Ellen Tauscher

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire), a conferee on this bill from the Committee on Small Business.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. The Speaker became as concerned as we all were immediately upon hearing about this, and brought the California Bay Area delegation together to understand what we can do in our Federal capacity to move this issue. And it was the Speaker's intention today to speak about the volunteerism of the Bay Area people. Her speech will be in the Record. At this time I ask all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 853. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 853) honoring those who have volunteered to assist in the cleanup of the November 7, 2007, oil spill in San Francisco Bay.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 853, introduced by my good friend and distinguished Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. This resolution honors thousands of volunteers who helped clean up the Bay Area's beaches and wildlife after the harmful oil spill of November 7 of this year. The public's response to 58,000 gallons of fuel polluting the bay typified how the San Francisco Bay community comes together during a crisis. Our Bay Area constituents were eager to volunteer their time and help minimize the negative effects to the Bay Area's fragile ecosystem. For days and days after the spill, they cleaned birds and combed the shoreline for oil residue, and in some cases put their own health at risk in order to protect our bay. In order to coordinate the volunteer efforts, numerous organizations mobilized their members in support of the cleanup, including Save the Bay, the Fishermen's Association and the Crab Boat Owners. I am so proud of our Bay Area constituents, how much energy they showed, how much passion they showed, and such dedication that they showed to the bay during this environmental disaster. These volunteers deserve recognition from the House of Representatives. I strongly support House Resolution 853. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 853.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak personally from my position as someone who lives in the Bay Area. I live on the east bay in Alamo, California, far from where the spill was. But I have to tell you that of the 8 or 9 million people that live in the Bay Area, not one single one was completely unaffected by what happened on this terrible day of November 7. Many of us are deeply concerned that this was an accident that shouldn't have happened, that this was something that may have been prevented. And I have to commend the Speaker and the delegation from the Bay Area for moving very quickly on a bipartisan basis to begin hearings to be sure that we actually know what exactly happened so that it can be prevented in the future. But today we're really here to celebrate the thousands of Bay Area members that came forward so quickly to volunteer to assist in the cleanup of the bay at a time when it was in great jeopardy, at a time when they put their own health at risk when, for many of them, it was as simple as just going down the road to the beach near their house and attempting to do whatever kind of cleanup they could have. The environmental impact of the spill is still being felt, and certainly for the wildlife of the Bay Area, it is still a question of how many will survive in the long term. When you have this kind of bunker oil, which is pretty toxic stuff, come into the bay and flow on to these wild fowl and other animals, it puts them in great jeopardy. We believe that in San Francisco the bay is a national treasure. We believe it is not only a source of environmental pride, but it is also a place where many thousands of San Franciscans and Bay Area people work. We have obviously a very big crab industry, a big fishing industry; and tourism, of course, is a big part of what we do in the Bay Area. So we are deeply concerned about what happened on November 7. But I think that this is a good time to celebrate the activism and the volunteerism of people of the Bay Area and the San Francisco area. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who led a fabulous effort this year. For the first time in 13 years, Democrats are in the majority and wrote a defense bill that came to the floor and passed with almost 400 votes. I think that is a record, and I think it speaks very much for the bipartisan effort that we had on the committee. In my subcommittee, Strategic Forces, which includes many different issues, including missile defense, the entire nuclear weapons portfolio, our part of the bill passed through on a voice vote and then came to the committee and was supported by virtually all members. So I think we have a very good bill. I think that the conference between the House and the Senate will be a productive one. It will be a time for us to mesh these issues. But as we so often say in Washington, no good deed goes unpunished. I very much appreciate the ranking member from California bringing this motion to instruct forward, but, by the way, it is what is going to probably be in the bill, and it is certainly what is reflected in a bipartisan way by both Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate. I think there has been a lot of rhetoric today about how dangerous a failed state in Iraq would be, and I stand to join my colleagues. I am absolutely, unambiguously convinced that a failed state in Iraq is not only now a bad thing, but would continue to be a bad thing. I guess the real question is, what about the failed policy that got us to a place where we are all concerned about a failed state in Iraq, and why isn't the debate today about the failed policy? How could it be that we are sitting here talking about a national defense bill that is one of the most important bills that the Congress brings, our constitutional responsibility, and we are not talking about a failed policy that has caused us to borrow almost $800 billion, caused us to have virtually no ready ground forces in the United States currently, caused us to degrade our ability to be prepared for any other contingency? Why isn't the debate today about that? Well, because that would be a good debate. That would be really what the debate should be about. But, instead, we are going to have a motion to instruct on things that are already agreed to by the Senate and the House, by the conferees, and I would say every Member here. So I appreciate the Member from California bringing this up. This is easy to support. We are all for it and we all know it. But the real question is: Why don't we have a debate about the failed policy? Why aren't we really concerned about the readiness of our troops, our inability to deal with other contingencies, all of the money we have borrowed, and no solution to extricate ourselves honorably and as soon as possible to bring our troops home so that we can maintain our readiness? Our American forces in Afghanistan and in Iraq have done everything that the American people have asked for. The problem, my colleagues, is they have done it for too long. They have done it for too long without an Iraqi Government that will stand up and provide the political solution necessary for us to be able to leave an Iraq that is beginning to put itself together, knitting those tribes together, moving forward together to do the right thing. But what we have right now is an intransigent, stuck Iraqi Government that hasn't provided the political solution, the only solution, that will be able to create a stable Iraq. It is not our responsibility to create a stable Iraq. That is why they have a sovereign government. And what we can no longer do is enable the sovereign government to come up with excuse after excuse after excuse. I really appreciated my colleague from Virginia explaining to me why the oil legislation written by our State Department isn't something that the Iraqis can pass, even though they have the votes to do it. I find that fascinating. We have been told for months that the petrochemical law is the most important thing that they can do. It is the thing that is going to give the Sunnis the effort to come into the government and feel like they are part of the government and that they are part of a solution and a one-Iraq strategy. But, of course, we don't have that, because even though they have the votes, it seems like it is just a little too hard to do. We are spending too much money. We are spending too much time. We are risking too many American soldiers. We are risking our readiness. The failed policy is really what we should be talking about, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I said it is easy to support this motion to instruct because it is something we all agree on.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers on our side and are prepared to close. I just want to once again remind everyone what this is really about. We have an excellent national defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2008. It has broad bipartisan support, bicameral support, both the House and the Senate. Most Members voted for this bill when it came to the floor in the spring. We are about to go to conference and make sure that the bills become congruent so we can send it to the President. This is a bill that the President must sign. It has so many good things in it. I want to take a couple of seconds and talk about the fact that Democrats, who took majority in January, have written their first bill in 13 years, and there are many, many good things in here that we are very proud of. We have done many things for the troops. We have included a 3.5 percent pay raise. We have prohibited increases in their health care, which is called TRICARE, and pharmacy user fees. The bill also provides $980 million for National Guard equipment. We know how stressed and strained our National Guard has been. We know how upset many Governors have been that the National Guard has been deployed out of States so the State is without their own National Guard. And the worst part of it is when they went to Iraq or Afghanistan, and some are there for the second and third time, they left their equipment there. So the State doesn't even have equipment that the State can use in the case of a flood or fire or some other kind of an emergency. We have a lot of equipment that we have added; $17.4 billion for MRAPs, which is a plus-up from what the President requested. We have also added a shipbuilding request that the President didn't ask for, which is a Virginia class submarine, an LPD and a T-AKE, and eight C- 17s that the Pentagon didn't ask for either, because we know that we need global power projection. This is a very important bill that is part of our congressional responsibility to raise and support our troops, and I am proud to say this is a strong bill that supports our troops, restores military readiness and improves accountability to the American people. I ask for my colleagues' support of it when we bring it back from the conference. I appreciate the fact that this is a motion to instruct, but what we are being instructed is, frankly, two different issues that we have general widespread support for. Both in the House and Senate version of the bill, the language included in the motion to instruct has been included. We should be very confident that they will be part of the final conference report, so this is a motion to instruct that is very supportable. I am happy to yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 12 of House Rule XXII, I move that meetings of the conference between the House and Senate on H.R. 1585 may be closed to the public at such times as classified national security information may be broached, provided that any sitting Member of Congress shall be entitled to attend any meeting of the conference.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 822, which recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Port of Los Angeles. I would like to commend my colleague from California, Congresswoman Richardson, for bringing this important resolution to the floor. I am proud to serve with the Congresswoman on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. One hundred years ago, the Los Angeles City Council created the Port of Los Angeles, and it has since developed into one of the largest in the world. More than 43 percent of all goods arriving in the United States travel through the Port of Los Angeles. I appreciate the impact that goods movement plays in our Nation's economy, and the port has an important role in that process. I would like to congratulate the port for reaching its 100th anniversary and congratulate it for being a strong provider of jobs in California. I commend my colleague on the Transportation Committee for her diligent work.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of the many Medicare beneficiaries who require therapeutic rehabilitative services. I first developed an interest in rehabilitation issues after someone in my own family was forced to cope with a disabling paralytic disease. I saw the benefits of recreational therapy first hand, through the therapy my father received, and I want to be sure everyone has access to the same treatment already covered by Medicare. Recreational therapy can be a vital service for the ill and the disabled. In many cases, it is a critical means for improving the functioning, independence, and quality of life of persons with illness or disability. Recreational therapy is always prescribed and supervised by a physician as part of a patient's rehabilitative plan of care. It has long been a priority of mine to remove existing barriers to Medicare beneficiaries' access to recreational therapy. For years, I have worked alongside therapists in trying to help those with illnesses or disabling conditions gain consistent access to these services. In the past, dozens of my colleagues and I have sought clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its policy on coverage and payment of recreational therapy services in three inpatient settings: rehabilitation hospitals (IRFs), psychiatric hospitals (IPFs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). CMS regulations and policy manuals currently lack sufficient clarity on the treatment of recreational therapy provided in these inpatient settings. As a result, widespread confusion and misperceptions surround the recreational therapy benefit under Medicare. Out of concern for potential liability for fraud and abuse, many IRF, IPS, and SNF facility administrators are declining to offer recreational therapy, creating inconsistent access to these vital services for patients throughout the country. CMS has responded to each Congressional inquiry made on this issue, but to date CMS has not clarified its coverage and payment policy of recreational therapy services to fiscal intermediaries, facility administrators, treating physicians, and other relevant entities. In order to ensure that patients are able to receive appropriate rehabilitative services, CMS must formally clarify its policy. For the sake of Medicare beneficiaries in need of recreational therapy, it is time to require CMS to do so. To be sure, CMS has confirmed in writing that it considers recreational therapy to be a covered service in each of these three inpatient settings. CMS has also confirmed that the costs of these services have been built into the prospective payment systems for IRFs, IPFs, and SNFs and, therefore, Medicare is already paying to provide recreational therapy services to beneficiaries who need them. Yet access to recreational therapy is not assured. To remedy this situation, I am introducing the Ensuring Medicare Access to Recreational Therapy Act of 2007, with Representative Phil English, to make certain that patients who need recreational therapy services, as prescribed by their physician and as warranted by their health condition, have consistent access to these medically necessary services. Our bill simply directs CMS to clarify current coverage and payment policy by issuing notification that recreational therapy is a covered inpatient service in IRFs, IPFs, and SNFs and that the cost of providing such services has already been built into the prospective payment systems for these inpatient settings. This clarification will serve Medicare beneficiaries far better than the current CMS guidance on this issue. It is important to note that this legislation will not create new coverage, or add any financial burden to the Medicare program. It will, however, ensure access to rehabilitative care so that individuals with disabilities, injuries, or chronic conditions may regain their maximum level of independent function. I urge my colleagues to please join us in the fight to remove these arbitrary and unnecessary barriers to consistent access to recreational therapy services for all the Medicare beneficiaries who need them.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise with the support of my colleague, the Honorable George Miller, in the House of Representatives, to recognize the Solano County Child Welfare Services Division for the unveiling of the Solano Heart Gallery. Their tireless efforts throughout the years have facilitated the placement of numerous foster children into permanent homes. It is especially fitting to highlight the success of the Solano County Child Welfare Division during our celebration of National Adoption Month. Throughout the United States there are more than half a million children in foster care, with more than a fifth of those children looking for permanent homes. In the foster care system, far too often it becomes difficult to keep brothers and sisters in the same home. In addition, many of these children face difficult physical, emotional, and behavioral challenges. These stressors compound developmental concerns and make the necessity of a permanent home even more critical. In response, the Solano County Child Welfare Division chooses to live by this simple creed, ``Every child deserves a permanent, loving family and a home in which they can develop to their fullest potential.'' This creed is exemplified by the dedication and commitment that we see every day in Solano County. As we celebrate the 17th annual National Adoption Month, the Solano County Child Welfare Division continues to find new and effective ways to match foster children with ``forever families.'' Building on its success from previous years, and the ability to place 57 children into permanent homes in 2007, the Solano County Child Welfare Division is unveiling the Solano Heart Gallery. This gallery will feature many of the 190 children in Solano County who are currently seeking stable and loving homes. This Heart Gallery will travel throughout Solano visiting every city in the county during the 2008 calendar year. We are proud to represent a county that places such a high priority on the future of our children. It is because of dedicated public servants in our community that we can all expect great things from this next generation of children. We are pleased to say that through the work of the Solano County Child Welfare Division and the newly unveiled Solano Heart Gallery, the children of Solano County will always come first.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the work of my colleagues, Chairman Rangel and Chairman Levin, on the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement. I applaud them, as well as Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer for achieving a new trade policy for America, workers, and the environment. This groundbreaking agreement is the first FTA to include fully- enforceable rights for workers--an achievement that my Democratic colleagues and I have long sought. Bolstering workers' rights in Peru is not just the moral thing to do; it also helps to build a stable, more prosperous middle class--creating a larger market for U.S. goods. This agreement also requires Peru to abide by multilateral environmental accords--such as protecting Peru's rainforests from illegal logging. Most importantly, Peru may not waver from these commitments to workers or the environment in any way. Madam Speaker, I chair the New Democrats, a group of 60 pro-growth Members. We are dedicated to keeping America competitive--through lowering trade barriers and opening foreign markets to U.S. goods and services. I also come from California, where more than one in five jobs is tied to trade. I am proud to be a pro-trade Democrat in Congress, and I am proud of this landmark trade agreement the new Democratic majority has achieved. America will not remain the world's economic and innovation leader if we refuse to do business with the rest of the world. Likewise, we must equip U.S. workers with the tools to compete and win in a global economy, and help them through the transition, as we have with the expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance. Finally Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to examine the strategic implications of this agreement. Deepening ties with our pro-growth allies in Latin America is key to security in the Western Hemisphere. Passage of the Peru FTA is a first step in a twenty-first century trade policy: It is an expansion of trade in a way that is solidly consistent with Democratic values. Again, I applaud Chairman Rangel and Chairman Levin for their success, and I urge my colleagues to support implementation of the Peru FTA.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, with the support of my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee, I rise to recognize the outstanding service of GEN Montgomery C. Meigs, on the occasion of his upcoming retirement from the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). General Meigs' leadership of JIEDDO is just the latest chapter in a storied career which has been singularly focused on protecting our nation and advancing American values at home and abroad. General Meigs served in the Army for 35 years until January 2003. On active duty he commanded units in harm's way in the Ashau Valley in Vietnam, at Medina Ridge during Desert Storm and in Multi-National Division North in Bosnia. From October 1998 to December 2002, he commanded U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) where he led over 57,000 soldiers. In the first year of this assignment and during the Kosovo Air Campaign he also commanded SFOR, NATO's peacekeeping operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Between 1999 and 2003, USAREUR worked closely to forge new relationships with Russian Ground Forces and the Armies of the new NATO member nations. In his capacity as USAREUR, General Meigs also achieved a number of unprecedented innovations in command and control capability, Blue Force Tracking among them. The Secretary of Defense appointed General Montgomery Meigs Director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) on 16 December 2005. The Task Force has the responsibility to lead, advocate, and coordinate all Department of Defense actions in support of the Combatant Commanders' efforts to defeat improvised explosive devices (IED) as weapons of strategic influence. In other key assignments during his military career, General Meigs specialized in leader development, military education, war planning, support and execution of contingency operations, and finding and implementing technological solutions for intelligence and command and control capability. As Commandant of the Army's Command and General Staff College, he led the effort to write a new leadership manual for the Army and implemented case study methods in the Staff College's leadership instruction. In addition he has published a book, Slide Rules and Submarines, as well as numerous articles in professional journals. Following his retirement, General Meigs assumed the duties as the Tom Slick Visiting Professor of World Peace at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin. He then moved to the Louis A. Battle Chair of Business and Government Policy at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He also served as a consultant for NBC News and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the MITRE Corporation. General Meigs has served our nation as an exemplary officer, a strategic thinker, and an innovator. His leadership of our anti-IED effort is currently saving lives by bringing critical technology and training to our men and women in harm's way. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to General Meigs and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Kevin O'Rourke, who has served the City of Fairfield, CA as city manager since 1997. Mr. O'Rourke has dedicated over 30 years of his life to serving the public. After serving as the city manager for the cities of Stanton from 1981 to 1985 and Buena Park from 1985 to 1997, Mr. O'Rourke came to Fairfield, inspiring an unprecedented revitalization in the historic town. During his tenure, Mr. O'Rourke spearheaded the effort to modernize the public services available in Fairfield as the city was undergoing a radical transformation. He helped to modernize both the police and fire departments, enabling them to serve a rapidly urbanizing and growing region. As a part of the project, he built new fire stations and increased personnel, guaranteeing 24/7 paramedic service and quality law enforcement to the entire population. Always a friend to the business community, Mr. O'Rourke's creativity and vision helped to achieve the longest labor agreements in the State of California, guaranteeing a stable and positive environment for employee groups as they serve the residents of the community. In addition, his efforts brought a vibrant commercial center to the Cordelia area of Fairfield, something the residents had identified as a critical need. As chairman of the Travis Community Consortium, his legislative efforts assured the continued livelihood and superiority of Travis Air Force Base, the largest air mobility organization in the Air Force. His hard work brought a squadron of C-17s to the base, enhancing its mission as the West Coast terminal for aeromedical evacuation aircraft returning sick or injured patients from the Pacific area. Mr. O'Rourke also successfully coordinated city, county, and State resources to bring many projects to Fairfield such as a state of the art public library, a successful auto mall along Interstate 80--a project that had eluded the city for decades and brings needed sales tax revenues to the general fund--and numerous recreational facilities important for after school programs and neighborhood events. Mr. O'Rourke's many accomplishments have immeasurably improved the city of Fairfield and enriched the lives of its residents. I would like to thank him for his years of public service and wish him success and happiness in his future endeavors.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise with the support of my colleagues, Hon. George Miller and Hon. Mike Thompson to recognize the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Monticello Dam. This monumental accomplishment has been instrumental in providing the people of Solano County with a vast supply of high quality water. Completed in October of 1957 as part of the Solano Project, the Monticello Dam rises 304 feet high spanning a gorge of 1,023 feet while storing 1.6 million acre feet of water. The Monticello Dam created Lake Berryessa and is one of the largest reservoirs in the State of California. The Monticello Dam is owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation but is operated and maintained locally by the Solano County Water Agency. Through the management of the Monticello Dam, the Solano County Water Agency is able to provide 200,000 acre feet per year of high quality and dependable water. This supply amounts to about two-thirds of the total water use of Solano County. The Solano Project serves a growing population of about 350,000 people in the cities of Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City and Vallejo. Additionally the Solano Project serves about 80,000 acres of irrigated farmland by providing agricultural water to the Solano Irrigation District and the Maine Prairie Water District. In addition to serving the water needs of our communities the Monticello Dam has additional local benefits. The Dam created Lake Berryessa, 23 miles long and 3 miles wide with 165 miles of shoreline that offers year-round recreational opportunities. The river downstream of the Dam, known as Lower Putah Creek, provides a valuable fish and wildlife area on the border of Yolo and Solano Counties. Community groups such as the Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee are involved in creek restoration planning. This committee, made up of Yolo and Solano representatives, oversees stream restoration projects that enhance the natural setting. We wish to commend the Solano County Water Agency for 50 years of outstanding management of the Monticello Dam and recognize its essential contribution to the quality of life in the region.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 207--Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. I am honored to represent the men, women, and families that make up Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. They are the service men and women who represent ``The Gateway to the West,'' and oversee more cargo and passenger traffic on its runways than any other military air terminal in the United States. To me, they represent what is best about our Air Force and its proud history. Travis airmen are constantly being called upon to provide critical service to our Nation. Along with their Air Force colleagues across the globe they continue to play a vital role in the global war on terror as well as Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Not only do they put their lives on the line in military missions whenever called upon, but the men and women of Travis have provided humanitarian relief across the globe as recently as the Indonesian tsunami and right here at home in response to the hurricane Katrina disaster. The service members of Travis carry out their missions and protect the homeland because they have the right airlift platforms--the C-5s and the C-17s--to do their job. This year, I was able to secure $10.8 million for the Global Support Squadron Facility at Travis Air Force Base in the fiscal year 2008 Military Construction Appropriations bill. This project would provide a cutting edge operations facility to house approximately 130 personnel necessary for the first Global Support Squadron Facility on the West Coast. It would enhance readiness through specialized design features for command and control, training and deployment preparation, not available in current facilities. GSS is critical to the Air Force's ability to rapidly deploy U.S. military forces and initiate operations in minimal time at any base or location around the globe. The 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis is the largest air mobility organization in the Air Force with a versatile all-jet fleet of C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft, and KC-10 Extender refueling aircraft. It handles more cargo and passengers than any other military air terminal in the United States. Travis is the West Coast terminal for aeromedical evacuation aircraft returning sick or injured patients from the Pacific area. The 60th Air Mobility Wing crews can fly support missions anywhere in the world to fulfill its motto of being ``America's First Choice'' for providing true global reach. I am proud to join my colleagues in commending the Air Force and its achievements.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to commend the work of my colleague, Chairman Howard Berman, on the Patent Reform Act of 2007. This bill is a necessary step forward in the modernization of a patent system that has not been meaningfully updated for decades. I urge my colleagues to show their support for reform by casting a vote for this bill. This bill will result in higher quality patents emerging from the Patent and Trademark Office. It will harmonize our patent system with that of our major trading partners. And it will improve fairness in litigation by preventing ``patent trolls'' from shopping around for friendly courts. At the same time, I look forward to working with Congressman Berman to fine-tune a number of provisions in this bill. In my State of California, our economy is based on the incredible advances made by university researchers, the high-tech sector, and the life sciences industry. Innovations in all sectors must be afforded the strongest possible protection. This has particular importance for small venture-backed firms whose patents are their only asset. With this in mind, I look forward to seeing improvements to provisions governing the way damage awards are calculated in patent suits. The inequitable conduct defense and the issue of continuations also deserve further review and revision. I again applaud Chairman Berman for his efforts, and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1908.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order by the rule.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his kind words. I once again thank Chairman Oberstar for his support. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield myself as much time as I may consume, and I will be very brief. I rise today to offer an amendment with my friend Mike Rogers of Michigan to provide commuters relief from soaring gas prices by making van pooling a more viable option. Our initiative creates a 2-year pilot program in five regions across the country. It will allow State and local governments access to a Federal Transit Administration policy known as the Federal Capital Cost of Contracting. While the change is fairly technical, its impact is not. It is estimated that this alteration could more than triple van pooling across the Nation, conserving over 500 million gallons of fuel per year and greatly reducing ozone emissions. Moreover, it won't impact the Federal budget, and the vehicles used are made by American manufacturers. Mr. Chairman, this commonsense amendment will give Americans access to another form of transportation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces congestion and saves fossil fuels. I ask my colleagues to support the amendment, I understand that Chairman Oberstar is willing to accept the amendment, and I am happy to reserve my time.

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 1246, a bill originally introduced by Representative Marty Meehan of Massachusetts, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I would like the gentleman's words taken down, please.

Mrs. TAUSCHER

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleagues that voting against this bill is to vote for the status quo. At this time I am very happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman).