Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Oberstar.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to close at this time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, as you know, we just received the motion to recommit a few minutes ago, and if I could ask some questions of the ranking member about the motion to recommit, it would help. You have the motion to recommit being retroactive back until November 20, 2006. Is there any reason for that date?

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. In its present form I am.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I want to call to your attention a problem which has been slowly developing based on recent court cases, and why it is necessary for Congress to rectify the situation. Courts are ignoring congressional intent and leaving Americans injured by the negligence of the railroads without any remedies. The Federal Rail Safety Act (FRSA) was enacted in 1970 to create a system of minimum safety standards to improve railroad safety and reduce accidents. Congress intended for these federal standards to be a floor, and expressly granted states the authority to pass stronger safety laws. Now some courts are ignoring congressional intent and denying Americans grievously injured in railroad accidents their rights under state law, even when it is undisputed that the cause of the accident was the railroad's wrongdoing. By preempting state law, these courts are leaving injured Americans with no remedy at all--since FRSA itself does not provide a remedy or cause of action for victims. The residents of Minot, North Dakota and others similarly injured should have their day in court. One only needs to look at the tragedy in Minot, North Dakota to see the impact of these court decisions on real people. On January 31, 2002, 31 railroad cars derailed near the city of Minot, North Dakota, releasing over 200,000 gallons of the deadly gas, anhydrous ammonia. The dense cloud of toxic fumes engulfed the town of Minot causing one death and injuring hundreds of people. If this tragedy had happened in a big city or even in the middle of the day (instead of 2:00 a.m.) countless more people would be killed or injured. Among the various causes of the derailment was the failure of a so- called temporary joint bar that had been left in this substandard track for over 20 months. In addition, the track itself was old, worn out and poorly maintained--not even meeting the minimum standards under FRSA. The Canadian Pacific Railroad admitted that it was responsible for the derailment, but argued that it could not be held accountable because FRSA preempted state law claims. The federal court dismissed the claims brought under state law on the basis of federal preemption, admitting that ``such a result is unduly harsh and leaves the Plaintiffs no remedy for this tragic accident.'' Mehl v. Canadian Pacific Railway, 417 F. Supp. 2d 1104, 1120 (D.N.D. 2006). Unfortunately, this isn't a problem limited to one court. Court decisions in Minnesota and Massachusetts have left victims of negligence with no recourse for their injuries. See, e.g., Kalan Enterprises, LLC v BNSF Railway Co., 415 F. Supp. 2d 977 (D. Minn. 2006); Ouellette v. Union Tank Car Co., 902 F. Supp. 5 (D. Mass 1995). Congress mut act now before more Americans lose their right to a remedy, and that is why we have chosen to add technical language to the Rail Security bill to alleviate this problem on a timely basis. Over 200 claims pending in Minnesota state court have been removed to federal court by Canadian Pacific. The railroad is arguing that all claims against it should be dismissed based on preemption under the FRSA. Oral argument on the railroad's motion to dismiss has been scheduled for May 15th so it's imperative to clarify that the FRSA does not preempt state remedies in order to prevent an additional travesty of justice. The language would clarify that the purpose of the FRSA was and is to set uniform minimum safety standards, and that an expansive application of preemption to deprive accident victims' access to state remedies is a misapplication of the law.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to a former member, stellar member, of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Pascrell of New Jersey, who has moved on, but he still has an interest.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Houston, Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Clarke).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Chicago, Illinois (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Weyerhaeuser Corporation and its wonderful community service in assisting in the relief efforts and the rebuilding of the gulf coast that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. This outstanding company has gone well beyond the call of duty, truly exemplifying what community service is. The Weyerhaeuser Company was incorporated in 1900, and is one the world's largest integrated forest product companies, headquartered in Federal Way, Washington, employing over 49,000 people in 18 countries. In 2005, they recorded sales of $22.6 billion, and the company manages more than 6.5 million acres of timberlands in nine States. I am pleased to note that 14 locations of the Weyerhaeuser Corporation are in Mississippi including several around the Second District. In recognition of their outstanding community service and dedication to helping those who need it most, Weyerhaeuser Corporation has been recognized with the Ron Brown Award. This is the only Presidential award to honor companies ``for their exemplary quality of their relationships with employees and communities.'' This award is presented to companies that have set forth strong initiatives to strengthen their employees and the community that surrounds them, as well as promote pioneering business initiatives. The Ron Brown Award was originally established by President Bill Clinton after the late Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, who believed that ``businesses do well by doing good.'' In my opinion, there is no better choice for this award than the Weyerhaeuser Company for its outstanding work and dedication to our country. On November 29, 2006, chairman, president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser, Steve Rogel, accepted the Ron Brown Award from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez at a ceremony at the White House. Mr. Rogel accepted the award and dedicated it to Weyerhaeuser's disaster relief coordinator, Katy Taylor, along with the partners and volunteers who attended the ceremony. Also recognized in the White House ceremony was the North Carolina Baptist Builders, with whom Weyerhaeuser teamed up in the gulf coast relief efforts. The North Carolina Baptist Builders is a faith-based organization that set forth a large mission to rebuild 600 homes along the coast. To the credit of the Baptist Builders, the Weyerhaeuser Company recognized their ``smoothly run rebuilding operation to keep projects moving.'' It is this kind of forward thinking and teamwork that makes the Weyerhaeuser Company so deserving of the Ron Brown Award. I am honored to have such a wonderful and dedicated company that operates in Mississippi in places such as Magnolia, Philadelphia, and Richland. Weyerhaeuser Company has been operating in Mississippi since 1956 with approximately 1,700 employees and 776,000 acres of timberland. The dedication of Weyerhaeuser to the community is astounding and sets a shining example to other businesses about the importance of community service and helping the less fortunate. To date, over 300 employees and retirees from across the United States and Canada have volunteered more than 42,000 hours of their time and helped rebuild 50 plus homes. Weyerhaeuser has a truly generous policy of allowing employees 2 to 4 weeks' paid leave to help volunteer in the rebuilding efforts of the gulf coast. Not only does it pay its employees while they are volunteering their time, but it also pays their way and their spouses' way for the rebuilding efforts. Now, over a year later, Weyerhaeuser employees are still participating in reconstruction efforts and have contributed a combined disaster relief to date totaling more than $2.8 million. This is nothing short of extraordinary. While I can only mention some of the accomplishments of Weyerhaeuser Company's contribution, it is the people of Weyerhaeuser have that truly made the difference to individuals, families and the community as a whole. As one family wrote in response to the help from Weyerhaeuser volunteers, ``Because of all your efforts, we are home! Words cannot truly express the outpouring of love we have received. We are eternally grateful to our Weyerhaeuser family.'' This shows how the assistance of strangers can surely touch one's life and make their life better and give true meaning for caring in the community. A sign of the high caliber of individuals Weyerhaeuser employs is some of the comments that went to the gulf coast to help. One man noted, ``The days were long and hot, the work was intense, but the rewards were immeasurable. This has been an experience I won't soon forget.'' Another volunteer employee commented, ``This experience was such a blessing. I got so much more from it than I felt I gave.'' Even Weyerhaeuser's retirees participated and one reflected of the occasion to assist those in need saying, ``Having once more the opportunity to work side by side with other Weyerhaeuser employees and retirees made me realize anew why I enjoyed working for Weyerhaeuser so much. It's all about the people and the values the company ascribes to. Thanks again.'' Testimonies such as these speak volumes of Weyerhaeuser Company and its dedication to its employees and others. It goes beyond helping those who are under its employment, but it extends a helping hand to strangers to make the world a better place to live. I am pleased that Weyerhaeuser has had a long standing tradition in Mississippi and especially in the Second District. It is without question an admirable and outstanding company that lives up to the highest meaning of community service. Weyerhaeuser's dedication to helping others is immeasurable and I cannot thank the company enough for the work they have done and continue to do. It is truly deserving of such a prestigious award, and I am delighted to see Weyerhaeuser's efforts have been recognized by the administration. The work of their employees and retirees shows that there is no one more deserving.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I would like to commemorate the $15 million expansion of the Masterfoods USA Mississippi Delta facility located in Greenville, Mississippi. For nearly 30 years, the Greenville facility has produced America's favorite branded rice, Uncle Ben's', in its many variations. This facility currently produces more than 100,000 tons of rice per year. As part of the expansion, Masterfoods USA will install state-of- the-art processing equipment which will improve capacity to produce the line of Uncle Ben's' 90-second microwaveable Ready Rice'. The facility is a significant contributor to the state and local economy, employing approximately 200 associates and contributing millions of dollars in salaries and taxes. Moreover, each year, Masterfoods USA purchases and processes more than 156,000 tons, or $18 million, of Delta-grown rough rice through this facility. Of equal importance is the commitment of Masterfoods USA and the Greenville facility to local community and charitable endeavors. For many years the company has been actively involved with the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce and many local charities including, the United Way, the American Heart Walk, the March of Dimes, the Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club, and America's Second Harvest. Through its long-standing partnership with the Mississippi Area Food Network, Masterfoods USA donates a large number of Uncle Ben's' products to regional food banks. For example, following Hurricane Katrina, Uncle Ben's' donated 150 tons of food to support relief efforts in the Gulf Region. Through its partnership with America's Second Harvest, the company recently agreed to co-sponsor the construction of a Kids Cafe at the local Boys and Girls Club. Kids Cafe, the most expansive child feeding program in the United States, provides free meals and snacks to low- income children through a variety of existing community locations. In addition to providing hot meals to hungry kids, some Kids Cafe programs also offer a safe place, where under the supervision of trustworthy staff, a child can get involved in educational, recreational and social activities that draw on existing community programs and often include family members. I am honored that the Masterfoods USA Greenville facility is located within my district. I ask you, Madam Speaker, and my colleagues to join me in commending Masterfoods USA, and in particular, its Greenville facility and its officials, for their many years of service and commitment to the Mississippi Delta region. I look forward to applauding their continued growth and success for many years to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I applaud Chairman Waxman, Ranking Member Davis, and others for their work on this badly needed bill. This bill extends whistleblower protections to Federal employees who work on national security, mainly in the intelligence area, workers in the Transportation Security Administration, especially screeners, and Federal contractors, amongst others. As Chairman Waxman correctly identified, there is a tremendous need to protect Federal workers and contractors who are our best sources of identifying waste fraud, abuse or security problems. This bill treats Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) the same as all other Department employees by giving them full whistleblower protections, which TSOs currently do not have. Mr. Chairman, others will tell you that TSOs have adequate whistleblower rights. While this is debatably true on paper, it is not true in practice. The truth is TSOs do not enjoy full whistleblower protections. They have extremely limited whistleblower protections granted by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was entered into when TSA was part of the Department of Transportation. In fact, while reviewing a TSO whistleblower claim in 2004, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ruled that the Homeland Security Act does not provide TSO whistleblowers with a right to MSPB review. Compared to other Department employees who do enjoy the right to MSPB review, TSOs are treated differently. Under the MOU, TSOs can only bring a claim to the Office of Special Counsel, but TSOs have no right of outside appeal to either the MSPB or any other independent agency or court, like all other the Department employees can. This bill remedies this situation by giving the TSOs full whistleblower rights, including the right to independent outside review. Besides independent outside review, this bill also allows a whistleblower to go to court if their claim has not been acted on within 6 months of filing. This bill permits the whistleblower to bring an appeal on their case to any federal court of appeals having proper jurisdiction over the case. I am also pleased that this bill provides the same rights to the Department's Office of Intelligence and Analysis employees as it does to intelligence employees in other agencies. As we know, whistleblowers in the intelligence community must be careful when they disclose certain information. This bill helps govern how these people can bring their claims, but it also adequately protects any sensitive or classified information that may be involved. Mr. Chairman, I want to note that H.R. 1, which passed the House in January, has some similar effects as H.R. 985, mainly that it provides whistleblower protections to TSOs. H.R. 1 also fixes the poor morale problems by allowing collective bargaining rights for TSOs, similar to other law enforcement officers and others within the Department, such as the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection Officers. Nonetheless, I am happy to vote for H.R. 985 today as it not only makes America safer and more secure, but it also allows for all employees to report waste, fraud, or abuse of vital and limited government resources. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, like all Americans, I am alarmed at the lack of security for rail and public transportation systems around the country. Each weekday, 11.3 million passengers in 22 States use commuter, heavy, or light rail. History has shown that terrorists view rail and public transportation systems as potential targets. March 11 will be the 3-year anniversary of the terrorist bombings of Madrid's rail system, which killed and maimed hundreds of innocent civilians. This July marks the second anniversary of the terrorist bombings throughout London's public transportation system. Last summer, a number of bombs tore through Mumbai's rail system. Just last month, a passenger train outside New Delhi caught fire when suitcases filled with flammable liquids were exploded as the train headed for Pakistan. Despite all of these attacks, rail and public transportation security remains a secondary issue to aviation security. In the fiscal year 2008 budget, the President only requested an additional $4 million for TSA's surface transportation budget. TSA's entire surface transportation budget is less than 1 percent of the amount the President requested for aviation security. I am alarmed by the lack of training for frontline rail and public transportation workers. I am also worried about security issues surrounding the transportation of hazardous materials through high-threat urban areas. This Committee has taken action to close the gaps on rail and mass transit security. We have been working on a bipartisan basis to develop the ``Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007.'' This bill requires rail and public transportation systems to complete security plans and vulnerability assessments. The bill also mandates training for frontline rail and public transportation system employees. It also gives them whistleblower protections to encourage reporting of security risks, and provides a redress process for employees who are terminated as a result of a background check. This legislation makes security grants available to rail, transit, and bus systems. Finally, it makes substantial investments in the research and development we need to find new ways to secure these systems. My hope is that through these provisions, this comprehensive legislation will address most of the glaring gaps that currently exist in surface transportation security.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 399, the bill naming the soon-to-be-constructed courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, after attorney R. Jess Brown. For most of those individuals here, I represent Jackson, Mississippi. I knew R. Jess Brown. Most of the African American attorneys in the State of Mississippi would not be there had it not been for R. Jess Brown's tenacity and perseverance to encourage other people to participate. Both speakers have talked about his ability as a lawyer; but the one thing that I would like to share is, while he did not graduate from law school, when he was practicing, you could practice law if you could pass the bar. He taught himself law and ultimately became one of the great lawyers in our State. He represented James Meredith. He represented Medgar Evers. He represented teachers who were trying to get equity in pay. He represented other students trying to go to the University of Southern Mississippi, a number of schools. But the good thing about R. Jess Brown, Mr. Speaker, he also was a teacher. He always had time for young people. He taught at Alcorn State University as well as Lanier High School at a time where practicing law was not as beneficial as it is perhaps now. I am happy to join the support of H.R. 399, this bill nominating the soon-to-be-constructed courthouse after R. Jess Brown. The Brown family in Jackson, Mississippi, is well known. The widow of attorney Brown will be quite pleased with this. Oftentimes we don't give flowers to people while they are living, but perhaps this legacy in naming this Federal courthouse after attorney R. Jess Brown is fitting and proper. So R. Jess Brown, Mr. Speaker, will be remembered more than as a brilliant attorney and civil rights leader. He will be remembered as a great American. As such, it is very appropriate that the United States courthouse soon be built in Jackson, Mississippi, is designated the R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I stand here today as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security in support of H.R. 556, the National Security Foreign Investment Reform and Strengthened Transparency Act of 2007. This bill provides needed reform by formalizing and streamlining the structure and duties of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Indeed, this bill addresses many of the concerns raised about CFIUS during the past twelve months, especially its current lack of transparency and oversight. This bill rectifies these concerns by formally establishing CFIUS and its membership, while also streamlining how and when a CFIUS review will be conducted. Mr. Chairman, the bill formalizes the CFIUS membership and requires the following to serve: (1) Secretaries of Treasury, Homeland Security, Commerce, Defense, State, and Energy; (2) Attorney General; Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors; the U.S. Trade Representative; Director of Office of Management and Budget; Director of National Economic Council; and (3) The Director of Office of Science and Technology Policy; the President's assistant for national security affairs; and any other designee of the President from the Executive Office. Under this bill, the Treasury Department will be the Chair with the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland serving as the Vice Chairs. CFIUS will conduct a review of any national security related business transaction in which the outcome could result in foreign control of any business engaged in interstate commerce in the U.S. After reviewing the proposed business transaction, CFIUS will make a determination, the outcome of which could require conducting a full investigation if one of four circumstances exists: (1) Transaction involves a foreign government-controlled entity; (2) Transaction threatens to impair national security and the review cannot mitigate those concerns; (3) National Intelligence Director identifies intelligence concerns and CFIUS could not agree upon methods to mitigate the concerns; or, (4) Any one (1) CFIUS Member votes against approving the transaction. Incidents such as the Dubai Ports World (DPW) and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation's attempted bid for control of oil company Unocal raised and increased awareness around transactions that should receive CFIUS review. These incidents highlighted the need for meaningful CFIUS reform. The bill balances the need for continued foreign investment in the United States, but reviewing that investment to determine if it would impair or threaten national security or critical infrastructure. This bill establishes accountability to key Cabinet level agencies and, much like other corporate reform, requires personal action by the Secretaries of Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security. Congressional Research Service's independent report found that for all merger and acquisition activity in 2005, 13 percent of it was from foreign firms acquiring U.S. firms. This is up from 9 percent almost 10 years before. This statistic shows that foreign investment in the U.S. is vital to the economy. Only through this legislation, will CFIUS have a formal budget, membership and clear mission--protecting American security while maintaining a free and growing economy. In closing, let me thank my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee for their leadership on this legislation, especially my Democratic colleagues Representative Carolyn Maloney and Joseph Crowley of New York for their efforts.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, we have a bill, but in our traditional, bipartisan way, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I would like to basically thank the gentleman from New York for working with me on the bill, and I encourage all Members to vote ``aye'' for its passage. I also submit the following exchange of letters for the Record. Committee on Science and Technology, Washington, DC, February 26, 2007. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman, I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and Technology in H.R. 884, the Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act. The Committee on Science and Technology has jurisdictional interest in this bill based on the Committee's jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (``DHS S&T'') and other DHS research and development. [See Rule X(o)(14) which grants the Committee on Science and Technology jurisdiction over ``Scientific research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor.''] This bill would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a ``Science and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office.'' All of the international cooperative activities authorized by the bill relate to homeland security research (e.g., ``coordinated research projects, joint research projects, or joint ventures;'' ``joint studies or technical demonstrations;'' ``coordinated field exercises, scientific seminars, conferences, symposia, and workshops;'' ``training of scientists and engineers;'' ``visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers, or other appropriate personnel;'' ``exchanges or sharing of scientific and technological information;'' and ``joint use of laboratory facilities and equipment''). In addition, the funding for such activities is to be derived from amounts otherwise authorized to DHS S&T. The Committee on Science and Technology acknowledges the importance of H.R. 884 and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over this bill, I agree not to request a sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forgo a sequential referral waives, reduces, or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science and Technology, and that a copy of this letter and of your response will be included in the Congressional Record when the bill is considered on the House Floor. The Committee on Science and Technology also expects that you will support our request to be conferees during any House-Senate conference on this legislation. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Bart Gordon, Chairman.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 884, Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act, a bill considered in one form or another since the 108th Congress. There is an old saying we tell school children: if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Although these words of encouragement may have originally applied to the grade school study of algebra or Latin, they are equally motivational to those of us serving in the 110th Congress. I first raised the idea of this bill in January of 2005, soon after I became the ranking member. I know my Democratic colleagues had pushed for it in the 108th Congress at well. Well, after years of trying, this Congress will succeed in sending this legislation to the President's desk. I know the other body will be taking up a similar provision attached to their bill seeking to fulfill the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. I am very pleased that they will soon join the House in passing this legislation. Why is this bill so important? The answer lies in the nature of the terrorist threat. Terrorism is an international threat to the democratic way of life. Though we have experienced terrible tragedies of our own, terrorist attacks occur all over the world. Terrorists have attacked buses in London; hotels in Israel; trains in Mumbai; embassies in Indonesia; resorts in Bali; and schools in Russia. As the global threat of terrorism is evident, so too is the solution to limiting those attacks. By promoting international cooperation, we will defeat the efforts of our enemies. Cooperation in developing antiterrorism technologies should be a top priority. The different challenges faced by our friends around the world have resulted in new approaches that the United States should leverage to protect our citizens. International cooperation is nothing new for our country. In fact, the United States has a history of productive scientific and technical collaborations with Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and others. The Department of Homeland Security has participated in some of these partnerships with foreign governments and other entities. This legislation will encourage and strengthen those efforts and direct the Department to look for new partners beyond those we already have. This includes working with folks in the small business community who can bring exciting technologies to the table. I am especially heartened that the bill will strengthen the means for protecting our Nation from exotic diseases. Active collaborations with scientists in Africa, where many of these diseases originate, should be promoted. This bill encourages that collaboration. Too often, the United States presents a posture of unilateralism to the world. I hope that through programs like the ones authorized in this legislation, we encourage a more cooperative approach to fighting terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 884. I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, 3 months ago the American people sent a resounding message for change. They voted for a new direction in Congress and new direction for the war in Iraq. In solemn tribute to the sacrifices of the men and women of the Armed Forces in Mississippi's Second Congressional District who have served in Iraq and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, I would like to recognize some of Mississippi's Second District heroes: Staff Sergeant Kenneth Bradley. Hometown: Utica, Mississippi; 39 years old; died May 28, 2003, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Larry K. Brown. Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi; 22 years old; died April 5, 2003, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Rapheal S. Davis. Hometown: Tutwiler, Mississippi; 24 years of age; died December 2, 2003, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Kermit O. Evans. Hollandale, Mississippi; 31 years old; died December 3, 2006, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joshua S. Ladd. Port Gibson, Mississippi; 20 years old; died May 1, 2004, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Master Sergeant Brian McAnulty. Hometown: Vicksburg, Mississippi; 39 years of age; died December 11, 2006, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sergeant John McGee. Cary, Mississippi; age 36 years; died May 2, 2005, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sergeant Joe Wilson. Crystal Springs, Mississippi; 30 years of age; November 2, 2003, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Madam Speaker, the Department of Defense reports that as of February 15, 2007, 3,126 U.S. military servicemembers have died as a result of their service in Iraq. More than 25,000 have been wounded. This bipartisan resolution before us today asks Members a straightforward question: Do you approve of the President's announced proposal on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq? There is no question that the way forward in Iraq is one of our greatest challenges. The open debate offered here today allows us all an opportunity to express our sentiments on the administration's proposal. The sacrifices, dedication, and patriotism of our elite military and their families deserve no less. I oppose the President's proposal. Until the President is willing to sit down with Congress and provide accurate data on what is really going on in this war, I cannot in good conscience support putting more men in harm's way. This administration used bad intelligence to justify the rationale for war, and I fear that they are using bad judgment here today in their call for sending 25,000 more troops into harm's way. The administration keeps calling this proposal a troop surge. Let us call it what it is. The proposal is a troop increase. Rather than a troop surge, what we need from this administration is a truth surge. The incompetence and misinformation that has gotten us into this mess is not the competence it will take to get us out. The President and this administration must remain faithful and truthful to Congress and the American people by openly discussing appropriate measures to resolve the situation in Iraq that is worsening daily. The President must allow Congress to do what it was formed to do under the Constitution. His decision to continue in this direction is not democratic and, therefore, does not demonstrate the best example of what we are fighting for in Iraq. We must not allow the President to escalate the Iraq War without specific congressional approval. Madam Speaker, we must send the President a message he cannot ignore. We must pass the Skelton-Lantos-Jones resolution.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to be here today to honor the employees of the Department of Homeland Security. Four years ago the Department came into being with the crucial mission of protecting and securing our homeland. It has been a tough 4 years, and the importance of this mission has only grown with time. If you watch the news, you hear all the acronyms for the different parts of the Department--DHS, CBP, FEMA, ICE, FPS, TSA, and the list goes on. I fear that this alphabet soup may hide the faces of the people who make up the many pieces of the Department. But the vital mission of these different components cannot be fulfilled without the people who make them up. For example, the U.S. Secret Service does not protect the President--Secret Service Agents protect the President. United States Customs and Border Protection does not protect our ports of entry, Customs and Border Protection officers do that. The Border Patrol does not guard our border, Border Patrol Agents guard the border. The Coast Guard does not watch our shores and rescue our citizens, Coast Guard men and women do. I could go on, but the point is the same: It is not the ``Department'' that gives up family time to help secure our Nation. It is not the ``Department'' that works nights, weekends, and holidays. It is not the ``Department'' that puts its life on the line. It is the people of the Department who make these sacrifices. Let's not forget that these everyday heroes I just mentioned can't do their jobs without the support personnel in their agencies and Directorates--the contracting officers, administrative assistants, technical support teams, financial managers, and many more. While these folks don't always get the best support and guidance from their management, that in no way diminishes their efforts and sacrifices. It pained me to see the recent Office of Personnel Management survey, in which the Department ranks last in terms of job satisfaction. For the sake of its employees--and for the security of our Nation--the Department's management must do better. I have been critical of the Department's management and some of its decisions in the past, and I'm sure I will be in the future. But no one should mistake my occasional criticism of the way this Department has been run with criticism for the fine men and women who are on the front lines, day after day. I pledge to the employees of the Department that the Committee on Homeland Security will not ignore this problem. We will do our part to see that things improve. We will work with the management of the Department when we can--but we will also give them a gentle push in the right direction when we need to. As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, it is an honor for me to stand here today in support of this resolution. This Nation must never forget the lessons of 9/11 and Katrina. And it must never take for granted the men and women who go out every day with one purpose: to do their best, in ways small and large, to keep us all safe. I urge all the Members of the House to join me in honoring these everyday heroes.