very hard on the President to cease putting oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He finally came around on that. So I think that made a difference. Secondly, the push in recent legislation to try to curb the speculation in the oil and gas industry by interests, frankly, that don't know much about that industry but are in it to make a buck and have been driving the price up and up, and we want to crack down on that. Finally, among the more immediate measures that we can take--you know, I'm privileged to serve, as is my colleague, on the Natural Resources Committee here in Congress. So we bring a very thoughtful analysis to what is happening with our Federal and public lands and making sure we're using our natural resources wisely. One of the ways we do that is to have issued from the agencies that have responsibility for it, permits and leases so that the oil industry can explore right here in the United States. And I'm going to repeat the figure which has been repeated many times because it's an accurate one, and that is that there are 68 million acres right now for which the oil industry, oil and gas industries hold permits and leases where they are not producing, where they are not pursuing those leases. So we hear a lot about we should be trying to buy American resources and buy American and buy American oil. Well, we have the opportunity to buy American oil only if we're producing American oil. And the industry, for one reason or another--and it's kind of hard to figure out the industry--has not taken advantage of those permits that they have. We tried to put through legislation last week. It was defeated in large part because of the opposition on the other side, a bill where we would basically force the oil industry to either use these permits or lose these permits, which we think is the right thing to do in order to take advantage of the natural resources that we have here right in our own country. I'm trying to figure out why the oil industry doesn't want to drill, and then it occurred to me that, if you're an oil company, the current state of things isn't so bad. You know, people are paying $4, more than $4 a gallon for gas at the pump. The oil industry last year pulled down $100 billion worth of profits. So why would they think there's any problem? That's why we've got to push them, and the other side hasn't taken advantage of the opportunity here legislatively to try to push the oil industry to take advantage of these leases and permits that they already have. Not only that, there are leases and permits out there with respect to the Outer Continental Shelf in terms of exploring our natural resources there, as well as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. You know, we've heard a lot about this visit that a contingent of Republican lawmakers took to visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge last week. They went to the wrong place. I mean, why not go to the place where you can actually get some oil and get it quick, if we would take advantage of the fact that permits and leases can be issued? We've already done the analysis on the NPRA, on this National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, and the evidence is that we could get more oil from that location, for which we already have the authority to issue permits and leases to drill, than we could from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. So I want to caution Americans not to be misled by some of this rhetoric that we're hearing from the other side. We need to break our addiction to oil. The President of the United States himself has admitted that we're addicted to oil. If you're addicted to something, you don't solve your problem by just going and finding a new supply of the same thing that you're addicted to. You try to move to something else. You try to transition, and we need to move over the long term to smarter policies with respect to energy and finding alternative sources of energy and renewable sources of energy. We can do that. We have the ingenuity in this country; there's no question about that, if we're given the tools and the right kind of policies to pursue it. And we can break this addiction. In the meantime, there's going to be a transition, absolutely, and it's not like tomorrow we're going to wake up and we're not going to need oil anymore. I understand that. Everybody in this body understands that. So you have got to have a plan to transition, and during that transition, we absolutely should be taking advantage of the resources in our own country. They can provide some of the energy. And that's why, again, I come back to wondering out loud why it is that our Republican colleagues are so adamant in opposing these efforts to try to get the oil industry to drill on lands and in waters where they already have permits. So, I'd just like to say that what the American people are looking for right now is not a lot of rhetoric, not a lot of double-talk. They want to know that we're trying to create smart policy here in Washington. The Democratic leadership has been doing that, both with respect to the steps we can take in the immediate near term to deal with the price of gas at the pump, but also to show that we've got an idea of where we're headed so that we can move away from this oil dependency and addiction.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that would correct a longstanding disparity between professional firefighters who are employed by States, counties, or municipalities and Federal firefighters. In 1985, Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act so that firefighters around the country could engage in a practice called ``trade time.'' Trade time allows two firefighters, solely at their option and with the approval of their supervisor, to switch shifts without affecting the pay rate of either firefighter. The Congress made this change because firefighters work uncommon schedules involving 24 hour shifts and 72 hour work weeks, followed by a period of time away from the firehouse. Trade time enables firefighters to meet personal obligations such as attending a child's birthday or assisting a sick family member without exhausting their annual leave. It also ensures that firehouses across the county can maintain staffing requirements and keep our communities safe. Federal firefighters are not covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore have been ineligible for trade time. The legislation I am introducing today amends Federal employee labor law to fix this problem. Federal firefighters work side-by-side with their non-federal colleagues, so this is fundamentally an issue of equity. It will also help Federal agencies recruit and retain firefighters. Just like other firefighters, Federal firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis. They also accept the irregular hours that their jobs require. This legislation merely gives them some modest flexibility to balance that irregularity and meet their family obligations. I hope my colleagues will support this simple but overdue legislation.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that would expand the Army Corps of Engineers' role in Chesapeake Bay cleanup--a mission they first took on in 1996. The legislation would provide the Corps with continuing authority to engage in this work; expand the Corps' work to all six States in the Bay watershed and the District of Columbia; and provide flexibility for the Corps to work with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and other not-for-profit groups engaged in Bay cleanup. Next year, the Congress will move to enact a full reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act for the first time since 2000. This represents an opportunity to turn the tide in Bay cleanup efforts so future generations can continue to enjoy the cultural, historic, and recreational benefits of the Bay and so it can continue to be an economic driver for the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, we have laid the groundwork for great progress in achieving this goal by securing substantial resources in the Farm Bill for agricultural-based Bay restoration. This measure serves to provide the water-resources complement to that effort. The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration and Protection Program, which was established in section 510 of WRDA 1996, authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to provide design and construction assistance to State and local authorities in the environmental restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. These projects range from shoreline buffers to oyster reef construction. As it is currently structured however, the program has been limited in its scope for several reasons. First, the Corps' restoration efforts have been limited to Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which has precluded a comprehensive, watershed-wide plan that adequately prioritizes projects. Second, unlike all other major Federal agencies engaged in Bay restoration, the Corps has no small watershed grants program that engages State and local governments in small scale restoration projects. This is compounded by the Corps' intricate procurement processes. Finally, the matching fund requirements of the section 510 program do not allow for the use of in- kind services or contributions, which stifles collaboration. The Chesapeake Bay Commission, a multi-State legislative assembly dedicated to the restoration of the Bay, recognizing these deficiencies has recommended several improvements to the program that are the basis for this legislation. The bill would address the issues I have previously mentioned and strengthen the section 510 program so that the Army Corps of Engineers can continue to be a strong partner in Chesapeake Bay cleanup. I hope my colleagues will support this legislation through the WRDA process.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to one of my constituents, Shalonda Fredderick, whose recent correspondence with my office reflects the struggle that's facing many Americans across my district and throughout the country. Shalonda writes, ``I'm sorry to disturb you. I don't know where else to turn. I'm 32 years old. I live with MS. I just started to receive SSDI of $1,251 a month. I have applied for housing assistance. As of August 8, my rent will be $860, plus we'll be paying $30 for water, $15 a month for BGE, plus I'm paying $185 for school loans. That's my entire check. I've tried to find help, but all I hear is that I'm too young or not disabled enough. I don't think I deserve anything more than the average person, but I know unless I find help in six weeks when my lease ends, me and my dog will be homeless.'' Mr. Speaker, we've been working with Shalonda to try to help her address these immediate problems, but what she needs are pragmatic policies to ensure that people like her never reach such a perilous point.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 372) supporting the goals and ideals of Black Music Month and to honor the outstanding contributions that African American singers and musicians have made to the United States.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I know it is incredibly difficult for the minority to resist the impulse to lob this energy rhetoric into every single discussion we have here on the floor. I am not going to take the bait, particularly on this resolution because this is such an important resolution that has been put forward. It encourages and it guides us on how we can teach this valuable, valuable history of the U.S. territories to all Americans so that they can gain a deeper appreciation of it. I want to thank those who spoke today, Congresswoman Bordallo and Congresswoman Christensen, for contributing their perspective on this important bill, and I want to urge my colleagues to support it unanimously if they could.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, in that case, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. I inquire whether the gentlelady has any additional speakers.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, at this time it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), and I would say I have benefited from having my office right across the hall from her office because she has sponsored a number of cultural activities in the hallway between our offices, so I have learned a lot about Guam since I got here.

Mr. SARBANES. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 2, which recognizes the contributions of individuals from Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands to the United States. Many individuals from these territories have added and continue to add tremendous cultural, political, and athletic contributions to America. Some examples of these remarkable individuals include Roberto Clemente, David Hamilton Jackson, and Agueda Iglesias Johnston. Roberto Clemente, a native of Puerto Rico, was a legendary major league baseball player with the Pittsburgh Pirates and an altruistic global public servant. I will say as an aside that Roberto Clemente put the Baltimore Orioles in fits during the World Series when I was growing up, and I have a vivid memory of that. While displaying extraordinary athletic feats on the baseball diamond, his selfless nature, not his play, cast him as an national icon and an exemplary role model. Unfortunately, Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash as he was trying to deliver aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. David Hamilton Jackson is another outstanding individual to recognize. Jackson spearheaded the transfer of the United States Virgin Islands territory from the Danish into the hands of the local residents. Jackson, born in the Virgin Islands, parlayed his power into making local Virgin Island residents also United States residents. Jackson served as an educator, legislator, labor leader, and lawyer, and is known as one of the most important figures from the West Indies. Agueda Iglesias Johnston was Guam's leading educator and well-known patriot. After Japan invaded the island in 1942, she both served as a teacher and principal during dangerous times in Guam. Amidst the perilous state, Johnston showed bravery when many feared. She communicated over the radio about the progress of the war, and she also aided an American Navy soldier, George Tweed, to escape capture by the Japanese. In Guam, she is known for her outstanding commitment, bravery, and service. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands have many, many historical figures, events, and pivotal historic moments that highlight the legacy of their respective homelands. Children in the United States should understand and appreciate the contributions of citizens from the territories of the U.S. Ensuring America's youth know the contributions of these great territories and their impact on American culture creates a better understanding of our Nation's history. Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for recognizing the important contributions of individuals from these territories of the United States. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 2 into the Record.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 2) expressing the sense of the Congress that schools in the United States should honor the contributions of individuals from the territories of the United States by including such contributions in the teaching of United States history, as amended.

Mr. SARBANES

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

Mr. SARBANES. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I don't know what James Madison would have thought specifically about the issue raised, but I know he had an abiding confidence in the ingenuity of the American people, as did all of our Founding Fathers and I think every President since. And we have been held back from the kinds of investments and partnerships that the American people could join with that ingenuity to move us forward, we have been held back by a lack of investment and emphasis on that kind of investment from the current administration. So I look forward to a time when we can join in partnership with the American people and take advantage of that ingenuity that James Madison and so many others recognized from the earliest days. What an accomplishment for any university to just be there for 100 years. The fact that James Madison University has reached this milestone with such a terrific list of accomplishments is truly deserving of the recognition that we seek to bestow upon the university today, and I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1051.

Mr. SARBANES. I reserve the balance of my time.