Henry Waxman

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the scientific peer review process at the National Institutes of Health and in opposition to the Neugebauer Amendment. For the third year in a row, the House is considering an attempt to score cheap political points at the expense of NIH research. This year's targets are two grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health. Both of these grants passed NIH's rigorous peer review process. This process involves two stages of review. In the first, scientists from leading institutions around the country make independent evaluations of each proposal. In the second stage, advisory councils with broad representation set priorities and approve the studies. Our system of peer review is the envy of the world, and for good reason: It is based on science, and it is immune from political interference. Congress should be proud of the NIH and what it has accomplished. Instead, this amendment strikes at the heart of scientific integrity at the agency. Supporters will say that the amendment is just about two grants. In their view, apparently, NIH should not be funding research in animal models that can expand our understanding of brain disorders . . . or research on psychological distress and marriage that can reduce domestic violence. Just looking at the two grants, I am far from persuaded. Marriage is a key institution in our society, and we should use science to understand how it can be strengthened. Research in animal models has provided important insights into brain disorders. I fail to see any justification in eliminating the funding these grants. More fundamentally, it is inappropriate for us to be debating the merit of these grants in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is not a grant review panel. We are not scientific experts. Our country has succeeded by leaving scientific judgments to scientists, and we should continue to do so. Our Nation's research community is watching this House today. Universities and researchers want to know if they can do their jobs without wondering whether Congress will step in at the last moment to slander their research and sabotage their careers. The Administration is also opposed to this amendment. The Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Elias Zerhouni stated yesterday: Defunding meritorious grants on the floor of Congress is unjustified scientific censorship. It undermines the historical strength of American science, which is based on our world renowned, apolitical, and transparent peer review process. I hope these words give this House pause. Let us not vote for scientific censorship. Let us not undermine the historical strength of American science. To paraphrase the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine, let us not rub the gem of worldwide biomedical research in political dirt. I urge you to join me in rejecting this ill-advised amendment.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, the failure to have an investigation of detainee abuse is eroding our moral standard in the world. It is also endangering our Armed Forces and inciting hatred against the United States. As Senator Biden said about Guantanamo, it is the greatest propaganda tool for the recruitment of terrorists worldwide. Some of the allegations that have been repeated over and over again may not be true. In fact, I hope they are not true. President Bush calls them absurd, but we do not know what is true and what is not unless we investigate; and when we refuse to conduct a thorough, independent, credible investigation, the rest of the world thinks we have something to hide. The independent commission established by this proposal would establish a 10-member bipartisan commission modeled on the successful 9/11 commission. I think we need this. I think we need it badly. If the Congress had done its job of oversight, we might well say the job is done and we do not need to do anything further; but Congress has done relatively little on this whole matter. The reports that have been issued by the various investigative agencies have been in conflict. This is why I ask my colleagues to support this motion to recommit. Vote ``aye.''

Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit with instructions.

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, this motion to recommit would amend the bill to add language establishing an independent commission to examine detainee abuses. In the year since the horrific photographs of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib surfaced, more and more instances of detainee abuse from a growing number of locations around the world have come to light. The reports of detainee abuse are undermining one of our Nation's most valuable assets: our reputation for respect for human rights. The Pentagon's internal investigations of the abuse allegations have resulted in conflicting conclusions. Some of these reports have been little more than whitewashes. Congress has failed to conduct a comprehensive public investigation of detainee abuse allegations at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram and other facilities. We have abdicated our constitutional duty to conduct responsible oversight. My motion to recommit would fill the huge oversight gap. A lack of oversight leads to a lack of accountability, and no accountability breeds arrogance and abuse of power. It is time for this House to take our oversight responsibility seriously, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), the ranking member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, my colleague.

Mr. WAXMAN. I am, Madam Speaker, in its current form.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year since we saw the horrific photographs of the torture of the prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Yet in Congress, we have ignored our fundamental responsibility to investigate this issue. And it is not just Abu Ghraib, but other prison camps as well where we are hearing more and more reports of instances of disrespect of the Koran and denial of human rights to detainees. Under our system of checks and balances, the House of Representatives has a constitutional duty to ensure proper oversight of the executive branch, and for this reason I submitted an amendment to this bill to create either a select committee of the House of Representatives to examine the matter or an independent commission to conduct such an investigation. But the Republican leadership blocked both amendments. They do not want an investigation inside the House or outside by an independent group. The independent commission, I believe, would have filled this huge oversight vacuum. It was denied, and that is why I am in opposition to the previous question on the rule and the rule itself. The reports of detainee abuse are undermining one of our Nation's most valuable assets, our reputation and respect for human rights. And they are endangering our Armed Forces and inciting hatred against the United States. As Senator Biden said, Guantanamo is the ``greatest propaganda tool for the recruitment of terrorists worldwide.'' Some of the allegations that have been replayed over and over again around the world may not be true. President Bush calls them ``absurd.'' But we will not know what is true and what is not true unless we investigate. And when we refuse to conduct thorough, independent investigations, the rest of the world thinks we have something to hide. When we ignore our constitutional obligations, we are not doing the administration any favor. A lack of oversight leads to a lack of accountability, and no accountability breeds arrogance and abuse of power. Over the past year, more and more instances of detainee abuse from a growing number of locations around the world have come to light. In just the past few weeks, new evidence emerged of the desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay; the involvement of Navy Seals in beating detainees in Iraq; and the gruesome, ultimately fatal torture of Afghans at the U.S. detention center at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. It is time for this House to put aside political calculations and fulfill our constitutional oversight responsibilities. Let me just point out to my colleagues that we have not had an investigation since Abu Ghraib. The House held only 5 hours of public hearings in the Committee on Armed Services to investigate the abuses. In contrast, the House spent 140 hours taking witness testimony to examine whether President Clinton mishandled his Christmas card list. What is more important for the use of oversight and investigative powers of the House? While the Senate review has been more extensive, it has not involved comprehensive public review of all relevant agencies and personnel, nor has it produced comprehensive conclusions regarding individual accountability and necessary corrective actions. We must do our job. We need to examine these allegations and take our oversight responsibilities seriously. I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year since the photographs of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib shocked the nation and the world. Since then, the allegations of mistreatment, abuse, and torture of detainees in U.S. custody have multiplied. In just the past few weeks, new evidence emerged of the desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay, the involvement of Navy Seals in beating detainees in Iraq, and the gruesome, ultimately fatal torture of Afghans at the U.S. detention center at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. The reports of detainee abuse are undermining one of our Nation's most valuable assets: our reputation for respect for human rights. And they are endangering our armed forces and inciting hatred against the United States. As Senator Joe Biden said, Guantanamo is the ``greatest propaganda for the recruitment of terrorists worldwide.'' Our national interest demands a thorough independent review of the detention system. We need answers to basic questions: What happened? Who is responsible? And how do we move forward? The Pentagon's internal investigations certainly do not meet this standard. The resulting reports have contained conflicting conclusions, and some have been little more than whitewashes. And in Congress, we have ignored our fundamental constitutional responsibility to investigate. When the Abu Ghraib photos surfaced, the House held a mere five hours of public hearings. The Senate review was more extensive but stopped far short of assessing individual accountability up the chain of command. Our troops deserve better. Our nation deserves better. Some of the allegations that have been replayed repeatedly around the world may not be true. President Bush calls them ``absurd.'' But we won't know what's true and what's not true unless we investigate. And when we refuse to conduct thorough, independent investigations, the rest of the world thinks we have something to hide. The independent commission established by the bill we are introducing today would address this huge oversight gap. It would establish a 10- member bipartisan commission modeled on the successful 9-11 Commission. The Commission would conduct a thorough review of the extent of the abuses, what individuals are responsible for the abuses, and what policies facilitated the abuses. The Commission would also make recommendations on legislative and executive actions necessary to prevent future abuses. The bill already has 172 cosponsors, and it has the support of key leaders in Congress like Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader; Steny Hoyer, the Minority Whip; Ike Skelton, the ranking Democrat on Armed Services; and Jane Harman, the ranking Democrat on Intelligence. I commend these senior members for their leadership. And I urge my other colleagues to join us in demonstrating that our system of checks and balances still works and that we are a nation committed to respect for human rights.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, on May 18, 2005, my close friend, Edward A. Stutman, was recognized by the Justice Department for ``A Career of Exceptional Public Service.'' I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ned on receiving this honor and thanking him for his distinguished contributions to our nation. Ned began his government service at the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare, but he has spent most of his career at the Department of Justice. At DOJ he served as Senior Trial Attorney with the Special Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division, and later as Senior Trial Attorney with the Office of Special Investigations, (OSI), Criminal Division. At OSI, Ned led the investigations and cases brought against World War II-era Nazis, including the re-prosecution of the notorious John Demjanjuk, known as Ivan the Terrible. In addition to an extraordinary career, Ned has devoted a tremendous amount of his personal time and resources to the well-being of the Washington Jewish community and as an active member of Adas Israel Congregation. He is the proud father of Shira Stutman Shaw and her husband Russell Shaw, Zach Stutman, and Gabe Stutman; the grandfather of Caleb and Maya Stutman Shaw; and the devoted husband of Suzanne Stutman. Janet and I congratulate Ned on his retirement and we thank him, Suzanne, and their wonderful family for many years of friendship. The Department of Justice's recognition of Ned Stutman is reprinted below: Washington, DC, May 18, 2005. The Civil Rights Division and the Office of Special Investigations, Criminal Division, thank Edward A. (Ned) Stutman for his Career of Exceptional Public Service. While at the Department of Justice, Mr. Stutman took the lead in litigation or policy-oriented matters involving civil rights, immigration law, criminal law, and human rights. His duties included ensuring the rights of institutionalized persons, de-naturalizing World War II-era Nazi perpetrators, and pursuing language access for limited English proficient individuals. Throughout his career, Mr. Stutman provided exceptionally outstanding contributions and leadership resulting in highly sucessful accomplishments in unique and challenging situations. His performance in three sections of the Department of Justice was of an outstanding and distinctive character in meeting civil rights and criminal enforcement goals of the Department. Mr. Stutman began his government service at the former Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), but served the majority of his 26-year federal tenure as an attorney in the Department of Justice. From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Stutman served as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Special Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division. In that position, under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, Mr. Stutman investigated and brought litigation to enforce the constitutional and statutory rights of persons confined to state and local institutions. These matters addressed issues including abuse, medical and mental health care, fire safety, sanitation, security, adequacy of treatment and training, and education. Mr. Stutman's work was consistently outstanding, and the cases he handled resulted in broad relief for persons in facilities for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, nursing homes, and juvenile justice facilities. From 1992 to 2004, Mr. Stutman served as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Office of Special Investigations, Criminal Division. He took the lead in developing and/or litigating 13 denaturalization cases against World War II-era Nazi perpetrators, all of which resulted in victories for the Department. Mr. Stutman spearheaded development of the legal cases developed in the 1990s concerning the notorious SS facility at Trawniki, Poland, at which the Nazis trained men to implement the genocidal ``Final Solution'' against Jews in Poland. He played a key role in devising the legal arguments and strategies that have led to success in every one of those cases based on documentation uncovered after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Mr. Stutman's outstanding role in leading the investigation and prosecution of these cases has helped to establish important legal precedents in the fields of both immigration and human rights law. Critically, Mr. Stutman expertly led the re-prosecution of John Demjanjuk--arguably the most important case in OSI's history--even while suffering the adversity of his illness, which was identified on the first day of trial. Mr. Stutman served as a mentor and inspiration to numerous young litigators in his dedication to his work, his strong sense of ethics, and the dignity with which he comported himself before both courts and adversaries. Mr. Stutman's passion for justice and intellectual energy could not be dimmed by health challenges. Quite the opposite, he continued to provide invaluable contributions to the Department. In February 2004, Mr. Stutman joined the staff of the Civil Rights Division's Coordination and Review Section, which performs a range of administrative law, civil rights coordination, and policy-oriented functions for the Division and across federal civil rights offices. Mr. Stutman ``hit the ground running.'' With a background in administrative law from his years at HEW and then the Department of Education, and a familiarity with the Division from his years in the Special Litigation Section, he was a perfect fit for the Coordination and Review Section. He provided invaluable leadership in the development of the Division's first conference on limited English proficiency and the creation of a major Tips and Tools resource document on language access. He helped to frame and pursue a groundbreaking investigation of language access in a state department of corrections. Mr. Stutman's statesmanship, creative inspiration, and wise counsel aided staff and managers alike. Ned Stutman has tackled cutting edge legal issues spanning four decades, forging legal territory for the government and the Department. From tracking down and expelling Nazis to ensuring that limited English proficient individuals could access emergency and other services; from pursuing equal educational opportunities to stamping out mistreatment of institutionalized persons, Mr. Stutman has set his sights high and attained transforming results. Providing the nation with the highest quality legal representation ensures him a legal legacy. Doing so with humor, grace, and graciousness ensures a human legacy--we are all better people for having known and worked with Ned Stutman. It is thus with the deepest appreciation and admiration that we, on behalf of ourselves and our staffs, recognize Edward A. Stutman for a career of exceptional public service at the Department of Justice. R. Alexander Acosta, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division. Eli Rosenbaum, Director, Office of Special Investigations, Criminal Division.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2326 would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 614 West Old County Road in Belhaven, North Carolina, as the Floyd Lupton Post Office. As the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of this bill, legislation designating this facility in Belhaven, North Carolina, after the late Floyd Lupton. This measure was introduced by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) on May 12, 2005, and it was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on May 26, 2005. It enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire North Carolina State delegation. Floyd Lupton, a native of North Carolina, grew up in Pantego, North Carolina. He attended North Carolina State University when he left to join the Army. He served in the 99th Infantry Division, received a Bronze Star and was honorably discharged. After serving in the military, he returned home to Pantego. In 1966, he began working for the late Congressman Walter Jones, Sr., as his administrative assistant. He held that position for 25 years until his retirement in 1991. As administrative assistant Fred earned the reputation as a person who was dedicated to the Congressman, the district and the constituents. He was always available to all, night or day, and never forgot who he was or where he was from. Upon his return, Mr. Lupton served on numerous boards, associations and community organizations. At the time of his death, he was serving as a member of the Beaufort County Community College Board of Directors. Sadly, he passed away on May 10, 2005. Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for honoring the legacy of the late Floyd Jackson Lupton, Senior, and I urge the swift passage of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I have no other requests for time, but I do want to say how moved I was by the gentleman's presentation. I have known Floyd Lupton only through the descriptions and the information, the cold statistics, that have been furnished to us, but the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) has given us a picture of a man who, through his service and his availability and his commitment to the public good, is well deserving of the tribute that we are bestowing upon him by naming this facility after him. I hope it will stand as an example for others to look at, the plaque that will be posted there, as a tribute to a man that they should remember as an example for all people to be committed to the kinds of ideals that he stood for. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Jane Zuckerman, the Executive Director of Temple Israel of Hollywood. Jane is being honored for her 18 years of dedicated service to our community at Temple Israel's Annual Gala on June 11, 2005. Jane began her impressive career at Temple Israel in 1986 when she served as the Temple's Director of Early Childhood Education. During her tenure, the student population grew from 40 to 115 children with the addition of extended hours for working parents. Jane brought the now popular Parent and Me, TOT Shabbat and Toddler Seder Program to the Temple. In 1997, Jane was appointed the Temple's Executive Director. She blended her love of children with her keen fiscal management and marketing abilities in her new position. A congregant once said, ``Every time I come into the building, Jane is there like a lovely hostess, creating a certain atmosphere of friendliness and welcome.'' In her role as chief administrative officer of the Temple, she is responsible for the day-to-day management of its fiscal and administrative affairs as well as the physical plant and security. Jane also spearheads the marketing, membership and fundraising activities of the Temple. In fall 2004, Jane served as co-chair of the National Association of Temple Administrator's annual convention and has been a guest speaker and presenter on the subject of synagogue management at the University of Judaism and the Women's Rabbinic Network's annual meeting. Our community owes Jane a debt of gratitude for her tremendous dedication to Temple Israel of Hollywood. Her achievements and record of accomplishments are truly outstanding. I ask my colleagues to join me and Temple Israel of Hollywood in extending our appreciation for her contributions.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Sherry Fredman, the Nursery School Principal at Temple Israel of Hollywood. Sherry is being honored for her ten years of dedicated service to our community at Temple Israel's Annual Gala on June 11, 2005. Sherry began her impressive career at Temple Israel in 1995 when she was recruited to teach at the Temple Israel Day School. Two years later, Sherry became the Day School's Resource Coordinator. In this capacity, she served as the administrative designee and After School Enrichment Coordinator. Sherry developed and created Temple Israel's summer ``Camp Simcha'' which she directed in its initial years to great success. In her many-faceted role in the Day School, Sherry incorporated enrichment and remediation within the general studies of the curricula at the school. Sherry's love of children and enthusiasm for her community has translated into a significant growth of the school in many exciting ways. She has a strong background and expertise in early childhood development as well as strong marketing and administrative talents. She has expanded the number of classrooms during her tenure and has incorporated a successful afternoon track at the school. Under her direction, the Saturday morning TOT Shabbat service has grown to standing room only for the grandparents, parents and children who eagerly participate. Sherry has also expanded the parenting education center. Next year, enrollment in the school is expected to grow to 156 students with 100 more on the waiting list. Sherry is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as well as a board member and recording secretary of the Association for Early Jewish Education (AEJE) and the Early Childhood Director's Organization. Our community owes Sherry a debt of gratitude for her tremendous dedication to Temple Israel of Hollywood and particularly its children. Her achievements and record of accomplishments are truly outstanding. I ask my colleagues to join me and Temple Israel of Hollywood in extending our appreciation for her contributions.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, we are fortunate to be able to say that most Americans now take for granted the right to access and use birth control. Yet, the 40th anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, which first legalized the use of contraceptives, reminds us that it was not so long ago that this right was in great jeopardy. The importance and impact of this landmark decision cannot be underestimated. Ninety-five percent of women in the U.S. now use some form of birth control during their childbearing years and the number of unintended pregnancies has dropped significantly as a result of this widespread use. Thanks to the many publicly funded programs, women in all socio- economic groups have increased access to birth control. The ability to control and plan for childbirth has also created considerable improvements in the health and well-being of women, children, and families. We have seen dramatic decreases in the rates of maternal and infant mortality, and, at the same time, dramatic increases in maternal and infant health. Women's ability to control their fertility has enabled them to enter the workforce in unprecedented numbers which has contributed to the overall prosperity of our national economy. While these successes are certainly worthy of recognition, we cannot lose sight of the challenges that remain. Despite the reductions in unintended pregnancies we've seen, the U.S. continues to have one of the highest rates of unintended pregnancies among Western nations. Among teenage girls, the rate of unintended pregnancies remains above 75 percent and estimates show that more than one-third will become pregnant before the age of 20. Many barriers to widespread access to and use of contraceptives still exist. For instance, a number of states have enacted laws that allow health care providers and pharmacists to refuse to provide birth control. Unfortunately, under the current administration's ``abstinence-only'' approach to sex education, millions of children and adolescents each year are deprived of basic facts on contraception, and are instead being taught misleading information about reproductive health. It is important to honor the 40th anniversary of Griswold not only to recognize the many accomplishments we've made in the 40 years since this landmark case, but also to remind ourselves of the work we have yet to do. We must continue to be unrelenting in our pursuit of the goal of creating unencumbered universal access to and use of contraceptives. Given the numerous successes of the last 40 years, I'm confident we can succeed.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, under the current Administration, waste, fraud, and abuse in federal contracts have proliferated. No-bid contracts have soared. Oversight of federal contracts has often been turned over to private companies with blatant conflicts of interest. Billions of dollars have been squandered on contracts that enrich private companies but provide little or no benefit to the taxpayer. Yesterday, at the Rules Committee, I offered an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill to help restore integrity to the federal contracting process. The amendment would have prohibited contractor conflicts of interest and stop the use of abusive ``monopoly contracts.'' It would have also ensured greater transparency and accountability. I am deeply disappointed that the Rules Committee refused to make the amendment in order and allow an open debate on this important issue on the House floor. This Administration now relies on oversight contractors with conflicts of interest. In March 2004, the Defense Department awarded seven contracts to help oversee the implementation of a larger number of Iraqi reconstruction contracts. One of the oversight contractors, CH2M Hill, has ongoing domestic contractual relationships with three of the four firms it oversees: Washington Group International, Fluor, and AMEC. My amendment would have ensured that oversight contractors are truly independent, without any business or contractual relationships with the companies whose contracts they are helping to assess. My amendment would have prohibited the abusive practice of monopoly contracts, requiring the Administration to use contract vehicles that allow multiple contractors to compete for individual projects. That way we could have some competition between the companies at the project level--and competition is the best way to control costs. Finally Mr. Chairman, my amendment would have required the Department to submit to appropriate congressional committees a list of all audits that find more than $1 million in contractor overcharges, and to provide full copies of specific audits requested by the chairmen and ranking members of those committees. In this way, the amendment would have enhanced the ability of Congress to discover contractor abuses and promoting greater transparency. Unfortunately, the current Administration has tried to hide contractor overcharges from Congress, international auditors, and the public, impeding oversight and diminishing accountability. For example, for months the Defense Department refused to provide copies of audits completed by the Defense Contract Audit Agency relating to Halliburton's oilfield reconstruction work in Iraq. Slowly, we gained access to these reports through unofficial channels. The first report showed overcharges of more than $100 million. We now have six of these audits, and the overcharges exceed $212 million. To this day, we have still not received the remaining audits under this contract. By refusing to allow a debate on the common sense changes proposed by my amendment, the Republican leadership in Congress is trying to bury these serious problems as well. I will vote for this bill. I support our troops and this bill will enhance the safety of our men and women in uniform and improve their quality of life. But I am deeply concerned that Congress is not doing nearly enough to stop wasteful and unethical contracting practices.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman that just preceded me, speaking to the House, said that he did not think this experimentation would work. Well, there is no way it will ever work if we do not allow the research to take place. There can be nothing that is more pro-life than trying to pursue research that scientists tell us will lead to cures for MS and diabetes and Parkinson's and other terrible diseases that people now suffer and die from. Some people have said, Well, let us have an alternative; let us use the stem cells from the umbilical cord. Mr. Speaker, that is not a replacement for embryonic stem cell research that would occur if we passed H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. We need to ensure that scientists have access to all types of stem cells, both adult and embryonic. Rather than opening the doors to research, the President's policy of stopping this work at NIH has set the United States back. It has meant that researchers who see the promise are leaving the National Institutes of Health. It means the edge that this country has had as a leader of research is now falling behind and we look to other countries who are going to take our place. For the sake of those who are suffering, for the sake of what science can bring to us, for the sake of life, I urge the adoption of this legislation. I do not think it is a good enough excuse to hold up a clump of cells and say, this we value and this we will protect, and then to look at our friends and our colleagues, people we know and people we do not even know, and tell them their lives we do not value. The United States is poised to assume a role of leading the world in this promising field. Vote for this legislation that will make it possible.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day, which is being observed today in the United States, Israel, and in Jewish communities around the world. Each year this day is one of grief and hope. We memorialize the 6,000,000 Jews, including more than 1,000,000 children, who were murdered in the Holocaust. We observe the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising and remember the heroism of those who fought back. We honor the survivors and the tremendous strength it took for them to rebuild their lives. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge two special commemorative ceremonies that took place in my district. First, let me pay tribute to Cafe Europa, an association of Los Angeles area Holocaust survivors sponsored by Jewish Family Services. This week, Cafe Europa sponsored a special Yom HaShoah ceremony at Mount Sinai Memorial Park alongside Holocaust survivors from Cafe Europa of Tel Aviv and students from area schools. I want to particularly thank the survivors who courageously and poignantly shared their painful experiences through stories, poems, songs and photographs. I would also like to recognize a community-wide ceremony in Pan Pacific Park sponsored by the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, The Jewish Federation, Second Generation, and the Los Angeles Holocaust Monument Fund. This year, the program's theme, ``From Liberation to the Pursuit of Justice,'' marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps and the Nuremberg Trials to prosecute Nazi war criminals. On this day we bear witness to the atrocities of the Nazi regime so that they are not forgotten and are never again repeated. We renew our commitment to Holocaust education to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust do not fade away as the generation that lived through these events passes on. And perhaps most importantly, we pledge to fight future genocide by taking action against the slaughter of innocents going on today in places like Darfur, Sudan. We cannot forget that the bloodshed could have been averted had the leaders of the world not been silent while Jews were being killed at Auschwitz. When we say ``Never Again,'' let us learn from their mistakes.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Today we solemnly remember the victims of the Ottoman Government's 8- year campaign of terror against its Armenian population. During this brutal campaign, Armenian communities were systematically destroyed, one and a half million innocent men, women, and children were murdered, and over one million others were forcibly deported. This somber anniversary is a tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and a painful reminder that the world's inaction and denial 90 years ago left a tragic precedent for other acts of senseless bloodshed. This year we marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The road from Armenia to Auschwitz was direct. If more attention had been centered on the slaughter of innocent Armenians, perhaps the events of the Holocaust might never have been allowed to occur. And, as we speak today, government-supported Janjaweed militias continue their systematic destruction of black Sudanese in Darfur. Thousands have been murdered, raped, and starved to death, and over one million have been displaced from their homes. The Armenian Genocide stands as a tragic precedent to the brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing currently ravaging Darfur. Today, we honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and vow once more that genocide will not go unnoticed or unmourned. We must stand up to governments that persecute their own people, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to fight all crimes against humanity and the efforts to hide them from the rest of the world.

Mr. WAXMAN

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. We called for reformulated gasoline. We did not spell out how that was to be done. We did not spell out the technology. We said to the oil companies, You figure out how to do it. They could have done it with ethanol. They chose reformulated gasoline. What we wanted was cleaner gasoline, and they did not have to use MBTE.

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, he is correct. But we did not know at that time that it was going to pollute the drinking water.

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, whatever time we have, I would also yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) so she will have her full time.

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, the Republican leadership in the House has done everything it could possibly do to keep us from voting on this issue. They so badly wanted to protect the oil companies and to push the costs onto the local governments to take care of the polluted drinking water. We had a vote earlier, as the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) indicated, but it was on a procedural vote. Now we have a vote on the merits. And if we do not support the Capps amendment, we are keeping this unfunded mandate in the bill and our local governments are going to have to pick up the billions of dollars of costs to clean up the drinking water. That is why it is an unfunded mandate. And that is why I am speaking for the Republican side of the Chamber, because the Republicans came in under the Contract with America and said, We want to do away with unfunded mandates, and we will let them be challenged on the House floor. And I congratulate the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) for bringing this to the House floor under a procedure that the Republicans allowed. States' rights, that used to be a Republican position. But this bill has the view that Washington knows best. So we do not let States decide things anymore. They cannot regulate, or participate even, in key energy decisions affecting States and localities such as LNG facilities or relicensing of hydroelectric dams. Washington knows best. And in this bill the most egregious example of arrogant centralization of power in Washington is this massive unfunded mandate. We have heard that Congress insisted that MBTE be used for reformulated gas. That is not true. Under the Clean Air Act, we required reformulated gasoline, but we left it to the oil companies to decide how to do that, and they were using MBTE before the 1990 Clean Air Act was adopted. Now that we know what they may have known in advance, that MBTE can cause problems in our drinking water, they want to shift the costs from the oil companies that have caused the pollution to the local taxpayers. I remember when Republicans would have objected to this. And I hope today they will object to it as well. And I guess the Republican leadership fears that they might, because that is why they have gone to such enormous lengths to not allow anybody in this Chamber to vote on this specific issue. Every time we asked the Committee on Rules to allow a motion to strike be in order, they denied it. There was a point of order raised, and that way they were able to keep us from voting on it. But thanks to Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America, we have this way of bringing the issue on the merits. Vote for the Capps amendment.

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from the State of Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I am willing to be as cooperative as possible, but I am not sure what the gentleman is suggesting. We have a Member on our side who wants to speak in favor of the proposal.