Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

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

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, in 1949 over disputes on land grants, the Congress decided to create what are called Alaska Native Corporations. There are some 200 of them that exist today. When they started out, they received moneys that were small in nature, but nonetheless helpful. Over the course of decades, what has happened here is an abuse by our Federal employees by using this particular technique, contracting with the Alaska Native Corporation, in order not to competitively bid contracts. They are sole-source contracts. So as a result, by not competitively bidding these contracts, the taxpayers are the big losers. Let me give you just one example. There was a contract let to the Alaska Native subsidiary that shared the lead on a $1.1 billion contract to manage missile and weapons research in Huntsville, Alabama. Two other inexperienced subsidiaries received contracts without competition worth nearly a billion dollars to provide guards to Army bases. Now, this is pretty simple, colleagues. A billion dollar contract, you run it through the ANC. The result is you don't have to competitively bid it. And what happened here is the work was passed on to Wackenhut, and they overpaid by 25 percent on the contract compared with deals for the same work awarded through competitive bids, auditors later found. So here is a billion dollar contract; you run it through the ANC; you spend 25 percent more of taxpayer dollars. This is real money. We are talking $250 million overspent because the ANC was used. Now, you may say, but at least it is going to Alaska Natives. Well, my friends, it is not going to Alaska Natives. What happens, for the most part, is the Alaska Native shareholders receive about $305 per year as a result. Now, let's look at just one contract for the Sitnasuak. There was a contract for $220 million. There was $14 million worth of profits. Each of the shareholders received $305. But guess what? The people that received most of the money were the nonnatives that were hired. In fact, the consulting firm based in the Bethesda home of James Nunes, a nonnative hired to help run the corporation, he received the tidy sum of $6.4 million last year; his CFO, $1 million; his executive vice president, $470,000; and his COO, $430,000. So that's where the money went. My amendment would level the playing field and essentially treat all section 8(a) businesses the same. My amendment would prohibit the use of funds in this act to be used to award noncompetitively bid contracts to ANCs, Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in an amount in excess of the competitive bidding threshold that other section 8 participants are subject to. That is for a $6.5 million manufacturing contract. If it's under 6.5, you don't have to competitively bid. If it's over 6.5, you would have to. Again, Members, this is an affront to the American taxpayers. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

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

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to Matteo Rizzo, a lifelong educator who is retiring as Superintendent of the Jefferson Elementary School District, serving the communities of Daly City and Colma, California. In his tenure as Superintendent, Mr. Rizzo has been known for his personal involvement with all the stakeholders in his district, from teachers, to parents, to administrators and, most importantly, the students themselves. He served as the District's representative in staff contract negotiations, oversaw budget decisions, coordinated the recruitment, selection and assignment of teachers, principals and other personnel and put his imprint on every aspect of life and learning in the Jefferson Elementary School District. As is the case in school districts across our country, Superintendent Rizzo was asked to do the impossible--educate a diverse student population in an environment of dwindling financial resources, all the while staying focused on preparing them to achieve to their utmost ability in an increasingly competitive world. To do this, Matteo relied heavily on the skills he gained as an Assistant Superintendent, Principal, Vice-Principal and teacher--all within the Jefferson Elementary School District. His unsurpassed institutional knowledge and commitment to bettering the lives of young people will be sorely missed and not easily replaced. Fortunately, he leaves his successor with a legacy of excellence and community involvement that can be built upon in future years. Mr. Speaker, Matteo Rizzo is a living example of the benefits of public education and the fruits of hard work. A product of local schools, he is a graduate of San Francisco State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, his California Teaching Credential and two Masters of Arts--one in Education and another in Educational Administration. He has been honored at every step of his career, including earning a ``California Distinguished School'' award for Fernando Rivera Middle School in 2001, while serving as the school's principal. Mr. Speaker, Superintendent Rizzo has certainly earned his retirement. On behalf of the Congress of the United States of America, I wish to thank him for his exceptional service to our nation and wish him only the best as he now has time to travel with his amazing wife, Clydie, play a lot more golf, do a little more duck hunting and, as rumor has it, learn to play the guitar. Matteo Rizzo, simply put, is a good man who spent his entire professional career doing good for his community. There's no need to tell that to the thousands of children he educated, or his son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Jill, but the rest of America can benefit from knowing that extremely capable and committed professionals like Matteo Rizzo show up at school districts across this country every day with no other goal than to move our country forward, one student at a time. It is for these reasons and more that I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Superintendent Matteo Rizzo for his service.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, you know, we have all heard the jokes about how many people does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Well, I have a variation on that this morning. How many seniors have to lose their Medicare in order to provide a $104,000 tax cut per year for every millionaire? The answer is 17. Seventeen seniors will see a reduction in their Medicare or an additional cost of $6,000 a year in order to pay for the millionaire tax cut of $104,000. Mr. Speaker, even The Wall Street Journal, the conservative Wall Street Journal, has said the House Republican plan will likely result in higher out-of-pocket costs and greater limits to coverage for all Americans. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's solution is to end the current Medicare program for people.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise regretfully this morning and sadly this morning to discuss what I believe is a true transgression that took place in our House yesterday. I was appalled by the behavior displayed by the chairman of the Subcommittee on TARP and Financial Services. After repeatedly changing the time of yesterday's hearing with Professor Elizabeth Warren to discuss the Republican majority's efforts to terminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau just weeks before it was to be born, the chairman began the hearing with a petty partisan swipe alluding to whether the witness may or may not be running someday for the U.S. Senate. As if, Mr. Speaker, political ambition is taboo around here. While the overall tone of the hearing was contentious, that's to be expected. After all, the goal of the hearing was, for my colleagues on the Republican side, to paint the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as something that is bad for consumers. Why? Because this new consumer bureau's mission is to make Wall Street play by the rules. What a novel idea. But, you see, Wall Street believes that it can take care of itself. As it turned out, the hearing was a wonderful opportunity for Americans to see not only how far the influence of financial institutions reaches into Congress, but also how competent, confident, and unflappable a public servant Professor Warren is. Were it up to me, the President would just appoint her to head the CFPB and let her get on with leveling the playing field for American consumers when they borrow or invest their hard-earned money. Mr. Speaker, Professor Warren answered every question posed to her for the entire hour for which she was asked to testify. When members were called to the floor for two votes, the chairman asked her to stay and wait, and Ms. Warren politely responded that she was told she'd be released at 2:15 and had another meeting at 2:30. What followed was a scene that, had it happened in a junior high student council meeting, would have been stopped by the faculty adviser. Unfortunately, though, our subcommittee is without any kind of adult supervision. The chairman repeatedly made the same request ad nauseam of Professor Warren, who answered the same each time. She explained that the majority staff had changed the meeting logistics several times, including a 9 o'clock call the previous night to move the hearing from 1:30 to 1:15 to accommodate the congressional calendar. Professor Warren, through her staff, agreed to the change and was told that she would be done at 2:15. Pretty simple, right? This is when the chairman crossed the line and told Professor Warren, ``You're making this up.'' That's right. He called her a liar. A witness at his committee who juggled her schedule to accommodate him, an adviser to the President of the United States, who was given an oath at the start of the hearing to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. He called her a liar. Mr. Speaker, I ask today that the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) immediately and sincerely apologize to Professor Warren. I also believe he should apologize to the members of the subcommittee--both in the majority and the minority--for denigrating the proceedings of our body and pledge to never allow the political agenda to interfere with the common decency and respect that the rest of us understand is absolutely necessary in order to do the people's work. However, I won't hold my breath, because this is part of a much larger strategy by my colleagues on the Republican side to paint everyone in public service as liars, cheats, or otherwise as despicable. On the same day, the chairman of the Oversight Committee did virtually the exact same thing to Mr. Hayes, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, advising him not to answer a question because he's under oath, implying that certainly anything the Deputy Secretary might say would be untrue. Mr. Speaker, we need to do better. Regardless of political affiliation, the American people demand it. Civility and common respect are not signs of weakness or capitulation. They are hallmarks of a functioning democracy. An apology probably won't be forthcoming, but civility must be restored to this House--or at least school monitors to prevent spitballs from being thrown around in committee hearings.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak again about rape and sexual assault in the military. But first I want to recognize the role our military played in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. Taking down the world's most notorious man, someone responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Americans, is a tremendous accomplishment. Our Nation is so proud of the service of our members of the military. The news about killing Osama bin Laden is another reminder that military service is one of our Nation's highest callings. This is precisely why we cannot, as a country, allow a few bad actors to besmirch the honor of the Armed Forces. And we certainly cannot condone a system that is designed to protect the perpetrators and punish the survivors. Just as the military sought justice for the victims of September 11, we must continue to seek justice for those who have served their country, only to be raped or sexually assaulted by one of their own. As a reminder, the numbers are staggering. The Department of Defense has said that over 19,000 members of the military were raped or sexually assaulted in 2010. Those are the Department of Defense numbers. And only 13 percent of them actually report the assaults. I made a pledge to share the victims' stories every week until Congress and this administration does something more than offer lip service. I recently set up an email account so survivors could share their stories with me. The address is StopMilitaryRape@mail .house.gov. Today I want to share one of those emails. A servicewoman wrote: I endured over a year of harassment while stationed at Point Loma, California. My class leader was a fleet returnee that referred to women by a number of derogatory names. He and two other men in the class would grope women. They would then publicly grope each other to prove that they were equal opportunity harassers. The class leader also would accuse women of being ``on the rag,'' or he would ask us if our vagina hurt. What would happen if one of your colleagues asked you if your vagina hurt? And yet this is largely permitted in uniform. It is permitted with a culture of fear that would rival the prison experience or the tyranny of gang infested neighborhoods. I reported the behavior and the class leader was relieved of his duties. He was already on a suspended bust for sexual harassment that he committed while on recruiting duty in his hometown. I then was ostracized for reporting bad behavior. This class leader told all the male students at this training center to make sure that whoever went to sea with me should make me pay. Another petty officer deployed on a mission a month ahead of me. He told the ship that I was a feminist and a lesbian that got someone that was on a suspended bust into more trouble. While stationed aboard that ship, I was groped and harassed by my work center supervisor. When we went to sea, he would send everyone back to their barracks by saying that he and I would finish cleaning up. Then he would rape me. The ship sailed for the Caribbean. We sailed through hurricanes and tropical storms off the coast of Florida. I was put on consecutive watches with this guy and he raped me most of the time we were on watch together. I did get some reprieve because in high seas he would get seasick. Once he got sick all over me while he was raping me. I tried to report this rape and harassment to my chain of command. My senior chief took me out to the fan tail of the ship and told me that the chain of command knew that I was a feminist and a Democrat; and, if I said anything more about this, I would just be proving that I wanted to get the rapist in trouble. I attempted suicide, but backed out at the last minute. It still makes no sense. Well, it doesn't make sense. I have received countless emails like this and will continue to share them in the weeks ahead. Again, I invite survivors to tell their stories by writing to StopMilitaryRape@mail.house.gov. During a time of such tremendous pride for our military, we should commit ourselves to removing the stain of rape and sexual assault from this great institution once and for all.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. I am opposed to the bill.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, at the outset, let me say the following: As a member of the Democratic Caucus, there have been times in the past when I have supported Republican motions to recommit. I have done it a number of times, I confess. I am speaking to my Republican colleagues this afternoon, seeking to ask you to do the same, because this particular motion is very simple, very clear. It will not prevent the passage of the underlying bill. If it is adopted, it will be incorporated in the bill, and the bill will be immediately voted upon. So what does it do? It is about what every one of us cares about, and that is privacy. Americans believe in privacy. Justice Brandeis once said in a court opinion, ``Every American has the right to be left alone.'' This is something we can all agree on. My motion would simply prohibit Federal agents from accessing a woman's health or other medical records because she was a victim of rape or incest. Now, that's pretty simple. If you're a victim of rape or incest, no Federal agency or agent will be able to access your medical records in order to prove that you, in fact, were raped or were a victim of incest. Both the Hyde Amendment and this legislation specifically create exceptions for victims of these crimes. The underlying bill would create an exception to the exception. It actually revictimizes the victims of rape and incest by requiring them to relive their horror. Rape kits could be examined. Confidential medical records could be breached. How can we possibly ask a woman who has suffered an horrific crime to now face scrutiny by an IRS audit? Think about it. Is that what we want? Do we want women who have been victims of rape and incest to have IRS agents knocking on their doors to determine whether or not they really have been raped or have been victims of incest? We should be treating these victims like victims and not like criminals. Medical privacy is a longstanding and protected right for every American. Why should the right be forfeited because you are a victim of rape or incest? Let me say it one more time: Passage of this motion will not prevent passage of the bill. If it is adopted, it will be incorporated in the bill, and the bill will be taken up immediately. Madam Speaker, last month, I received a call from a woman who was raped while serving in the United States Navy. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the words and forget about the real lives we're talking about. This member of the Navy was raped, beaten savagely and left for dead in her quarters. She was later informed that she was pregnant, and opted to have an abortion. Does anyone here believe that this woman who volunteered to serve our country should be subject to an audit by the IRS? This particular Navy serviceperson has since been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and has attempted suicide more than once. This is a real-life story of an American in uniform, fighting for our freedom. We should not use the Tax Code to force women like her to relive their ordeals to an IRS agent. Privacy is a fundamental right, and this motion would ensure that the most vulnerable in our society have access to it. The underlying bill would potentially unleash IRS audits on rape victims--and that, my friends, is a disgrace. Let me be clear one more time: Passage of this motion will not prevent passage of the underlying bill. So, though we may disagree on the bill and on the issue of abortion rights in general, today we have the opportunity to speak with one voice to protect the privacy of victims of rape and incest. It is really up to us. I urge everyone to vote ``yes'' on this motion to recommit. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. I thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation. Gas prices are approaching $5 a gallon, millions of Americans are looking for work, and we're busy turning the Tax Code into a moral club. Forget that abortion is a legal procedure. Forget the Republicans want limited government when it comes to protecting you in the workplace but Big Government when it comes to regulating your bedroom. This isn't about anyone's position on abortion. Roe v. Wade was decided 38 years ago. It's the law of the land. This is about whether we should use the Tax Code as a moral club to impose the religious beliefs of a few Members of Congress on the entire Nation. What's next? Some find it immoral to drink alcohol or gamble. Should we outlaw business deductions for meals that include wine? How about business conventions in Las Vegas? Many people are morally opposed to profanity. Maybe we should make it against the law to swear when filling out your taxes. Now, how about more serious issues? Many of my constituents think the war in Iraq is immoral. The same goes for subsidies for Big Oil and tax breaks that reward corporations for shipping our jobs overseas. Singling out abortion is wrong. Even worse, it's a distraction from the serious challenges our Nation faces. If Republicans want to overturn Roe v. Wade, they should draft a bill and give it their best shot; but don't use the Tax Code as a bludgeon because you don't have the votes.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 100th birthday of the city of Daly City, California. Known as the ``Gateway to the Peninsula,'' Daly City sits at the northernmost edge of San Mateo County, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the West to almost San Francisco Bay on the East. Although the Ohlone Indians occupied much of this area since the 6th century, the Spanish claimed it in the early 16th century. In 1769 the explorer Don Gaspar de Portola learned of the existence of San Francisco Bay and within a few years the Presidio and Mission Dolores were established and European settlers began to inhabit the north peninsula. After the Mexican-American War, the U.S. government declared the area between San Bruno Mountain and Lake Merced government property that could be acquired by private citizens. This led to a brief land rush by mainly Irish settlers who established ranches and farms in what today are the neighborhoods of Serramonte and Westlake and the cities of Colma and Pacifica. It didn't take the farmers long to discover one of the signature characteristics of the area: fog. Many farmers fled, others converted to dairy and cattle farms. Had Mark Twain visited Daly City instead of San Francisco, he would have changed his well-known statement to ``the coldest winter I ever experienced was a summer in Daly City.'' The tensions before the American Civil War led to a famous duel in 1859 near Lake Merced. California was divided between pro-slavery and Free Soil advocates. Two of the main figures in this debate were U.S. Senator David Broderick, a Free Soil advocate, and David Terry, a former state chief justice in favor of extending slavery into California. In the duel Terry mortally wounded Broderick who died three days later. This incident is considered the first shot of the Civil War and the location marked with two granite shafts is a designated California Historical Landmark. Of course Daly City wouldn't be Daly City without its namesake. John Daly was 13 years old when he came to what is now San Mateo County from Boston in 1853. His mother died during the Panama crossing and young Daly had to fend for himself. He found work on a dairy farm and learned the business quickly. He married his boss' daughter and in 1868 bought his own 250 acres on the ``top of the hill.'' He soon supplied milk and dairy products from his own cows and other dairies in the area and became a prominent businessman. Populations were growing in San Francisco and on the south peninsula, but not in the Daly City area--until 1906. On the morning of April 18, 1906 a major earthquake off the coast near Mussel Rock destroyed much of San Francisco and displaced thousands of people. John Daly, who had moved to San Francisco, but maintained his business on the top of the hill, opened his farmland up to refugees, offering them temporary shelter, milk, butter and eggs. He realized the value of his land and subdivided his property in 1907. As streets and housing tracts emerged, the need for city infrastructure and services grew. The first attempt to incorporate the city of Vista Grande in 1908 failed. Three years later, on January 16, 1911, a petition was filed with the San Mateo County supervisors to incorporate the city of Daly City. In a special election on March 18, the incorporation narrowly passed in a 132 to 130 vote. Daly City didn't grow much until the late 1940s when the developer Henry Doelger bought 600 acres of sand dunes and built Westlake. Doelger houses kept spreading West and South. Soon, major Daly City landmarks like Seton Medical Center and Serramonte Shopping Center were added. Today, Daly City is San Mateo County's largest city with a population of over 108,000. Residents love their town and are proud of its diversity. After Honolulu, Daly City has the second largest Asian American community in the United States--about half of the residents are Asian and most are Filipino which is why the city is commonly called ``Pinoy Capital.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to join me in celebrating the history and future of the city of Daly City on this day of its Centennial, March 22, 2011.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Charlie Getz, a nearly four-decade veteran of the California Attorney General's office, on the occasion of his retirement. Charlie has served the people of the Bay Area and the entire state of California with great distinction. I got to know Charlie when I first ran for Congress in 1979 and I've considered him a close and dear friend ever since. He served as co-manager pf my successful campaign for San Mateo County Supervisor in 1980 and has played a significant role in legislative victories at all levels of government. Charlie has worked in the California Attorney General's office for 38 years in numerous high-level positions, and holds the distinction of being the second-youngest person to be appointed as Deputy Attorney General IV. He investigated the Los Angeles Unified School District when it built a high school on a toxic waste site. He successfully shut down a statewide development scam where local government bonds were being used to finance private developers that preyed on seniors and other people on fixed incomes. Mr. Getz won an Attorney General Award for Excellence, among other honors, for his work on litigation surrounding the infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies (Medfly). A University of California-Berkeley study later concluded that his work on the Medfly saved the state's economy $5 billion per year. During that time, Charlie never lost a single case or motion. Charlie is an avid model railroader. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Model Railroad Association, has given talks around the world about this popular hobby, and has written for Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette magazine for over 30 years. He is an acknowledged expert on the assassination of President Kennedy, has lectured on this subject on numerous occasions and has a library of volumes on JFK that is extraordinary. He is a highly-talented poet and not so gifted comedian. Charlie could have earned a lot more money over his lifetime if he had gone into writing comedy for late night television. Instead, he dedicated his life to statewide public service. Charlie is also passionate about the public's interest at the local level. Despite a demanding daytime schedule at the California Department of Justice, Charlie served for many years on the planning commissions of two communities in which he lived: South San Francisco and San Carlos. Unbeknownst to most of us, his votes and vision shaped the character of these two cities for many decades. Charlie Getz is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in history and the University of Southern California School of Law. In short, Charlie Getz is a Renaissance man in our modern era. He is fortunate to be blessed with a wonderful wife, Margaret, who is also brilliant, a computer specialist, teacher, and a professional chef. Margaret will have her hands full ensuring that Charlie stays on track during retirement. I wish both Charlie and Margaret the very best in the next chapter of their lives. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to join me in celebrating the extraordinary career of a dedicated public servant, a wise citizen, and an uncommon friend, Charlie Getz.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the retirement of Mike Murphy, the San Mateo County Counsel. I had the great privilege to work with Mike when I was a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. He is an exceptional public servant, legal expert, human being and a dear friend. Mike was born in Yokohama, Japan on November 17, 1948 as the son of a military family. He went to Pacific Grove High School from where he graduated in 1966. He then attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1970. He later served on the Military Academy Advisory Committee. Mike laid the ground work for his legal career at Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley. He graduated in May of 1978 and just six months later was admitted to the California Bar. In May of 1982, Mike started serving in the office of the San Mateo County District Attorney. In 1987, the civil division of the office became the San Mateo County Counsel where Mike continued to serve. He was appointed one of two Chief Deputies in 1998 and Assistant County Counsel in 2006. In 2007, he became Counsel until his retirement on March 18, 2011. Mike served as the principal land use attorney for 22 years, a pressure cooker of a job that he made appear effortless. Among his highest achievements were the defense of the County's Local Coastal Program and Measure A, a coastal protection initiative and the defense of Measure T, authorizing the Devil's Slide tunnel bypass. During his entire career, Mike worked as a legal advisor on the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan, a landmark environmental document that he demonstrated his legal skill in drafting. In 1988, Mike and San Mateo County celebrated a true David vs. Goliath victory. The Port of Oakland was about to dump 7 million tons of dredged spoils into the ocean off the San Mateo coast. The Half Moon Bay Fishermen's Marketing Association filed a lawsuit to stop the dumping but lost in federal court. Mike and his colleague Stephen Toben studied the case and filed a suit for injunctive and declaratory relief. It was their legal expertise and perseverance that resulted in a victory in front of the California State Court of Appeals. While I was in the California Senate in 2003, Mike defended my financial privacy legislation and faced strong opposition from multinational conglomerates. Again, his outstanding legal acumen succeeded in protecting the rights of San Mateo County residents. Mike has also been serving on the Military Academy Advisory Committee for the 12th Congressional District for many years, helping select the next generation of America's officers. Mike is the loving husband of Gayle Murphy, his wife of 28 years, and the proud parent of their two daughters Erin and Shannon. In his well deserved retirement, Mike will undoubtedly enjoy the additional time he will have to read and attend San Francisco Giants games. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor an extraordinary man, Mike Murphy, for his dedication to public service and justice in San Mateo County.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ray Martini, a World War II veteran and distinguished resident of Half Moon Bay, California. Mr. Martini entered the European theater of war at age 23. In his five months of deployment, this young plumber accomplished extraordinary achievements. He arrived as a lieutenant in the Air Force and left as a Captain. He won an Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross and eleven Oak Leaf Clusters. He flew over 50 bombing and strafing missions as a one-man crew of a Thunderbolt Fighter. One of the challenges of these missions was the weather, as Captain Martini described in his letters from France: ``It's the worst weather to fly in. We've lost four boys in bad weather flying . . . The weather man said the ceiling was 700 ft. but I believe he meant 70 ft. because as soon as we got air borne we lost sight of the ground. Well, we climbed up through the stuff and got above it a 5,000 ft. and proceeded to the target. Once over the target area it was clear. We bombed a rail bridge and knocked it out. Then started home. Well, over the base it was raining and we were flying right on the tree tops and could hardly see the ground. Lucky we found a field on the way home and we landed . . . That's the kind of weather we run into and lose good men in it. Sometimes we climbed from ground to 20,000 ft. in solid clouds before we break out of it. Boy, that's hard on your nerves.'' In 1998 France allowed one of its highest honors to be awarded to Veterans from Allied Countries fighting in defense of France. Today, Mr. Martini receives the Medal of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor by Deputy Consul General Mrs. Corinne Pereira. After his military career, Mr. Martini returned to his trade as a plumber. For many years he ran ``Reliable Plumbing'' and he has trained just about every plumber on the coast. Mr. Martini is the loving husband of Cathy Martini and proud father of his son, Mark Martini. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor Captain Martini for his service to our country and our Allies on the day he receives the Medal of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor, April 1, 2011.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rachel Andres, the 2011 San Mateo County Teacher of the Year. At a time when our country lags behind other nations in math and science achievement instruction, Rachel Andres has established a teaching approach in high school that is slashing the math gap. In her own words: ``I respect my students and listen to the voice of each one, but then I set high standards, challenge each one to excel, provide the necessary support and require that they take responsibility for learning and be accountable for demonstrating master.'' She is clearly a task master with compassion. Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Lake Forest College in Illinois. After teaching four years at Winthrop High School in Massachusetts, she accepted her current position at Menlo-Atherton High School in 2005. She teaches Geometry and other math classes. She is the coordinator of her school's effort to prepare students for college. In fact, she speaks at middle-schools for the purpose of attracting incoming freshmen to what is called the Advancement Via Individual Determination program. She meets with parents and nurtures partnerships with local Boys and Girls Clubs and recruits tutors all in the name of nurturing a college-going culture in the community. Most significantly, a high percentage of students in the program are successful in becoming the first in their family to attend college. Further, Rachel has expanded learning boundaries for her students through creative curriculum development. For example, she has designed strategies to enable students to use writing as a means to solve math problems. While her teaching has been recognized with local awards, she is quick to say that the most important recognition comes from students who thank her for helping them succeed. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor a teacher who has raised the bar of excellence in the classroom. Our country simply needs more math teachers like Rachel Andres.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, once again, to highlight the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military. As I said last week, the Department of Defense, by its own calculations, estimates that over 19,000 servicemembers, mostly women but some men, are raped or sexually assaulted every single year; and, furthermore, only 13 percent report these rapes or sexual assaults. Why is that? Because the system of justice designed to adjudicate cases of rape in the military is in complete shambles. Victims are blamed. Assailants are promoted. Unit commanders, whose promotions are dependent on the conduct and performance of the soldiers they supervise, have an incentive to see that allegations are few and convictions are fewer. Meanwhile, what are we doing here in Congress? Over the last 16 years, there have been reports and there have been hearings, 18 of them, and we make lots of noise; but then nothing is done about it. As a result of this code of silence, the overwhelming majority of cases get swept under the proverbial rug. Last week I told the story of Technical Sergeant Mary Gallagher. The feedback I've gotten is considerable. A woman named Katie wrote on my Facebook page: ``I am one of those victim soldiers. Jackie, thank you for fighting for a basic right. I have no idea why this is still not being handled properly. I dream that soon women and men will be able to serve our country without the threat of rape that will go unpunished.'' But stopping military rape should be more than just a dream; it must be a reality. We owe our servicemembers the same protection that they provide to all Americans. Today I want to share the story of Seaman Panayiota Bertzikis. Seaman Bertzikis served in the Coast Guard from November 2005 to May of 2007. Her allegation is as follows: On May 30, 2006, Seaman Bertzikis was raped by a shipmate when she stationed in Burlington, Vermont. During a hike, her rapist threw her onto the ground, punched her in the face, and raped her. She reported the rape to command, who told her to cease speaking about it or she would be charged with the military equivalent of slander. She later obtained photographs and admissions made by her rapist through the Freedom of Information Act, but command failed to bring him to justice in any way. Instead, they forced Seaman Bertzikis to live on the same floor with her rapist, where he would remain a constant threat. Command also told the seaman to work with her rapist and use the time together to ``work out their differences.'' Command was well aware, but did not stop, further assaults and harassment of Seaman Bertzikis. Instead, she was transferred to Boston where Coast Guard personnel called her a ``liar'' and a ``whore.'' When she was on base performing her duties, a group of Coast Guard personnel cornered Seaman Bertzikis and tried to rip off her uniform. They called her a ``crazy lying whore'' and said she would ``pay for snitching'' on their friend. They threatened to rape her again. When she reported this harassment, the Coast Guard's ``victim advocate'' told her not to pursue disciplinary action because she would be seen as ``difficult.'' In addition, her appointed attorney said if her rapist did not have a history of sexual assault, ``why would he assault anyone now?'' Seaman Bertzikis was denied rank because of the pending investigation, despite the fact that she had met all the necessary requirements. She described her horrific ordeal this way: ``If I told them that my house was broken into, not one person would question me, blame me, or say that I was lying. But when I say that my body was broken into, people automatically feel that they have the right to judge me, to doubt me, and to blame me.'' What a profound statement by Seaman Bertzikis. She has now started the Military Rape Crisis Center to help her fellow colleagues and victims. Turning pain into purpose, she is truly an American shero. Seaman Bertzikis's story shows the urgent need to protect servicemembers from abuse.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, the Kabuki dance is almost over, and like many of you, I'm wondering if we have lost our senses. By all reports by Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner, they are very close. It's not about money. Do you know what it's about? It's about contraceptive pills. I can't believe that we are sitting here today, about to shut down the government, over contraceptive pills--because that's what it's all about. It's all about defunding one organization, Planned Parenthood, that provides explicitly and only services around contraceptive pills, breast cancer screenings, STD screenings, and cervical cancer screenings. Not one dime goes for abortion services. In fact, the services provided under family planning have to be excluded completely. Different locations, different service providers, different staff. And on top of it, it's all audited. So not one dime for abortions. This is only for family planning services. So in the end we're going to go to the American people and say, yes, we shut down the government, we told all our men and women serving in faraway places, trying to keep the world free, and keep it free for us, and keep terrorists at bay, we are going to tell them, no, you are not going to get paid for a while because we didn't want to fund contraceptive pills for women who are poor in this country. The women who access Planned Parenthood, and one in five women accesses Planned Parenthood at some time in her life, the average income is $33,000 a year. These are women who can't access health care for reproductive services because they're working in jobs where they don't have health insurance. And we're saying shut down the government. Shut down the government. Don't pay our men and women serving overseas. Close down the national parks. Make sure none of our exports get to their destinations. Don't let any more small business loans be offered. Just shut it down, because we don't want to make contraceptive pills available to women in this country. It's absolutely shameful. This is a message to Speaker Boehner. Mr. Speaker, this is your opportunity for a profile in courage. This is your opportunity to say to your caucus and to the American people, I am not going to allow this country to be shut down over contraceptive pills.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about an abomination, and I vow to speak about it every week until this Congress and this administration does something more than offer lip service. Read my lips: The military must end rape in this country, and those who commit such crimes must be brought to justice. The fact that women in the military are being raped and our government is turning a blind eye is disturbing enough. Even worse, it is not our enemies abroad who are committing these horrific crimes. It's American soldiers abusing many of our own, often with nothing more than a slap on the wrist and sometimes with an unbelievable promotion. We have a military culture that condones, and in some cases rewards, this type of abusive and violent behavior against female soldiers, who are now more likely to be raped by fellow soldiers than killed by enemy fire. This is a national disgrace, and the longer it goes unaddressed, Congress becomes an accomplice in these crimes. You know, we in Congress do something really well--we hold hearings, and then we do nothing. Congress has held 18 hearings in the last 16 years on this issue, and nothing has changed. The Department of Defense estimates that over 19,000 servicemembers were raped or sexually assaulted in 2010; but due to fear of retribution and a failure to prosecute these crimes, only 13.5 percent are reported. These are Department of Defense figures: 19,000 soldiers raped in the military every year. So beginning today, I am going to tell these women's stories on the House floor, and I'm going to keep telling them and keep telling them until something is done about it. Earlier this year, 17 servicemembers, 15 of them women, filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government accusing the Pentagon of ignoring their own cases of sexual assault. Today, I want to tell you about one of those, Technical Sergeant Mary Gallagher. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as a member of the Air National Guard. Her allegations are as follows. Now I'm warning you, some of the language is graphic. On November 5, 2009, while she was deployed in Iraq, a coworker offered her a ride home to her living quarters. When she accepted, instead of driving her home, he drove her to a remote area and tried to kiss her. Technical Sergeant Gallagher threatened to report him. He became angry and verbally assaulted her. She reported the incident to command, but they claimed that they could do nothing about it. On November 7, the coworker began to stalk Technical Sergeant Gallagher. He tried to break into her room, claiming she didn't know what she was missing. He telephoned her repeatedly. She again reported her coworker's threatening behavior to command but was advised that they could do nothing because it was a ``he said, she said'' situation. Five days later, on November 12, the coworker sexually assaulted her in the restroom. He pushed her up against the left side of the wall, took his right hand and pulled her pants and underwear down and then used his hand to rub her vagina. He simultaneously ground his penis against her and talked about how much he was enjoying the assault. Technical Sergeant Gallagher described the incident this way to NBC: ``I thought he was going to kill me that night. I felt completely isolated and alone and really scared. Here I was in the middle of a foreign country in the middle of a war.'' Sergeant Gallagher did not report the violent assault immediately because command had advised her that nothing could be done after she had reported the coworker's threatening behavior before. Two weeks later, when she was asked for more details of the events on November 5 and 7, at that point she reported the violent assault. Command's only response was to reassign the assailant and order him to refrain from any contact with her. She was then lectured by the base chaplain, who claimed that 96 percent of sexual assaults on women occur when drinking is involved. Technical Sergeant Gallagher had not been drinking during any of the assaults. This is a harrowing story, and it's one of 19,000 that must be heard. Technical Sergeant Gallagher fought for us. It's now time for us to fight for her.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, this week the House will consider a misguided and dangerous bill to repeal the Clean Air Act standards that protect Americans from big polluters. Republicans are calling this bill the Energy Tax Prevention Act, except there is nothing to do with preventing taxes in the bill. Instead, this Dirty Air Act is a giveaway to any company who wants to dump pollution into the air free of charge and is a big gimme to all the Members of Congress hoping to collect their share of dirty campaign contributions. If my Republican colleagues want to write a bill to overturn a decision by the Supreme Court, turn science on its head, increase our dependence on foreign oil, and put the interests of big polluters above taxpayers, they should at least come up with a catchier title, like the ``Make Smog in America Act'' or the ``National Hot Air Distribution Act.'' If my Republican colleagues want to write a bill to guarantee that more American children get sick with asthma, maybe they could call it the ``Take Your Child to the Emergency Room Act.'' Really, anything else would do.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I was unfortunately unable to cast votes on the evening of March 29, 2011. On rollcall 194, I would have voted no. On rollcall 195 I would have voted aye. On rollcall 196 I would have voted aye. On rollcall 197, the motion to recommit, I would have voted aye. On rollcall 198, final passage, I would have voted aye. The Making Home Affordable Program simply has not protected homeowners from foreclosure, or ensured that mortgage servicers work with homeowners in good faith to achieve loss mitigation that works for homeowners, investors and our communities. Despite clear and repeated calls for reform of the program from the Congressional Oversight Panel, the Special Inspector General for the TARP, and the GAO, changes to the program have been too little and too late. While my constituents and homeowners across the country continue to struggle through good faith efforts to keep their homes, banks are again making record profits and paying large bonuses to their executives and employees. Despite well documented abuses of homeowners by mortgage servicers participating in the HAMP, no servicers have been sanctioned or fined for violations of HAMP program requirements, despite clear authority to do so. I do not take this position lightly, particularly in light of the fact that no alternative program to help homeowners is offered. However I simply cannot continue to offer support for a program that has protected banks and servicers at the expense of my constituents.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Police Commander Marc Catalano for 31 years of service to the City of San Bruno. He joined the San Bruno Police Department on June 1, 1979 and spent his first two years as a community service officer. He served as a patrol officer from 1981 to 1984, a detective from 1984 to 1985, a field training officer from 1985 to 1997, an acting sergeant from 1990 to 1991 and again a detective from 1991 to 1994. In 1994 he became involved with D.A.R.E., the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, and was instrumental in expanding that program from elementary schools to middle schools and high schools. In 1997 Mr. Catalano was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and four years later to the rank of Lieutenant Sergeant. In 2001 he received his final promotion to Commander. Marc Catalano is a true Bay Area native, born in San Francisco and raised in San Bruno and Burlingame. He graduated from Mills High School and received an Associate Degree from the College of San Mateo. At Notre Dame de Namur University he earned his Baccalaureate Degree in Human Services. Commander Catalano is anything but complacent; he always thrives to learn more and better himself. He attained advanced supervisory and management certificates from the State of California, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and awards from the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association and from MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In addition to a law enforcement career, Marc Catalano is the loving husband to his wife Laurie, his wife of 26 years. The couple has two daughters Danielle and Lindsay. Mr. Speaker, it is right to honor Commander Catalano for his 31 years of service to the San Bruno Police Department on December 27, 2010, the day of his retirement.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an epidemic that is flying too far under the radar: the bullying of children with special needs. Bullying has gotten a fair amount of attention in recent years. Our Nation was shocked by the story of Tyler Clementi, a gay Rutgers student who jumped off the George Washington Bridge after being bullied by his peers. Earlier this month, Dateline NBC ran a special called ``My Kid Would Never Bully.'' In it, hidden cameras were used so parents could watch their children react to several different bullying situations set up by Dateline. The results were not great. Last week, the President and the First Lady held a White House conference on bullying. What we haven't focused on is who gets bullied the most. You might be surprised by this: It's children with special needs. In fact, two times as many children with special needs are taunted every day in schools as children who we say are ``normal.'' Tomorrow, I will be cohosting a briefing with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers, herself a parent of a special needs child, to discuss the heartbreaking issue. We will be joined by Lauren Potter, an actress on the hit show ``Glee,'' who has Down syndrome and who will share her personal stories as well. We will be highlighting a report by AbilityPath.org, Best Buddies, and the Special Olympics. This report shines a bright light on this epidemic. Here in Congress it seems there are as many reports as minutes in the day, but too often they end up collecting dust instead of inspiring action. In this case, we cannot allow that to happen. Bullying and harassment foster a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair the physical and psychological health of its victims, and create conditions that negatively affect their learning. For special needs children who already face tremendous challenges, adding this extra burden is simply unacceptable. Those with special needs are more likely to be targets, either because their differences single them out in the classroom or because they have difficulty in communicating and in reading social cues. Let me share with you a story from the report. These are the words of a mother of an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome: ``My daughter is a wonderful, adorable, sweet child with Down syndrome. The bullying she encountered started in elementary school and has followed her to middle school. Everyone makes a big deal about their children being bullied at school, and it is a big deal. However, it is always the `normal' children that you hear about. Who stands up for the children who are like my daughter?'' It was this sense of helplessness that led James Jones, whose daughter suffers from cerebral palsy, to confront her school bullies on a Florida school bus in 2008. The video was unforgettable and shocking. The numbers are just as disturbing. A study in the British Journal of Learning Support found that 60 percent of students with special needs reported being bullied compared to 25 percent of the general student population. Researchers have discovered that students with disabilities are more worried about school safety and about being injured or harassed by other peers compared to students without disabilities. The National Autistic Society reports that 40 percent of children with autism and 60 percent of those with Asperger's syndrome have experienced bullying. It is time for Congress to stand up and to speak up for these children and their families. In the coming weeks, I will be introducing legislation to tackle this issue head-on. Under this legislation, schools that receive Federal funds will be required to report the number of incidents of bullying and whether the victims have special needs. In addition, Federal funds used for bullying programs will be required to include content that specifically addresses the bullying of those with special needs. I hope we can begin a national conversation to ensure this epidemic remains silent no more.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing that will actually have the potential to make our Nation less safe. The title of the hearing is ``The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community,'' but what's truly radical is using committee time and resources to profile and demonize whole communities of people based on their faith. American Muslims are peaceful, law-abiding citizens, and many have cooperated with the U.S. authorities to help prevent terrorist attacks. We should target terrorists based on actions, not religion. When law enforcement agencies were asked to identify terrorist groups within their States, Muslim extremist groups ranked 11th out of 18. Neo-Nazis, environmental extremists, and anti-tax groups were all more prevalent. Radicalization and homegrown terrorism are serious and legitimate concerns and deserve thoughtful examination, not an ideologically motivated charade. We must continue efforts to defeat al Qaeda wherever they exist, but one key to combating extremism is winning the hearts and minds of the next generation of Muslims.