Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rick Laubscher who today is receiving the 2011 Silver Spur Award from San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR). This award recognizes a lifetime of civic achievement of a San Franciscan. Cable cars and streetcars are quintessential symbols of San Francisco. If you have ridden in one of the historic cars of the famous F-Market & Wharves streetcar lines on Market Street and The Embarcadero, you owe a big thanks to Rick Laubscher, President of Market Street Railway, a volunteer, non-profit organization founded in 1976 by three transit preservationists who wanted to save a vintage Municipal Railway trolley bus that was about to be scrapped. Today Market Street Railway has 1,200 members from San Francisco, the Bay Area, and throughout the world. The organization has helped Muni acquire 20 historic transit vehicles, including streetcars, cable cars, trolley coaches, and motor coaches and the volunteers have actively restored fifteen of them. Mr. Laubscher's passion for historic treasures and his advocacy have transformed the city's public transportation system. Mr. Laubscher's roots run deep in San Francisco. His family has lived here for four generations. Mr. Laubscher fell in love with streetcars as a little boy when they were not historic. He was washing dishes and helping his father in the delicatessen on Market Street that his grandfather had opened. He calls Market Street a true urban main street. When the streetcars were planned to be dismantled in the early 80's, he set out on a quest to preserve them. He was not the first to think of the idea, but he was the first to do it; he put history to work and preserved our urban fabric, as he likes to say. Today thousands of people each day ride the historic cars. Mr. Laubscher also served as founding board chair of The City Club of San Francisco, a landmark of world renowned art and architecture and a promoter of active engagement and influence in civic, social and business areas. He also served on SPUR's board and transportation committee. He is currently a board member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Accompanying his love of San Francisco and history, Mr. Laubscher has a passion for communication. He runs Messagesmith, a strategic communications consulting company specializing in such areas as environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Mr. Laubscher holds an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and worked as a radio and television news reporter for many years. He lives in Woodside with his wife of sixteen years, Nicole. They are the proud parents of three daughters. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to acknowledge the outstanding achievements and lasting contributions of Rick Laubscher to San Francisco and the rest of the world.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I'm sick of women getting the short end of the stick. On the whole, women earn less than men for the exact same jobs. In fact, compared to men, women basically work for free 3.5 months of the year since we only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. But here's something that's not free--health care for women. We pay $1 billion more a year in health insurance premiums than men. That's astounding. And it's not because ``the fairer sex'' is less healthy than men. In the individual market, a woman, 40 years old, nonsmoking, in Kentucky, actually pays more for her health insurance than a 40- year-old man who does smoke. Even among 30-year-olds in Chicago, women are paying over 30 percent more for health insurance than men of the same age. In South Dakota, a 40-year-old woman pays $1,200 more than a 40-year-old man for the exact same coverage. The fact is, women are at the mercy of the vast majority of insurance companies which charge us significantly more than men, even with maternity coverage excluded. Gender Rating in the individual market is wrong and must end. And if you want maternity coverage? Forget it. How's this for family values? For women who do want maternity coverage in the individual market it's an uphill battle to find it and an even greater challenge to pay for it. Maternity coverage is only covered by 6 percent of insurance companies unless it is mandated by the state. And the cost can be astronomical. Deductibles could be as high as $10,000. Some companies offer special maternity coverage riders. In Kansas a rider could cost over $1600 a month--well over the cost of a normal health insurance premium. And some of the riders require long waiting periods before the coverage goes into effect. Insurance companies call being a woman a pre-existing condition. And they get away with charging women more for the same coverage as men unless there are laws in place to prevent Gender Rating. Thirteen states, including California, ban gender discrimination in insurance coverage. Fortunately, in 2014 when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect, the same will be true for the whole country. This is a long overdue step for women's equality and a key moment for health care.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. I thank my colleague from Connecticut, who says it better than any of us and with such great fervor and passion. You know, there are times here when I am elated, and there are times here when I'm sick to my stomach. And tonight is one of those times when I am sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed for this body. I'm embarrassed that the Republicans want to stuff polar bears and bring them back to this country as trophies for their hunters, but they do not want to stuff the bellies of poor kids in our country. There is something fundamentally wrong, and I say that with a great deal of remorse, really. One in seven Americans now is in poverty and needs to be part of the SNAP program. You know, I think it's really important for us to say it over and over again. This program is not filled with fraud. This program is one of the best programs that we run in the government, where the error rate and the fraud is less than 3 percent. Now, I took the Food Stamp Challenge last fall, and I've got to tell you that it was a humbling experience. And for every one of my colleagues who want to cut the food stamp program by $33 billion, I challenge them to live on the equivalent of food stamps for just 5 days. I did it for 5 days, $4.50. There were no lattes in my diet. There were no Big Macs in my diet. There was no sushi in my diet. My diet consisted of canned tuna, eggs, one head of lettuce, and tomatoes for 5 days, and a can of instant coffee from the dollar store. That's how I survived. At the end of 5 days, I thought to myself, I just did this for 5 days. How about the family that needs to do this day in, day out, month after month. What we don't say often enough on this issue is that you are only eligible for the SNAP program if you are a family of four making less than $22,000 a year. If you make more than $22,000 a year, you are not eligible, and the only place you can go to is the food banks. So if we really are going to be a country that thinks about the poorest among us, we cannot reduce this program. We cannot say to those who are just making it, who are making less than $22,000 as a family of four, that we're not going to help you put food into the bellies of your kids. I say to my Republican colleagues: Don't do this. If you are, in fact, going to vote for this budget, then you take that Food Stamp Challenge for 5 days. You see what it's like and then vote for it. I thank my colleague.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the victims of pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait (1988), Kirovabad (1988), and Baku (1990), and the ethnic-cleansing of the Armenian population of Azerbaijan. I hope that by speaking out publicly against these atrocities I will help reaffirm America's commitment to an enduring, peaceful and democratic resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It is sickening that even during modern times, less than 25 years ago, brutal attacks on Armenians occurred in Azerbaijan. Thomas de Waal, in his book Black Garden, described the massacres of Sumgait as: ``Gangs, ranging in size from about a dozen to more than fifty, roamed around, smashing windows, burning cars, but above all looking for Armenians to attack. The roving gangs committed acts of horrific savagery. Several victims were so badly mutilated by axes that their bodies could not be identified. Women were stripped naked and set on fire. Several were raped repeatedly.'' But shockingly most of the Azeris who committed these horrific acts and their accomplices in government were not brought to justice. The Sumgait Massacres are part of a long and disgraceful history of violence against the Armenian people that also includes successive massacres in Kirovabad and Baku. It is past time for the United States to officially recognize the Armenian genocide and to support the security and self-determination of the independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. This anniversary should serve as a reminder that we can stay silent no more. Let's take this moment to remember all those who lost their lives at Sumgait, Kirovabadk, and Baku and pledge to prevent ethnic cleansing from occurring anywhere in the future.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to highlight the epidemic of sexual assault and rape in the military. Next week will mark the 1-year anniversary of my first floor speech on this issue. That day, I told the story of Technical Sergeant Mary Gallagher, who was raped by a coworker while deployed in Iraq. The week leading up to the rape, Sergeant Gallagher's assailant harassed her, stalked her, and attempted to break into her room. Though she twice reported the assailant's threatening behavior, her command did nothing about it. They called it a ``he said-she said'' scenario. Justice was not served. I've told the story of Army Specialist Blake Stephens, who was consistently assaulted and sexually harassed by the men in his unit. He reported the harassment to command, but no action was taken. Fellow servicemembers later sodomized him with a bottle; and the only punishment his assailants received was extra pushups. Justice was not served. Last week, I told the story of Marine Lieutenant Elle Helmer, who reported repeated sexual harassment by superiors, to no avail. The Marine Corps did absolutely nothing in response to the harassment. Lieutenant Helmer was later raped by another superior whose behavior went unpunished. Her command ultimately told her, You're tough. You need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. I can't babysit you all of the time. No justice was served. Mary, Blake and Elle, like so many victims I've heard from, paint a picture of a military culture that treats sexual harassment and assault with silent acceptance, a culture that punishes victims for reporting the crimes committed against them. The military refutes this; yet evidence suggests just the reverse. The ``Hurt Feelings Report'' that stands beside me is a repugnant example of how rape and sexual assault has been trivialized, and how a victim was mocked in the military. It was supposed to be satire. The ``report'' was posted on the Facebook page of a female captain in charge of the Marine Barracks Protocol Office just a few months ago. It mocks fellow marines who file sexual assault complaints with a list of ``Reasons for filing this report,'' which include options such as: ``I'm a little b--------.'' ``I'm a little p--------.'' ``I'm a cry baby.'' And ``I want my mommy.'' And what did the head of protocol do when she saw this document? Did she report or punish the people who made it? Did she tell them there is zero tolerance for this behavior? No, she didn't do anything of the sort. In fact, the head of protocol wrote this caption to the image on her Facebook page: ``My marines crack me up.'' It's no wonder that only 13 percent of victims of rape and assault are brave enough to report the crimes committed against them. The ``Hurt Feelings Report'' and the Facebook response convey a toxic culture when it comes to sexual harassment, assault, stalking and rape. Victims have been told to ``get over it,'' or told that they were ``asking for it'' based on the way they dress. One year ago, I promised to tell the stories of servicemembers who survived rape and sexual assault while in the military. I said then, and I promise you now, that I will tell their stories until meaningful action is taken to eliminate the chasm between the number of estimated sexual assaults and the number of prosecuted sexual assaults. I urge survivors to email me at stopmilitaryrape@mail.house.gov if they want to speak up.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, who among us is not for competition and innovation? This amendment speaks directly to that issue. And I want to read you the amendment: This act shall not take effect until the Federal Communications Commission submits to Congress a report on the impact of this act on the mandate of the commission to promote competition and innovation. Again, who isn't for competition and innovation? Among the important mandates of the FCC are the following: promoting competition, innovation, and investment in broadband services and facilities; supporting the Nation's economy by ensuring an appropriate competitive framework for the unfolding of the communications revolution; encouraging the highest and best use of spectrum domestically and internationally; revising media regulations so that new technologies flourish alongside diversity and localism; providing leadership; and strengthening the defense of the Nation's communications infrastructure. The provisions of this bill could potentially disable the agency and stymie the commission's ability to fulfill its most basic mission: to promote innovation while protecting the public interest. The U.S. has led the world in developing policies to unleash spectrum for mobile investment and innovation. The FCC was the first agency to develop spectrum auctions and also the first to free up so-called junk bands for unlicensed use, such as Bluetooth, cordless phones, and Wi-Fi, all things we take for granted today. The economic benefit created by unlicensed spectrum alone is estimated at $37 billion a year. In 2011, the U.S. tech sector grew three times faster than the overall economy. This is success, and we should do nothing to stymie that success. The U.S. has regained global leadership in mobile innovation. We are ahead of the world in deploying 4G mobile broadband, and those next- generation networks are projected to add more than $150 billion in GDP growth over the next 4 years. Internet startups attracted $7 billion in venture capital last year, almost double the 2009 level. The apps economy alone has generated more than 500,000 jobs, and many of those are right smack-dab in my district. You know them: Google, YouTube, and Facebook. Rest assured, the innovation is continuing. For example, JellyRadio is a small technology company with about 15 employees, and it's located right across the street from my district office. It's already received $2 million in angel and venture capital. It allows crowdsourcing of radio playlists. You vote for what you want to hear, and the band or subject with the most votes gets played. They just received a local business award for small technology company of the year. Another is Storm8, the creator of the number one role-playing games on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android devices and parent company of the number one mobile social game developer, TeamLava. Started in 2009, Storm8 quickly shot to the top of the mobile gaming industry, celebrating its first million-dollar day in June of last year. These are examples of what we must protect in our FCC operation. We must ensure that innovators like these have the opportunity to grow and thrive. The FCC has a critical role to play in moving us forward technologically and with the jobs that it brings. Broadband has unlocked new opportunities to transform health care, education, energy, and public safety. Cloud computing is the next wave, a $68 billion global industry that is growing 17 percent annually. In fact, my son is now working for one of those companies. That's why we need to make sure that the FCC has the ability to make sure there continues to be innovation and competitiveness. The FCC Process Reform Act undermines standard administrative law practices, undoing over 60 years of Federal court precedent under the Administrative Procedures Act, creating uncertainty and confusion for the FCC and innovative businesses that interact with the agency. It also severely undermines the FCC's ability to develop sensible conditions to protect consumers and ensure competition. I am a strong component of congressional oversight over agencies within our jurisdiction. That's part of our job. But we have to make sure that the FCC has the tools to do its job as well. So before we risk millions of jobs affected by the important work of the FCC, let's be sure we know how this bill will affect our innovative economy. I urge support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise again today to highlight the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military. This is the 17th time that I've stood here on the House floor to tell the story of a brave member of our military who has been raped or sexually assaulted by a fellow servicemember. Today I will tell you the story of Elle Helmer, who served at the prestigious Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., at 8th and I from 2005 to 2006. The Marines who serve here in Washington are known throughout the military as the tip of the sword. They perform ceremonial roles and participate in the silent drill platoon. They are the creme de la creme. You will notice that Elle's story follows the exact same pattern as the dozens of stories I've told before and probably the same pattern of the estimated 19,000 rapes and sexual assaults that occurred in the military in 2010. This is the pattern of the epidemic. This is Elle's story: The harassment started as soon as she arrived in Washington. Lieutenant Helmer was told that she was selected to be the public affairs officer for the barracks based on her appearance. She was told that Command wanted a good-looking female officer to serve as a ``poster child.'' In addition to her role in public affairs, Lieutenant Helmer was also notified by mail that she was made a sexual assault and response coordinator. No one told her what the role required, and the only thing she knew about the position was that she'd been appointed to do it. In March of 2005, a captain continually commented on her appearance and began to harass her. He told Lieutenant Helmer that he picked her to be a Public Affairs Officer because she was the ``prettiest.'' He made sexual advances and kept sending her social emails. She spurned his advances and complained to the Marine Barracks' equal opportunity officer, and provided copies of the emails and details about the harassment. The Marine Corps did nothing. The following year, the Marine Corps named Lieutenant Helmer to serve as the first female ceremonial parade flanking officer. Part of her responsibilities was to attend a pub crawl for St. Patrick's Day that had been endorsed by the colonel. When she objected to going, her superior, a major, told her it was a mandatory work event. The pub crawl involved a group of Marine officers identified in T-shirts going from bar to bar to bar on Capitol Hill, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, all paid for by the Marine Corps. Lieutenant Helmer was required to drink shots at the same pace as the large male officers. On those occasions when she drank water to try to keep herself from becoming intoxicated, she was required by her boss to drink an extra shot as punishment. As a result of the forced consumption of alcohol that night, Lieutenant Helmer became very intoxicated and left to find a cab to go home. Her superior, the major, followed her out and told her that she needed to come with him to his office to discuss a business matter. When they reached his office, the major tried to kiss her. Lieutenant Helmer resisted, and the major grabbed her, knocking her over and hitting her head against the wall. She lost consciousness at that point. When she awoke, she found herself lying on the floor in the major's office and was wearing his shorts. The major was found naked from the waist down, passed out on the floor nearby. After Lieutenant Helmer left the major's office, she reported it to her command that she had been raped. Her colonel discouraged her from asking for a rape kit examination, saying it would be ``out of his hands.'' In spite of the colonel's objections, Lieutenant Helmer sought and obtained a rape kit and medical examination. Despite the medical and circumstantial evidence of the rape, the Navy Criminal Investigative Services initially refused to investigate, claiming Lieutenant Helmer's inability to recall her rape precluded any investigation. After a delay that destroyed the crime scene, the NCIS eventually conducted a very brief investigation and concluded that nothing could be done in light of Lieutenant Helmer's lack of consciousness during the assault. In addition, the Marine Corps ``lost'' Helmer's rape kit. Lieutenant Helmer complained to the major's superior. Although that Marine officer admitted the NCIS investigation was ``woefully inadequate'' and removed the major from his command position, he refused to press charges or take any further steps to punish the rapist. Instead, he told Lieutenant Helmer, ``You're from Colorado. You're tough. You need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off.'' He then remarked, ``I can't babysit you all the time.'' Instead of the perpetrator being prosecuted, Lt. Helmer became the subject of investigation and prosecution. She was forced to leave the Marine Corps while her rapist remains a Marine in good standing. Elle, like so many victims I've heard from, report a culture of acceptance and a culture that blames victims. This must stop. We must pass H.R. 3435.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I was unfortunately delayed by a meeting and was unable to cast a vote on rollcall 111 on the evening of March 19, 2012. I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 3992--``To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E 2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise again this morning to highlight the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military. I'm here to decry a code of dishonor that protects rapists and punishes victims. I'm here to call out an entrenched chain of command that squashes reports of sexual assault because they bring unwanted attention to the unit. I stand here today, as I have 15 previous times, to tell the story of a U.S. servicemember who was raped by a fellow servicemember and then robbed of justice by an unfair system that puts too much power in the hands of a single commander. The current system of injustice is shamefully unfair. The story I'm about to tell is of Airman First Class Jessica Nicole Hinves of the United States Air Force, whose attempt for justice was snatched away by a single commander who was only on the job for 4 days and reversed a decision to move forward with a court-martial. The Department of Defense estimates that more than 19,000 servicemembers were raped or sexually assaulted in 2010, yet only 13 percent of them actually reported the rape; and of those 13 percent, only 8 percent of the perpetrators were prosecuted and an even smaller number were convicted. Airman First Class Jessica Nicole Hinves, a former member of the Air Force, was raped in 2009 by a coworker who broke into her room through the bathroom at approximately 3:00 a.m. She sought medical care and bravely reported the rape. Friends of the rapist began harassing her, but Airman Hinves was not intimidated. She rightly pursued the matter through the military's justice system, and the rapist was scheduled to stand trial in his court-martial. But the airman who raped Airman Hinves was never prosecuted. His new commander intervened and halted the court-martial. The new commander had only been on the job for 4 days and had no legal training, but still he dismissed the prosecution and the man who raped Airman Hinves never was brought to justice. Only 4 days on the job, and the new commander intervened in the judicial proceedings. So what happened next? Well, the rapist was given the award for Airman of the Quarter, and Airman Hinves, who was then transferred to another base, now suffers from severe panic attacks and anxiety. Who can blame a victim for not wanting to report a rape or other humiliating assault? The current process for adjudicating sexual assault and rape in the military is shockingly unjust and is more likely to punish a victim than a perpetrator. Airman Hinves was the victim of a violent crime. In response, she did everything right. But one commander's decision stood in the way of a fair proceeding against the perpetrator. In the current military chain of command, commanders can issue virtually any punishment or, in this case, the rapist was not punished at all because the command has complete authority and discretion over how a degrading and violent assault under their command is handled. Command discretion empowers the commander to decide if a case goes forward to court-martial. The same commander is empowered to determine which JAG officer will serve as prosecutor, which will serve as defense counsel, who oversees the investigation, and even serve as convening authority and, in nonjudicial cases, determine disciplinary action. All these functions are given to the discretion of one person. Simply put, command discretion sets up a dynamic fraught with conflict of interest and potential abuse of power. This chain of command must be disrupted. We can no longer accept that victims of rape and abuse are beholden to the judgment of a single superior. Instead, victims should have the benefit of impartiality by objective experts, which is what my bill, H.R. 3435, the STOP Act does. The STOP Act would take the prosecution, reporting, oversight, investigation, and victim care of sexual assaults out of the hands of the normal chain of command and place the jurisdiction in the hands of an impartial office staffed by experts, both military and civilian, but retain it in the military. Now you've heard the story of Airman Hinves. I will continue to tell stories like hers until this broken system is fixed. I promise to continue to speak out for those who have been victims of sexual assault or rape in the military. I urge you to write me at stopmilitaryrape@mail.house.gov.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to say to Rush Limbaugh, ``Shame on you.'' Shame on you for being the hatemonger that you are. Shame on you for being misogynistic. Shame on you for calling the women of this country sluts and prostitutes, because that's what he did. Ninety-eight percent of the women in this country, at some time in their lives, use birth control. And yet he went on the air recently and called Sandra Fluke a slut and a prostitute because she was trying to access birth control pills as a third-year law student at Georgetown. So I say to the women in this country, Do something about this. I say to the women of this country, Ask Century 21, Quicken Loans, Legal Zoom, and Sleep Number to stop supporting the hatemongering of Rush Limbaugh, and if they do not do that, then I ask them to boycott those companies.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1837, the so-called San Joaquin River Reliability Act. This bill should be called the San Joaquin River Runs Dry Act. It will literally divert water from fishing and farming communities in California and send it right into the open arms of agribusiness. The author and backers of this bill don't want a sustainable water policy for California. Instead, they want to overturn a century of California law that protects healthy waterways for fish, crops, and drinking supplies. This bill should be called the GRAB Act, Give Rights to Agribusiness. It represents an unprecedented intrusion on States' water rights by the Federal Government. This goes beyond California and would affect water policy across the Western States. Taking water away from farmers and fishermen struggling to make ends meet is bad for our economy and bad for our country. I urge my colleagues to protect States' rights, to support farming and fishing families, and vote against this extreme overreach of a bill.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor San Mateo City Councilmember John Lee as he ends his 12 years of service to the people of San Mateo. John was first elected to the city council in 1999 and was re-elected by substantial margins in both 2003 and 2007. He is a 28-year resident of San Mateo and has been actively involved in public affairs on the San Francisco Peninsula for many decades. John Lee served the residents of San Mateo County as a Board Member and Chair of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. The authority makes tough choices about how to spend taxpayer money on public road and transit improvements. In his role on the authority, John voted on public improvements that speed the travel of millions of county and regional residents, annually. It takes a savvy board member to rank projects according to their merit and to resist the temptation to simply cast a vote to please a special interest. John had no trouble saying ``yes'' to the public's interest in all the votes that he cast. Over several decades, John has been vigorous in community affairs as an active member of at least two Chambers of Commerce: Redwood City and San Mateo. Quite unusually for a person who also had a growing business, John Lee found time to serve as President of both Chambers of Commerce during his service on their boards. In his community service and private sector public policy positions, John worked on legislative affairs and membership development, and he could always be relied upon to work well with my office and those of any elected official. John is a 31-year member of the San Mateo Rotary Club and has been a board member of Jobs for Youth and the American Heart Association. He has been a passionate advocate for housing the less fortunate in San Mateo County, and in his job as councilmember he has served as the city's liaison to Housing Our People Effectively (HOPE). He can be counted on to attend any groundbreaking for affordable housing, and has spoken forcefully about the need to house teachers, firefighters, clerks, and others who need affordable shelter, during his public and private sector service. As a past board member of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA), John helped this public policy group nurture San Mateo County's entrepreneurial culture. He also was a cofounder of Telogy, a high technology company. Telogy eventually employed 450 persons with John serving as Senior Vice President of Operations prior to his retirement. There are many characteristics of John Lee that mark him as a man of quite greatness, but I must close my remarks by noting John's devotion to this Nation through his 22 years in the United States Marine Corps. John served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He rarely raises his distinguished service to this Nation, but you can learn all that you need to learn about his devotion to America by watching him while he says the pledge of allegiance and listens to the Star Spangled Banner. A handful of people feel these moments so deeply that their eyes tear up. John is one of these amazing few. With honor, in dignity, and at many times with valor, John Lee has served his fellow citizens over decades that spanned two centuries. Like other Americans who are local heroes, John Lee will be remembered as a strong, articulate man who exemplifies this Nation's quiet courage and great resourcefulness in the face of all challenges. I salute him upon his latest retirement, this time from the City Council of the City of San Mateo, California. Mr. Speaker, let us always remember John Lee. America has been built by him, and by other men and women like him, who preserve this nation's liberty through their daily examples of duty to God, country and community. We are all greatly blessed by the contributions of retiring city councilmember John Lee, an American in heart and soul.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sister William Eileen Dunn, a dear friend who is leaving Seton Medical Center after 30 years of compassionate care and service. Her dedication to the Daly City community and to the health and betterment of the sick and less fortunate has been deeply inspirational. It is impossible to not feel blessed by her presence and her healing touch. Sister William Eileen was born in San Francisco as one of two twin sisters to the late William and Eileen Dunn. She attended St. John's Ursuline grade and high school and then earned her R.N. diploma from Mary's Help School of Nursing in San Francisco. The school was sponsored and operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. She then entered the Daughters of Charity religious community and earned her BSN from Marillace College in St. Louis, Missouri. Her assignments from the Daughters of Charity took Sister Eileen across the country. In 1964, she started out as a staff nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in Alton, Illinois and continued on to Hotel Dieu Hospital in El Paso, Texas as the supervisor of OB/GYN and emergency services. In 1968 she came back to California and worked as supervisor of emergency services at Mary's Help Hospital--today's Seton Medical Center--in Daly City. In 1978 she transferred to O'Connor Hospital in Campbell as patient advocate, then as administrative coordinator of the chemical abuse unit, emergency and outpatient/OR services, and subsequently as director of the pastoral care department. In 1984, Sister William Eileen moved south to Los Angeles and became the patient advocate at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Three years later she returned to the Bay Area as the administrator of Laboure Residence in Los Altos Hills and in 1992, she became chair of the board of directors at O'Connor Hospital. Simultaneously, she managed the St.Vincent de Paul free dining room in Oakland from 1992 2002. In 2002, Sister William Eileen returned to Seton Medical Center and the following year started serving as Vice-President of Mission Integration, a position she held until today. She will now move on to Villa Sienna in Mountain View and serve as the mission leader at this Daughters of Charity assisted living facility. This year she celebrates 50 years as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Last year she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daly City/Colma Chamber of Commerce. In 2008, she received the Daly City Mayor's Citizen of the Year Award. It may come as a surprise that Sister William Eileen--or Sister Miscellaneous as she calls herself--is an avid sports fan. She barely misses a game on TV. Every year she kicks off the annual Seton golf tournament and is known to have promised divine intervention--for a certain fee. About four years ago, Sister William Eileen and Kathy King, executive director of Seton, got wind that Jerry Rice would be playing a golf tournament at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay. They may have had some heavenly help and found out exactly when Jerry Rice was playing. Both of them literally ran up a hill, chasing him and asking to have their picture taken with him. It's a true story! Sister has the photo to prove it. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the selfless service of Sister William Eileen Dunn, a guardian angel for every person she befriends, and wish her the best for her new assignment at Villa Sienna.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Service League of San Mateo County which for a half-century has provided services and created hope for thousands of county jail inmates and their families. The compassionate volunteers and staff work tirelessly to make certain inmates and former inmates have access to programs, services and support networks they need to re-enter the community as contributing citizens and responsible family members. Every day the Service League helps individuals who have lost their way get a step closer to productive lives and benefits our entire community by reducing criminal activity and recidivism. I am privileged to be a member of the Advisory Board of this great organization. Under the outstanding leadership of executive director Mike Nevin, the Service League continues to offer a broad range of programs covering humanitarian, educational, substance abuse, recovery, spiritual and personal growth services. While some of the needs of inmates may seem obvious, such as contact with attorneys, probation officers and employers, the Service League also the less obvious needs. The ``Jury Trial Clothes'' program, for example, levels the playing field for inmates who are unable to afford clothing suitable for court appearances, jail procedures, or facility programs. The Service League solicits donations and dresses inmates for trial. ``Inmate Orientations'' are held twice weekly to provide information to newly- jailed individuals about the correctional process and facility programs, such as AA, NA, and church services. ``Outreach to Families'' of inmates provides friendly support, referral, advocacy and emergency assistance. The County Office of Education offers GED tutoring and testing at some facilities and the Service League supports this effort by training volunteers to tutor inmates one on one. The Service League also operates six Hope Houses, two residential homes for women, two transitional homes for women and two transitional homes for men. Those facilities truly live up to their name! Karen Francone-Hart, director of the Service League, started the first six- bed Hope House in 1990. Thinking back to that time, Karen reflects that ``each day, each step reminded me of nurturing a new infant.'' Hope Houses provide a 180-day residential treatment program for women who are involved in the criminal justice program. These women are prepared to become responsible, productive and independent members of the community while living in a safe, nurturing and clean environment. After completing the 180-day treatment program, the women are allowed to move into a transitional living program--Hope House II--as long as they stay employed or are attending school. The success of this program speaks for itself: 85% of the women who complete the program are reunited with their children, 70% remain clean, sober and crime free and 60% become gainfully employed. Diane Joiner is one of the women who found her path through Hope House. While she was in jail, she participated in the ``Hope Inside'' program, a group led by the Hope House staff. When she was released, she sought residential treatment at a Hope House. She graduated from the 180 day program and is now happily employed by Goodwill Industries where she received a promotion shortly after being hired. Diane was given a second chance, regained her life and is now a proud, productive member of our community. Mr. Speaker, the volunteers and staff of the Service League of San Mateo County recognize the humanity in every single member of our society. I ask this body to rise with me to honor their passion to build a better tomorrow for all of us.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Foster City Councilmember Rick Wykoff for his decades of public service on the occasion of his retirement on December 5, 2011. He served on the City Council for the last ten years and was city manager from 1977 1994. I have known Rick for over 30 years and have witnessed his dedication to, and passion for, our community. He thrived in the many positions he has held over the years throughout California. Foster City is extraordinarily fortunate that Rick offered his experience as city manager, his wisdom and talent to the city council for the last decade. On his watch, the council oversaw multiple public and private development projects, among them the building of City Hall, the Teen Centre Vibe, the North Peninsula Jewish Community Center, the redevelopment of Miramar and Marlin Cove and the redevelopment of the Gilead Science Campus, the Pilgrim/Triton and Chess/Hatch projects. Everyone in Foster City has benefitted from Rick's outstanding work. Rick was born in Sacramento. He earned his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Public Administration from San Diego State University and the University of Southern California respectively. Before attending college, Rick worked as a beach life guard for the United States Coast Guard from 1960 64. While attending San Diego State University, he became an administrative intern in Oceanside in San Diego County in February 1968. That was clearly where he caught the public service bug. The same year Rick became the administrative assistant to the city manager of Yorba Linda in Orange County where he stayed for two years. From 1970 73, he was assistant manager and administrative assistant in Buena Park, Orange County, until he became the manager for this city of 62,000 residents. In 1977 Rick moved north to the San Francisco Peninsula to assume his position as city manager of Foster City. He successfully dealt with past political and administrative turmoil and put in place a professional team that managed the needs of the city. Rick also served as manager of the Estero Municipal Improvement District and as executive director to the Redevelopment Agency. From 1994 95, he served as interim public works director of South San Francisco where he oversaw a freeway interchange and railroad grade separation. He returned to the department in 1997 as a special Projects coordinator. The same year he became interim director of Community Redevelopment in Morgan Hill and acting public works director in Daly City. During his time in Daly City, Mother Nature presented Rick with a special challenge: an ``El Nino'' that year with heavy rains, wind and mudslides made his work overseeing streets and storm drains no picnic, but of course he saw the city through this most difficult of times. From 1999 2000, Rick served as interim public works director in San Bruno. He was deeply involved in the negotiations regarding the BART station and the extension of underground lines through the city. Rick has also served on the boards of directors of numerous organizations including the Industrial Emergency Council, the ABAG Plan Corp., the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency and the San Mateo County Advance Life Support Joint Powers Authority. Additionally he has 30 years of experience as a volunteer fire fighter. Rick married his wife Judie 48 years ago and they raised two children, Carey and Dennis. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the work of Rick Wykoff, my friend and an extraordinary public servant who has improved the lives of tens of thousands of Californians.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sergeant Elmer ``Bob'' Eastman for his 29 years of service with the South San Francisco Police Department. He will be missed by his fellow officers who praise him as a go-getter, team player, leader, master detective and trainer. Sergeant Eastman started at the South San Francisco Police Department as an officer in May 1982 and was promoted to sergeant in February 1998. He served as a special agent with the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force and was a founding member of the San Mateo County's North- Central Regional SWAT Team. He remembers 1998 as one of the best times in his life. He weighed 219 pounds. To get on the SWAT team he had to lose 50 60 pounds--and he did by running with a buddy every single day. Sergeant Eastman's perseverance is matched by his optimism and sense of humor. He came close to being killed in the line of duty twice, once in a shootout on El Camino Real, the other time when a suspect in a drug case tried to run him over with a car, or as he puts it, ``Bob's on the hood.'' From 1992 95, he worked as an undercover agent in San Mateo County. He says he bought any drug imaginable and looked like Charles Manson. His wife was not fond of that look. In fact she banished him to the back of the church in those days. Sergeant Eastman volunteered for 16 years as the original drill instructor for the county's Peninsula Explorer Academy and he was the president of the South San Francisco Police Activity League from 1987 to 1989. He was born in New Jersey in 1958, but spent his childhood in Sydney, Australia. He attended Ku-Ring-Gai High School before transferring to Menlo-Atherton High School when his family moved to the Bay Area in 1974. Before he started his career in law enforcement, Sergeant Eastman served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard. Sergeant Eastman and his wife Kerry will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next year. They have two children, David and Janelle. In his retirement he will no doubt enjoy more time with his family and friends and find ways to keep his quick wit and creativity engaged. He applies the same optimism he has applied to his work to his life. Faced with serious health challenges, Sergeant Eastman says life is wonderful and he is going to live every day to the fullest. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor Sergeant Elmer ``Bob'' Eastman for his decades of dedication to public service and for keeping the residents of South San Francisco safe.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dale Minami who today is receiving the 2011 Silver Spur Award from San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR). This award recognizes a lifetime of civic achievement of a San Franciscan. Mr. Minami is one of the country's preeminent attorneys recognized for his civil rights leadership. He is best known for heading the legal team in Korematsu v. United States, the legendary Supreme Court case that overturned the wrongful criminal conviction of Fred Korematsu who refused internment during World War II. Mr. Minami is a personal injury attorney with Minami Tamaki LLP and has made significant contributions to the advancement of the rights of Asian-Americans. Minami is a co-founder of the Asian Law Caucus, the Asian-American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, the Asian Pacific Bar of California and the Coalition of Asian-Pacific Americans. Other landmark decisions he was involved in include United Filipinos for Affirmative Action v. California Blue Shield, the first class action employment lawsuit brought by Asian-Pacific Americans on behalf of Asian-Pacific Americans; Spokane JACL v. Washington State University which established an Asian American Studies program at the Washington State University; and Nakanishi v. UCLA, a claim for unfair denial of tenure which resulted in the granting of tenure after multiple hearings and widespread publicity over discrimination in academia. Mr. Minami has been involved in the judicial appointment process and in public policy. He was a member of the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission and chaired the California Attorney General's Asian Pacific Advisory Committee. He served as a commissioner on the California State Bar Association's Commission on Judicial Nominees' Evaluation and Senator Barbara Boxer's Judicial Screening Committee. President Clinton appointed him chair of the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund in 1996. Mr. Minami specializes in personal injury and entertainment law and has represented well known clients such as Kristi Yamaguchi, Philip Kan Gotanda and Steven Okazaki. He is counsel to the Asian American Journalists Association and has also represented many of San Francisco's best known faces on television, including Sydnie Kohara, Lawrence Karnow, Vic Lee, Heather Ishimaru and David Louie. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California in 1968 and his J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1971. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1972. In 1982, he was admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court. Among his many awards and recognitions, Mr. Minami received the American Bar Association's 2003 Thurgood Marshall Award, the 2003 ACLU Civil Liberties Award, and the State Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award. A dormitory at UC Santa Cruz was named Queen Liliuokalani-Minami Dormitory. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to acknowledge Dale Minami's extraordinary work and lasting contributions to justice and equality in the Asian American community and our community at large.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Bruce Hamilton who is retiring as Executive Director of HIP Housing after eight years of outstanding leadership. I share many things with Bruce: a deep friendship, a birthday and a passion for his organization that has enabled thousands of San Mateo County residents to live independently and self-sufficiently in safe, low-cost homes. Attending a HIP Housing graduation officiated by Bruce Hamilton is a bit like attending a revivalist meeting. Men, women and children traipse to the microphone for over an hour and tell stories of how HIP Housing and their own will power set them on the straight and narrow. A man just down on his luck found a home in which he can be both an aide and a friend to the homeowner. Rent? Sure, it's important to the homeowner, but in the world of Bruce and HIP Housing, what matters most is that yet another man became a success. A young mother with an abusive husband found a safe haven for herself and her three children. Another woman explained how she came to HIP and developed her life and parenting skills, earned her GED and landed a job. Bruce beamed like a proud dad. We often proclaim that we should ``Make it in America''. Well, Bruce Hamilton and HIP Housing make human dignity by the boatload in America, every day and all year long. Now that's a product worth making. Before Bruce joined HIP Housing, he held an impressive variety of positions all over the country. He was the Executive Director of the Alliance on Aging in Monterey, California, Administrator at the Unitarian Church in Palo Alto, California; Executive Director of the State Bar of Arizona/Arizona Bar Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona, Director of the-State Bar of California in San Francisco, California, County Supervisor in Lancaster County, Nebraska, Partner in the Law Offices of Hamilton, German & Robinson in Lincoln, Nebraska, Assistant Director of the American Bar Association in Chicago, Illinois and Public Defender at the Legal Aid Agency in Washington, DC. Bruce's career is a clear testament to his passion for public service, justice and our democracy and so are his commitments in his spare time. He has volunteered for a long list of organizations including the Peace Corp in Ethiopia, the Housing Leadership Council, Thrive, HEART, Meals on Wheels, Community Health Care Corporation, Work Force Investment Board and United Way in Monterey County. Bruce was born in 1942 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He received his BS in Secondary Education and his J.D. Degree from the University of Nebraska. He is the proud father of his son Alfred and grandfather of Ashley and Lindsey. Mr. Speaker, Bruce Hamilton personifies the old adage, ``Walk a mile in my shoes.'' Bruce has walked many miles in the shoes of many of his clients over the years of his service to our community, and it is due to his capacity to empathize that he is being honored upon his retirement. His is a life's work well done.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend San Carlos City Council Member Brad Lewis who is leaving the council after filling the remaining time in the term of the late and much-beloved Mayor Omar Ahmad. Councilman Lewis is an idealist, an artist and a pragmatist all rolled into one. Mr. Lewis is an idealistic community leader. For example, he served for five years on the Parks and Recreation Commission wrestling with exploding participation in youth sports activities. The city has little ability to find new fields or play space, but Mr. Lewis worked diplomatically with residents to ensure that children had a chance to participate in sports despite the constraints. In part due to his skills as a Commissioner, he was elected to serve four years on the San Carlos City Council from 2005 through 2009. In 2006 his colleagues elected him as Vice Mayor, and in 2007 they elected him Mayor. It was in these positions that he showed his skills as a pragmatist. For example, during his first term on the city council San Carlos took a major step forward in meeting regional medical needs with the approval of a new hospital. When the economy nosedived in the wake of the global credit crunch of 2008, Mr. Lewis and his colleagues on the council took prudent, painful and necessary steps to balance the city's budget. He also participated in many other decisions leading to economic development within the city, resulting in projects that will bear fruit in the years ahead. In 2011, San Carlos' Mayor passed away unexpectedly and the city council reached out to a seasoned resident--Brad Lewis--to fill the remaining months of Mayor Ahmad's term. There is no question that the council chose wisely because it took no time at all for Brad Lewis to learn the status of current issues and to adapt to council business. He is to be highly commended for serving these past few months in this challenging, basically volunteer position. Mr. Lewis is an artist at heart and as a professional. While Mayor in 2007, he found time to win an Oscar for producing the Pixar film Ratatouille. He co-directed the 2011 Pixar hit Cars 2 and has to his credit two Emmys and two Clio Awards. This is a man of unusual talents, and obviously one who cuts ribbons opening new businesses in town all the while cutting a swath through Hollywood. In fact, Mr. Lewis' career has spanned decades in the television and animation business, having worked for Pacific Data Images, PDI, for over 13 years as vice president of productions, Pixar Animation Studios starting in November 2001, and Digital Domain's Tradition Studios division in Florida as of July 2011 where he is serving as director for a project set to release in 2014. As Mr. Lewis said in an interview just a few weeks ago, he moved to San Carlos because a close friend lived in the city and because as a father he wanted to reduce a lot of the unknowns related to raising a child. He has two children, Jackson, age 22, and Ella, age 8\1/2\. His wife, Regina, has been an enormous source of support to him during his public service. Mr. Speaker, San Carlos is a wonderful place to raise children, and Mr. Lewis has directly contributed to that family spirit through his leadership. He is now leaving the council and, at least for a time, leaving San Carlos as he makes his way in this next phase of his career. We have no doubt that he will return, however, to full-time residence and to the city that he has helped to shape for the betterment of all.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Brisbane City Councilmember Steven W. Waldo for his 18 years of service to the people of Brisbane. During his four terms as the Mayor and five terms as the Mayor Pro Tem, Steve used a keen and analytical mind on every issue that he confronted. He has the rare skill of bringing discussions to a vote. I met Steve in 1989 when he first ran for City Council and have witnessed his years of tireless dedication to our community and to public affairs on the San Francisco Peninsula. He personifies the can- do attitude of the residents of Brisbane who love their small town. Steve has been a driving force in maintaining Brisbane's character and the quality of life for all residents. He has worked hard to balance Brisbane's thriving economy with the preservation of the town's natural beauty. Steve deeply appreciates the pristine open space on San Bruno Mountain. One of his long-lasting accomplishments was the preservation of over 3000 acres of open space to protect the endangered Calippe Silverspot and Mission Blue butterflies. The City Council revised the design for 37 single-family homes on the Northeast Ridge after weeks of public input and discussions with the council and the planning department. It was the first time a community in the United States had developed a habitat conservation plan, HCP, and it served as a model for an amendment to the Endangered Species Act. In the early 1990s the town was proposing to build a city hall in the center of town. Steve advocated successfully to create a community park instead. Today that park is a popular location for picnics and concerts that are bringing the community together. Around the same time a proposal for a casino on Sierra Point didn't sit well with Steve. He campaigned against it and the proposal was soundly defeated. Steve is also an enthusiastic and tenacious advocate for education. He has fought for the local schools and worked closely with the school district to ensure that future generations had access to quality education. Steve, a native of Palo Alto, graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1970 and earned a law degree from Hastings College of Law in 1974. He worked for 24 years at the law firm of Severson & Werson in San Francisco and for 10 years as chief legal officer of CPP, Inc., a publishing company in Mountain View. Steve and his wife of 30 years, Patricia Franklin Waldo, have three daughters, Amanda, Rebecca and Hilary, and one son, Lloyd Stevens Waldo. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the life and work of Steve Waldo who has made the city of Brisbane a better place for residents and visitors alike.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Arthur Gensler who today is receiving the 2011 Silver Spur Award from San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR). This award recognizes a lifetime of civic achievement of a San Franciscan. San Francisco is not alone in benefitting from Mr. Gensler's vision, creativity and leadership; his impact is global. In 1965 he founded Gensler, a San Francisco based architecture and design firm, that has grown from a three-person office to a 3000-person firm with over 30 offices worldwide. Mr. Gensler transformed interior design into a recognized profession and his firm serves as a model for design professions in the 21st century. Gensler designed the stunning new Terminal 2 at SFO, located in my district, and Terminal B at Norman Mineta International Airport in San Jose. Other notable projects include the Toys R Us store at Times Square in New York, the Avenue of the Stars CAA building in Los Angeles, Jet Blue Terminal 5 at JFK, Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, the first LEED certified car dealership in McKinney, Texas and Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China which is currently under construction. Among the many Awards Gensler received are the American Institute of Architects' IDP Outstanding Firm Award, Contract Magazine's Legend Award, Interior Design Hall of Fame, U.S. Green Building Council Leadership Award, the Lifetime Achievement award from Ernst & Young LLP, and AIA's Architecture Firm Award, the highest honor that AIA can bestow on an architecture firm for consistently producing distinguished architecture. Mr. Gensler is a graduate of Cornell University, which named him ``Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year'' in 1995. Today he serves on the Advisory Council of Cornell's College of Architecture, Art and Planning. Mr. Gensler has also been a Visiting Professor at Arizona State University, Cornell, and the University of California at Berkeley, where he is on the Advisory Board of the Haas School of Business. He is a Trustee of the National Building Museum, Washington, DC, and the Buck Institute for Aging, Novato, California. Mr. Gensler is a Fellow of both the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) and the International Interior Design Association (FIIDA), which honored him with its Star Award. He is also a professional member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and a co-founder of the AIA's National Interior Architecture Committee. Mr. Gensler and his wife of over six decades, Drue Gensler, live in Mill Valley. They are the proud parents of four sons and ten grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to acknowledge the craft, talent and lasting impressions of Art Gensler.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise again today to highlight the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military. This issue was recently brought up on Fox News by a commentator who ignorantly declared that women who join the military should expect to be raped. Yes, believe it or not, this was what the commentator said. I don't think our women choose to enlist in the military with the expectation that they might get raped. This morning I'm going to tell you the story of U.S. marine Stephanie Schroeder, who was raped in a public restroom by a fellow marine. He shoved her down, beat her, and forced her on her back. He ripped down her pants and raped her. Then he ejaculated on her inner thigh and spit on her. Private Schroeder reported the rape to command. Her commander laughed at her and said don't come ``blankin'' to me because you had sex and changed your mind. Don't come ``blankin'' to me? That's the response that was given to Private Schroeder. That was her leader. That was her commander saying that to her. Instead of helping her, her commander called her a liar and restricted her from seeking medical help or any type of counseling. And what's worse is that her commander did nothing illegal. The military judicial system allows commanders complete discretion for handling cases of rape and sexual assault. To the current standard of justice, the commander did absolutely nothing wrong. This story is one of thousands that happens in the military every year. By the Department of Defense's own statistics, 19,000 men and women are sexually assaulted or raped in the military every year. This is not a secret. Congress and the DOD have worked on this issue for a quarter of a century, but very little has changed. The issue has been treated like a game of tag. Congress calls a hearing and then, tag, DOD submits a report, then, tag, Congress has a hearing, then DOD has a press conference about a new report. The game goes on and on, but no real changes actually occur. Well, I have my own game. It's called ``Truth Or Dare.'' First, truth: the women in our military are more likely to be raped or assaulted by colleagues than they are to be killed by the enemy. Truth: only 13.5 percent of victims report the crime. Truth: only 8 percent of the cases are actually prosecuted. Truth: the sole arbiters of reports of assaults in commands who decide which rapists are punished and will go free are, in fact, the commanders. And now, there's a dare. I dare the Department of Defense to create a better, fairer process for handling rapes and sexual assaults. Instead of continuing a system that punishes victims and sweeps sexual offenses under the rug, I dare the Department of Defense to create an impartial office to review and handle these cases with experts in prosecution and investigation. So what actually happened to Private Schroeder? Well, she got transferred away from her rapist to a new duty location. Prior to her arrival, her command called and told her new supervisor that she was a ``troublemaker.'' Two weeks after the transfer, her new superior made a pass at her. She refused to have sex with him, and he retaliated by publicly harassing her at work. When she contracted pink eye, he asked her in front of formation if she let a guy ejaculate in her eye. She reported the harassment to command. Nothing happened. A month later, she awoke to the same supervisor sexually assaulting her. Again, she reported it to her command. This time the command took action--against Private Schroeder. She was disciplined for having a man in her room. Private Schroeder, the victim of sexual assault, was punished after a sex offender broke into her room and harmed her. Private Schroeder learned not to report crimes committed against her. So 6 months later, when she was sexually assaulted again by a marine in a truck, she told no one how he attempted to have sex with her, or how, when she refused, he began to masturbate in front of her and locked the doors so she could not leave. He said, Show me your tits; and, Help me masturbate; and, You masturbate for me. This is outrageous conduct that should not be allowed in our military. For now, victims of rape and sexual assault must follow the chain of command, even if their commanding officer chooses to ignore the problem. We need to overhaul this system. I've introduced H.R. 3435, the STOP Act, that would take these cases out of the chain of command and create an office in the military that will handle them. I will continue to tell stories like Private Schroeder's until something changes. Survivors can email me at stopmilitaryrape@mail.house.gov if they would like to speak out. For more information about this issue and opportunities to advocate for change, please visit ProtectOurDefenders.com.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rex Eugene Geitner who has been selected as the 2011 Farmer of the Year by the San Mateo County Farm Bureau. Rex has cultivated land from the Midwest to California where he has grown some of the best wines in the world. Rex was born on August 6, 1950, in Davenport, Iowa, while his mother was visiting her sister. He then grew up in the family's hometown of Peoria and several other rural communities in Illinois. The family owned and operated a small farm near Elmwood which is where Rex developed his love for the land. In 1966, the family moved to Orange, California, where Rex entered his junior year at Orange High School. He took classes in agriculture, became active in the Future Farmers of America, and raised steers until graduation. In 1972, Rex moved to Napa where the region was just starting to transform itself into one of the most respected and famous wine areas. Rex began his career by cleaning hillside land that was then planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. Sterling Vineyards acquired the land and kept him as their vineyard manager. From those humble beginnings, Rex evolved to be one of Napa's most experienced and sought after viticulturalists and hillside developers. During his ascent, he worked for well-known vineyards such as Stag's Leap, Domaine Chandon, Spring Mountain Vineyards and many others. Rex also took several courses about viticulture and enology at UC Davis. In the 1990s, Rex started a business that designed and developed environmentally responsible hillside vineyards. One of his clients, T.J. Rodgers, eventually hired him full-time. According to Dr. Rodgers, his company had to court Rex for five years until he decided that he ``was ready to focus on making the world's best Pinot Noir.'' Rex and his wife of 37 years, Amy, raised their children, Alison and Michael, in Napa. After living in the wine country for 27 years, Amy and Rex headed for the coast and now live in El Granada. However, Rex did not leave the wine business behind; he is now developing the winery and vineyards for Clos de la Tech. He also has served as the board president of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau since 2009. Mr. Speaker, the San Mateo County Farm Bureau is right to honor Rex Geitner as Farmer of the Year. His lifelong dedication to environmentally responsible farming and viticulture have both benefitted and delighted Californians and wine connoisseurs all over the world.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise quite saddened by the news that the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has made a political decision--a fine nonprofit that I have been associated with for years. I've run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I've walked in the Race for the Cure. I have been the emcee of a number of events locally that they have held. So I have been a big booster of the Susan G. Komen organization. But not anymore. Their announcement yesterday that they are no longer going to fund any organization that is being investigated by a Federal, State, or local body means that Planned Parenthood is no longer going to receive $600,000 a year. Now, ironically, yesterday, the Komen organization also announced, and with great concern in a statement, that the dismal rate of breast cancer screening with women who do not have insurance is something like 38.2 percent. Last year, the Planned Parenthood organization was responsible for over 700,000--700,000--breast cancer screenings for women who are poor, for women who don't have insurance, for women who seek to get the health care they get through Planned Parenthood. So over the last 5 years, there have been 4 million breast cancer screenings by Planned Parenthood. Komen has funded about 170,000 of them through Planned Parenthood. So what does this mean? Well, I guess it means that Susan G. Komen has decided to become a 501(c)(4), because no longer do they want to be providing nonprofits. They want to become a political advocacy group. Last time I checked, we were all presumed innocent until proven guilty and we looked to investigations in the Federal judicial branch; we looked to investigations by the U.S. Attorney or the district attorney. Far be it from us to rely on the House of Representatives holding a hearing as being emblematic of justice, because oftentimes it's a political sandbox. Now, this ostensible investigation is one that has been called on by Mr. Stearns, who is the subcommittee chair of Energy and Commerce on Oversight. The hearing has never been held. So why would Susan G. Komen take the remarkable step of saying they are no longer going to fund Planned Parenthood? I suppose when we review NIH and bring them under some investigation that they will stop funding NIH to the tune of a million dollars, or I suppose that when we have a pharmaceutical company that we bring to the Hill to ask them questions about a particular activity that they will stop accepting sponsor money from that particular pharmaceutical company. All of you across this country that feel that Susan G. Komen should stick to what it knows, and that is breast cancer research, breast cancer screening, and support and promote those activities by organizations that do the research and do the screening, I ask you to call them at 1-877-465-6636 and tell them that you want them to stick to what they know. Let's not make this a race to the political bottom.