John Sarbanes

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1050 into the Record.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 372 into the Record.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I thank my colleague very much. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 1692 which will grant this Federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association. This day, as has been said already, is long, long overdue. Later this summer will mark the 55th anniversary of the armistice that ended the full-scale fighting in Korea. I am very pleased the House will today pass legislation to finally grant the Korean War Veterans Association a Federal charter. My father, Senator Paul Sarbanes, introduced this legislation over several Congresses in an effort to get these veterans the recognition that they deserved. And although this legislation had been a priority of his and Leader Hoyer's for many years, we had been unable to get certain opponents to move out of the way and allow it to pass. Now, thanks to the majority leader and to Senator Ben Cardin and to others who stepped forward with their support, we will finally send this legislation to the President for his signature, and it will become law. Madam Speaker, this is about recognizing the 5.7 million veterans who fought in the Korean War and more than 36,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country in that conflict. This is also about fairness. A Federal charter will give the Korean War Veterans Association the same status as other major veteran services organizations and allow them to more efficiently assist their membership. The Korean War is often called the ``forgotten war.'' By passing this legislation, we take a modest step to reassure the Korean War veterans that we will never forget them and their tremendous sacrifice to our Nation.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the motion.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I am new to Congress, but I have already sat through a number of hearings in the Natural Resources Committee where we scrutinize the appropriations requests and presentation of various agencies that are under our jurisdiction. So I have high confidence that the congressional oversight that is needed for this kind of program will be there through the annual appropriation process. And I say again that this is about making a statement to all of those citizens who stepped forward and have supported the Gateways program, that are there to back these sites, to preserve our environment and the Chesapeake Bay, its heritage, its cultural legacy. And if we vote today as I hope we will, to permanently authorize this program, we will be saying to all of those citizen stewards that we are thankful for the commitment that they are making, and that their national government is ready to step up and make an equal commitment to protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman indicated some anxiety that the program would languish if it was permanently authorized. And I can assure him that this is one program that will not languish, because it has so stimulated the interest and the engagement of so many citizens and volunteer groups across the six States and the District of Columbia that make up the Chesapeake Bay watershed. And that is the point. That is the point of permanently authorizing it, because the citizenry has stepped up and they have shown that they are ready to work in partnership with their national government, and it is time for the national government to make an equally powerful statement to the citizenry that, when it comes to the Chesapeake Bay, we are going to be here as a steadfast ongoing supporter of that partnership. Gateways has a proven track record. Initially authorized in 1998 and reauthorized in 2002, the Park Service conducted a special resource study on the program in 2004, and it concluded that Gateways should be made permanent and expanded. That is because the program is tested and proven. Park Service has already made the Gateways network a permanent unit of the Park System. Again, another reason it certainly will not languish, and a reason why the kind of oversight that the gentleman from Utah is concerned about will be there in terms of the agency's responsibility. The appropriations process, which he dismissed as a significant way of overseeing the program and providing scrutiny to it, is there on an annual basis and can certainly serve that purpose. So it is the essence of this bill in fact that we permanently authorize it, because we want to make the statement to those volunteers and citizens who stepped into this tremendous partnership to preserve the Chesapeake Bay that we understand the commitment they have made, and we are prepared to make an equal commitment from our side. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SARBANES. How many minutes remain?

Mr. SARBANES. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am gratified that Representative Bishop intends to vote for the bill. I did want to point out that this is about as far as from an earmark as you can get. The projects under this particular Gateways program are determined at the discretion and based on application to the agency by the National Park Service. At this time, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to another champion of the Chesapeake Bay and someone who understands the importance of reaching out to partners throughout the watershed, and that is the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1233, I call up the bill (H.R. 5540) to amend the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to provide for the continuing authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SARBANES. I want to thank, again, Congressman Wittman for his support and his lifelong commitment to the Chesapeake Bay. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger has been a champion of the Chesapeake Bay throughout his career, earlier in his career as county executive for Baltimore County, Maryland, and now as a Congressman from the Second District of Maryland. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, just a couple of other points I wanted to make. First of all, I am pleased to indicate that we have a letter that came to Chairman Rahall and to Ranking Member Young from the six Governors of the six States that make up the watershed and from the Mayor of the District of Columbia. So that is the Governors of Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia, who have written to indicate their very, very strong support for this legislation. June 5, 2008. Hon. Nick J. Rahall, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC. Hon. Don Young, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Natural Resources, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young: We are writing to express our strong support for H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act. The Chesapeake Gateways Program (``program'') plays a vitally important role in our efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay by improving public access, enhancing public education, and fostering citizen stewardship of the many natural, cultural and historical resources of the Bay region. Since its establishment in 1998, more than 150 sites and water trails have been designated as Gateways throughout the watershed in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia. These Gateway sites are helping to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the Chesapeake Bay and a greater commitment to the Bay's restoration. The relatively modest federal investment in the program has leveraged substantial matching contributions--both financial and in-kind--from our States, community organizations and other partners. For these reasons, among others, the program was recognized by the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation in 2005 as a cooperative conservation success story. However, there is still a tremendous need for improved on- site interpretation, enhanced public access, and additional strategies to engage visitors and residents alike in the Chesapeake Bay restoration and protection effort. In 2004, the National Park Service completed a Chesapeake Bay Special Resources Study which recommended, as its preferred alternative, that the Gateways Program be made permanent and expanded. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrail Network Continuing Authorization Act would codify this recommendation as well as enable implementation and fulfillment of the original vision for an expansive Gateways and Watertrails Network. It is critical that the Congress reauthorize this important program and reject efforts to weaken the legislation or sunset the Network. Doing so will pay significant dividends in the years ahead by helping to preserve and enhance our nation's largest estuary. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Martin O'Malley, Governor, Maryland. Timothy M. Kaine, Governor, Virginia. Ruth Ann Minner, Governor, Delaware. Edward G. Rendell, Governor, Pennsylvania. David A. Paterson, Governor, New York. Joe Manchin III, Governor, West Virginia. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Mayor, District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, I did want to just mention one site, because we talked about the 156 sites and I wanted to bring that to life a little bit. The Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, which is not far from here, located in Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, is the oldest and really only National Wildlife Refuge that conducts wildlife research. It is 13,000 acres. It is the largest contiguous block of forest in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and it is the site of a tremendous amount of environmental education. Not too long ago we had the opportunity in connection with some other environmental education legislation that I have sponsored to do a field hearing at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, and in the morning we had six schools represented from Maryland that came there with busloads of children to participate in activities of environmental education. If you could have seen the look on their faces and how excited they were to be outdoors and engaged in this kind of learning you would have I think been very, very impressed with the resource that exists there. That is just one site of 156 sites across the bay watershed that are providing a tremendous opportunity to our citizens to connect not just to the environment, but to the heritage and cultural history of this area. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, a couple of points. First of all, the gentleman from Utah spoke to the livelihood of people who work on the Chesapeake Bay, but the biggest threat to those who make their living on the Chesapeake Bay is the decline in the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the fisheries in particular that are in the Chesapeake Bay. So if we have the interests of those people at heart, we ought to be committing ourselves wholeheartedly to this continuing authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, because it is designed to enhance and improve and protect over the long term the health of the Chesapeake Bay. To address another point, one of the reasons that the Democratic majority has been so steadfast in urging the pursuit of alternatives to fossil fuels in terms of energy sources is to reduce our dependence there, which obviously could go a long way towards the concern over fuel prices and gas prices. But another reason is because it will reduce these greenhouse gas emissions, which, again, impact the environment. If we don't take steps to do that, then there is not going to be any environment for us to enjoy. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program, it has been alluded to the fact that this is noncontroversial bill, that it should have come up on suspension. I agree. The minority resisted our desire to have it permanently authorized, and that is why we are in the process we are in today. But that permanent authorization I think is very much a part of the strong statement that we are seeking to make to the citizens in the watershed and to the many millions of visitors who come to the watershed every year, that our national government stands steadfast in this partnership with our citizenry. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, this is an odd motion as you read it and one that I don't think takes full account of how aware people are of the effect of gas prices, which is the issue that the other side has talked about all day. It says that there will be education of the public regarding the effect of high fuel prices. I think the public is fully able to educate itself with respect to that impact. This is a distraction. It doesn't really connect to the underlying bill. It was not offered in committee. It was not offered as part of the rules process. But more importantly than that, this is styled, as was just indicated, as a ``promptly'' motion and, therefore, effectively would kill the bill. And I can't imagine why anybody would want to kill this bill. What this is designed to do is to recognize the incredible commitment that has been made by ordinary citizens on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay. It would reauthorize on a permanent basis the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program and Watertrails Network, which was first enacted in 1998. This is a successful, efficient and effective program. The White House Conference called it ``a cooperative conservation success story.'' It includes 156 sites across six States and the District of Columbia, parks, wildlife refuges, museums, historic sites, watertrails, and most importantly, it reaches out to volunteer groups that have stepped forward to take stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay, millions of visitors from around the country and around the world every year. It's an efficient and effective program, and this reauthorization makes an important statement. And that's why I object to the motion because the ``promptly'' nature of it would effectively kill this bill, and we need to make a statement now to those citizens that have stepped forward, that just as they have made an important and steadfast commitment to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, so their national government will make a similar commitment to the Chesapeake Bay and the watershed by stepping forward and permanently authorizing this outstanding program. I urge my colleagues on both sides to vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the Bishop amendment.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5540, legislation that will reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network which will otherwise expire at the end of 2008. First, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and Chairman Grijalva for their leadership in getting this bill to the floor. They've been stalwart advocates in this effort. The Chesapeake Bay has a tremendous tale to tell. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program connects those who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to the natural, cultural and historic resources of the bay, and thereby encourage individual and citizen stewardship of these resources. I guess the best way to describe the Gateways program is an insurance policy on our larger investment in the Chesapeake Bay. There are three parts to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay; there is funding, which of course is extremely critical, there is regulatory guidance, and then there is citizen stewardship. Without individual responsibility, without widespread engagement by the 16 million people that reside in the watershed, it would be impossible to achieve and maintain the goal of cleaning up the bay. For a very modest investment, the Gateways program helps to foster the citizen stewardship that will be necessary to advance bay clean-up and maintain the gains that we hope to make. As many of my colleagues know, the Chesapeake Bay is our Nation's largest estuary. It is a national environmental treasure and an economic catalyst as it pertains to the region's tourism and seafood industries. Unfortunately, as many also know, the bay's health in recent years has been significantly and negatively impacted by multiple factors, such as increased nutrient runoff, chemical contaminants, and other forms of pollution. As a result, there has been a severe deterioration in the bay's water quality in recent years and a rapid loss of living resources and natural habitat. To combat these trends, in 1983 the Chesapeake Bay Program was created. It is a partnership between the States of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and the Federal Government, which is dedicated to restoring and protecting the bay. I am also committed to reversing these trends and restoring the bay's water quality and natural habitats, and that is why I have introduced this legislation to continually reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network. The Gateways program is the National Park Service's component of the greater Chesapeake Bay program. The Park Service has entered into a memorandum of understanding under the Chesapeake Bay program that tasks the Park Service with ``conserving the Chesapeake Bay's national and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.'' It goes on to say that the Park Service will provide assistance to the bay program through resource planning and grants management, rivers and trails conservation assistance, public education, interpretation, and cooperative heritage planning support. That is precisely the purpose of the Gateways program. It provides grants and technical assistance to parks, volunteer groups, wildlife refuges, historic sites, museums, and water trails throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It also provides assistance to the critical volunteer groups that have stepped forward to support the Gateway sites. The network ties these sites together to provide meaningful experiences and to encourage individual citizens to invest their own time and energy in the clean up of the Chesapeake Bay. Since 2000, the network has grown to include 156 gateways in six States and the District of Columbia. That is why the Park Service has repeatedly praised the Gateways program. In September of 2004, the Service released a special resource study recommending that Gateways be a permanent Park Service program. It goes on to say that an enhanced version of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network would be the most effective and efficient way for the National Park Service to help protect and tell the story of the Chesapeake Bay. In 2005, the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation recognized Gateways as ``a cooperative conservation success story.'' And therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we act now to reauthorize this program so that the network and its partners can continue to educate residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed about the natural, cultural, historic and recreational sites throughout the bay region, and how their communities relate directly to the health of our largest estuary and a national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. By maintaining the network and providing access to these sites, we can help develop the next generation of environmental stewards, which is one of the best ways to truly save the bay. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, again, I am gratified the gentleman from Utah plans to vote for this bill. I do note that the reason that we are here, the reason this was under a rule in part was to allow the gentleman to present an amendment, which I guess is going to be coming next. In terms of safeguards, the appropriations process provides that on an annual basis in terms of looking at the program and deciding what kind of support ought to be given to it. The permanent authorization is about making a statement, making a statement to the citizen partners that we are asking to step up and be part of this effort to preserve the Chesapeake Bay. The way we are going to save the bay, the way we are going to enhance its health over time is not by turning it over to experts, but by taking ownership at the community level, having every citizen understand what they can do in their own backyard, working with nonprofit groups, working with museums, with wildlife refuges, with historic sites, et cetera, to stake a claim in the future of the bay. And that is what the Chesapeake Bay Gateways program is all about; it is a gateway to this national treasure, 156 sites, 1,500 miles of water trails, and a tremendous investment on the part of ordinary citizens in the future of this national treasure. That is why we sought a permanent authorization. That is why we continue to seek it. That is at the heart of H.R. 5540, and I urge my colleagues to support it when it comes to the vote.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure at this time to yield 3 minutes to Representative Scott, who is a leader on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I just want to note a couple of things. First, that this is a bipartisan bill, and I want to salute, as Representative Scott did, the partnership of Congressman Wittman from Virginia in helping to marshal support for this bill. I also want to point out that the annual appropriation process will determine the funds that go to support this authorization. Otherwise, the claims that it's sort of breaking through the cap or not are not correct. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen), who is another leader with respect to the Chesapeake Bay and co-chairs the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force.

Mr. SARBANES. I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) for his career's work on behalf of the environment and the Chesapeake Bay and thank him for his support. Mr. Speaker, it is my extreme pleasure now to yield 1 minute to the majority leader, another champion of the Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5540.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I want to thank the chairman of our subcommittee, Representative Davis, for yielding this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4106, the Telework Improvements Act of 2008. As a daily commuter from Baltimore to the District of Columbia, I know how frustrating it can be to spend hours a day traveling. And with a focus on gas prices that we've heard repeatedly today, we need to explore pragmatic and innovative alternatives. I've worked closely with Subcommittee Chairman Davis and with Chairman Henry Waxman on this legislation, and I thank them for their leadership. Last year, when I offered a similar amendment to the energy bill, they helped to ensure that the amendment passed the House by voice vote, and I am pleased we will now pass this measure so that we can begin to expand telework options for the Federal workforce. This is a win, win, win. A stronger telework policy will be good for the Federal Government, it will be good for the Federal worker, and of course it will be good for the environment. At a time when a large percentage of the Federal workforce is at or approaching retirement age, we need to recruit and retain the best and brightest of a new generation of workers. By crafting strong and effective telework policies, agencies can compete for these workers and retain them. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Defense Information Systems Agency, which have some of the most robust telework policies in the Federal Government, are perfect examples of how agencies can utilize telework to recruit and retain a first-rate workforce. USPTO and DISA have retained workers, despite having a workforce that is in high demand elsewhere. The private sector is still far ahead of the government in terms of embracing telework as a recruiting tool. We must catch up if we want to compete. In fact, the Federal Government can and should be a model employer and a driving force for increasing productivity while striking the right balance between family and work. If you want to understand the competitive edge that comes from telework, you don't have to take my word for it, just listen to what one major CEO said. ``What would I say to a CEO who resists greater employee flexibility because of concerns about loss of accountability and productivity? I would hope he was a competitor, and I would keep my mouth shut. Companies that don't believe in this are going to be trapped by it in the end.'' We don't want the Federal Government to be trapped either, and that's why it is important to embrace telework. Telework is also beneficial to Federal workers by helping to improve quality of life and strike a better work/family balance. It would have the effect of giving back a couple hours a day to commuters who would otherwise be stuck in traffic, time they could spend with their families. At a time when gas prices are soaring, it could also have a profound economic benefit for families that are struggling in the current economic climate. So again, in conclusion, I want to say that telework is a win, win, win. It's good for the Federal Government, it's good for the Federal workers, and it's great for our environment. I am pleased the House has taken up this legislation, and look forward to working with the Senate to ensure that it becomes law.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Israel's 60th anniversary. My first visit to Israel was in 1985. It was during the time of the Ethiopian airlift, before the first Intifada, before the second Intifada, and a decade before the tragic assassination of Prime Minister Rabin. I can remember feeling deeply moved by the powerful mix of history, culture and religion, the sheer humanity that pulsated through the tiny nation of Israel and those charged with its stewardship. I realized, too, that America's stake in the existence and preservation of Israel was nearly as fundamental as the stake of Israel's own citizens, not just because of Israel's role as a strategic military ally in what is a notoriously unstable part of the world, although that alone would justify the maintenance of strong aid and assistance to Israel, not just because of Israel's status as the only true democracy in the Middle East, although that, too, would call upon the United States to give its unwavering support. Beyond those things, for many Americans there is a deeper, usually unspoken reason that the United States must never depart from its staunch support for the State of Israel. In the wake of World War II and its tragic legacy for the Jewish people, the existence of Israel will always be a profound moral and spiritual imperative for the United States. On a return trip just 2 years ago, I had the opportunity to witness the growth and change that has occurred in Israel since my first visit a generation earlier. From the technology being developed in the ``Silicon Wadi'' to the advances in health care and preservation of the ecosystem, Israel is a model for other industrialized nations. Mr. Speaker, in the last 60 years, Israel has demonstrated time and time again its value to the world, not just in geopolitical terms, but in what its people have given us in ingenuity, innovation and expression. This anniversary offers us an occasion to thank the people of Israel for their strength, their courage, and their enormous contributions to our global community.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during public service recognition week, in honor of Maryland's Federal workers. The work of our Federal employees often goes unnoticed in our daily lives. Without these men and women, though, we would not have made enormous progress in areas such as medical research and the protection of clean water and clean air. We would not have a mail system that our communities, families and businesses can rely on--rain or shine. The list goes on and on. This year, the Baltimore Federal Executive Board will give gold, silver and bronze awards for excellence in job performance to 217 Maryland Federal employees and military servicemembers in nineteen different job excellence categories. These awards are one effort to showcase the remarkable work that is going on in our Federal sector and I congratulate this year's outstanding class of awardees.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of National Public Health Week, I rise today to focus attention on the effects of climate change on the health of the nation's most vulnerable citizens. Scientists from around the world have issued clear warnings that the Earth's temperature is rising as a result of the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by human activity. Climate change negatively affects the environment in a fundamental way. It affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and it contributes to the spread of disease. Extreme weather events such as heat waves, drought, and stronger hurricanes further illustrate the dangers associated with climate change. Climate change looms large for everyone in our Nation, but it disproportionately impacts our Nation's vulnerable populations-- children, the elderly, the poor, and people diagnosed with chronic illness. These populations are not only most vulnerable to adverse health conditions as a result of climate change, they also lack the resources to mitigate the impact of these conditions on their daily lives. We must act now to prevent dangerous, irreversible warming of our planet and to ensure a promising future for other generations. That is why I have joined as a cosponsor of H. Res. 1081, recognizing the week of April 7, 2008 to April 13, 2008, as ``National Public Health Week'' and designating the theme of the week as ``Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.'' I have also cosponsored legislation offered by Representative Henry Waxman that seeks to create a national framework for the reduction of greenhouse gases. I want to congratulate Representative Hilda Solis and Representative Waxman for putting forward these important bills and for drawing attention to the threat of global climate change on public health.